10 years of internal ATARI emails leaked

tigerstyle

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All stuff from the golden era, it covers 1983 to 1992:

http://www.textfiles.com/games/ATARIMAIL/

Thats 10 years worth of internal ATARI emails in an easy to read format; it contains tons of interesting internal discussions about royalties, credits and bonuses (a guy has a massive shitfit about that in vax83.txt), tons of infos about developpement, prices of parts and whatsnot.. It's really interesting to read!

This covers the coin-up AND the console departements.. Vax83.txt has discussions about how the coin-up section is in the red and how the whole company is surviving thanks to the console sales!

I love geek stuff like this:
Does your game have trouble reproducing the speech patterns of
females and (other) alien life forms? If so, you may wish to avail yourself
of the 10 kHz sample rate option. The current sample rate is 8 kHz, which is
optimal for male voice and requires less memory storage. To use the 10 kHz
option, you must:

1) Change the clock for the TI 5220 from 640 kHz to 800 kHz.

2) You may need to adjust any lowpass filter for the speech output,
as the new bandwidth will be 5 kHz instead of 4 kHz. The cutoff frequency
can have a big effect on how the speech sounds - see me for details.

3) Tell us to analyze your speech at the 10 kHz rate, and to have
RPM call the speech routine a little more often. (The new frame period is
20 ms instead of 25 ms.)

4) Allow for 25% more rom storage (I would let this be a deciding
factor only if there is little difference between the sound quality at the
8 and 10 kHz rates.)

If you're unsure which rate to use, or if you have sound effects or
a mix of male and female voices you wish to try, we can try it both ways and
see which sounds best.

While we're on the subject of clock speeds, Brad mentions that since
the Yamaha chip needs a 3.579545451 mHz (colorburst crystal) clock speed,
it will be easy to derive the 1.7etcetc mHz clock to run the pokeys at the
speed at which they run on the 800, so that the sounds we develop on the
800 development system won't sound different in the games.

It seems that on august 3, lots of people lost their jobs

From: KIM::ALBAUGH 3-AUG-1984 09:34
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: Phone list (again)


If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to
send me your name, address, and phone #. Not only those who are leaving,
but those who are staying. I hope we can keep up the many valuable friendships.
As before, anyone who sends me their info gets a copy of the whole list.
Please use the following form:

Mike Albaugh
xxxxxxxxxxxx
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
Thank you,
Mike.
p.s. The list will also be available on Jeff Bell's B.B.S. (xxx) xxx-xxxx.
The current plan is to have the list accesible to anyone who is on it. For
more details, see Jeff.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MENCONI 3-AUG-1984 10:00
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: This is Goodby...


It has been good working with all of you. I mean it sincerely when I
say that I have always considered Coin-Op to be the elite of the game
divisions. Keep it up!
I like Atari. I have been here (but not in this "division") almost 3 years
and have grown quite attached to the ol' fuji. I wish you all the best and
sincerely hope that each of you, and Atari as a whole, succeeds. You still
have hard times ahead of you but I have faith that you will pull through.

Good luck,
Dave
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::GARFIELD 3-AUG-1984 10:18
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER.UAF


Garfield Is Dead! Long Live Garfield!
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RAY 3-AUG-1984 10:50
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: Farewell


I'm sad to say that I will be leaving ATARI after 7 very enjoyable
years. I doubt that I will ever again be able to work with as many
exceptionally talented and fun people.

I wish each of you all the best wherever life takes you. To those
of you who are staying with ATARI, I wish you the best of luck in
turning this see-saw industry around.

I hope that I someday have the opportunity to work with you again.

It's been REAL!!

