If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260530

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" THiS SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260530

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260523

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

RE: https://hachyderm.io/@sen/116618477936301567

absolutely fascinating: watch workers physically cut massive telephone exchange cables to disconnect the telephone exchange from the old electromechanical switching service, to a new electronic switching service.

#telephony #bbs #telco #phreaking

vga256 boosted

sen » 🌐 2026-05-22
@sen@hachyderm.io

(I am in the “literally always” category, all day yesterday it was the music from https://youtu.be/saRir95iIWk and today it’s dona nobis pacem, because my brain is weird like that)

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260523

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260523

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

i’m not sure what i expected when i received a copy of @aaronareed’s 50 Years of Text Games. i was mostly afraid that it would be an encyclopedic mishmash of wikipedia facts on IF.

to my complete surprise it is extremely well-written, has original interviews with developers, and a demonstrates a strong understanding of textual game engines and scripting languages.

the fact that Aaron took the time to write entire chapters for Tradewars and LambdaMOO blows me away - I did not expect MUDs and BBS games to earn their way into IF history. hell, there’s even a chapter on Achaea!

if you’re into IF, game history, or how the sausage is made with game development, this book is an exceptional read.

https://if50.textories.com

#bbs #gamePreservation #history #mud #interactivefiction #bookstodon

Alt...

TRADE WARS 2002 Gary Martin, MaryAnn Martin, and John Pritchett Also Known As TradeWars, TW2002 Style BBS Debuted Jun 1991 (Castle Ravenloft BBS) Launch Platform WWIV / DOS Publisher Martech Software Language Turbo Pascal 6.0 Launch Price $20 (sysop registration fee) What is your name? ZAPHOD Use ANSI graphics? y IF YOU FIRST WENT ONLINE AFTER 1996 or so, you might never have connected to a BBS. If you first went online after 2006, you might never even have heard of one. Reading the histories of online games like dnd 1975, MUD 1980, or LambdaM0O 1990 can give the impression that gamers have been happily playing together on the internet since the 70s. In some special places like university campuses, they have been. But for most early computer users there was no cheap or easy way to connect to the global net. For them, going online meant dialing into a local bulletin board system —and the games on those systems were a curzas sort of multiplayer, because only one person could play them at a time.

Alt...

Pavel Curtis LAMBDAMOO Early Contributers: Tim Allen, Judy Anderson, Roger Crew, and Erik Ostrom Style MUD Debuted Oct 30, 1990 (beta) Feb 5, 1991 (announced) Launch Platform Unix (server) Telnet (client) Language C (server) MOO (world) LambdaMOO is a new kind of society, where thousands of people voluntarily come together from all over the world. What these people say or do may not always be to your liking; as when visiting any international city, it is wise to be careful who you associate with and what you say. *** Connected *** The Coat Closet The closet is a dark, cramped space. It appears to be very crowded in here; you keep bumping into what feels like coats, boots, and other people (apparently sleeping). One useful thing that you've discovered in your bumbling about is a metal doorknob set at waist level into what might be a door.

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260516

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

How Many BBS Programs Were There?
At least 885, according to software.bbsdocumentary.com. (Note: HTTP link, not HTTPS.) It's an adjunct to www.bbsdocumentary.com.

That documentary is long sold out, but its producers have put its raw DVD files up for free download here.

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!
https://setsideb.com/how-many-bbs-programs-were-there/
#niche #retro #BBS #documentary #niche #retro

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260509

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260502

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260425

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260417

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

Hey, dial this number. It's a cool BBS!

https://mdhughes.tech/2026/04/11/hey-dial-this-number-its-a-cool-bbs/

I was rewatching Jason Scott's BBS Documentary, as one does.

See, I was making a fake BBS:

The only purpose of this was to test out text render/entry in Kawa Scheme for Lisp Game Jam. It also does a modem squeal on "connection", so I know audio works, & this brings back all the emotions.

