ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ º ɼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û º ɼ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÛ Û º º ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º º º º ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ º Éͼ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜ ÛÜ Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º º Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ Û º ɼ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º º º ÉÍͼ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÉÍÍͼ º Û Ü Ü Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ Û ÜÜÜ Û ÛÜÜÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ ÜÛ Û ßÛÛ Û Û ÜÜÜÜÛ º ɼ Û Û Û Û Û ÜÜÜ Û Û ÛÜÜ Û Û ÜÜÜ Û ÜÛßÜÛÛÜ ÜÛ ÛÜ Û ÛÜß Û Û ÜÜÜÛÜ º ɼ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛßÛÜÛ ÛÜÜÜÜÜÛ º ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÊÍÍÍ» º April 1993 Volume 1 Number 4 º ÇÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄĶ º Board of Trade BBS New Port Richey, Florida (813) 862-4772 º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ In This Issue ------------- þ Exclusive Interview with Rocky Rawlins, National Coordinator of the American BBS Association þ Archive Comparison þ The Game Factor by Alberto Able þ Follow-Up on Rusty & Edie's BBS Bust þ News, reviews and more! + + + + + Editor's Welcome ---------------- Welcome to the fourth issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine. This month there is information about a new organization promoting education of the public about the BBS community. Rocky Rawlins, the National Coordinator of the ABBSA, is also interviewed. There is also a new voice number for those who wish to contact the Pasco BBS Magazine. We are still looking for Sysops who wish to be distribution Sites. The new voice number is (813) 863-5886. + + + + + ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ ³ ³ ÒÄÄ¿ ³ ³ º ³ ÄÒÄ Pasco BBS Magazine ³ ³ ÐÄÄÙ º ÖÄ¿ ------------------ ³ ³ ÄÐÄ ÓÄ¿ ÖÄÒÄ¿ ³ ³ ÓÄÄÙ º ÒÄÄ¿ ³ ³ Ð ÇÄÂÙ ÄÒÄ ³ ³ Ð Á º ÒÄ¿ ³ ³ ÄÐÄ ÇÄÁ¿ Ò Â ³ ³ ÐÄÄÙ º ³ ÖÄÒÄ¿ ³ ³ ÓÄÄÙ º ÄÒÄ ³ ³ Ð º ÖÄÄ¿ ³ ³ ÖÄ¿ ÄÒÄ ÖÄÒÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ ÄÐÄ º ³ ÖÄÄ¿ ³ ³ ÓÄ¿ º º ÇÄ ÓÄ¿ ÓÄÄÙ º ³ ³ ³ ÓÄÄÙ ÄÐÄ Ð ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Ð Á ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ Florida West Pasco Board of Trade BBS (813) 862-4772 ³ ³ Clearwater Pegboard BBS (813) 596-7148 ³ ³ Lutz Night City South (813) 949-5751 ³ ³ Zephyrhills Tele-Com (813) 780-8452 ³ ³ ³ ³ Massachusetts Clinton Software Creations (508) 365-2359 ³ ³ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ + + + + + Exclusive Interview with Rocky Rawlins, National Coordinator ABBSA ------------------------------------------------------------------ The American BBS Association is a new BBS advocacy organization which is only weeks old, but is taking off all over the country. The organization was founded in response to media reports about bulletin boards, which contained misconceptions about the BBS community, and the ABBSA attempts to educate the public on just what is going on in the BBS community. Since the BBS industry is young and rapidly growing such misconceptions could be quite detrimental if allowed to go unanswered. The American BBS Association has developed a set of ethical standards which all member boards must agree to, however, the organization has no interest in telling others how to run their boards. The ethical standards are something which most Sysops should have no trouble adhering to, as they are already common practice on most of the better BBSes. American BBS Association Ethical Standards 1. I will not use or allow my BBS to be used for illegal activity. 2. I will not allow my BBS to be used to distribute Pirated or Copyrighted software except where software Copyright and/or License agreements specifically allow electronic distribution and if such software is uploaded to my board without my knowledge I will remove it when I am made aware of it. 3. I will restrict access to adult material by minors and I will make all reasonable efforts to verify that a caller is 21 years of age before allowing that caller access to adult material. 4. If I run a Public BBS I will not refuse access to any individual on the basis of age, sex, religion, race, or ethnic origin except restrictions to specific conferences that are necessary to provide Private Conferences for particular age, sex, religious, racial or ethnic groups. 