Subj : Re: where did it all go?
To   : alt.bbs.allsysop
From : rhythmnp@aol.comSTOPSPAM (RhythmNp)
Date : Sat Jul 05 2003 06:00 pm

>No wonder
>BBSes continue to decline and eventually will be stone dead even though the
>"new" technology could be used to make them even more prominent and powerful
>than before

Actually, in the past two years, more BBS's having been popping up than have
been disappearing.  Nostalgic users are coming back.  It may not be the heyday
of the past, but it's no longer a decline.

>I've tried contacting people who appear to have claim over some of the old
>legacy software.  I've been ignored or received vague or dismissive answers.
>I've tried planning on running purely free-ware, public domain, etc.
>software, and frankly, that's the fastest way to put together a crappy BBS
>that I've found so far.

You're being rather vague.  If you want answers regarding the fate of specific
bbs software, mention what software you're talking about.

Many of the new, freeware packages are actively supported and have more
features than the old packages ever did.  For a good freeware package check out
Synchronet, Mystic, or EleBBS.  As for the commercial packages, WorldGroup and
Wildcat Winserver are still supported but cost a bundle.  Those packages
include a crazy amount of stuff now (including web servers with https/SSL
support for running businesses) so if the cost is somewhat understandable.

>I got a speech recently in email about how some of these door developers are
>"mom-and-pop" businesses just trying to survive.  Bullshit.  They are
>opportunists taking advantage of the fact that we have nowhere else to go if
>we want to attempt to revive the communities we remember back then. 

What in holy hell are you talking about?

Most door developers ARE "mom and pop" businesses, pulling in very small
amounts of money compared to the time put into the door.  When you average out
the time I put into my doors vs the registration money I receive, it comes out
to under $3/hour.  And you're trying to call that being an opportunist?  You've
got to be kidding me!

>If they
>cared about us, they'd make stronger moves to adjust the BBS platform to
>WIN32 or *Nix

All of my doors are Win32... many other authors have begun porting old DOS
doors to Win32 and/or *nix, or are simply ONLY making 32bit doors now... the
platform move is definitely happening, you're just apparently too cluelness to
have noticed it.

>not just a server here, or a door there, but the whole damn
>kit-and-kaboodle

Almost of the actively-supported BBS software have purely 32-bit versions for
Windows and/or *Nix, so again, you simply have no idea what you're talking
about.

>So, yeah, ok, I'm pissed.  Those of you that these comments don't apply to
>know who you are, and won't sweat it.  I don't want to wantonly rip off mom
>and pop, but neither do I want to start sending $15 checks off into the
>postal wilderness to end destinations that may no longer exist

Most of today's active door authors have web payment registration (TradeWars,
LORD, John Daily Software, DoorMUD, many others).  Other old door authors have
reappeared to make their doors freeware (Usurper).  

Yet other door authors have passed away (like the author of The Pit -- R.I.P.) 
Same thing is true with some BBS authors (MajorBBS and one or two others that I
can't think of).  So please don't tell me you're harboring all this anger at
deceased software authors, it's understandable that they can't support their
software anymore!

>Yes, it seems that
>gameport.com still supports lord, and that John Daily still supports some of
>the programs from the Patel brothers, but what have they done with it?
>Adapted it to the current OSes?  Come out with part II, or an add on, or
>basically anything to justify putting the effort and money

Some door authors still put a lot of time into their doors, and some don't. 
It's commendable that the current LORD guy is porting LORD to win32, espcially
since I get the impression that GamePort pays him little or nothing for his
efforts, and also considering the source code to LORD is rumored to be the
ugliest beast every created.

As for John Dailey, he mentioned a year ago that he was going to make all his
doors freeware, but apparently he didn't get around to it.  No idea what's up
with that.   But you shouldn't use his flakiness as an excuse to whine at all
door authors, many of whom still put quality time into their products.

For example, the current TradeWars author did exactly what you said, made a
Win32 stand-alone version of his door which he actively worked on for quite a
while.

>But I'm not going to pay first
>for what might amount to a few extra zip files in the far reached of my
>drive if a BBS proves to be something that just wants to die.

So then run the unregistered/demo versions.  That's what they're designed for. 
Most of them aren't horrendously crippled, they're designed so that they can be
run up to a certain point to see if you want to continue using them or not.

If you insist on using/making cracks though, make sure it's truly abandonware. 
Personally, if I find people using cracks of my software, I would contact their
ISP and have their internet cut, at minimum, without hesitation.  I put a lot
of time into my doors; and my doors have large unregistered versions and also
have reasonable registration prices. So I really have no tolerance for people
who steal from me by using cracks because there really is no excuse for it.

I think most of the other *active* BBS-related authors feel the same way.

.