Here is an interesting telling of the history of the series (in an 8 page article). http://retro.ign.com/articles/948/948937p1.html
For most I am including additional links to the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laq9ua5VjTs&feature=PlayList&p=E9CC894AB428A9C8&index=1&playnext=2 done on Matt Chat. (Many have already seen these, but they are cool to watch twice )
I suppose that this thread can serve for discussion of the article (or the interview). Questions & opinions...