5. I will support and promote the Right of Freedom of Speech and the free exchange of ideas among individuals. Rocky Rawlins is the ABBSA National Coordinator and Sysop of a bulletin board which has been around since the early days of BBSing, The Matrix BBS in Birmingham, Alabama. Rocky Rawlins agreed to a exclusive interview with the Pasco BBS Magazine. Pasco BBS Magazine (PBM): What are some of the basic goals of the ABBSA? Rocky Rawlins (RR): It really comes down to two or three items. One, to put out a set of ethical standards that everyone can agree with and live with, and that we can let everybody know about. Two is to educate the general public, teachers, parents, organizations and businesses about what BBSes really do. As opposed to what the public seems to think they do. Third is to try to educate the media about what BBSes really do, as opposed to what they are often portrayed as doing. PBM: Do you believe there are a lot of misconceptions about bulletin boards out there? RR: Numbers of them. Just in the past two months I've seen three different stories on network or local television about bulletin boards, and every one of them was rather sensational. PBM: Do you think the media has a tendency towards sensationalism rather than telling both sides of the story? RR: Possibly, but I'm inclined to think it is more a matter that most of the folks in the media are not even aware of the BBS community. So it might not be purely sensationalism, but many of them are simply unaware of what is going on in the bulletin board world. PBM: How were the ethical standards developed? RR: Basically by sitting down with a group of the local Sysops here in town, and asking "what ethical standards do you currently abide by?" We tried to look for the common denominators among the Sysops. Certain things seemed to be common for all of the better Sysops. PBM: What are the requirements for membership? RR: Basically just read the ethical standards and sign them, and make all efforts to try and follow those ethical standards. PBM: What other organization, if any, will the ABBSA work with to achieve its goals? RR: I am not really sure, but I suppose we'll work with and be in contact with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and pretty much all bulletin board or electronic vocation organizations that we find. But, we are really concentrating on local areas and there really isn't any other organization that we'll be working closely with. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, and people like that are doing a wonderful job at the national level, but because they are concentrating all their resources and personnel at the national level they do not really have the resources to do anything at the local level. The ABBSA is organized to create State Chapters which can take action and try to see some results at a local level in the towns in which the Sysops actually live. PBM: This a relatively young organization, when did it start? RR: Actually, about a month ago, maybe four or five weeks. It has grown phenomenally already. We have chapters, in about half the states right now. We have members in almost every state. I think we are missing Alaska and Hawaii and possibly Minnesota, but that is about the only states we're missing at this point. I've got about two inches of new applications which have come in the past week, and I haven't even had the chance to go through yet. The response has been overwhelming, a much, much stronger response than we ever expected to get. PBM: You had originally thought of doing this just on the local level? RR: Originally the ABBSA was going to be the Alabama Bulletin Board Association. Several of the Sysops raised the point there really needs to be something like this nationally, that every state should have something like that. So, we decided to call it the American BBS Association and put information on some bulletin board networks to see if some other states would like to get involved in it too. Within a week we where just being inundated with applications. The response tells us that this is something which is badly needed throughout the country. It seems to indicate to me that a lot other states, areas and cities are running into the same kinds of problems and misconceptions that we've been running into here. PBM: It seems that you hit something at the right time. RR: I think so. Bulletin boards are becoming just visible enough now that they are beginning to get some press coverage and some publicity. But the industry has not matured enough in the public eye that the general public and the media is really aware of what the bulletin boards are doing. PBM: Tell us about the ABBSA related conference you offer on your board. RR: What we're trying to do is run a national conference that all of the states can use to share ideas, concepts, approaches, techniques, things they find work in one area may work in another area, and so on. Each state, depending on the state, may want a state conference for state ABBSA members. PBM: You have said that the national organization would offer help and guidance, but the State Chapters would operate the way they would like to for their area. RR: The State Chapters are pretty much independent. There is no funding or cost involved in joining the ABBSA, so we don't have the personnel or resources to try to control this