Genic

History

In 1988/1989 Ronald Zijlstra, Bas Labruyere and Michiel Vleugel found great MSX fanatics in each other and made plans to create a club uniting more MSX fans for sharing, creating and enjoying software. This would eventually result on 1 July 1989 in the RBM MSX/MSX2(+)/FM-PAC Club, though it was also known under a different name. An idea was conceived to create a digital magazine on a 3.5" disk, about six times per year, to which people could take a subscription by joining the club. The magazine proved popular, it had a flying start. The name was later changed to the Genic foundation. Genic stands for Global English Network Info Center. New members were typically found on MSX-fairs like Zandvoort and Tilburg. Because of the enormous energy and enthusiasm which was put in by the founders and people around them, the club had almost 500 members shortly after its start.

Members

Primary

• Bas Labruyere
• Ronald Zijlstra
• Rudolf Poels
• Ronald Egas
• John-Robin Smith (graphics)
• Stefan Boer (text writer)
• Róman vd Meulen (code, music, graphics, text writer)
• Ernst Schüller (music)
• Michel Shuqair
• Michiel Spoor (code, text writer)

Secondary

• Peter Meulendijks
• Jaap Hoogendijk
• Bas Kornalijnslijper
• Jan Smit
• Tom Manders
• Erik Bos
• Hyung Akkerman
• Hans Cramm
• Eelco Wicherts
• Rob Geerings
• Alexander Postma
• Wiebe Slootstra
• Jan-Willem Roorda
• Michiel Vleugel
• Pascal Holthuijsen
• Peter Hanraets
• M. Woud
• Michel Kerkhoven

Productions

Clubguide Diskmagazine

The disk magazine was named Clubguide, and it turned out to be a revolutionary concept at that time. The first edition was released on september 30, 1989. The magazine contained news, articles, software, music, graphics and other MSX related goods. Next to the regular Clubguide Magazine there were also a few Clubguide Special edition magazines released which mainly focused on the technical part of MSX, targeted at developers. Later on, the sister disk magazine Clubguide Picturedisk was introduced and, initially, focused mainly on graphics and music.

Every ClubGuide Magazine features an intro and presents two options, one for the magazine and one for the software. Every disk had a exclusive introduction demo.

• Clubguide Magazine 01 (1989)
• Clubguide Magazine 02 (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine 03 (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine 04 (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine 05 (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine 06 (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine Compilation (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine 07 (1990)
• Clubguide Magazine 08 (1991)
• Clubguide Special 01 (1991)
• Clubguide Magazine 09 (1991)
• Clubguide Magazine 10 (1991)
• Clubguide Magazine 11 (1991)
• Clubguide Special 02 (1991)
• Clubguide Magazine 12 (1991)

Clubguide Picturedisk

Clubguide Picturedisk was a bi-monthly disk magazine filled with demos, promos and news from the MSX demo scene. Its audience was international though most of its contents was made by Dutch groups and individuals. As the name implies, the first two picture disks were purely filled with... pictures. Showing of MSX's graphical possibilities.

Every disk had an unique "frequency selector", where you could choose to run the disk on either 50 or 60Hz, an intro demo and a demo selection menu. Starting from Clubguide Picturedisk 8 the demo selection concept was changed from a static menu to a game menu. Again, each disk has its unique game menu.

Genic released eleven picture disks in total.

• Clubguide Picturedisk 01 (1990)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 02 (1990)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 03 (1990)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 04 (1990)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 05 (1990)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 06 (1990)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 07 (1991)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 08 (1991)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 09 (1991)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 10 (1991)
• Clubguide Picturedisk 11 (1991)

Genic Software

• KIng's Valley II Collection #1 (GS01 - 1990)
• KIng's Valley II Collection #2 (GS02 - 1990)
• Dynamic Publisher Stripcollection (GS03 - 1990)
• Idiomatic (GS04 - 1991)
• Squeek (GS05 - 1991)
• First Rate Music Hall (GS06 - 1991)

Importing MSX products from Japan

Genic was growing bigger, extending their activities to importing cartridges, magazines and other gadgets from Japan. The release of Panasonic's MSX turbo R was a Japanese affair, there had been no plans to release an European MSX turbo R. Genic started importing the turbo R to Europe, it marked the beginning of the end for Genic. The financial and organisational management of hundreds of members was a leap too far for two sixteen year old lads.

In this ad, which was published in several MSX-magazines in 1991, a girl is showing an Panasonic MSX turbo R machine. The shoot was arranged for Genic by Jaap Boomsma of the MSX-Center in Amsterdam.

People could pay upfront for the import of the MSX turbo R machines. Because the machine ordered by (now openMSX developer) Wouter Vermaelen didn't arrive even after nine months after the order, he contacted the Dutch consumer programme Kieskeurig which made an item about Genic on national TV, april 1st, 1992. Shortly after, Genic joined forces with MSX Club Rijnstreek under the new found name Sunrise.