¢¢This is an Article about AMS6, but from another supporter's view of it all.¢-----------------------------------¢¢You know, I've been meaning to write an article for the News-Disk for quite some time now, but there has always been one sticking point, a subject to write about. I was finaly inspired after seeing Dean's review of AMS 6 in issue 10, so I have decided to write another review of the same show but from a different viewpoint. First let me introduce myself. My name is Raphael Espino, and I was helping out at the Tiger Developments stand at the show (you missed us Dean in your review!!!). Anyway our trip started on the day before, Friday the 13th. Neil (he's the BOSS, the big man behind the name) very kindly came all the way from Kent to pick me up in Nottingham. From there we set off to Stafford, the adventure was just beginning.¢¢The day certainly lived up to its reputation, and as soon as we left the University (where I am currently studying --- wait for it --- computer science) we got stuck in a very slow moving queue of traffic. We then proceeded to encounter one set of road works after another. It seemed as though all the road works in the whole of Britain had been concentrated on the route between Nottingham and Stafford. After finaly arriving in Stafford (not before getting totaly lost though) and finding the guest houses where we were staying (no small feat I'll tell you), we set off to find Bingley Hall. In doing so we managed to get completely lost (again!). In the end we found it, but still couldn't find the way in. After a lot of searching we managed to find the entrance, get in, get all the stuff out of the car, and started setting it all up.¢¢¢Next morning we got up at the crack of dawn ( well 8:00 AM at least ), and got down to Bingley Hall again, but not before getting lost (yet again). It must be said at this point that our navigational skills are not exactly perfect).¢¢There was still loads of things to do, so it was rush rush rush all the way, but by the time the show started we were ready (only just). Now was the big moment - would we actually get any customers? Would people even realise that we were there? Would we be totally ignored? Well I'm pleased to say that we did get a few customers, and if you were one of them then much appreciated.¢¢¢It just so happens that at the stand we had a couple of games running where people could come up and have a go, a sort of try before you buy scheme. Although after a while it seemed as though we were running a child-minding service, since all the parents left their kids playing on the games while they went off and enjoyed the show. Maybe we shold have charged! Although to be fair one bloke was so impressed by how the game kept his kids amused that he actualy bought a copy. The most surprising thing though was that most of the kids playing the games (and fully enjoying them) didn't actualy own an Atari, they all seemed to have Segas and Nintendos at home. Just goes to show that Atari still rules supreme. Atari, the World's Number One Games System - and a pretty decent computer too.¢¢¢AMS 6 was certainly the place to be if you are an Atari 8-bit owner. For once we were able to hold our heads high, feeling proud of owning the best 8-bit ever. The highlight of the whole show for me was to see owners of other micros jealous of the Atari 8-bit for a change. We had several people walk past our stand saying things like:¢¢'Those Atari computer are certainly popular'¢¢or¢¢'Those Atari computers must be good, look at all the support they have'¢¢or even¢¢'Look there's ANOTHER Atari stand'¢¢My personal favourite was the little girl who, by this time, was obviously getting a little bit tired of it all, and in a rather grumpy voice shouted:¢¢'ATARI, ATARI, ATARI, IT'S ALL ATARI'¢¢It was even better when the same people started coming back trying to get their hands on some Atari hardware. (Hey! Atari Corp., wake up, there's still a market out here you know). It's a pity that the hardware has now gone out of production.¢¢¢Well we certainly met some intresting characters at the show, people from all walks of life, fighting off the cold and having a good time. Total strangers, but all with one thing in common: Atari. People who had sold their 8-bit and regretted it, some trying to pick up hardware, others looking for software and general good bargains (there were plenty of those at the show). There was a woman who had sold her 8-bit for an ST and had regretted it, she said that the ST games were nowhere near as playable as the 8-bit ones. A couple of cheeky young chaps hanging around, making comments and generaly having fun (one of whom, I now know, was John E.). A trio of gentlemen, big boxes in hand full of goodies, trying to get hold of some freebies, and again having loads of fun. The list goes on and on.¢¢¢Yet again the most sought after items were disk drives. It seemed as though a drive was worth its weight in gold, and then some. (Come on Atari Corp., please wake up!!!). Overall it was good fun, we met loads of people, even though very few names were exchanged. It was cold (very), tiring (extremely), I ended up with the worst cracked lips I've ever had, and my socks, well suffice to say that they STILL haven't come clean (I've tried all these new improved detergents that we hear about, all to no avail). But it was worth it if only to see the support that still exists for the Atari. It realy makes you proud.¢¢It wasn't until lunch next day at the University that I realised that I hadn't eaten anything for over 24 hours. We were having so much fun at the show that we plain forgot about food. Boy, University food had never tasted so good before (or since).¢¢¢I am very pleased to say that on the way back we didn't get lost.¢¢As a final note, if you recognise yourself anywhere in the above article then please feel free to write to me, I would be very intrested to find out who you all are.¢¢My address is:¢Raphael Espino¢111 Paston Ridings¢Paston¢Peterborough¢Cambs¢PE4 7UX¢¢or email me at¢¢rje@Cs.Nott.AC.UK¢¢Long Live Atari!!!¢¢**** Three gentlemen with boxes after freebies?! Sounds VERY much like us! Ed. ****¢