at the national level. What we are going to try to do is simply coordinate the flow of information between the state chapters to insure that ideas which come up in one state get passed along to all the other states. That is if someone comes up with a particular technique, approach or program which works well, we want everybody else to know about it. They could have the chance to try it, or perhaps adapt it for their particular area. We have already had cases were people have come up with ideas, but they didn't locally have the resources to carry it out, but someone in another state found it was very applicable to their area because they did have the resources to carry it out. The flow of information, I think, is what really feeds the whole organization. PBM: What do you see for the future of the ABBSA? RR: The ideal situation would be the ABBSA to totally disappear because there was no longer any need for it. I suspect ten to fifteen years from now there will not be any need for something like the ABBSA, because the concept of bulletin boards and on-line communications will be such a household word that everyone will be aware of what it is and what it does, so there wont be any need to educate the public because the public will know. The problem right now is that there are so many misconceptions, misinformation and lack of information that somebody has to provide it. Fifteen years from now, I don't think that is going to be a problem. RR: The Matrix BBS has been around for quite awhile, could you give some history? RR: Well, it started up in either 1980 or 1981, I honestly don't remember which at this point. It started with an XT, a little 1200 baud modem and ten meg drive and has been on-line continuously since then, under one name or another. We changed names a couple of times along the way. We used to be America On-Line and we sold that name to the folks that use it now. In those eleven or twelve years, whatever it has been, we've grown to 23 or 24 nodes, about five gigabytes, so we've turned into a pretty large board. It has taken over a pretty good portion of the house. PBM: Do you consider yourself to be one of the BBS pioneers? RR: Apparently I am. I wasn't really aware of it until I went to the BBSCon last year. They had people standing up and started sitting them down, from the youngest board to the oldest boards, and when they got back to the early days there was only about ten of us standing. I was rather surprized. I hadn't really thought about it until then. PBM: Do you have any idea of who has been with you since day one? RR: Yes, there are a number which have been on there since the very early days. In fact, one of the people who was one of the first callers, that first week the board was first up, is now one of the Sysops on the board. Right now we have about 3,600 regular users. PBM: What changes do you feel have led to the growth in the BBS industry? RR: Two real changes. One, the hardware and software have matured to the point where systems are very stable, very robust and very secure. The second, the advent of echo-mail and mass-communications networks, where a user can leave a message on a board and a day later it can echoed on boards literally around the world. The American BBS Association's National Office address is at 1416 11th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205. The Matrix BBS can be reached at (205) 323-2016 or (205) 323-6016. The National Office can also be reached by voice at (205) 323-6608. There are informational packages available around the country on bulletin boards which give the details on how to contact the State Chapters. Thank you to Rocky Rawlins for the interview, and for undertaking such an enormous task to help the BBS community. + + + + + ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ-- Software Creations BBS -ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ º º ÄÄ Dedicated to the Development and Distribution of Shareware ÄÄ- º º ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ "Home of the Authors" ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ º º ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ º º 1200/2400 V.42/MNP Lines : (508) 365-2359 º º 2400-14.4k HST USR Robotics Lines : (508) 368-4137 º º 2400-14.4k V.32/V.42bis Twincom Lines: (508) 368-7036 º º * Software Creations BBS continues to bring you the Best of the Best * º º Clinton, Massachusetts Sysop: Dan Linton º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ + + + + + Archive Comparison ------------------ The .ZIP format archive has been the standard compression method used on bulletin boards since the initial release of the Shareware program in 1990. The confusion which surrounded the recent release of PKZIP 2 has lead some to suggest that maybe other formats would gain some inroads into the archive market. It seems that the smoke has cleared, with PKWARE feverishly working to fix the earlier problems, and the .ZIP format will remain the industry standard. While many Sysops are still waiting to switch to the new format, the conversion now seems inevitable. There are only a few archive formats which have gained any notoriety in the attempt to unseat the .ZIP archive. No one has gained more than limited success in the competition. The .ARC format, which is short for archive, was the first created to reduce the size of files on bulletins boards. It was discovered early that files would take quite some time to download using the slower modems of that time. Remember, there were computer experts who felt data could never transmitted at speeds over 2400 baud through telephone lines designed for voice. Phil Katz improved on the .ARC format and the end result was the .ZIP format. Of course, the other technology has improved as well. This comparison does not claim to be a scientific experiment in compression ratios, but looks at some results of the more popular archive programs available on bulletin boards today. The comparison was made using the default settings for each program, as this is what most people would be using anyway. The latest version commonly available on BBSes was used, even if some versions had not been updated recently. The old and new versions of PKWARE were both used do to the recent interest. Two version of the .ARJ format were used since the beta test release has been out for some time now. The two files used for the comparison were the March issue of the Pasco BBS Magazine and Sports Trivia by Software Creations. This way a file which was ANSII text and a file containing several formats could be averaged. The table gives the size after compression and the percentage of compression performed on the file, the total is simply the average of the two files. All figures are rounded to the nearest hundredth. The object was to show compression ratios only, so let others argue that some programs may have more features or are faster. On bulletin boards the size of the file is the main concern for those with slower modems or calling long distance. De-compressed totals - Pasco BBS Magazine (PBM13.) 75,547 Sports Trivia (SPTTRV01.) 245,714 Extension - Vendor Version PBM13. SPTTRV01. Total ------------------------ ------- -------------- --------------- ------ .ARJ Robert K. Jung 2.39b 26,966 64.31% 148,948 39.38% 51.85% .ZIP PKWARE, Inc. 2.04g 26,922 64.36% 149,220 39.27% 51.82% .ARJ Robert K. Jung 2.30 27,012 64.24% 148,998 39.36% 51.80% .LZH Haruyasu Yoshizaki 2.13 27,893 63.08% 148,511 39.56% 51.32% .ZIP PKWARE, Inc. 1.1 28,673 62.05% 155,302 36.80% 49.43% .ICE Haruyasu Yoshizaki 1.14 29,668 60.73% 152,272 38.03% 49.38% .PAK NoGate Consulting 2.51 29,449 61.02% 154,650 37.06% 49.04% .ZOO Rahul Dhesi 2.10 35,237 53.36% 171,780 30.09% 41.73% .ARC SEA, Inc. 6.02 37,307 50.62% 171,558 30.18% 40.40% + + + + + ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÒÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄÒÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ º º ÇÄÁ¿ º ³ ÇÄÄ´ ÇÄÂÙ º ³ º ³ ÇÄ º ÇÄÂÙ ÇÄÄ´ º ³ ÇÄ º º ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Ð Á Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Ð Ð Ð Á Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ º º Bulletin Board System º º º º Home of the Pasco BBS Magazine º º º º New Port Richey, Florida º º º º (813) 862-4772 12/24/48/96/14400 baud º º º º Member of the American BBS Association º º º º Distribution Site º º Apogee Software, Digital Reality, Epic MegaGames, Gamer's Edge, º º MVP Software, Software Creations and Westcoast 813 BBS Directory º º BBS Voice Line (813) 863-5886 º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ + + + + + Guest Feature ------------- The Game Factor, by Alberto Able, Editor of Lore & Legends, Port Richey, FL One problem that role-players encounter is they can usually never find a group to play with. This is usually the biggest problem one can face when one gets into role-playing games. But it is a problem to be reckoned with. Well, within the last couple of years, computers are starting to be the alternative to playing with a group. You have out on the market the 'gold box' AD&D computer games, the Ultima series of fantasy games, and the father of all RPG computer games, the Wizardry series. Plus with this selection, you can also include the various Shareware/freeware games out there on the market. But still, with such games an element is missing from them. Not even the most advanced home computer games can take over. You see, one reason most people play RPGs, other than to have fun, is to be with friends, to meet people. And surely you can't be friends with your computer (and if you do, you really need to get out more.) But now, BBSes are jumping onto the RPG bandwagon. They are starting what I prefer to call Play-By-E-Mail RPGs, or PBEM. This is more of a offshoot of PBM games (play-by-mail), in which people use the Postal Service and play with people