A bonus of pulling out the old WD's is the chance to scan over the letters pages and chortle at the arguments that seemed so important then. Of course it's easy to look back and laugh with hindsight and I mean no disrespect to the author of this letter from White Dwarf 30 from April/May 1982
Dear WD
could you please not start up a department devoted to micro-computers without even taking an opinion poll because I am sure the majority of White Dwarf readers do not possess micro-computers.
For instance no-one in our D&D group of about 5 people has the slightest inclination to buy a micro-computer for seventy pounds which is practically useless unless you buy extra 'chips' to increase its performance and price.
Personally, I think a department on the subject would be a waste of space and money. I hope others feel the same.
R J Leedham
well Mr. Leedham, they certainly do (or did). I had no interest in computers back then and rapidly got bored with the family ZX Spectrum, an antipathy which has lasted into middle age. Still it has to be said Mr Leedham was a little off the mark.
Those old letter pages are a hoot - there seemed to be a lot of debate on the role of women in role-playing games in WD's 70-90 ish.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that he extrapolates national opinion from his 5 strong D&D group! Mind you, to be fair there doesn't computers don't seem to have made much of an impact on role-playing games as far as I'm aware.
By the way - I nominated you for a liebster. No worries if it's not your cup of tea though.
Wow, thanks. I will take a look. I suspect it will take more time than I can muster with my ponderous typing skills, but appreciate the thought.
DeleteYep, I mean to dig out the discussion on chainmail bikinis at a future date....