Back in the '80s, early '90s, there were four (ish

#BBS #fediverse #retrocomputing

Chaos Computer Club
https://negativepid.blog/chaos-computer-club-ccc/

#CCC #ChaosComputerClub #hackers #hackerCollectives #Germany #BBS #ethicalHacking
#Cybersecurity #cyberattacks #cyberThreats #onlineSecurity #negativepid

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260411

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

I can haz #ANSIart on #bbs ?

https://retro.social/@ajroach42/116346680121248540

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONiGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260404

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

Usenet is an ever-living, Casper the friendly ghost of discussion networks.

Just a friendly reminder that Usenet still exists and access to text newsgroups is still FREE. Access is provided by volunteer sysops around the world. See links below.

Back in its glory days it seems that just about every academic institution had its own Usenet hierarchy of newsgroups.

Linux was revealed to the world via Usenet.

Open source philosophy gained its steam via Usenet.

Usenet is the original free speech network.

Usenet is the original 'social network'.

Simple and free access to text-only Usenet Newsgroups
https://eternal-september.org/

#Usenet #BBS #NetworkNews #EternalSeptember #usenet #nntp #decentralized #censorship #retro #freespeech

"Hey, dial this number. It's a cool board!"
#bbs

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" THIS SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260404

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260328

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

@screwlisp @Cat There was a lot of overlap between MUD & BBS back in the day. BBS was more persistent, but you existed thru messages, files (keep your UD ratio up!), high scores in doorgames; the only live time was if Sysop broke into chat, or rarely multi-line BBS's would have CO(nferences). MUD were things that happened when you were there.

All the furries were on MUD (later Furcadia), fanfic writers were on BBS.
#retrocomputing #bbs #mud #lambdamoo

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260321

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" THIS SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260314

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

So I've been quietly building something and now it's finally ready.

https://ssbbss.org - the Secret Society of BBS SysOps - is now live.

It's a certification program for BBS operators. Four ranks: Initiate, Operator, Adept, and Master. Every rank has a curriculum covering the things that actually matter - BBS software, door games, message networks, ANSI art, FidoNet, the history and the law.

Study materials are free and open to anyone, no account needed.

When you're ready, you sit the exam. Pass, and you're a certified member. You get a downloadable PDF certificate with a QR verification link, an ANSI badge you can display on your own BBS, and a member ID in the public registry.

Right now there are 95/100 Founding Member spots available. £99 one-time - that covers all four exam slots, lifetime membership (no annual fees ever), a physical certificate shipped to you, and a low member ID. Once those 100 are gone, they're gone.

If you run a BBS, or you used to, or you just care about keeping this scene alive - come and have a look.

#retrocomputing #textmode #bbs #ansi #ascii #ssbbss

Come check out my new game over at thE qUAntUm wOrmhOlE!

telnet bbs.erb.pw port 23

Head over to the doors menu, goto page 2 (hit ">") and then enter Elderwood!

#bbs #textmode #retrocomputing #elderwood #crownofash

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260307

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

#bbs #textmode #ansi #ascii #chiptunes

@2600 @OffTheHook

#c64 #bbses #bbs

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" THIS SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260307

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260228

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260221

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" THIS SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260221

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode #RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260207

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260131

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

"Dialed" into the Mac Studio wirelessly across the room for some IRCing on old hardware, here as the snow falls. ❄️

I had to modify the plist and shell config scripts I'd setup on the Mac since "upgrading" to macOS 26 Tahoe to get this working without gripes in the terminal.

#Mac #macOS #terminal #serialterminal #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #computinginthesnow #AppleII #AppleIIe #MacStudio #ProTerm #BBSing #IRCing #BBS #IRC #WiFi232 #login #telnet #WiFimodem #computers #CRT #floppydrive #ByteCellar #BASH #photo #UNIX

Alt...

Apple IIe setup acting as a remote terminal to a Mac Studio elsewhere in the room

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260124

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TOMORROW at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260124

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260117

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://
erb.pw/y/tgt20260117

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260110

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260103

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20251227

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

🎄☃️Merry Christmas☃️🎄

To all of my #ansi #ascii #chiptune #tracker #textmode #retrocomputing and #bbs brethren and everyone else in the #fediverse

I hope everyone has an amazing time with family, friends and anyone else you cross paths with.

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20251220

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" THIS SATURDAY at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20251220

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt