1093 lines
58 KiB
Plaintext
1093 lines
58 KiB
Plaintext
ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
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º º
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ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ º
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ɼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º
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º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û º
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ɼ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÛ Û º
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º ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º
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º º
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º ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º
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Éͼ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º
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º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û º
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ɼ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º
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º º
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ÉÍͼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÉÍÍͼ
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º Û Ü Ü Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ ÜÛ Û ßÛÛ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º
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ɼ Û Û Û Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÜÛßÜÛÛÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ Û ÛÜß Û Û ÜÜÜÛÜ º
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ɼ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º
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ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÊÍÍÍ»
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º December 1994 Volume 2 Number 12 º
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ÇÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ
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º Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida (813) 862-4772 º
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ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
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In This Issue
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-------------
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þ The History of the ONE BBSCON
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þ Surfing the Boards - by Paul Pollack
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þ Advanced Xoru door game review - by Matt Holden
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þ 28.8, The New Modems Arrive
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þ Updated BBS Glossary
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þ Computer humor and much more!
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+ + + + +
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Editor's Welcome
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----------------
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Well, welcome to the last issue of 1994. As we approached the end of the
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year, I want to take a second to wish all of you the happiest of holiday
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seasons!
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This month we continue our comprehensive coverage of the upcoming ONE BBSCON
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next summer in downtown Tampa, with a look at the history of the event. Paul
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Pollack has a feature called "Surfing the Boards," which takes a look at some
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of what can be found in the BBS world. I also wish to thank Paul for the kind
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words about the Board of Trade BBS. Thanks also go out to Matt Holden for his
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review of the door game Advanced Xoru. This issue also has a look at the new
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28.8 modems and features an updated BBS Glossary. Also, beginning with this
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issue, we will carry extractions from ROTFL Digest! This on-line humor
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magazine has been around for awhile, and I want to thank editor Sandy Illes
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for allowing the reproduction of some of their computer related humor.
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Thanks for reading, and thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue!
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+ + + + +
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ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
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³ PASCO BBS MAGAZINE ³
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ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
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³ EDITOR: Richard Ziegler ³
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ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
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³ HOME BBS: Board of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772 ³
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ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´
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³ File request current issue under magic file name PBM. ³
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ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
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+ + + + +
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History of the ONE BBSCON
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-------------------------
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Jack Rickard, editor of Boardwatch Magazine, and Phil Becker, President of
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eSoft, Inc., formed ONE, Inc. (Online Networking Expositions, Incorporated) as
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a vehicle to host the first ONE BBSCON in 1992. Jack Rickard serves as
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President of ONE, Inc. and Phil Becker acts as Secretary/Treasurer. These two
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men created, and have nurtured, the Online Networking Exposition and BBS
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Convention, better known as the ONE BBSCON. The event has grown by leaps and
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bounds over its three year history and the future looks amazingly bright as
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the event heads to Tampa in 1995. This article touches on some of the history
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of what has become the largest gathering of telecommunication enthusiasts to
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be held each year.
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The birth of the ONE BBSCON goes back to August of 1991, when an event known
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as FIDOCON91 was held in Denver. At ONE BBSCON '94, Phil Becker talked about
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that first BBS related convention. "There was fortuitous FIDOCON in Denver.
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Which didn't look like a fortuitous event to either Jack or I when it
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happened, because it was happening in our town and we were going to get roped
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into it and we weren't real sure we wanted to be involved in it. In fact, it
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is sort of part of what pushed us into doing ONE BBSCON." Rickard and Becker
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did the first "Jack and Phil Show" at that FIDOCON and went on to make an
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American success story out of the ONE BBSCON.
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The first ONE BBSCON was held the year after the FIDOCON91 at an airport hotel
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in Denver. There were 950 people at that first time event. The second year
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almost 2,000 attended the show, which was held 70 miles south in a resort
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hotel in suburban Colorado Springs. For the third convention, almost 4,000
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people showed up in downtown Atlanta. Phil Becker has told the editor of the
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Pasco BBS Magazine that "this thing is growing at such a curve. I would say
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that the way we're growing and going, in Tampa we will probably have 7,000 to
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8,000 at least." For many Sysops a BBSCON is not only a business trip, but
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looked upon as a vacation. The first two events were held in the majestic
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natural beauty of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. 1993's event was held at a
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sprawling high class resort at the base of Pike's Peak, which provides the
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splendid scenery that inspired the song "God Bless America." While the
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downtown Atlanta site may not quite have had the same type of atmosphere,
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downtown Tampa should provide for a wonderful setting. Those of you who are
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familiar with the Convention Center, Harbour Island, Franklin Street area know
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what I mean. Below are the dates and sites of the first three BBSCONs.
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ONE BBSCON '92 August 13-16, 1992 Stouffer Concourse Hotel, Denver
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ONE BBSCON '93 August 25-29, 1993 The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs
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ONE BBSCON '94 August 17-21, 1994 Marriott Marquis Hotel & Inforum, Atlanta
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The ONE BBSCON Executive Advisory Board was created from the beginning to
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represent all the various viewpoints in the on-line world. As Jack Rickard
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stated at a previous ONE BBSCON, "if we dream it up out of one person's mind,
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it's naturally going to be a very narrow type view. So, one of the things we
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wanted to do with ONE BBSCON is include all the views and all the activities."
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That philosophy is the major underlying theme behind the success of the ONE
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BBSCON. Below are the members of the Executive Advisory Board for the first
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three conventions.
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ONE BBSCON '92 Executive Advisory Board
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Jim Harrer, President, Mustang Software
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Fred Clark, President, Clark Development Company, Inc.
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Tim Stryker, President, Galacticomm, Inc.
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Steven Laliberte, Director, BIX Online Services
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Jim C. Warren, MicroTimes and Autodesk, Inc.
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Dave Hughes Sr., President, Old Colorado City Communications
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John C. Dvorak, Columnist, PC Magazine
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Stan Hirschman, Vice President, Store Operations, Software Etc.
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ONE BBSCON '93 Executive Advisory Board
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Jim Harrer, President, Mustang Software
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Fred Clark, President, Clark Development Company, Inc.
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Tim Stryker, President, Galacticomm, Inc.
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Steven Laliberte, Director, BIX Online Services
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Jim C. Warren, MicroTimes and Autodesk, Inc.
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Dave Hughes Sr., President, Old Colorado City Communications
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John C. Dvorak, Columnist, PC Magazine
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Stan Hirschman, Vice President, Store Operations, Software Etc.
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Lance Rose, LOL Enterprises
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ONE BBSCON '94 Executive Advisory Board
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Jim Harrer, President, Mustang Software
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Jim C. Warren, MicroTimes and Autodesk, Inc.