all over the country, and perhaps all over the world. PBEM are different, as most of you fellow BBSers know, a BBS consists of mainly three things: a files base, game doors, and a message base. PBEM games use the message base instead of the Postal Service. And as most of you BBSers know already anyway, the message base in a BBS is much faster and more reliable than the mere insignificant Postal Service (no offense intended). But the question comes to mind, "What games does one play by PBEM?" Well, in fact, anything you can think of. The games range from Dungeons & Dragons to war simulations. It just all differs according to the BBS. Take for example some of the BBSes in my area. The Round Table BBS is offering an AD&D game, a Paranoia game, and an X-Men game (there may be one more, but I only remember that which interests me). I have only seen the AD&D game in progress (at the writing of this report, I am in the process of getting into a game) but it was rather exciting. The main elements of a RPG game were there, and maybe as technology increases we may be able to see who we're playing with through the computer screen (remember, these games take place over message bases). But AD&D games aren't the only games you can play. Another BBS, called Virtual Realm, offers Shadowrun (a very good game I may add). And I may also add that both Game-Masters (the guys who run the games) are also very competent about the games. Ah, but I can go on and on... I can write a book about the subject, but this magazine needs room for more important articles. I leave you with this... as all RPG games go, a PBEM game is the best alternative when you're not able to find someone to play with. But, there are certain more 'interactive' games out there to play. More graphics, more sound, more etc. And with that in mind, I leave you hanging, so then you can maybe pick up the next issue and see if the next article I may write is about those 'other' games. + + + + + ðððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððð ð ð ð Ò ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ³ Ò ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ¿ ÒÄÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ ð ð º º ³ ÇÄÂÙ ÇÄ ÚÄÅÄÄ º ÇÄ º Ä¿ ÇÄ º ³ º ³ ÓÄ¿ ð ð ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ÀÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ ÐÄÄÙ Ð Á ÐÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ ð ð ð ð The new monthly magazine about the Gaming World ð ð ð ð Video Games to Role-Playing Games to Card Games to... ð ð ð ð Available Free on a BBS near you! ð ð ð ðððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððððð + + + + + Follow-Up Report ---------------- Rusty & Edie's BBS Back On-Line, Charges Pending Rusty & Edie's BBS is back on-line after the highly publicize bust on January 30, 1993. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the raid on the Boardman, Ohio bulletin board because it had allegedly been distributing copyrighted software programs. A press release, put out by the Software Publishers Association (SPA), in last month's issue described the details of the bust. The SPA investigates complaints by software companies that their programs are being distributed illegally. The raid, press release and subsequent delay in filing charges has lead to some mixed responses in the on-line community. Many have praised both the FBI and SPA for their active role in pursuing the distributors of illegal software. Bulletin Boards which distribute software illegally are hurting the entire BBS industry, and as such, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, some have said since no charges have been filed it boils downs to just plain harassment. To clear up some of the confusion, the Pasco BBS Magazine contacted Ilene Rosenthal, general counsel for the SPA, to discuss just these issues. When asked of how the SPA got involved in the FBI investigation Ms. Rosenthal explained how that developed. "The SPA has a very active anti-piracy program. Our members and the user community report to us organizations or bulletins boards that are pirating their software. We investigate and either bring a civil action on behalf of the members of our industry whose software is being pirated, or alternatively, if it is a case which is criminal we will go to the FBI and show them the evidence which we've amassed and ask them whether or not this was the type of case they would be interested in taking. In this particular case we went to the FBI and asked them if they were interested, and it turns out they had their own investigation going as well. So, we ended up coordinating and working to the extent that we could provide them with information. We ended up working with them in that regard." When asked about those who felt it was harassment, simply because no charges have been filed, she explained "it is the FBI, not the SPA who is doing the investigation, but it is not unusual. Before