I've had ideas in my head for a long time now on what I would like to do for eComstation (eCS) community. There were ideas that I could learn to program in REXX, I played around with it briefly, and then dropped it. I tried Java, dropped it. Gave up on the whole idea.

I have worked on web sites though for years. I'm not the best, but I am not the worst. So I have been cooking ideas on making a site that promoted eCS. What would it be about? What would its focus be? Why would anyone give a rats ass?

I am a regular guy. I am not very technical and I have very little patience when it comes to installing programs and getting things work. In my head, they just should (work). I mean, why put all that work into making a program when you expect a typical user to install a program then put this .dll in this directory and that .dll in that directory. I have stopped more then one install saying screw that. I hate to think how long some people have put into making a program for people to enjoy, just to find out that people never got past the install.

I also like playing games. I have played games since the DOS days. I have fond memories of DOOM, Masters of Orion, X-Com, and many more. Today even, with a family, I do sneak twenty-thirty minutes playing something that I find off the Internet. eCS was never known for games, yes there were some games, but never anything that turned heads. Even with DOS compatibility, getting DOS games to run was a small exercise in patience, especially when it came to sound.

Today, eCS does not have a large market. I wish it did, but then again I wish I were a millionaire. Alas, I don’t think either of those wishes will becoming true anytime soon. So as my thought process continued, I thought, people are still using DOS, they are still running Windows 3.11 be it work or play. Yes, I am sure not a lot, very few. But I know A LOT of people play DOS games still, or have a favorite DOS/Windows 3.11 program they would love to run again.

And that was when I had my idea. eCS is a great platform, if you run it, you know that. But there needs to be a way to bridge that understanding with a need. People playing old DOS games is becoming more popular then ever, eCS should shine in that. eCS uses less physical resources then Windows XP or Vista, so people with slower computers used to working with DOS should be right at home.

Blue Nexus will be designed with these goals:

• Getting DOS, Windows 3.11, Java, and native eCS (OS/2) games working in eCS with no effort to the end user. This will also include emulators for consoles such as Atari, Sega, and Colecovision.
• Creating a database of ALL games that work on eCS (DOS, Windows 3.11, Java, and native eCS (OS/2)) on the website, this will include pictures, guides, books, and the programs themselves. This will also draw non-eCS users to the site and thus bring awareness to the eCS to people that have never heard of the OS.
• Work with websites such as Abandonia that already do a great job of archiving DOS programs and games. I do not want to replace them; I want to work with them but focus on eCS in the process, thus having a different draw.
• Help the eCS community focus ideas, everyone that uses eCS should not look at it as just working with an OS, it is working with a close family. I believe everyone should pitch in somehow. Some people can lend time, some money, some with skills. This site will assist in showing people how they can become active but not eat into their lives.
• Work with, not against other eCS websites. Blue Nexus will not report on daily eCS news besides some of the larger stories such as the release day of eCS 2.0. I will focus on games working with eCS. There are much better eCS sites that will do a much better job. I will not have forums if I can help it, I would rather “push” people to another eCS forums such as OS/2 World’s where there is a very knowledgeable group already looking over people there.

I am excited with eCS's future and I want to show my thanks to the team of people that make it happen. I have the date for this site coming live right after eCS 2.0 goes Gold.

Craig Miller
Webmaster - Blue Nexus
www.bluenexus.net