Back in my old stomping grounds!

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Thu Oct 24, 2002 9:52 pm

Since Sport Planet saw fit to fold up shop and run me off, Jared´s invited me to come back and be a part of Digital Sports once again. I really like the new look of the site, with the emphasis remaining on quality content. It´s getting harder and harder to make narrow scope sites maintain viability in the midst of the ongoing Internet shakeout. Only a dedicated group of people willing to work gratis can keep such sites going these days.
 
 Frank Eva and I formed Digital Sportspage back in 1996. It grew into an entity that was beyond our abilities to manage adequately in early 2000, but then the great Internet shakeout began by mid-2000, and the house of cards came tumbling down for many. I left when it became obvious that we weren´t going to make it commercially, and Frank decided to go multi-genre, as a last ditch effort to keep it profitable. He was not an avid sports gamer, and when the profit incentive was gone, he decided to move on to other ventures. I´m glad Jared was there to pick up the pieces and keep the good name of Digital Sportspage alive!
 
 Anyway, I´ll be contributing where I can and look forward to the times ahead. I´m very excitied about the state of the computer and video gaming industry. My interests have become a lot more specific as to what appeals to me in gaming, but I´m always curious about new developments in software and hardware. It´s good to be back in circulation here!

Post by **Jared** » Thu Oct 24, 2002 10:21 pm

For those of you not familiar with John´s work...well...he rocks. Plain and simple. One of the best sports gaming reviewers around.
 
 Actually, John is the one who got me first started in the sports gaming "business". Back in 1998, everyone on Usenet and other sites was saying that FIFA World Cup 98 was just a rehash of Road to World Cup 98. John was one of the few reviewers to rightly notice the differences and how it created a much better game.
 
 So I wrote him, told him I agreed, and asked if they needed any new writers. He said no, but he´d look at a submission. Fortunately, I had just attended E3 and wrote a few previews. Thanks to John (and the fact that DSP didn´t have any soccer fanatics at the time), I got the chance to start writing.
 
 Anyways, he´s great. He started the whole Digital Dynasty concept, something that´s been taken and use many other places. And he´s the best golf gaming writer around.
 
 Great to have you back, John.
 
 Jared

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 1:14 am

Welcome back to DSP, John.
 
 It´s an honor to work with one of the true pioneers and legends of sports gaming editorial on the Net.
 
 Fun times ahead!
 
 Take care,
 PK

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 1:02 pm

I´d like to see John pick up and start another digital dynasty. Maybe go through a season on the new Tiger Woods game.

samuel40 · Post by **samuel40** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 9:53 pm

all hail the master of the digital dynasty!!! hello john great to see you back in the business. you may not remember me but i rran the march madness megadome site a few years back. again glad to see you back and look forward to some interesting reads

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Sat Oct 26, 2002 6:59 am

Guys, I´m truly humbled by your comments. I never personally thought of myself as a "legend", but on the Internet, I guess anything is possible <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif"> Six years is a long time in this fickle cyberworld, in terms of website longevity.
 
 Jared succeeds at what he does because he "gets it"... he understand what´s at the core of video and computer gaming. He also knows how to convey that in his work in a manner that is both entertaining and instructive to the reader. I learned more about soccer by reading his work than watching soccer matches on ESPN 2!
 
 PK, I´ve followed your work here and at S/R... I can tell that we march to the beat of the same drummer. I´ve benefitted greatly from your knowledge of racing/driving games in particular. You´re a true credit to DSP!
 
 Kevin, having now played the demo of Tiger Woods 2003 on the PC, I can easily see myself adopting it as my mainstay where PC golf is concerned. I´ve been sort of wondering in the wilderness since TW 2002 let me down earlier this year. I can see myself pursuing the career path in that game if it holds form. Good idea! I´ll give it some serious thought. It´s a bit late for me to be starting a college football dynasty. I´m very seasonal about team sports games, and my passion would run out on me before I could finish it and do it justice. I´m still playing NCAA 2002 on the PS2. I´ve got to run out and buy NCAA 2003 before too much longer. 60 and 72 hour work weeks over the last 3 months haven´t left me a lot of time though.
 
 Samuel, I do indeed remember your March Madness Megadome site. I´m anticipating March Madness 2003 like no other in the series. I think we´re finally going to see MM shown and supported in the proper light. I´m passing on the NBA titles because I´m so confident that March Madness 2003 is going to deliver the basketball fix I truly want, at the proper time of the year. I really have a hard time putting on a basketball mindset until mid-December, or even later.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Oct 26, 2002 9:35 am

Thanks, John. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

Post by **Jared** » Mon Oct 28, 2002 6:41 pm

Thanks for the kind words John (though keep watching ESPN2 soccer....it needs support in the TV ratings....more viewers = more soccer on TV). Look forward to your next piece.