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Dave Hughes Sr., President, Old Colorado City Communications
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John C. Dvorak, Columnist, PC Magazine
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Stan Hirschman, Vice President, Store Operations, Software Etc.
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Scott Brinker, President and CEO, Galacticomm, Inc.
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Lance Rose, LOL Productions
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Michael Greenbaum, General Manager, Prodigy Services Company
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The keynote speaker is the last one to talk at Thursday morning's Opening
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Session and that address sets the tone for the rest of the event. Only a few
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of the biggest names in the on-line world have had the honor of giving the
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keynote address at ONE BBSCON. Below are the gentlemen who have had that
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distinction.
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ONE BBSCON '92 Keynote Speaker - John C. Dvorak
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ONE BBSCON '93 Keynote Speaker - Jim C. Warren
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ONE BBSCON '94 Keynote Speaker - Dennis C. Hayes
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The educational sessions are one of the major facets of ONE BBSCON and the
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number of sessions has more than doubled over the three year history of the
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event. The sessions are arranged in tracks, which have evolved over the three
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conventions. The BBS Software track has grown to include numerous BBS
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software packages, some of which people may not have heard of prior to the
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BBSCON. The connectivity issues have evolved from sessions on how to hook up
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a BBS to the traditional BBS based networks like FidoNet, to numerous
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sessions on how to get hooked into the Internet. Of course, there are some
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sessions which continue to be popular since the first BBSCON. The How to
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Make Money with a BBS session, better known as the Jack and Phil show, is now
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a BBSCON tradition. On-line legal expert Lance Rose headed up a track on the
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legal aspects of bulletin boards at the first ONE BBSCON, and this track has
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continued to expand with each ensuing convention. Below are the approximate
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number of educational sessions which have been held at the previous events.
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ONE BBSCON '92 Educational Sessions - nearly 75
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ONE BBSCON '93 Educational Sessions - over 130
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ONE BBSCON '94 Educational Sessions - over 170
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The ONE BBSCON has grown up over the last three years and offers new and
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exciting things each year. The trade show part of the event, the vendor
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exhibits, have grown in size each year. It is possible that close to 200
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vendors could be displaying their products at the Tampa event. But, BBSCON
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still remains reasonably priced. ONE, Inc. has offered an early registration,
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for those who sign up prior to May 1, which has stayed at the same price the
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last two years. While the registration fees have not been announced for ONE
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BBSCON '95, they are not expected to increase. Below is what it cost for
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early registration over the first three events.
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ONE BBSCON '92 Early Registration - $125.00
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ONE BBSCON '93 Early Registration - $175.00
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ONE BBSCON '94 Early Registration - $175.00
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Perhaps, as the event continues to grow, the intimacy enjoyed at the early
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conventions held in mountains of Colorado will be treasured as the last
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bastions of on-line innocence. There is little doubt, in the minds of most of
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those who have been lucky enough to attend a ONE BBSCON, that it is one of the
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friendliest conventions you will ever come across. At ONE BBSCON '93, popular
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computer columnist John Dvorak joked that he could see a day when 15,000
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people would attend the event, which would make Jack Rickard a very rich man.
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His comment has the potential to become prophecy.
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Editor's Note: The Pasco BBS Magazine will continue to cover the ONE BBSCON
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as it heads for the Tampa Convention Center August 16-20, 1995. Look for more
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coverage of the most exciting event in the history of the Tampa Bay on-line
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community in next month's issue.
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+ + + + +
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ÕÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑѸ
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ÆØØØØØØØØØØØ Board of Trade BBS ØØØØØØØØØص
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ÆØØØØØØØØØ New Port Richey, Florida ØØØØØØØص
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ÆØØØØØØØ (813) 862-4772 FidoNet 1:3619/10 ØØØØØص
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ÆØØØØØ ØØØص
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ÆØØØ Home of the Pasco BBS Magazine Øص
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ÆØ Øµ
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³ Home of Shadoware ³
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³ ³
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³ Home of the New 813 BBS Directory ³
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³ ³
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ÆØ Official Support BBS for Pasco ComPats Computer Club ص
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ÆØØØ ØØص
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ÆØØØØØ Member ØØØØص
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ÆØØØØØØØ Pasco Sysop's Association ØØØØØØص
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ÆØØØØØØØØØ Electronic Frontier Foundation ØØØØØØØص
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ÆØØØØØØØØØØØ American BBS Association ØØØØØØØØØص
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ÔÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏϾ
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+ + + + +
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Surfing the Boards
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------------------
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Written by Paul Pollack, author of GamePlay, New Port Richey, FL
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Edited by Alex Thomas, editor of GamePlay, New Port Richey, FL
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Catchy title, huh? Wasn't that punny? OK, enough with the dumb jokes.
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Surfing the boards is an article about BBSs in general, with a special focus
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on electronic gaming. Most of the information will be adequate wherever you
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live, but there may be an occasional note/emphasis about BBSs in my area (New
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Port Richey, FL).
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BBSs, or Bulletin Board Services, have caught on in a big way recently, and
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with the explosion of the Internet, more people are checking out BBSs than
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ever before. But why should you and I care about this? The answer is clear.
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BBSs are filled with tons of files, online games, doors, people to chat with,
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and much, much, more. Since this (GamePlay) is a gaming magazine, I'll really
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concentrate on gaming, although there will be a significant amount of
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information about the other aspects too.
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BBSs offer a wide variety of service to basically anyone with a few
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peripherals. To access the wide-world of BBSs you'll need a modem (it's
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almost a requirement these days to have a 2400, and a 14400 is a lot better),
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a computer, a telecommunications program, and a hard drive. Actually, you
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don't need a hard drive, but else you really can't store many of the bigger
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programs that you download. When you log onto a BBS, you're usually treated
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with an ANSI/RIP screen giving the name of the BBS, and asking for your
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name/handle and password. First of all, most of you should be familiar with
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BBSs, if you're reading this you probably downloaded it from a BBS in your
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area or a major online service. Just in case you're not familiar with a
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handle, a handle is an identity you take on a BBS that others on the BBS
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know you as. Since I don't like getting complicated, my handle on most BBSs
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is simply Paul Pollack. After that you enter your password and finally get
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onto the BBS.
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Once on to a BBS, the approach and software the BBS takes/uses varies widely.
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There are many BBS programs out there, ranging from the ever-popular Wildcat
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to the lesser-known VBBS (which was written in QB 4.5, for your information [I
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think]). Usually, many of the latest versions of these BBS software programs
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include RIP graphics support, a type of graphical interface used to access the
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different functions of a BBS.