Sincerely,
John Ray
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VICKERS 3-AUG-1984 11:00
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: The "Newer" ATARI


From: KIM::DEUS 3-AUG-1984 11:35
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: GOODBY AND GOODLUCK

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AND THE LAST TIME I AM USING THE MAIL .
YES ,I HAVE FEW WORDS TO SAY.ATARI HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME AND I HAVE NO
REGRETS.IT HAS BEEN FUN WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL
OF YOU WHERE EVER YOU MAY END UP.AS VERY WISE OLD TURK TOLD ME:
" THIS IS IT"
"THERE ARE NO HIDDEN MEANINGS"
" THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ,EACH MAN MUST DO FOR HIMSELF"


I MAY BE CONTACTED AT HOME FOR THOSE WHO MAY WANT TO CHAT ABOUT
ANYTHING.MY HOME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER IS:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(xxx) xxx-xxxx

SO LONG, SAM DEUS
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RUBIN 3-AUG-1984 12:15
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER.UAF
Subj: Garfield is in good company


Garfield may be dead...but he was seen leaving carrying a
set of golf clubs!!!!!!!!
Golf has died too!
-O-
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::BABCOCK 3-AUG-1984 13:20
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
Subj: One more for the road


Goodbye to all those whose lifes intersected with mine. I've enjoyed
working with you all these past few years. Good luck to all those
who must now carry on the tradition of Atari, "the serious funtakers."
May we meet again in future incarnations, and may you never take any
wooden garfields.

Eddie Dean Babcock, Jr.

P.S. I'm listed in the Albaugh white pages.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SINGH 3-AUG-1984 13:47
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: GOODBYE TO ALL


GOODBY... TO EVERYONE ... ITS BEEN GREAT WORKING HERE.
DURING MY THREE AND HALF YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT AT *ATARI* I HAVE ENJOYED THE
WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND ALL THE SPECIAL PEOPLE OUT THEIR.I FEEL FORTUNATE
TO HAVE WORKED ON THE VARIOUS COMPUTER GRAPHICS SYSTEM AT ATARI. MY FUTURE
GOALS ARE TO CONTINUE IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS,VOLUNTEER FOR SIGGRAPH, CONTINUE
WITH MY STUDIES IN PROGRAMMING AND BE A GOOD MOTHER.

AND NOW I'M GOING OUT IN THE ATARI TRADITION .... "POUR ME ANOTHER ONE PLEASE"



*****GOOD FORTUNE****
TO EVERYONE
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RUBIN 3-AUG-1984 14:18
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
Subj: Owen doesn't work here any more...


I just wanted to say good bye to all the great people I have
worked with these past 8 years.

"good bye to all the great people I have worked with these
past 8 years"

I've really enjoyed the Atari experience. I hope those staying
can pull the company out of this deep hole. Who know, maybe the company
will grow big enough again that I can someday come back and disrupt
everything again. And if not, and if it gets smaller and smaller...
who knows, maybe one day I can come back and buy it!!!!!!!!

Ill be about one more week, so get your abuse while you still
can!!!!!

It feels like graduation from school again...so now I got to go
out into the real world and find a job!!!!!!

Im in the Albaugh white pages, feel free to call anytime, either for
a chat, or for the Rubin answering message of the month!
 
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I first remember using email in 1985 on a Silicon Graphics wks net in college. I also remember using card readers to program for my FORTRAN class and I remember wrangling reel to reel computer tapes in my first job at the weather service in the early 90's. This is very cool stuff - thanks for the link. Reading through these notes is like browsing thru a time capsule - very cool indeed.
 
As for the "millions" Atari made on Crystal Castles, well
lets see:
sales as of 1/13/84: 4363 uprts; 450 cocktails
sales revenue (approx): $2095*4363 + 1695*500 = $9.98M
[price was reduced in DEC(?) to $1000(?)]
cost of goods sold(fully burdened):$971*4363+971*500=$4.73M
Engineering Expense for Crystal Castles: about $1M
Engineering Expense for games that don't make it: unknown
Sales/Marketing Expense: unknown
Engineering Bonus expense:(.015*9.98M)=.15M
Pre-tax Income: 9.98-(4.73+1+.15)= $4.1M
After taxes (50%): $2.05M

So the Company retains earnings of a couple of million to get thru
the many dry spells this industry faces or to buy new equipment etc.
Also note that Atari had to build about a 1000 games to break even
on the Engineering costs. Thus, profit doesn't really appear until
1000 games are built, but Atari pays bonus anyway. I agree 7 months
is a bit long to wait, but Atari has not made all that much and the
product was not profitable until long after the intial production
started. Product Bonus was paid quarterly at one time; we should go
back to that scheme.
It's interesting to see the actual breakdown.. Damn!
 
sick, wish i had time to go through it all. Maybe we can get midway's emails from 1993-2003

of interest to some may be the following...

___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::FLANAGAN "Bob Flanagan" 25-MAR-1991 15:13:17.65
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC: FLANAGAN
Subj: New Marble Man game!!!


MARBLE MAN
MARBLE MADNESS II
March 25, 1991

!! NEW LATEST AND GREATEST FIELD TEST VERSION !!
ps. includes all 17 levels of the final game

Please come by and play the Marble Man in the common area. We need
multiplayer play. Please report bugs and problems to 1742, Bob Flanagan,
Cris Drobny, or Mike Hally. The game will be going out on field test tomorrow.
The typical six pack of your choice (within reason) will be given for resets
or hang ups.

From: GAWD::RAY 29-JAN-1991 15:48:34.06
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER,STEWART,SMITH,BRESHEARS,FREITAS,BRYANT,SHIRLEY,HENRY,
MSHERMAN,VERNON,MCDOWELL,CALFEE,HINDORFF,THOMPSON
CC: RAY
Subj: Walkabout Friday -- 2/1/91 3:30 - 5:00


This Friday is Walkabout Friday (tm)!!

Atari Games' world renowned ANIMATION department will be
hosting this special event!!

Expect some exciting new developments from the old
timers: BMX Heat, NoName, BATMAN, and HORSE. Look out for those
up-and-coming superstars: Danger Express, Marble Man,
Gauntlet:TnA.


The festivities will begin at 3:30 in the Alpha, Nu, and
Omega labs in Engineering. Please come by the labs, sample the
munchies, play the games, and give your feedback (positive and
negative).
Friday, Feb. 1, 1991
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Alpha, Nu, Omega Labs
 
I found these the most interesting:

From: KIM::VICKERS 3-AUG-1982 11:00
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: Retiring

Thank you for all of your teamwork, support, and efforts during my time here.
In anticipation of the financial success of Kangaroo, I'll be retiring at the end of the week.
Good luck in your efforts to acquire Mappy!

Kim

________________________________________ ____________

From: KIM::MENCONI 5-MAY-1984 10:00
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: Splash!

Hello team,

IT IS DONE. 500 I-Robots in the ocean. Not easy because there were several
vessels nearby doing observation. According to the captain, we had to run the gauntlet to go undetected before they were dumped.

This is a CONFIDENTIAL message. Please do not forward, or use any portion of it as inspiration for a future game. END MSG.

________________________________________ ____________

From: KIM::SINGH 11-MAY-1983 13:47
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: Observation

Ladies, don't you think it's kind of weird we're all named "Kim"?

________________________________________ ____________

From: KIM::RAY 3-NOV-1983 10:50
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: E.T. is Extra Terrible

This is shit. I've fallen into every pit in the game multiple times, and I've only
been playing five minutes. Tell the developers and Spielberg we can't ship this.

It's less fun than watching paint dry, or delivering the morning paper on a bike.

- Kim Ray
 
woah! Mystery solved!

Atari/Atari Games VaxMail 1983 Jed Margolin
___________________________________________________________________________
From: MCCARTHY 6-AUG-1983 13:40
To: ALBAUGH,MARGOLIN,SHERRILL
Subj: BATTLEZONE UPRIGHT


BATTLEZONE UPRIGHT CNC ERROR.

After running serial numbers 0900 - 2300, CABINET STATION 11A noticed a manufacturing error on the sides due to employee error; a TAB can was left on the drafting table and the CADCAM scanning device added a 2 1/2" circle near the top of the cabinet. Omar, the janitor, came up with a solution using the wheel covers from his janitorial cart to cover the holes. 1200 janitorial carts have been ordered from the supplier.
 
