Hey, Atari fans and retro-coders!

The back-to-school season has us feeling nostalgic and inspired. We remember thumbing through COMPUTE!’s Gazette for the latest type-in programs, dreaming of what our machines could do. Today, that potential has expanded in ways we could only imagine in 1983, thanks to incredible modern hardware like the FujiNet platform.

FujiNet brings Wi-Fi and a universe of networked peripherals to our beloved Atari 8-bit computers. But with great power comes great opportunity! To spark the next wave of innovation, COMPUTE!’s Gazette Magazine is officially launching an essay competition! We want you to be the visionary. We want you to dream up the future.

The grand prize winner will receive a brand new FujiNet Adapter for the Atari 8-bit family of computers and will have their winning essay published in a future issue of COMPUTE!’s Gazette Magazine!

Essay Theme: “The Next Chapter: Reimagining the Atari 8-bit for a Networked Era”

This is your chance to go beyond just reminiscing. We want you to write a compelling essay (approximately 1000 words) that explores the exciting, untapped potential of the Atari 8-bit computer now that it’s connected to the internet. Don’t just tell us that it’s cool; tell us what you would do with it.

We encourage you to think big! Your essay could explore:

New Software Genres: What kind of games, utilities, or applications become possible? Think about simple Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs (MMORPGs), networked productivity tools, or collaborative art programs that use the Atari’s unique graphics and sound.

Modernizing Classic Concepts: How could you reinvent the Bulletin Board System (BBS) for the modern age? What would a real-time, multi-user version of Star Raiders look like?

Bridging the Digital Divide: Could a networked Atari be a platform for new kinds of social media, distributed computing projects, or tools for learning to code?

The “Why”: Beyond the technical challenge, why is it important to keep developing for these classic platforms? What is the philosophical and cultural value of writing a new chapter for the Atari story?

Contest Rules & Guidelines

Eligibility: The contest is open to all readers and enthusiasts of classic computing worldwide – no purchase or subscription necessary!

Essay Prompt: All submissions must address the theme: “The Next Chapter: Reimagining the Atari 8-bit for a Networked Era.”

Length: Essays should be approximately 1000 words. A little over or under is perfectly fine.

Format: Please submit your essay in one of the following formats: Email, Plain Text (.txt), OpenOffice (.ods), Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx).

Submission: Email your entry to contests@computesgazette.com with the subject line “FujiNet Essay Contest Submission”. Please include your full name and the city/country you’re writing from in the body of the email.

Deadline: All entries must be received by 11:59 PM (CST) on October 15, 2025.

Judging Criteria: Essays will be judged by the COMPUTE!’s Gazette editorial staff based on:

Creativity & Originality: How inspiring and innovative are your ideas?

Technical Vision: Do you show an understanding of the FujiNet’s capabilities and how they could be practically (or imaginatively!) applied?

Passion & Enthusiasm: Does your love for the Atari platform shine through?

Quality of Writing: Clarity, style, and overall readability.

The winner will be announced in early November. We can’t wait to read your visions for the future of one of our favorite 8-bit machines. It’s time to prove that the adventure continues!

Good luck, and happy writing!

— The Editors, COMPUTE!’s Gazette Magazine
https://www.computesgazette.com/
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FujiNet is a public project with lots of end points.
More information on FujiNet can be found at: https://fujinet.online/
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Completed Ready-To-Go FujiNet Adapters are available for purchase at: https://www.fvresearch.com/
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