I know that most of you know the answer to this question. However I do not.
I've been here since 8/02 which is not long I know.
But some of the folks a lot longer-year wise I mean.
When I came on the boards Witchen was around a lot as was Dee,Syd and Zanthia, and a bunch of others-those of you that know me realize name remembering is not something I do-so please forgive me for those I left out.
Anywho-
Question is this please:
Who started Game Boomers and when?
Who is still left from those that started it?: (listen I know life moves us to other directions; so don't need the whys as someone leaving.)
I'm just curious as to the whole process and very grateful to those that did.
The concept is fantastic, and with the new talent GB's keeps attracting it will continue to only get better!
Thanks
Ingie

Ingie,

that is a very interesting question. I have been here since April 2001, a lot later than some of our pals!!

Bob and Karen started the site, not sure when but I will ask Syd to pop in and give us the background

Hugs

Tig

Hmmm...Excellent question! I'd like to know more of the "background" info on GameBoomers history also.
Rusty

Rusty..

this is the Ultimate Nosy Question!!

Tig

I wasn't here at the "very beginning" but let's see if I can remember how things were.

Bob and Karen started the site in 1999. GameBoomers went "live" on June 1. I think Bob told me that first month we had something like 50,000 hits Witchen (Jan) was the first administrator, Dee was a mod at Mixed Bag but soon after the board opened she became the second administrator.

As to the forums and their original mods :

Hints - Witchen (Jan)
Adventure - Linda Shaw
Mixed Bag - Dee
RPG - Ozma
Puzzles - Marcie

I became a hints mod in February of 2000 and the third administrator in July 2001.

So Ingie to answer your question - no one is left from the original group.

So, what happened to the original bunch? Like Jan, for example, did she just leave? Sorry, but being nosy is my GameBoomer job! I want details!
Rusty

Oh, sorry, I didn't know that Jan and Witchen are one in the same.
But, what about the rest?
Rusty

Real life got in the way for most of them - sorta like me

And as to details - if I told you Rusty, I'd just have to shoot you, so it's better if I keep them to myself

Okay syd.
Rusty

What everyone really wants to know is how do you become a moderator, progress to an administrator, and ultimately become GameBoomer God and leader of all? I think that's what we all want to know right?

Or is just me?

How do you become a moderator? Someone asks you

Generally the moderator or moderators on the forum (we can have up to four on each forum)decide they need help and come up with a person or persons they think will do the best job. That comes from reading posts and seeing how they interact with the members. The name then gets run past the administrators and owner. Nine times out of ten the person the forum mod wants gets approved - but not always.

Administrators are picked by the owner and run by the other administrators. Since we all work closely with each other, we have to be able to get along and especially as an administrator, we have to be able to trust that person - so if one of us has a strong objection to someone for whatever reason, it's a no go.

As to how you become the GameBoomer God - knowledge on how to run a website, the dedication and time to do it, and of course the biggie - the money to fund it

I was only messing around Syd, but thanks for the info anyway <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> Good to know.

Well I could have told you how you really got to be a high mucky muck but the other explaination sounded much more professional

Is Linda Shaw from Adventures, the Linda Shaw that has her own website and answers walkthrough questions sometimes? http://members.aol.com/LShaw3457/Main.html

Wow, I've been here since 12/14/00. I came looking for a walkthrough and stayed. Kinda like a burr on your pants, can't get rid of me

I am curious why the web site owners don't post very much. I've seen a rare post or two from Bob but am not sure if I have seen one from Karen. There are several "Karens" on the GB board, but am not sure if one of them is the other owner.

Hi All..........

Here's the scoop from before the first day of Gameboomers creation: Bob thunk up the name and the concept all by his lonesome. As the name of the site denotes, the site was originally created with an eye toward the more mature PC gamer. However, NICE and FRIENDLY was the underlying bulwark of that original concept, and it extends to all ages and all game genres residing at Gameboomers.

