Usenet archives and convos=goldmine for Genesis info and reference!

[Aarzak]

*breathes deeply*

Finally, I'm able to create threads! With that out of the way, I'd like to make a suggestion to any and all of you guys who contribute or would like to contribute to the site (if this method has already been suggested or well-known then disregard this thread!).......

Over these last couple of months this youngster has discovered the wealth of archived knowledge and facts that are old usenet groups and convos (via Google Groups). One of the first things I did was look up convos and threads on the Genesis, and I found many and then some! I read convos from as far back as weeks before it's late summer '89 launch, the anticipation, speculation, misinformed and incorrect statements and whatnot. The same can be said for many Genny-related usenet fare that spanned throughout our console's lifetime. But after sifting through most of that stuff and even more crap inbetween, I found some gems here and there (which I don't have the links to at this moment) like game release dates from retailers, in-depth console port comparisons not unlike some of those around here and neat facts and tidbits here and there.

So, if you've got some time (read: a lot) on your hands and are willing to make the effort to sift through lots of stuff, I suggest you guys hit up those old usenet archives if you happen to be itching to find out more about anything Genesis-related. For us peasants who don't (and probably never will) meet and interview those big-wigs from the Genesis era, this is probably the next best thing!

So..........how's it sound???

[Genesis Knight]

I've actually done that a few times. It's crazy that all that stuff is archived...

[VinnyT]

While i'll probably search it tomorrow, putting the best pieces together could make for a good article.

[Aarzak]

I was surprised people had so much insider knowledge on systems and games back then, when video game magazines ruled the roost for those of us without a PC and internet connection. Hell, I thought that the internet was mostly barren and non-existent before Windows '95 came out! And I see usenet conversations from as far back as the late '80's!

[steve]

Yup, newsgroups can have some great posts. I used to post on RVGS (rec.video.games.sega) a lot in the late 90s to the early-mid 00's. Had lots of discussion with members like KKC, Scott and Bel (owner of whipassgaming.com)... I used to do game searches on late nights a lot, and find posts of people describing their Saturn launch day purchase experiences, etc. It's sweet how that stuff's been archived like that.

[Aarzak]

Indeed. Same goes for the early Genesis impressions.