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Here's a funny (and real... ahem) one:

___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MARGOLIN 15-OCT-1984 13:04
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
Subj: Regulator/Audio III Prototype


Some Asshole stole my Regulator/Audio III prototype. It was the only
one with the new audio circuitry, and was to be tested this morning.
If you are the miserable cretin who has this board, return it by 2:00 pm
today, and I may let you live.

Thank you or else,

Jed
___________________________________________________________________________
 
Great stuff in here!

I leave Atari to pursue my goals elsewhere. Those goals are the
same ones I came here with: to develop a real-time animation development
system for character animation of a high quality. Of course, I have
realized that many skills go into any development project and have branched
off into 3-d design like I, Robot and Last Starfighter as a subset of the
problem that I have decided to tackle.

Barry A. Whitebook

It's ironic that my name is on the packaging of the 2600 Crystal Castles
cart, a product which I only saw an early version of. Yet when I told people
that the message ("programmed by Franz Lanzinger") appeared in level 10 in the
coin-op version I was told to take it out, or I loose an amount of bonus to be
determined. Boy did that make me mad !!! I complained vocally, but only to be
promised that a designer credit policy would be worked on. This policy is still
"being worked on" eight months later. Now really. It's not that hard to do,
just look at movies, books, not to mention Stern, Mylstar, Simutrek, Sente,
even 2600 carts. If there were a policy right now, credits could be in in time
for the Crystal Castles kits. As it is, I am still mad about the whole thing.
Imagine Speven Spielberg directing a film, but not getting credit. How would
he feel? Are we cogs in a machine? I am not a number !!! This isn't 1984!!
(well OK, maybe it is).

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT "PAPERBOY " IS A MORE CONSISTENT LONG TERM EARNER...
UNFORTUNATELY, THE COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES MAKES "COMMANDO"
SEEM LIKE A BETTER BUY...WE MUST CONVINCE OUR OPERATORS THAT WHEN THEY BUY
TH"THE BOIYY", THEY ARE GETTING A SOLID MONEY EARNER FOR THE LONG STRETCH, A GOOD
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

REGARDING THE NEW GAME "MAYHEM" (THE BALL BLAZER RIP-OFF) COLLECTOIONS ARE NOT
THAT GREAT SO IT'S NO BIG DEAL...HOWEVER, ONE GAME THAT OLOOKS LIKE A SLEEPER
IS PITFALL !!II--IT'S BEEN DOING REAL WELL AND CONSISTENT AT THAT.

THE LATEST VS. PRODUCTS--HOAGANS ALLEY AND DUCK HUNT MAKE ME SCARED...
THESE GAMES TOGETHER IN A SPLIT SCREEN VS. SYSTEM ARE DOING OVER $1000.00
A WEEK AT FASCINATION ARCADE IN N.Y. THE PRICE FOR EACH ONE ((WITH GUNS):
A REAL CHEAP 195$195.00...THESE THINGS CAN PAY FOR THEMSELVES IN ONE DAY!!
EVEEN IF THEY DROP IN EARNINGS REAL QUICK, AT THAT PRICE IST'S A GREAT BUY.
 
State of the industry, 1985:

(And "The Boy" was their in-house name for Paperboy)

COMPETITOR UPDATE

HERE'S A BRIEF UPDATE AS TO NEW GAMES AND RUMORS I HEARD OUT ON THE ROAD,
MOST OF THIS STUFF SHOULD SHOW UP AT AMOA.

NINTENDO:
NINTENDO HAS TWO NEW GAMES FOR THEIR UNISYSTEM. A SOCCER GAME THAT REALLY
LOOKED LOUSY SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR IN THE MARKETPLACE AT ALL, REGARDLESS
OF COST. ANOTHER GAME MACH RIDER LOOKED REALLY PRETTY BAD, BUT MAY DO OK
FOR THEIR SYSTEM..IT IS RATHER POOR QUALITY POLE POSITION ON MOTORCYCLE
WITH SHOOTING AND OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE THROWN IN...STINKO!

