Major BBS

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The Major BBS (later renamed Worldgroup in 1995) was developed by Tim Stryker and launched in 1986 by Stryker's company Galacticomm, as a demonstration of the abilities of the Galacticomm Software Breakthrough Library (or GSBL). The GSBL was a powerful set of assembler routines written for IBM and compatible PCs that allowed up to 32 simultaneous connections to a single software instance without the need for an external multitasker. It was licensed to developers for varied uses, such as communications systems, bank systems, real estate systems, etc. Eventually, The Major BBS was enhanced enough that it became a saleable product in its own right. By late 1987, Galacticomm was licensing more copies of The Major BBS than the GSBL by itself. The GSBL continued to be enhanced, expanding to 64 users by 1988, then 256 by 1992.

The software was well known for creating online communities and fostered an interactive online experience where users were able to interact with each other via teleconferences and multiplayer games. This flexibility spawned a small industry of Independent Software Vendors (ISV) who began developing add-ons for this product which ranged from shopping malls to online role playing games.

The Major BBS allowed incoming connections via modems on telephone lines, IPX networks, and X.25 packet-switched networks. In 1994, the offering expanded to include TCP/IP by the ISV Vircom, a Canadian company that has since become well-known for its anti-spam/anti-virus software.

Seeking to compete with America Online, the company developed a client-server model utilizing a graphical Windows-based interface. The new software was renamed Worldgroup and released in 1995. Although Worldgroup initially had some success, the client-server model was an unfortunate strategic choice, as the World Wide Web was just emerging as a dominant phenomenon. The popularity of the dialup BBS world, including the MajorBBS and Worldgroup then faded as online use became web-oriented. Galacticomm's slow response in adapting to the internet-based online model probably was fatal.

In 1997, the first 32-bit version of Worldgroup was released for Windows NT, and other versions were simultaneously continued. This release finally focused on an active html web-based community that could have been a home run if the company had pursued it rather than the client-server strategy three years earlier. The MS-DOS version was discontinued with version 3.1.

Founder Tim Stryker committed suicide on August 6, 1996 in Colorado and the company was sold by his widow Christine to a group headed by Yannick Tessier, owner of Tessier Technologies, who developed software as an ISV. Tessier and Peter Berg led the company toward an IPO, which failed in 1998. The company discontinued operations in 1999 and was foreclosed upon by their primary lender. The lender acquired the company's assets via foreclosure in 2002.

Subsequently, Worldgroup development and sales continued on a limited basis by a former ISV, and is still in production as of 2006, although virtually forgotten.

1 Version History
2 Technical Information
3 Other Multi-Line BBS Software
4 Games
5 Applications
6 External links

[edit] Version History

1986 - MajorBBS 1.0 (not released)
1986 - MajorBBS 2.0 (shareware)
1987 - MajorBBS 3.0, 4.0 (commercial software)
1988 - MajorBBS 5.0
1989 - v5.07
1990 - v5.2
1991 - v5.3 (includes Novell Netware support)
1992 - v6.0; included Phar Lap protected mode capability
1993 - v6.1; multilingual
1994 - v6.25; UNIX version, Internet Connection Option (ICO) TCP/IP
1995 - Worldgroup v1.0; introduced Microsoft Windows version
1996 - Worldgroup v2.0; includes plug-in for Netscape
1997 - Worldgroup v3.0
1999 - Galacticomm ends operations after failed IPO
2002 - Galacticomm assets foreclosed upon by lender
2006 - Worldgroup v3.3 still nominally in production and supported at http://worldgroupware.com

Full timeline

[edit] Technical Information

Initially, a system's linecount depended on the user limit of the GSBL purchased with the BBS. The GSBL (and thus the BBS) was offered in 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 user editions. Later, with the release of version 6, the concept of user six-packs was introduced. System operators (SysOps) purchased as many packs as they needed to add additional lines, up to 256.
Due to a limitation of the 16-bit architecture of MS-DOS, Major BBS was limited to a maximum of 255 incoming lines (plus one 'local console'). In practice, it was extremely difficult to scale to this level due to the 16MB ram memory limitation of the Phar Lap 286 memory extender in use, as well as the physical limitations on connecting 255 modems to a single computer.
Developers were sold development kits that allowed add-ons to be written in C/C++
All data files were stored using a Btrieve format.
It was necessary for the system to go down for maintenance each evening in order to re-index, repair and optimize data files.

[edit] Other Multi-Line BBS Software

TBBS

[edit] Games

Tele-Arena
MajorMUD
Swords of Chaos
Infinity Complex
Fazuul 1985 by Tim Stryker
Quest for Magic 1986 by Scott Brinker and Tim Stryker
Quest for Sorcery by Scott Brinker
Quest for Sorcery II by Scott Brinker
Quest of the Alchemists by Scott Brinker
Kyrandia 1989 by Scott Brinker and Richard Skurnick
Alchemy II: The Hangover by Scott Brinker

[edit] Applications

Vircom TCP/IP - Allowed the system to link to the Internet, provide both inbound and outbound FTP and Telnet services, and provide e-mail service. The application also allowed MajorBBS to provide dial-up Internet access (via SLIP and PPP protocols). The company also produced a RADIUS server which allowed MajorBBS to act as the central authentication and billing server for any number of applications such as internet services. Vircom later went on to produce software solutions to combat spam.

[edit] External links

The Gaming Center BBS aka TC DooM Zdaemon Clan - South Florida's Premier MultiPlayer Gaming Site BBS' MajorBBS/WorldGroup - On-line since 1995! (Founded by Aztech and Player, Assisted by EllisDee aka AlFreako) aka TC DooM Zdaemon Clan
High Society BBS - Beta-test site of Elwynor Technologies' MajorBBS/WorldGroup add-on ports. On-line since 1987! telnet://hs.host.net (originally owned by Yannick Tessier, sold by Galacticomm to Randy Epstein)
The Major BBS Restoration Project - dedicated to preserving the history of Galacticomm, The Major BBS/Worldgroup, and the TPD/ISV add-on software.
Elwynor Technologies - The largest active ISV for Major BBS/Worldgroup. Actively locating old TPD/ISV people and acquiring their software.
Dialsoft - one of the few remaining active ISVs for Worldgroup
The Bluehard BBS - One of the remaining Worldgroup BBS's with MajorMUD, TLord, TW2002, and more. Formerly TSCNet Executive Online
Ghetto BBS - Currently the most active MajorMUD BBS. With No Duplicate accounts. Running Since May 2003.
Orbiter Online - a large system in the Daytona Beach, Florida which operated normally from 1994 to 2000; currently serves as a web hosting site; hosted the first online marriage ceremony in Central Florida and featured in various magazines
Bloodquest - Knightmare on Realm Street - Longest Running No PvP game Around. Online without Resetting the game since 1995
Realm At War - New Game All PvP All the Time Test your MajorMUD Skills.