an indictment comes down there is always very, very careful work done on the part of federal authorities. I don't think that is unusual at all. There is a time element. It is not unusual that a search warrant is executed and at a later date people are charged. People don't get arrested until very thorough work and investigation are completed. My own personal feeling is that people are probably jumping the gun here. It is interesting, because the on-line which I have been looking at has been much more favorable then what you have just indicated." Ilene Rosenthal is right when she states that software piracy on bulletins boards "does hurt the BBS industry and the legitimate Sysops, which is really the saddest thing." We also thank her for here time and will have more on the Software Publishers Association in next month's issue. + + + + + ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜ Ûßßß ßßÛßß Û Û ßÛßßÛ ßÛß ÛßßÛ ÛßßÛ Ûßßß ÜÛß ßÛß ßÛÛÜ ßßßÛ Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Û Ûßßß Û ÜÛÛ ÜÝ ÜÛÛ ßÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÜ ßßßß ß ßßßß ßßßßß ßßß ßßßß ß ßßßß ÞÛÛÝÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÝÛÛÛÛÝ Located in Sunny Port Richey Florida ÛÛÛÛÛÛÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ Over 5 Gigabytes with over 50,000+ Files! ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ (813)862-8850 (813)862-1809 (813)862-4632 ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛß All Nodes Support 300 to 16,800 Baud ßÛÛÛßßß ßÛÛß HST/V.32b/V.42b ßßßÛÛÛÛÛßßß Approved by the Association of Shareware Professionals! + + + + + Unnamed Winter Storm Wrecks Havoc on BBS Community -------------------------------------------------- It is really an insignificant part of the killer winter storm which left a path of destruction along the eastern United States, but an impact was felt on the BBS community. The March surprise caused extensive damage to power and telephone lines as hurricane strength winds ripped through almost half of the states in the union. Nearly a million customers lost electrical power along the east coast. Here along Florida's west coast, Pasco County was hit as hard as anybody and declared a disaster area by the Federal government. The local telephone exchange of the Pasco BBS Magazine was completely out for a day as flood waters forced the shut-down. People calling bulletins boards throughout the east found busy signals and ring-through, and other weather related problems. But again, this was minor considering the storm claimed a couple hundred lives. + + + + + Editorial --------- Who is responsible for scanning files for viruses? The chance of finding a virus in a computer program may be remote, but all users should realize there is a chance. Millions of computer programs are purchased or downloaded each year and a viruses is rarely encountered. Most bulletin board operators check every file before making them available to users and commercial software developers are also cautious. It is also foolish to assume that commercial "shrink-wrap" software is virus free, as many retails do re-sell returned software. In reality, commercial software dealers and retailers do not take viruses as seriously as BBS Sysops, so their record is nothing to brag about. Most bulletin boards do warn users that all files are provided "as it," so as to limited their own liability. But who is responsible for scanning your programs for viruses? Who is responsible for assuring that the programs you use on your computer do not contain harmful viruses which may cause catastrophic damage to your system? Whose fault is it if you get ill because you fail to cook your meat thoroughly? Whose fault is it if you have serious injuries sustained in automobile crash, despite the fact you neglected to wear your seat belts? Whose fault is it you do not read the labels on medicines or toxic substances? Whose fault is it if you are burglarized because of an unlocked door? Whose fault is it if your pet is run over by a car? Whose fault is it if you smoke cigarettes and are diagnosed with lung cancer? I think you get the point. You have to be responsible for your own actions and not take senseless chances. Perhaps society in general would also benefit if people would take responsibility instead of blaming others. Only one person can be responsible for scanning for viruses, and that person is you. The Pasco BBS Magazine wants your opinion, and welcomes opposing viewpoints. Send along your opinions on BBS related issues. + + + + + ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ º º ßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßßßß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º Ò Ò ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· º º ºÖ·º ÇÄ ÓÄÄ· º º º º ÇÄĶ ÓÄÄ· º º º Ó½Ó½ ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð Ð ÓÄĽ Ð º º Ö· · ÖÄÄ· ÖÄ¿ ÖÄ¿ ÖÄ· ßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ÖÐз