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But I've gotten ahead of myself. I said to access a BBS you need a
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telecommunications program, a program that will allow you to use your modem
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to dial an online service. There are many different telecommunications
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packages out there, and many excellent choices. I recommend either of two
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excellent programs, Telix, and Ripterm. Both Telix and Ripterm are easy
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to set up and use, with no frustrating and arcane commands. Where Ripterm
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excels is in its ability to display RIP (short for ripscrip) graphics IF
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the BBS supports it.
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When you finally arrive at the main menu of a BBS there are many pathways that
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you could take. On most BBSs there will be a file section, a message section,
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a doors/online games section, and a teleconference or chat section, not to
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mention a few sections unique to that particular BBS. For our purposes we'll
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concentrate mainly on the doors/online games section and the file section, the
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chat section will be covered extensively in one of my other articles. At the
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menu, you'll probably be asked to click on your choice (if it's a ripscrip
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screen) or to enter the first letter of your choice (if it's an ANSI screen).
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After going to the online games/doors menu, you'll see a number of Rip-based/
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ANSI based games, the most popular of which is TradeWars 2002. Many online
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doors allow you to compete against other players, although not in real time.
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In the online games section you'll usually find all kinds of games, from
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trivia games like Star Trek trivia, to strategy games like Kannons (yes,
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that's how it's spelled) and Katapults. The games that aren't multiplayer
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either pit you against yourself (like the trivia games) or the computer (like
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the previously mentioned strategy games). Many of the games are pretty fun,
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but the ANSI graphics that plague most of them will undoubtedly turn some
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folks off. Now we move on to our main focus, the file section.
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In the file section of the BBS, you'll see a variety of software up for grabs,
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including some very good games. Unfortunately, most of the files that are on
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BBSs aren't really that good (I could use other words, but I don't know who
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reads this magazine, therefore I won't), but many others are. In fact, much
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of GamePlay magazine was created with freeware/shareware products. If you
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have a modem, almost any shareware program imaginable can be found on one BBS
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or another. Let's say you want to find an audio-CD player for your CD-ROM.
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Just go into your telecommunications program, dial up a local BBS, and search
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through the different areas and files available. Chances are that at least
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one BBS in your area will have the files you're looking for. I know that at
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least one board in my area has a few CD players to download.
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What else can you find on BBSs today. Let's get back to our main focus,
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gaming. On BBSs today there are all sorts of games on-line that range from
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great to not so great (I'm not going to start using expletives). Some of the
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best games on BBSs are listed in my "Top 10" and "Best Commercial Game Demos"
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in the article menu, and I even have a mention of where to find many of my
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game add-ons. On the other hand, many of the games that are out there on BBSs
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|
are so dated, that no one will ever download them. On to the CD-ROM areas.
|
|
On a CD-ROM you can store six-hundred megabytes of information, more than 400
|
|
high-density disks! Many times you'll find a ton of good shareware on these
|
|
CDs, but the problem arises when a BBS keeps using an old CD-ROM. Basically
|
|
no one finds any new programs interesting on it, and it can't be updated since
|
|
you can't write to a CD. I've seen one CD that's been on the same BBS for a
|
|
few years now and it dates back to before Windows 3.1 was released.
|
|
|
|
What I find neat about the Board of Trade BBS and others like it is that you
|
|
can perform a "Zippy Dir" scan which enables you to search all the directories
|
|
for a game that has a description with those words in it. Thus, if you wanted
|
|
to find a neat 3D game, you'd go to the Zippy Dir scan and type 3D, then
|
|
search all the directories. I've done this a lot, but many of the games I've
|
|
found are like "3-Demon," an old CGA "ten-step" Pac-man game. Some games,
|
|
like Billy the Kid, use 3D in the description but aren't 3D games at all.
|
|
When you're downloading a game, remember that the author of the game is the
|
|
one who probably uploaded it and typed in the description. I know that I love
|
|
GamePlay, but others may not think the description appropriate. Shareware
|
|
authors tend to hype their products, and you'll often find old EGA titles
|
|
hidden underneath a great description.
|
|
|
|
While on the subject of game descriptions, I'd like to bring up an interesting
|
|
anecdote that happened to me on a BBS once. I was on a BBS and I saw a game
|
|
with a description that went something like this: "a game with good graphics."
|
|
So, like a lot of other people (because it made the top downloads list, so I
|
|
know I wasn't the only one fooled) I downloaded the program. Unfortunately, I
|
|
should have looked at the ZIP and guessed what it was and then I wouldn't have
|
|
to go through this. Anyway, it turned out to be Apogee's Word Rescue program
|
|
meant for really young kids. Think about it, Word Rescue got around thirty
|
|
downloads just from putting a description of "a game with good graphics." I
|
|
oughta try that with GamePlay (just kidding). Just keep in mind that the
|
|
description the author gives you is not necessarily the correct description of
|
|
the program, and that's one reason why GamePlay includes file descriptions and
|
|
not just lists.
|
|
|
|
Another nice aspect of BBSs is the teleconference available on multi-line BBSs
|
|
which enable you to chat real-time between you and the other users.
|
|
Unfortunately, even on a local BBS that said that it was for people of all
|
|
ages, I found the people at the teleconference talking about some more
|
|
(im)mature topics. Let's just say that you wouldn't want your five-year old
|
|
to hear it. Some people in the teleconference aren't very mature at all
|
|
mentally, and many of the people talking about these immature topics are still
|
|
in school, which gives a horrific idea of the future of America. One of the
|
|
few things I do like about chatting on BBSs is that you don't take into
|
|
account what the person looks like, you take into account how the person acts,
|
|
and then, after meeting the person in real life, you actually know them, and
|
|
you disregard the split-second subconscious judgements you make about how they
|
|
look.
|
|
|
|
On a related topic is chatting with the sysop, which can range from a fairly
|
|
pleasant experience provided he's a nice sysop (Board of Trade, for example)
|
|
to a downright ugly experience (I'm not going to mention any BBS for fear of
|
|
being sued for this one). On some BBSs, the sysop will make derogatory
|
|
comments to you, and give you long explanations about why you can't even
|
|
upload anything and then ask you to voice verify. Most sysops are pretty much
|
|
OK and shouldn't bother you too much, and most of the good conversation on
|
|
BBSs are with the sysops rather than other users.
|
|
|
|
But now the question everyone's has been waiting for: What do I like in a
|
|
BBS. I'll give you an example and hopefully it'll answer the question. I
|
|
used to thoroughly enjoy calling a BBS called Gateways. It, like all the BBSs
|
|
I like, had a friendly sysop, lots of files, tons of doors, and well-split up
|
|
file sections. Not only did he have one for games, but one for top-10 games.
