I'd personally like to welcome you to the return of ukVac on a new platform, fresh, up-to-date and all. Firstly, I apologise for the downtime far exceeding what we envisaged: but we wanted to get as much ported and preserved as we could, and this led to some unexpected delays.
But we're here now - you're seeing this on the new ‘Xenforo’ platform - ukVac 2.0 is finally here - well technically UkVac 3.0! … ukVac started as an internet "mailing list" in about 1997 (going by our archives for our earliest posts as we ported them into the forums several years ago). For those too young to recall the early days of the Internet we are basically talking about an email that was received and then sent onto everyone on the list as a "digest" daily. Creating the ukVac forums blew that away - and for literally decades we have all been using the same platform until NOW!
(ukVac Meet 1.0, Feb' 1997 ... I'd joined just a few weeks before and didn't manage to attend sadly)
(and my first "Meet from 2000"...)
So here we are, a giant step for Vac'dom - and I hope you like what you see - it’s been a long time coming: and for a start off I just want to take the opportunity to THANK EVRYONE who over the previous years that has donated and contributed to the Vac - all those kindly donated pennies has led to THIS migration and THIS moment - trust me, I never used a penny to buy the next cab! Honest ‘guv!
Having happily taken the task of writing this welcome (free to switch off now as I'm about to reminisce...).... ukVac outside the forums has had its own revolution in the time I've been party since its inception: "Back then", at the start, "Dedicated" cabs were those we saw as kids - and yes, the likes of Defenders and Space Invaders were imports - but as a country the UK (sorry, I know we are now a European/Worldwide forum but for those outside the UK please bear with me when I talk about the literal UK "VA" scene!...) we had very few and allot of licensed cabs to the likes of Sub-Electro, Electrocoin et al.
What is staggering is that these "home-grown" cabs are harder to find than anything these days. Since the ukVac started, the wealth and plethora of imported cabs from Europe and predominately the States is astounding. I don't know if I hold the badge for the "first collector importer" of a cab with my R-Type cab in 1997 but I'd be surprised if outside of the big boys like Atari, etc. anyone else had gone to the effort.
(My Son Jim, 2000 kicking Bydo Ass!)
That R-type cab epitomises the progression of ukVac.... It was bought off a guy - without pictures and pre-eBay - in the northern USA - transported to Canada to a friend I made via the #IRC chat channels back then (WhatsApp of old for the newbies), who power converted it to UK voltages by bolting in an Atari power block and working off theory alone - took 6 months to arrive - but low and behold - the UK’s [PERHAPS] FIRST dedicated import cab - this machine spent a decade at the Arcade Club so some/many might have played it - but now its come back home to this ukVaccer owner.... The first I think of its kind… Who will ever know…
Since then, so many cabs have been imported, so much richness to the scene has been generated and boosted the community, those prevalent characters have blossomed the scene and blessed us all with beautiful cabs - and as an old dinosaur - or as a fellow member tagged and badged me "Grand-daddy of it all" - it has been a pleasure to host and support the Vac into what is now - as a beginning member on the mailing list of something like member 8 or so - to see nearly 8000 members makes me proud, makes all this effort, this time, the ups and the downs, the goods and the bads, be all damn worth it and I can’t wait for you all to get excited by this new incarnation!
Thank you for your patience and hope its not been too hard in the “tundra” without ukVac – perhaps a glimpse of what it was like when ukVac first started ironically!) – anyhow, it is my most utmost pride and pleasure to stop waffling and let you enjoy the new ukVac!
To all the VacBackers, those who donated, those that religiously log in an contribute – you make this hobby – and don’t forget that!
(Revival 2013 ... )
Yours,
Rav
07/03/2023
But we're here now - you're seeing this on the new ‘Xenforo’ platform - ukVac 2.0 is finally here - well technically UkVac 3.0! … ukVac started as an internet "mailing list" in about 1997 (going by our archives for our earliest posts as we ported them into the forums several years ago). For those too young to recall the early days of the Internet we are basically talking about an email that was received and then sent onto everyone on the list as a "digest" daily. Creating the ukVac forums blew that away - and for literally decades we have all been using the same platform until NOW!
(ukVac Meet 1.0, Feb' 1997 ... I'd joined just a few weeks before and didn't manage to attend sadly)
(and my first "Meet from 2000"...)
So here we are, a giant step for Vac'dom - and I hope you like what you see - it’s been a long time coming: and for a start off I just want to take the opportunity to THANK EVRYONE who over the previous years that has donated and contributed to the Vac - all those kindly donated pennies has led to THIS migration and THIS moment - trust me, I never used a penny to buy the next cab! Honest ‘guv!
Having happily taken the task of writing this welcome (free to switch off now as I'm about to reminisce...).... ukVac outside the forums has had its own revolution in the time I've been party since its inception: "Back then", at the start, "Dedicated" cabs were those we saw as kids - and yes, the likes of Defenders and Space Invaders were imports - but as a country the UK (sorry, I know we are now a European/Worldwide forum but for those outside the UK please bear with me when I talk about the literal UK "VA" scene!...) we had very few and allot of licensed cabs to the likes of Sub-Electro, Electrocoin et al.
What is staggering is that these "home-grown" cabs are harder to find than anything these days. Since the ukVac started, the wealth and plethora of imported cabs from Europe and predominately the States is astounding. I don't know if I hold the badge for the "first collector importer" of a cab with my R-Type cab in 1997 but I'd be surprised if outside of the big boys like Atari, etc. anyone else had gone to the effort.
(My Son Jim, 2000 kicking Bydo Ass!)
That R-type cab epitomises the progression of ukVac.... It was bought off a guy - without pictures and pre-eBay - in the northern USA - transported to Canada to a friend I made via the #IRC chat channels back then (WhatsApp of old for the newbies), who power converted it to UK voltages by bolting in an Atari power block and working off theory alone - took 6 months to arrive - but low and behold - the UK’s [PERHAPS] FIRST dedicated import cab - this machine spent a decade at the Arcade Club so some/many might have played it - but now its come back home to this ukVaccer owner.... The first I think of its kind… Who will ever know…
Since then, so many cabs have been imported, so much richness to the scene has been generated and boosted the community, those prevalent characters have blossomed the scene and blessed us all with beautiful cabs - and as an old dinosaur - or as a fellow member tagged and badged me "Grand-daddy of it all" - it has been a pleasure to host and support the Vac into what is now - as a beginning member on the mailing list of something like member 8 or so - to see nearly 8000 members makes me proud, makes all this effort, this time, the ups and the downs, the goods and the bads, be all damn worth it and I can’t wait for you all to get excited by this new incarnation!
Thank you for your patience and hope its not been too hard in the “tundra” without ukVac – perhaps a glimpse of what it was like when ukVac first started ironically!) – anyhow, it is my most utmost pride and pleasure to stop waffling and let you enjoy the new ukVac!
To all the VacBackers, those who donated, those that religiously log in an contribute – you make this hobby – and don’t forget that!
(Revival 2013 ... )
Yours,
Rav
07/03/2023