º Ķ ÇÄÁ¿ ÇÄÁ¿ ÓÄÄ· ÞÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ ÓÄÄÙ ÓÄÄÙ ÓÄĽ ÞÛÛßÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ÒÄÄ¿ Ò ÖÄÄ¿ ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÒÄ· ÖÄÄ· ÖÄÄ¿Ò Âß ÜÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º º ³ º ÇÄÂÙ ÇÄ º º º º ÇÄÂÙÓÄÒÄÙ ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º ÐÄÄÙ Ð Ð Á ÓÄĽ ÓÄĽ Ð ÓÄĽ Ð Á Ð ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛßßÛÛÛÛÝ º º ßÛ ÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛ º º Editor: CLARK D. GILBO ßÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º Û ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ º º This is a 813 BBS Directory ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ º º ßÛÛÛß º º "NOT JUST A BBS LISTING ÜÜþ º º BUT A DIRECTORY" ÜÜßßßß º º º º º º Westcoast 813 BBS Directory, 4348 Plaza Dr. Suite #V103, Holiday, Florida º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ + + + + + G A M E R E V I E W ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ Program ³ Trivia Shell ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÅÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ Author/Vendor ³ Software Creations ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÅÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ Special Requirements ³ 640K ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÅÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ ³ Supports ³ Mouse ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Trivia Shell Review ------------------- Dan Linton and Jason Blochowiak have teamed up to create a very enjoyable Shareware trivia game. Trivia Shell has all kinds of features and a growing number of question databases, which makes it fun and educational no matter what your interests are. Trivia Shell has many options which the player can choose from, so the game can be set-up to your own personal preferences. You can choose which level of play, or how difficult you want the questions to be, which makes it fun for the entire family. There is also a humor mode which will make comments on your play. The game can be set-up for timed play, to repeat questions answered incorrectly, to give the correct answer if you miss a question or to allow hints. There are currently twenty-five different question databases available for Trivia Shell. There is TV Trivia, Kids Trivia, Presidents Trivia, Sports Trivia, World War II Trivia, to name a few. The Shareware version offers 105 questions for each game, but registration brings 300, 600, or in the case of some titles, 1000 questions, depending on which level of registration you prefer. Trivia Shell is well done, and if you are not careful you may learn something. + + + + + ÍÍÍËÍÍÍ ÉÍÍÍÍ» º º º ÉÍÍ Ë ÉÍÍ º ÉÍÍ» ɻɻ º ÌÍ º ÌÍ ÍÍ º º º º º Ê ÈÍÍ ÈÍÍ ÈÍÍ ÈÍÍÍͼ ÈÍͼ Ê Ê B U L L E T I N B O A R D S Y S T E M! ÄÄÄÜÜÜÜÜÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ÜÜÜÜÜÄÄÄ ÄÄÄÜÜÜܳ LATEST ô ADULT ³ÜÜÜÜÄÄÄ ÄÄÄÜÜܳ VERSIONS ³³ GIF's, DL ³ÜÜÜÄÄÄ ÄÄÄÜܳ in ³³ GL Movies ³ÜÜÄÄÄ ÄÄÄܳ SHARE-WARE ô Cartoons ³ÜÄÄÄ Node 1 ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Node 2 (813) 780-8452 Harold Hinsz, SysOp (813) 783-9926 2400/38400 Baud 1200/2400 Baud þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ WELCOME to Tele-Com BBS þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ PASCO BBS MAGAZINE Distribution Site Zephyrhills, Florida + + + + + More BBS Symbols ---------------- A couple of issues ago, some of the more common BBS symbols were run in the magazine. Some users like to add symbols to messages to convey some sense of feeling. Some think of them as emotional icons, or "emoticons." You have most likely seen things like :-) (the smiling happy face) in BBS messages. Some of the other symbols are far more complex and not so self explanatory. Here are more BBS symbols. It might help to turn your head, as most symbols are on their sides. #:-) :-) done by someone with matted hair @= Flame about nuclear war (mushroom cloud) (:-) Message dealing with bicycle (or motorcycle) helmets oo "Somebody's head-lights are on" message O>-<|= Message of interest to women |-( Late night message :^) Message teasing someone about their nose :-{#} Message teasing someone about their braces (:-$ Message indicating person is sick (:-& Message indicating person is angry (:-* Kiss... (:-( Message indicating person is very sad :-(=) Message about someone with big teeth &:-) Message from a person with curly hair @:-) Message from a person with wavy hair ?-( Message about someone with a black eye %-) Message about someone with broken glasses +<:-| Message from a monk or nun {0-) Message about a cyclops (:-|K- Formal message ||*( Handshake offered ||*) Handshake accepted <&&> Message concerning rubber chickens >< >< Message about someone wearing argyle socks (-_-) Secret smile <{:-)} Message in a bottle <:-)<<| Message from a space rocket