|
|
Not only did it have online doors, but around forty of them. There were a lot
|
|
of neat files there, but since it wasn't receiving enough support, it closed
|
|
down. Nowadays I enjoy calling the Board of Trade BBS, available at (813)
|
|
862-4772. It has tons of games, doors, and is an official distribution sight
|
|
for I don't know how many gaming companies (Apogee, ID, Epic MegaGames to name
|
|
a few). In case you didn't get the message, the main thing I look for in a
|
|
BBS is the files, particularly updated and new files.
|
|
|
|
All things considered, the world of BBSs is a compelling world, and one that's
|
|
well worth the price of admission. The games you play, the files you
|
|
download, and most importantly, the people you meet all contribute to the BBS
|
|
experience.
|
|
|
|
Editor's Note: Thanks again to Paul Pollack for another great article. The
|
|
above is from GamePlay version 8.0 and make sure to look for more from Paul in
|
|
next month's Pasco BBS Magazine. He has also assembled over 50 of the best
|
|
Shareware programs on 16 jam packed disks, which is available for only $30
|
|
(the price includes all shipping and handling). For further information on
|
|
this Shareware collection contact Gator's Place BBS (813) 376-0087. Paul can
|
|
also be reached at Dr. Duck's BBS (813) 849-3562 and the Board of Trade BBS
|
|
(813) 862-4772.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
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|
ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
|
|
º ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ º
|
|
º ßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ßßßß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ÖÄÒÄ· Ö · ÖÄÄ· Ö¿ Ò ÖÄÄ· Ò Ò ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º º ÇÄĶ ÇÄ ºÀ¿º ÇÄ ºÖ·º ßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º Ð Ð Ð ÓÄĽ Ð À½ ÓÄĽ Ó½Ó½ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º
|
|
º Ö· · ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ ÖÄ· ÞÛÛßÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ÖÐз º Ķ ÇÄÁ¿ ÇÄÁ¿ ÓÄÄ· ß ÜÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ ÓÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ ÓÄĽ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º
|
|
º ÒÄÄ¿ Ò ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ¿Ò Â ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßÛÛÛÛÝ º
|
|
º º ³ º ÇÄÂÙ ÇÄ º º º º ÇÄÂÙÓÄÒÄÙ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ÐÄÄÙ Ð Ð Á ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ Ð Á Ð ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º
|
|
º Editor and Founder: VOICE:(813) 938-6975 ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º
|
|
º Clark D. Gilbo DATA:(813) 862-4772 ßÛÛÛß º
|
|
º FAX:(813) 938-6975* ÜÜþ º
|
|
º ÜÜßßßß º
|
|
º º
|
|
º 4348 Plaza Drive, Suite #V103, Holiday, Florida 34690 º
|
|
ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͹
|
|
º * TO SEND FAX, Call VOICE First, so I can setup the Fax..Thanks º
|
|
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
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|
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+ + + + +
|
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|
|
Hallways
|
|
--------
|
|
|
|
by Matt Holden, Sysop, Storm's Fury BBS, New Port Richey, FL
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the second Hallway segment. Thanks for reading it! This month, we
|
|
are reviewing Advanced Xoru by Castle Technologies. We are planning on doing
|
|
several role play games in a series. The first was last month, in our first
|
|
edition, the review of Mines of Gorr by S. Jibben. Well, here's what we
|
|
thought of Advanced Xoru.
|
|
|
|
ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
|
|
º Advanced Xoru º
|
|
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Latest version known: ] 5.94
|
|
Filename: ] AXRUD594.ZIP
|
|
Registration: ] $45
|
|
Author: ] Castle Technologies
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Available on:
|
|
The Storm's Fury BBS: (813) 843-8905/849-2272
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Door Types:
|
|
[X] Role Playing [X] Action [ ] Strategy [ ] Futuristic
|
|
[X] Adventure [X] Midevil [ ] Sports [ ] Trivia
|
|
[ ] War [ ] Space [ ] Casino [ ] Trading
|
|
[ ] TV Show [ ] Board Game [ ] Humorous [ ] Empire-building
|
|
[ ] Crime [ ] Simulation [ ] Word Game [ ] Rewrite of another game
|
|
[ ] Other:
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Graphics: [X] ASCII [X] ANSI [ ] RIP [ ] EGA [ ] Soundblaster [X] Terminal
|
|
Term Program filename, if applicable: [ NOT GIVEN ]
|
|
|
|
Multinode Support: [X] YES [ ] NO
|
|
FOSSIL Required: [ ] YES [X] NO
|
|
Door Files Supported:
|
|
|
|
[ ] DOOR.SYS SHORT VERSION [X] PCBOARD.SYS [ ] GTUSER.BBS
|
|
[X] DORINFOx.DEF [ ] PCBOARD.DAT [ ] JUMPER.DAT
|
|
[X] DOOR.SYS LONG VERSION [ ] CALLINFO.BBS [X] AUNTIE.SYS
|
|
[ ] SFDOORS.DAT [ ] TRIBBS.SYS [ ] INFO.BBS
|
|
[ ] CHAIN.TXT [ ] USERINFO.TXT [ ] USERINFO.XBS
|
|
[ ] OTHER:
|
|
|
|
Required Runtime Libraries:
|
|
[ ] BRUN25.EXE [ ] BRUN30.EXE [ ] BRUN45.EXE
|
|
[ ] BRT71EFR.EXE [ ] DORPCH38.EXE [ ] SHARE.EXE
|
|
[ ] OTHER:
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
---Reviews---
|
|
|
|
All categories are scored on a scale of 1 - 10 or - if it does not apply.
|
|
|
|
Reviewer 1: Matt Holden
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Graphics: [ 4 ] Comments:
|
|
Playability: [ 6 ] Not very graphical, and the commands were hard to
|
|
Speed: [ 9 ] figure out, but well worth the time to do it.. Not
|
|
Sound: [ 7 ] sure its worth every penny of $49.95 for registration
|
|
Interesting: [ 10 ] though.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Reviewer 2: Dan Skelton
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Graphics: [ 2 ] Comments:
|
|
Playability: [ 4 ] This game is a little difficult to figure out
|
|
Speed: [ 5 ] at first, but is similar to others when you get
|
|
Sound: [ 5 ] the hang of it. Needs better graphics and sound
|
|
Interesting: [ 7 ] to be complete.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Reviewer 3: Chad Day
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Graphics: [ 8 ] Comments:
|
|
Playability: [ 8 ] Probably the fourth best door I have ever played!
|
|
Speed: [ 8 ]
|
|
Sound: [ 8 ]
|
|
Interesting: [ 8 ]
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Our conclusions:
|
|
|
|
Average Graphics Score: 5
|
|
Average Playability Score: 6
|
|
Average Speed Score: 7
|
|
Average Sound Score: N/A 7
|
|
Average Interest Score: 8
|
|
|
|
Worth registering: YES [ ] NO [ X ]
|
|
|
|
Next Month's Door: [ Aladdin's Lamp Adventure]
|
|
|
|
Thanx to Dan and Chad for playing Advanced Xoru for me. CYa Next Month!!!
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
28.8, The New Modems Arrive
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
|
|
When USRobotics released their new 28.8 Courier Dual Standards the Monday
|
|
before ONE BBSCON '94, I was one of the hundreds of system operators who lined
|
|
up to purchase them at the Sysop discounted price of $199 each. The BBSCON
|
|
ran August 17-21 and the modems were to be shipped within three or four weeks.
|
|
My two brand new Duals were delivered on September 28, but there was no one
|
|
home to sign for them, so I actually did not have them in hand until the next
|
|
day. When Sysops upgrade their modems, especially when doubling the speed
|
|
from 14.4 to 28.8, it is one of the few times they can feel like a new user
|
|
again.
|
|
|
|
When I got home from work, I quickly opened the box containing one of the new
|
|
modems. Well, maybe not as quickly as I would have liked. As any Sysop can
|
|
tell you, there is plenty of daily maintenance which has to be done before any
|
|
new projects can even be considered. So, after answering mail, checking new
|
|
files, upgrading new callers and all the rest, I could finally attack those
|
|
FedEx packages. I cast aside all the manuals and other stuff. I wondered
|
|
where the T-shirts were that, as I was promised by the USRobotics
|
|
representative at ONE BBSCON, would be shipped with the modems. I would worry
|
|
about that later. The box said plug it in and forget it. Sounds good to me.
|
|
I took the slow and laborious route of reading all the documentation prior to
|
|
installing this substantial technological upgrade to my board. Yea, right.
|
|
Within minutes, I had the other box open, had one installed on my board and
|
|
the other on my voice line and was calling my board.
|
|
|
|
I called my BBS. "CONNECT 14400." Opps, better set that communications
|
|
program to support the higher speed. Try again. "CONNECT 21600." Fast, but
|
|
not fast enough. Hang up. "CONNECT 28800." Cool! Still not as fast as the
|
|
local mode, but a very noticeable increase in the display speed of the
|
|
screens. Cool! Lets try a download and see this baby fly. I want my
|
|
3000cps! Oh boy, that line had only been used for a 2400 baud modem and was
|
|
not even grounded. Errors, errors, errors. Low cps, bummer. Abort transfer.
|
|
Need to work on eliminating the noise.
|
|
|
|
How about trying to call another board with the BBS line itself. Lets do it!
|
|
Called Software Creations on their 28.8 rotary group. "CONNECT 24600." Not
|
|
28.8, but lets see what happens. Lets try to download the latest USBBS BBS
|
|
List. Errors, errors increasing, abort transfer, hang up, try again. Second
|
|
attempt, not any better. Would I be reduced to reading the manual? Not yet!
|
|
For the most part modem manuals offer just general information, or technical
|
|
specifications that only someone with a Masters in Modem Technology could
|
|
understand. No middle ground for the average Joe. Most modem manuals are,
|
|
for the most part, a waste of paper.
|
|
|
|
Did manage to complete some error free downloads at 19.2, with a cps around
|
|
1850, but that was the best at this stage of the game. I left the new modem
|
|
hooked up to the board and wondered when I would receive my first 28.8 call,
|
|
not counting the couple of calls I had made myself. Overnight someone had
|
|
called and logged in at a connect speed of 21,600. Obviously a V.FC or V.34
|
|
caller, but the handshake had settled at a lower connect speed. A file
|
|
transfer was completed at a cps approaching 1900, but I did not know the
|
|
number of errors the callers encountered. Unfortunately, the caller did not
|
|
leave any message about how the transfer went. As I approached 28.8 day two,
|
|
I knew my work was far from complete.
|
|
|
|
The first, and most obvious, thing that had to be done was the upgrading of
|
|
the UART chips. A new high speed serial card was ordered, with 16550A UART
|
|
chips, which were designed to correct the transfer error problems with the new
|
|
28.8 modems. Unfortunately, the part had to ordered and it would take several
|
|
days to get the new serial card. I hoped that this would do the trick and
|
|
that additional tweaking would not be necessary. I did take the opportunity
|
|
to contact USRobotics about the missing T-shirts. The woman on the other end
|
|
of the phone said she had heard about people being promised shirts at the ONE
|
|
BBSCON and that she'd get one shipped out to me. I really should have gotten
|
|
two, but I did not wish to make a big deal out of it. I just wanted a USR T-
|
|
shirt. I asked for a size large and she said no problem. I did receive the
|
|
T-shirt, via Federal Express, before I got the serial card. Hmm, size extra
|
|
large. Oh well, it was a nice looking shirt.
|
|
|
|
The new serial card went in like a snap. Tried another call, started a
|
|
download, watched the cps go up, waited for errors. No errors yet. 2500,
|
|
2600, 2650 cps and still rising. Got over 2700 with no errors! Tried some
|
|
other downloads, on other boards, and typically got 2700 or better cps.
|
|
Someday soon, when I get a cleaner that average connection, I would not be too
|
|
surprised to see the 3000 characters per second barrier broken.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ» ÛÛ» ÛÛ» ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ» ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
|
|
ÈÍÍÛÛÉÍͼ ÛÛº ÛÛº ÛÛÉÍÍÍͼ º Operating 24 hrs at 14400 Baud!!! º
|
|
ÛÛº ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛº ÛÛÛÛÛ» º º
|
|
ÛÛº ÛÛÉÍÍÛÛº ÛÛÉÍͼ º Your Sysop is Ernie Stefan: º
|
|
ÛÛº ÛÛº ÛÛº ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ» º º
|
|
Èͼ Èͼ Èͼ ÈÍÍÍÍÍͼ ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
|
|
|
ÛÛÛÛÛÛ» ÛÛ» ÛÛÛÛÛÛ» ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
|
|
ÛÛÉÍÍÛÛ» ÛÛº ÛÛÉÍÍÍͼ º Over 2 Gigs of files on-line: º
|
|
ÛÛÛÛÛÛɼ ÛÛº ÛÛº ÛÛÛ» º º
|
|
ÛÛÉÍÍÛÛ» ÛÛº ÛÛº ÛÛº º Over 40 on-line door Games: º
|
|
ÛÛÛÛÛÛɼ ÛÛº ÈÛÛÛÛÛÛɼ º º
|
|
ÈÍÍÍÍͼ Èͼ ÈÍÍÍÍͼ ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
|
|
|
ÛÛÛÛÛÛ» ÛÛ» ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ» ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
|
|
ÛÛÉÍÍÛÛ» ÛÛº ÈÍÍÛÛÉÍͼ º Member Fidonet: 1:3691/12 º
|
|
ÛÛÛÛÛÛɼ ÛÛº ÛÛº º Member Fishnet: 1:1473/42 º
|
|
ÛÛÉÍÍͼ ÛÛº ÛÛº º Give us a call at 813-863-1572 º
|
|
ÛÛº ÛÛº ÛÛº º º
|
|
Èͼ Èͼ Èͼ ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
ROTFL!