Three of us came from another site to start Gameboomers back in '99. Bob (and Karen) collaborated with Eve (technical and administrative) and myself (marketing and administrative) to put together the first Gameboomers board which came online, as Syders mentioned in June of 1999.

Bob and Karen have since moved on to other pastures over the years, and Marita is now the official Gameboomers "muckity muck." Laurels to all the moderators and administrators who joined Gameboomers early on, along the way, and who continue to make this site the best of the best. All this on a completely voluntary basis!

As for myself, I have moved in and out of those distant pastures for the past several months as life inserts other challenges, issues and interests. My first loyalty, however, remains with Gameboomers as my personal "home town." I come back as often as possible.


Witchen

Thank you all so much
I often would hear references made to names; but couldn't connect in my brain who was what.
Witchen,
Thank you for taking time to fly in and answer my question. :kiss:
I think that Bob and Karen and the others mentioned had a wonderful concept and the fact that it has stood the test of time proves that.
I feel proud to belong to the best of any group on the web and appreciate all the responses.
Rusty,
I was actually surprised you weren't here from the beginning and just decided to change IDs on us
to mess with our brains a bit.
Isn't it wonderful that Boomers just continues to grow and the first thought that of a "friendly spot" is still the main concern for those of us that love games.
Ingie

Many thanks to Syd and Witchen for laying out the way GameBoomers got its start (I've been out of town for the last couple of days). I joined back in Dec. of 1999, so I missed about the first six months--then in the spring of 2000, Dee asked me to help her moderate on Mixed Bag. Then a couple of years later I was asked to help with Hints--that was scary!!!

Now I'm helping Marita, Syd and Laura with the administrating, and I've been promoted to a Grande Olde Dame--at least the second and third words of that title are applicable...

Great history lesson! It's great to learn about how the board started. I definitely caught the "Gameboomers" "BabyBoomers" connection. I like the memorabillia link at the top of the page.

Can I add to the questions and ask how Gameboomers got to be known as a reputable name in the gaming community? Was it intended at the start of the site to make and build relationships with game makers and publishers?

i am proud to be a member of gameboomers and greatful to all founders of this site...

RydAstar I've asked Jan to answer that one - she knows more about what Bob had envisioned for this site than anyone other than Bob himself. I can tell you that we were all surprised and honored when a developer would post or when one would even lurk. As a matter of fact, I still feel that way.

I think a lot has to do with the fact we make developers feel welcome. Developers can post about their games and not worry about getting torn apart like on some other sites. I hope we make them feel comfortable. Even if they don't post, they read what we say - believe me

And yes, burpee - it's the very same Linda Shaw

This is a great topic. I just got back into town too.

I came to GB from that "other site" too. I wasn't here too long when Eve had to leave and Bob asked me to moderate Mixed Bag. I was scared to death! I'm very shy and didn't think I could do it. I became an administrator after about a year. That way one of the three of us (Bob, Witchen and I) would always be able to "watch" GB.

Bob's focus was on Boomer Memorabilia and he added the forums because he enjoyed gaming. If you look on the "About Us" page, you will see the awards for memorabilia. We never thought that GB would get this big. It still amazes us. Although life got it the way and I had to step down, GB is my home and always will be.

Owners don't post very much because they don't have the time. There is so much work involved in the bowels of a website. Martia (MaG) does a spectacular job!

BTW......Karen posted in the beginning with the username "Sparky". Then Bob got so busy with GB poor Karen rarely got to use the computer. LOL

Click here to see some "old" GameBoomers pages with the old gang.

This is the original discussion board Pretty small huh?

~Dee

Wow! Thanks Dee! Cool links.
Rusty

This is all so interesting Dee. Do you all ever get together and have a company dinner or picnic? Or is it all done on the computer?
Boggles the mind how it all can be administered.
Marita does a wonderful job.

How 'bout that - my first post on GB is on there Now that was a walk down memory lane. thanks for the link Deedle - man the board was bright back then, wasn't it?