Reviving the Golden Era of Gaming: The Return of Supercade
Van Burnham’s Supercade, a heartfelt homage to the classic age of video gaming, originally served as an extensive coffee table book chronicling the visual journey of games from 1971 to 1984.
A New Chapter for Supercade
This revered period in gaming is on the verge of revival, as Burnham’s Supercade heads towards a deluxe reissue following a triumphant Kickstarter campaign, which successfully surpassed its $34,000 goal by amassing over $50,347 in funding and attracting more than 259 supporters with still 19 days left.
Nostalgia Revisited: A Personal Journey
The launch of this reissue comes as both unexpected and timely for many. Despite having lived through this era, it feels recent—memories from arcade visits and gaming sessions linger vividly. However, it’s worth noting that these events unfolded nearly three decades ago.
Back then, Burnham worked as a production designer at a magazine in New York City when the internet began to bloom. She quickly discovered an online community filled with fellow enthusiasts who shared her passion for retro video games.
The nostalgia mixed with camaraderie led her to scan original manuals from her Odyssey 2 console while engaging fiercely in debates about which game adaptations were superior—her insistence remains that K.C. Munchkin! outshines Atari’s Pac-Man port.
Pioneering the Literature on Video Games
Sparking curiosity about published works focusing on vintage titles prompted Burnham to visit Rizzoli bookstore on Broadway. To her surprise, she only found scant offerings: Scott Cohen’s Zap: The Rise and Fall of Atari alongside David Sheff’s Game Over, which remains one of her all-time favorites concerning gaming history.
The Genesis of Supercade
This realization ignited Burnham’s quest for knowledge and ultimately led to crafting Supercade. After diving deep into research covering both video and computer game histories while drafting up proposals for publishing deals, she successfully released the original Supercade, featuring contributions like my own chapter detailing Xbox history back in 2003 across an impressive span of 448 pages.
The subsequent installment titled Supercade: A Visual History of Video Game Age – 1985 to 2001, debuted in early 2023.
A Comprehensive Reimagining Awaits Fans
Bearing exciting news ahead is Burnham’s announcement regarding a lavish re-release set to encompass early industry developments within gaming—from its inception between 1971 and ’84—outfitted with over 500 vibrant pages full illustration content surpassing even her initial vision.
Additionally, plans are underway for establishing a dedicated Supercade Museum space further solidifying this cultural milestone!
“I’ve long dreamed about producing another hardcover edition since fans have expressed interest consistently throughout two decades,” stated Burnham during conversations with GamesBeat. “It felt like now or never—the right moment emerging alongside our museum project based at Ayzenberg’s Space Gallery celebrating this vibrant ‘golden age’!”
An Engaging Community Effort
“I’m thankful immensely for support cascaded through both players within our industry plus enthusiastic backers who rallied behind me.” saidBurnham reflecting upon tremendous levels received quite rapidly once launched.” This narrative encompassing iconic pieces resonates markedly well amongst younger audiences; resonances trickle down into newer generations! Seeing kids marvel at Microsoft Adventure executing flawlessly upon IBM5150 really warms my heart!”
The enthusiasm doesn’t stop there; she acknowledged it sparks opportunities not only expediting additional funds boosting features but enhancing overall work quality significantly! An increase from what appeared previously established made way allowing integration new elements keeping authenticity preserved.
“I increased print runs significantly raising seventy pages ever since kickstarting our follow-up,” addedBurnham excitedly expressing views optimistic outlook extending memories designed captivates life ahead sharing experiences future users(* recognizing parallels echoes ardently collections preserved documenting touches essence gathered !