THERE IS ALSO RUMOR OF A ARM WRESTLING CONVERSION FOR THE BASE OF PUNCH
OUT GAMES THAT ARE OUT THERE. APPARANTELY, HOWEVER, THE GAME IS NOT
TESTING THAT WELL, AND SINCE IS NOT DEVELOPED BY THEIR HOME DESIGNERS
FOR THE UNISYSTEM, MIGHT BE QUITE EXPENSIVE, I.E. SUPER PUNCH OUT.

THE OTHER THING THEY HAVE DONE IS COME OUT WITH A CONVERSION SET-UP FOR
PAC-MAN THAT ALLOWS THOSE OLD PAC-MAN GAMES TO BE CONVERTED INTO, YOU
GUESSED IT, UNISYSTEMS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH
THIS CONCEPT AND OPERATORS ARE NOT EXACTLY GOING FOR IT AS THEY DID WITH
THE DONKEY KONG UNISYSTEMS...THE PROBLEMS ARE FOURFOLD...THE PAC KIT IS
EXPENSIVE (MORE THAN THE DONKEY VERSION AND ALMOST AS MUCH AS A NEW
UNISYSTEM)...IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSION...MANY OPERATORS ARE
RELUCTANT TO CONVERT PAC MAN'S...AND MANY OF THE PAC MAN'S HAVE BURNED
IN MAZES IN THE MONITORS AND THE CONVERSION'S LOOK REALLY POOR BEHIND THE
PHOSPHUR BURNS.

BALLY/SENTE:
NOTHING REALLY TO REPORT HERE, EXCEPT FOR A FOUR PLAYER HAT TRICK THAT IS
PRESENTED IN A NEW FOUR PLAYER TABLE TOP CONFIGURATION, NOT FOR THE
EXISTING SENTE CABINET THAT ALREADY HAS BEEN CHANGED BEFORE. THIS SEEMS
TO HAVE REALLY TICKED OFF OPERATORS AND DISTRIBUTORS WHO WERE HOPING THIS
PIECE TO BE A CONVERSION FOR THEIR EXISTING SENTE SYSTEMS.

BALLY HAS SHOWN NOTHING NEW EXCEPT FOR YET ANOTHER ARTICLE BY BOB MULLANE,
THEIR CEO, IN BOTH CHICAGO PAPERS STATING THAT HE DID NOT OPTIMISTICALLY
FEEL THAT BALLY WOULD BE A FORCE IN THE COIN-OP MARKETPLACE VERY MUCH
LONGER...IN FACT HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT BRINGING BACK
BALLY'S ENGINEERING FORCE TO ANYTHING LIKE IT ONCE WAS WOULD BE..."ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE."

DATA EAST:
THESE GUYS SEEM LIKE THEY WILL COOL-OFF SOON BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEEM TO
HAVE ANYTHING TO GOOD UP THEIR SLEAVES...(MAYBE THAT'S WHY TOM PETTIT AND
JOLLY BACKER JUST LEFT?)...BUT YOU NEVER CAN BE SURE WITH DATA EAST...THEY
ALWAYS SEEM TO PULL RABBITS OUT OF THEIR HATS.

THEY HAVE TESTED A SHOOTING GAME CALLED "SHOOT-OUT" THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT
DOING THAT GREAT AND IS ALLREADY APPARENTLY SELLING AT ROCK BOTTOM CLOSE-
OUT PRICES. ALSO, WE KNOW THEY HAVE "TANK" WHICH WE HAD IN-HOUSE AND WERE
NOT TO CRAZY ABOUT, RIGHT?

WILLIAMS:
THEY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN WITH ANOTHER SUPERB PIN-BALL GAME CALLED "COMET".
THIS ONE IS REALLY, REALLY FUN TO PLAY AND OFFERS TONS OF ACTION UTILIZING
AN AMUSEMENT PARK THEME. IT OFFERS GREAT SOUND EFFECTS AND THE FIRST EVER
1 MILLION POINT SHOT...WILL MAKE PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT SPACE SHUTTLE...ROGER
SHARPE WILL LOVE IT (BUT IT DOES END ROGER!) AND HE'LL UNDOUBTEDLY CALL IT
GAME OF THE SHOW AT THE UPCOMING AMOA.

INCIDENTALLY, THE GAME IS ON TEST AT OUTER LIMITS MT. VIEW IF YOU WANT TO
PLAY WITH IT.

CINEMATRONICS:
SURPRISINGLY, THESE GUYS ARE STILL AROUND...BUT PROBABLY JUST BARELY.
THEY HAVE A SYSTEM OUT AND ARE SHOWING A PRETTY DECENT 2-PLAYER SOCCER
GAME CALLED "POWER PLAY". IT IS PLAYED LIKE SOCCER BUT YOU CAN PUNCH
OUT YOUR OPPONENT AND HIS GOALIE WITH A PUNCH BUTTON. HEARING THAT IT
IS NOT DOING THAT GREAT ON TEST.

I HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT A BASEBALL GAME APPARENTLY CALLED "WORLD SERIES:
THE SEASON". DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT BUT THEIR SYSTEM DOES HAVE
VERY GOOD GRAPHICS AND SOUND CAPABILITIES, JUDGING FROM THE SOCCER PIECE.

KONAMI:
THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWING A NEW CONVERSION FOR ANY RASTER GAME CALLED
"RUSH N' ATTACK"...IT IS A RAMBO GAME ALL THE WAY AND IS REALLY PRETTY
GOOD. YOU ARE TRYING TO RESCUE A BUNCH OF TIED UP GREEN BERETS AND ARE
SNEAKING AROUND IN A RUSSIAN ARMY COMPLEX...IT'S COOL, YOU CAN KUNG-FU
RUSSIANS, SHOOT RUSSIANS, GRENADE RUSSIANS AND EVEN FLAME THROW THE PANTS
OFF OF THEM LITTLE COMMIE BASTARDS...REAGAN WILL LOVE IT...IT'S BEING
CALLED "GREEN BERETS" IN EUROPE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SCARED OF THE RUSKIES
OVER THERE.

SEGA:
APPARENTLY NOTHING NEW BESIDES HANG-ON, WHICH IS DOING PRETTY WELL BUT IS
RATHER EXPENSIVE. THESE GUYS ARE ALSO HEAVILY IN TO DOING THE AFORE
MENTIONED "REDEMPTION EQUIPMENT"...AND OFFER SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CRANE GAMES CURRENTLY.

ATARI:
I MUST MENTION THE UNBELEIVABLE REACTION WE HAVE BEEN GETTING FOR
"GAUNTLET". WORD IS DEFINATELY OUT THAT THE PIECE IS HOT AND THE WHOLE
INDUSTRY SEEMS TO BE VERY EXCITED BY IT'S EXPECTED RELEASE. EVEN
OUR MANUFACTURING COMPETITORS ARE SAYING THEY REALLY THINK THE PIECE IS
A GOOD ONE.

"TEMPLE" TOO IS REALLY DOING WELL AND SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN THE MARKET AWAY
FOR USED "MARBLE MADNESSES" ALMOST OVER NIGHT, AS OPERATORS SCRAMBLE TO
GET CHEAP BASE UNITS TO CONVERT. WITH THE USED CABINET MARKET GONE, AND
THE GAME DOING GREAT, WE SHOULD HAVE A REAL GOOD SHOT AT INCREASING THE
BASE UNITS OF SYSTEM 1.

THE BOY STILL HANGS! CHECK THE LATEST PLAY-METER POLL...
 
The guy's name is "Margolin," not Margolis. And he posted them on the 'net over 10 years ago.

On his website, you'll find not only the vax mail, but memos and status reports covering the same period of time:

http://www.jmargolin.com/vmail/vmail.htm

Got anything leaked about a Star Trek cabinet that's been turned into a chair?
 
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Yes, we had email in our computer lab in 1983. Don't think we called it email did we? Probably just said you have a message or something like that!

Back then we called it private messages...much like the forums of today each was tied to the system they were on. Then came fidonet in 84 and it was the first email system like today's that I ever used. You would leave a private message for someone on fidonet and it would move from hub to hub until it made it to the person it was destined for.
 
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