Steve Morgenstern, founding editor of Atari Age, has passed away

Veteran journalist Steve Morgenstern, who served as founding editor for Atari Age in 1982 and continued to write on a variety of subjects including games in the 30 years that followed, has passed away. Atari Age ran between 1982 and 1984 as an exclusive members-only magazine for the Atari Club. Publication ceased when Atari was sold off in 1984 to Commodore 64 manufacturer Jack Tramiel. Despite a short tenure, the publication is notable as being among the first magazines specific to games. Morgenstern subsequently worked as a contributor for countless publications including Men's Journal, Rolling Stone and Popular Science, where he reviewed games for multiple platforms and interviewed Steven Spielberg during one of the director's earlier ventures into the games market. Of his passing, former Nintendo marketing VP and personal acquaintance Perrin Kaplan wrote the following in a public entry on Facebook:

Stunned and saddened by today's news of losing our dear friend and journalistic guru Steve Morgenstern. For at least 15 years, if not longer, we pontificated about life and the industry as he wrote stories for Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, Popular Science, Cigar Aficionado and more. He was kind and interested when he interviewed me and we always had stimulating conversations. He loved his family and always shared his kids' progress. Smart, just like him. Loved you, still love you, we all still need you. We grew up our careers together. Fly lightly my friend.

We at Gamasutra extend our condolences to Mr. Morgenstern's friends, family and colleagues.