|
|
------
|
|
|
|
Top Ten Worthless Messages, Courtesy of Sandy Illes
|
|
|
|
10. HELLo? HELLo? HELLOOOOOOO?
|
|
9. How do I get access to the doors?
|
|
8. How do I get more download bytes?
|
|
7. This is a test.
|
|
6. Will someone upload Street Fighter 2?????
|
|
5. If yu dont anser me I will virii yur computer!!!!!!!
|
|
4. Shareware is lame d00d!!!!!
|
|
3. WILL SOMEONE PLAESSE RITE BAK TO ME????
|
|
2. <ALL private messages sent to self>
|
|
1. I'm lonely and need a girl!!!
|
|
|
|
Editor's Note: Thank you to ROTFL Digest!, and its editor Sandy Illes for
|
|
allowing the above to be reprinted from a prior issue of the on-line humor
|
|
magazine. For more information on ROTFL Digest! contact Access Media
|
|
Systems at (905) 847-7362 (Voice/FAX), or call the CAP/Canada BBS at (416)
|
|
287-0935. Email: sandy.illes@canrem.com, or Sandy Illes 1:250/710.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
New Game Releases
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
Alien Carnage -
|
|
Written by: SubZero Software - Distributed by: Apogee Software
|
|
|
|
Earth is on the verge of a takeover by aliens intent on turning humans into
|
|
mindless slave zombies. You are called to Space Station Liberty to prepare to
|
|
penetrate the alien ship using a vast array of weapons including, a flame
|
|
thrower, photon cannon, guided missiles, grenades, micro nukes and the
|
|
powerful Omega Bomb. This game was originally released as Halloween Harry.
|
|
|
|
Cannon Fodder -
|
|
Written by: Virgin Interactive - Distributed by: MVP Software
|
|
|
|
Cannon Fodder is a humorous action game based on warfare. War has never been
|
|
so much fun, with lots of colorful graphics and witty game play.
|
|
|
|
Entombed -
|
|
Written by: Adam Pedersen - Distributed by: Impulse Software
|
|
|
|
You play the role of an archaeologist trapped in an ancient tomb in this 3-D
|
|
puzzle adventure for Windows. Alone you must navigate your way through deadly
|
|
traps, intricate puzzles, and involved mazes as you try to escape from your
|
|
harsh captor before it claims another victim.
|
|
|
|
LineWars II -
|
|
Written by: Patrick Aalto - Distributed by: Safari Software
|
|
|
|
LineWars II is basically a 3-D space arcade game. Cruise through the Deneb
|
|
star system, toasting pirate ships as you tackle the three missions in the
|
|
Shareware version. the game also features modem and network play for up to
|
|
eight players.
|
|
|
|
One Must Fall 2097 -
|
|
Written by: Bob Elam - Distributed by: Epic MegaGames
|
|
|
|
You control a massive robot in this one-on-one fighting game based on the
|
|
theme of multinational corporations taking over the control of national
|
|
governments. Can you put an end to the dominance of World Aeronautics and
|
|
Robotics' (WAR) in the Japanamerica of the 2097? Wonderful animation and
|
|
sound contribute to a very large file size.
|
|
|
|
ShadowForce -
|
|
Written by: Patrick Maidorn - Distributed by: MVP Software
|
|
|
|
The end of civilization appears closer than ever before in this graphical
|
|
adventure game set in the year 2110. You control the ShadowForce, an elite
|
|
team of four enhanced humanoids, as you investigate the shutdown of a
|
|
government genetic warfare facility known as Icarus. In the first episode,
|
|
Rise of the Overlord, you discover the awful secret behind Icarus.
|
|
|
|
Wacky Wheels -
|
|
Written by: Beavis Soft - Distributed by: Apogee Software
|
|
|
|
High speed auto racing game featuring a two player spilt screen mode, modem or
|
|
network play, as well as individual play. Enjoy colorful animation as you
|
|
race cartoon type characters around five different tracks in the Shareware
|
|
version.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
Murphy's Laws of Computers
|
|
--------------------------
|
|
|
|
You always find the information you need on the page of the manual you look at
|
|
last.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ»
|
|
º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- Software Creations BBS -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º
|
|
º - Dedicated to the Development and Distribution of GREAT Software - º
|
|
º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-Ä "Home of the Authors" -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º
|
|
º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º
|
|
º * Software Creations Voted #1 BBS for 1993 & 1994 * º
|
|
º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º
|
|
º 1200/2400 V.42/MNP Lines : (508) 365-2359 º
|
|
º 2400-14.4k HST US Robotics Lines : (508) 368-7036 º
|
|
º 2400-16.8k V.32/V.42bis US Robotics lines : (508) 368-7139 º
|
|
º 14.4-28.8k V.32/V.42bis/V.fc Hayes Optima lines: (508) 365-9352 º
|
|
º 14.4-28.8k V.32/V.42bis/V.32terbo/V.fc US Robotics lines: (508) 368-3424 º
|
|
º -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- º
|
|
º * Software Creations BBS continues to bring you the Best of the Best * º
|
|
º Member of the Worcester County Sysops Association º
|
|
º Member of the National Computer Ethics and Responsibilities Campaign º
|
|
º Clinton, Massachusetts Sysop: Dan Linton º
|
|
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
The BBS Glossary
|
|
----------------
|
|
|
|
Access - To use a BBS, as in accessing, or the amount you can use it, as in
|
|
access level.
|
|
|
|
ANSI - While actually an acronym for the American National Standards
|
|
Institute, it refers to the widely used graphics on BBSs.
|
|
|
|
Archive - A file which has been compressed, or at least stored, under a
|
|
specific name. This allows for faster transfer times and the grouping of
|
|
related files. Originally meant for files with an .ARC extension.
|
|
|
|
ASCII - An acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange
|
|
which is the most common format for text files.
|
|
|
|
Batch - A group of files which are either downloaded or uploaded, commonly
|
|
called a Batch File Transfer.
|
|
|
|
Baud Rate - The speed of the modem connection, the higher the rate the faster
|
|
data travels.
|
|
|
|
Bulletin - Text which the Sysop has made available to users. Bulletins may be
|
|
informational or educational, give the high game scores, or whatever the Sysop
|
|
deems appropriate.
|
|
|
|
Bulletin Board System (BBS) - A computer hooked up to a modem so that other
|
|
people can call and access information, files or games.
|
|
|
|
Bits Per Second (BPS) - The rate data is transmitted through a modem
|
|
connection. Increases with the baud rate.
|
|
|
|
Caller - Someone who accesses a bulletin board from a remote location.
|
|
|
|
Capture - Saving text from BBS display to a file on the remote computer
|
|
normally in ASCII format.
|
|
|
|
Chat - The ability to communicate with users on other lines (or nodes).
|
|
Callers can chat back and forth in a live conversation.
|
|
|
|
Communications Software - Computer program which allows for easier calling of
|
|
BBSs. Some software packages have all kinds of advanced features and many are
|
|
quite easy to set-up.
|
|
|
|
Compressed File - A file, or group of files, which have been reduced in size
|
|
using compression utilities. A compressed file uses less disk space and
|
|
speeds up transfer times.
|
|
|
|
Conference - A separate area on a BBS which is directed at specific topics.
|
|
Conferences almost always have their own message base, and some have their own
|
|
file directories or doors.
|
|
|
|
CPS - Characters per Seconds. A way to message the speed of data
|
|
transmissions. The CPS increases with the baud rate.
|
|
|
|
Default - Refers to settings used by BBS or communications software. Many
|
|
times the preset configuration works fine, especially for new users.
|
|
|
|
Door - A program with has been added onto the BBS, but is not part of the BBS
|
|
software itself. Sysops customize their board by adding game or utility type
|
|
doors.
|
|
|
|
Download - Receiving data from a BBS through the modem connection. Downloads
|
|
from BBSs are known as files.
|
|
|
|
Drop Carrier - Hanging up on a BBS without following the proper log-off
|
|
procedures. Occasionally can happen on either end unintentionally.
|
|
|
|
Echo Mail - Public messages which go out over a BBS network.
|
|
|
|
E-Mail - Electronic mail, which is sent on computers in the form of messages.
|
|
|
|
External Protocol - File transfer protocol which is not actually built into
|
|
the particular BBS or communications software, but must be accessed
|
|
externally.
|
|
|
|
Fax/Modem - A modem which has the ability to send and receive facsimile
|
|
transmissions (faxes).
|
|
|
|
Fax Software - Software which works in conjunction with a Fax/Modem to send
|
|
and receive faxes. Many software packages have options such as converting
|
|
faxes to ASCII or other text formats.
|
|
|
|
FidoNet - The largest bulletin board based message network echoing mail with
|
|
thousands of systems worldwide.
|
|
|
|
File - Data transferred through the modem connection for use on the receiving
|
|
computer. Files can be complete programs, informational text, graphic images
|
|
or many other formats.
|
|
|
|
Freeware - Software which is legally copyrighted, however, the author asks for
|
|
no monetary compensation for the program.
|
|
|
|
HS/Link - This is a relatively new file transfer protocol. It is a high
|
|
speed, single and bi-directional file transfer protocol with many advanced
|
|
features.
|
|
|
|
Information Super-Highway - A buzz word created by the media to describe the
|
|
current and future uses of telecommunications technology.
|
|
|
|
Internal Protocol - File transfer protocol which is built into the particular
|
|
BBS or communications software.
|
|
|
|
Internet - A rapidly growing computer based network which includes bulletin
|
|
boards, educational and government institutions, on-line services and
|
|
businesses all over the world. Millions of people are now accessing the
|
|
Internet for electronic mail and other information.
|
|
|
|
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network. The next generation of telephone
|
|
technology designed to provide real time transmission in a digital format.
|
|
Already installed in some places.
|
|
|
|
ITU-T - International Telecommunications Union (Telecommunications sector).
|
|
Formerly known as CCITT, this organization sets the international standards
|
|
for telegraphic and telephone equipment. Sets modems standards, such as the
|
|
recent V.34 standard for 28.8 baud transmissions.
|
|
|
|
Line Noise - Static which can occur during a modem connection due to the fact
|
|
that the telephone system was originally designed for voice.
|
|
|
|
Local - Use of the BBS at it's physical location. Typically, the Sysop
|
|
accessing the BBS software directly.
|
|
|
|
Log-on - Calling a BBS, and going through the most common procedure of giving
|
|
name and password.
|
|
|
|
Main Board - The primary conference on a BBS, and where the callers normally
|
|
are when they first log-on. Most general messages, files and doors should be
|
|
found here.
|
|
|
|
Message - Something left by a BBS user for others to read. A message could be
|
|
left for a single user, or for all users to read.
|
|
|
|
Message Base - All messages left on a BBS, or more specifically the location
|
|
of those messages. Separate conferences typically have their own message
|
|
base.
|
|
|
|
Modem - Device which allows computers to talk to each other over a system
|
|
which originally designed for voice.
|
|
|
|
Network - Different BBSs exchanging messages to increase the activity and
|
|
diversity of the message base. The echo mail network allows a user to leave a
|
|
message on one BBS which can be read on BBS at a different location. On some
|
|
of the large networks a message can be read literally around the world.
|
|
|
|
NetMail - Electronic messages which go out over a BBS network which are
|
|
addressed to, and may be read by, only one person.
|
|
|
|
Node - Commonly used as the number of telephone lines hooked up to a BBS with
|
|
each line being a node, but a BBS can also have local nodes.
|
|
|
|
Password - A unique series of keyboard characters that a caller selects to
|
|
access a BBS. It should be kept confidential to prevent others from logging-
|
|
on using your name.
|
|
|
|
Paging - Requesting a live chat with the Sysop, who may answer the page if
|
|
available.
|
|
|
|
Private - Indicates a conference or message is not meant for all callers, and
|
|
may refer to some BBSs which have restricted access.
|
|
|
|
Protocol - A language that modems use to communicate with each other during
|
|
file transfers. The same protocol must be used by both modems for a transfer
|
|
to be successful. There are a growing number of protocols to choose from.
|
|
|
|
Public - A conference, message or BBS which is open for any caller. A public
|
|
message can be read by all users. A public board will have private messages
|
|
and perhaps some private conferences, but generally access is available to
|
|
all.
|
|
|
|
Public Domain - Programs or files which are released free of charge with
|
|
little restriction for use.
|
|
|
|
Remote Computer - A computer which has connected to the BBS by modem.
|
|
|
|
RIPscrip - Remote Imaging Protocol. A graphics format which is used to add
|
|
mouse support to bulletin boards.
|
|
|
|
Script - A questionnaire set-up by the Sysop to get information from the
|
|
caller.
|
|
|
|
Security Level - Level of access given to a caller which determines what the
|
|
caller may access on the BBS. Users may require a higher security level to
|
|
access certain conferences or files.
|
|
|
|
Shareware - A method of software distribution which allows you to try before
|
|
you buy. Shareware can be used for a limited time without payment, but
|
|
registration is required if the product is used past the evaluation period.
|
|
|
|
Sysop - Short for System Operator, the person who operates the BBS.
|
|
|
|
Transfer - The receiving or sending of a file with a BBS.
|
|
|
|
Upload - Sending data, typically files, to a BBS through the modem connection.
|
|
|
|
User - Originally meant to imply someone calling in the local mode, while
|
|
those who access the BBS from a remote computer where known as callers. Now
|
|
commonly implies both callers and users.
|
|
|
|
User Account - The record containing information for an individual user.
|
|
Things like user name, password, address, the number of uploads and downloads,
|
|
and security level are typically found in the user account.
|
|
|
|
V.21 - An ITU-T standard for 300 bps modem connections standardized in 1981.
|
|
|
|
V.22 - An ITU-T standard for 1200 bps modem connections standardized in 1982.
|
|
|
|
V.22 bis - An ITU-T standard for 2400 bps modem connections standardized in
|
|
1984.
|
|
|
|
V.32 - An ITU-T standard for 4800 and 9600 bps modem connections standardized
|
|
in 1987.
|
|
|
|
V.32 bis - An ITU-T standard for 14400 bps modem connections standardized in
|
|
1991.
|
|
|
|
V.34 - An ITU-T standard for 28800 bps modem connections standardized in 1994.
|
|
|
|
V.FC - Early standard developed by Rockwell International for 28800 bps modem
|
|
connections.
|
|
|
|
Verification - Many BBSs have some way of verifying that the caller logging-on
|
|
is actually who they say they are. Caller ID, doors which call the user back,
|
|
or calling all users by voice are common practices.
|
|
|
|
Xmodem (CRC) - At one time this was the most popular file transfer protocol.
|
|
Xmodem (CRC) sends files in blocks of 128 characters at a time and checks for
|
|
errors using a sophisticated Cyclic Redundancy Check.
|
|
|
|
Xmodem (Checksum) - A file transfer protocol where information is transferred
|
|
in 128 byte blocks with a less reliable Checksum error correction method.
|
|
|
|
1K Xmodem - This file transfer protocol is a variation of Xmodem (CRC) that
|
|
uses blocks that are 1 kilobyte (1024 bytes) in size.
|
|
|
|
1K Xmodem/G - This file transfer protocol variation of Xmodem is meant for
|
|
error-free channels such as error correcting modems or direct cable links
|
|
between two computers. It achieves great speed, however, it does not have
|
|
error correction and if an error occurs the transfer is aborted.
|
|
|
|
Ymodem (Batch) - This file transfer protocol is a variation on 1K Xmodem,
|
|
which allows for multiple files to be sent per transfer. While transferring
|
|
files it uses the 1024 byte block size and the CRC error correction method.
|
|
|
|
Ymodem/G (Batch) - This file transfer protocol is a variation on Ymodem which
|
|
achieves very high transfer rates by sending 1024 blocks without waiting for
|
|
acknowledgment. There is no error correction and if an error occurs the
|
|
transfer is aborted.
|
|
|
|
Zip - The most common form of compressed file found on BBSs.
|
|
|
|
Zmodem (Batch) - This protocol is very popular because it is very fast,
|
|
incredibly reliable and offers many features. Zmodem can transfer files in a
|
|
batch and can detect and recover from errors quickly. The Zmodem Recovery
|
|
feature can resume an interrupted transfer.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Home of the Pasco BBS Magazine ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Home of Shadoware ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Home of the New 813 BBS Directory ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Official Support BBS of Pasco ComPats Computer Club ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² (813) 862-4772 12/24/48/96/14400/28800 baud ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Member of Pasco Sysops Association ²
|
|
² Electronic Frontiers Foundation and American BBS Association ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
² Official Distribution Site: ²
|
|
² Alive Software, Apogee Software, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, ²
|
|
² Id Software, Impulse Software, MVP Software, Safari Software, ²
|
|
² Software Creations and Soleau Software ²
|
|
² ²
|
|
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
Next Month
|
|
----------
|
|
|
|
The January of the Pasco BBS Magazine will be a Special Second Anniversary
|
|
Issue with a look back at the past two years. We will also have all our
|
|
regular features, so make sure you do not miss this special issue! The
|
|
January issue will probably be released a little earlier due to the holidays,
|
|
but as with all issues of the magazine, it will be released by the 22nd of the
|
|
month.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
Important Information
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
|
The Pasco BBS Magazine is distributed free of charge, as long as it is
|
|
unaltered and complete. When uploading make sure the original archive is
|
|
intact with all files included.
|
|
|
|
The Pasco BBS Magazine is the sole property of the Board of Trade BBS and
|
|
Richard Ziegler. It is legally copyrighted material and all rights are
|
|
reserved. No part of this magazine may be used without permission. No
|
|
compensation of any kind may be received for the viewing, distribution, or
|
|
for any other use of the magazine files.
|
|
|
|
By submitting something, you are agreeing to allow publication of the
|
|
material in the magazine. Articles reprinted with permission remain the
|
|
property of the cited source. Guest contributions may not necessarily
|
|
reflect the views of the Pasco BBS Magazine. The editor reserves the right
|
|
to edit submissions, however, this is normally only done to correct spelling
|
|
or grammatical errors. The editor makes all determinations on what and when
|
|
articles will run.
|
|
|
|
Every effort is made to insure that all information contained within the
|
|
Pasco BBS Magazine is accurate, but inadvertently mistakes can appear.
|
|
The Pasco BBS Magazine, Board of Trade BBS or Richard Ziegler cannot be held
|
|
liable for information contained within this document. It is intended that
|
|
this magazine exists for the personal enjoyment of the readers.
|
|
|
|
Rather than place a trademark symbol at every occurrence of a trademarked
|
|
name, it is stated that trademarks are only being used in an editorial
|
|
fashion with no intention of any infringement of the trademark itself.
|
|
|
|
More information can be found in the other files distributed with the
|
|
magazine's archive.
|
|
|
|
Comments, questions, suggestions and submissions can be left on the Board
|
|
of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772, or mailed to Board of Trade BBS, P.O. Box 1853,
|
|
New Port Richey, FL 34656. FidoNet address: 1:3619/10.
|
|
|
|
+ + + + +
|
|
|
|
(C)Copyright 1994 Richard Ziegler - All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
|
+ + + + + |