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--- mbbsemu:history:majorbbs [2020/11/17 20:31] – created enusbaum
+++ mbbsemu:history:majorbbs [2023/10/07 01:07] – enusbaum
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-Galacticomm was incorporated on July 23, 1985 to initially run a network of multi-user game systems. In 1986, Galacticomm developed the Model-16 (16 modem modules on one expansion card) and Galacticomm Software Breakthrough Library (GSBL, engineer-oriented toolkit for multi-user applications).
+====== History of Galacticomm, The Major BBS, and Worldgroup ======
-In 1986, Galacticomm also wrote Version 1.0 of The Major BBS as an in-house demo of the Model-16 and released Version 2.0 as shareware. The first commercial sale of The Major BBS occurred in 1987 with the introduction of Version 4.0 ($59) and third-party developers also began writing add-on utilities and games.
+The MajorBBS was a DOS Bulletin Board Software (BBS) written by Timothy Striker in 1986. Tim had previously written several multi user gaming systems and used his experience to create both the Galacticomm Software Breakthrough Library (GSBL) and Model 16 Modem Card. The GSBL was a set of x86 Assembler communication routines that helped facilitate the rapid development of multi user applications on the Model 16, which was a single ISA card that contained 16 1200 baud modems. Both were quite revolutionary and focused on using Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware at a time, when these types of multi user applications existed primarily on mainframes, mini's and mid's.
-Version 5.0 of The Major BBS was released in 1988. The GalactiBox (a 16-slot COM 1-4 expansion chassis) was developed the same year. In 1989, Version 5.07 unveiled new "extended editions" such as the Entertainment, File Library, MenuMan, and Shopping Mall. Direct-connect for X.25 packet-switch networks (256 simultaneous users) was also developed in 1989. Version 5.2 offered BBSETUP for automatic hardware detection and configuration, and optional protected mode support in 1990. Also manufactured at this time was the GalactiBoard, an 8-port serial card with 16550 UARTs.
+While initially created to showcase the GSBL and Model 16, by 1988 Tim was licensing more copies of The MajorBBS than the GSBL. The MajorBBS quickly reached v5 as the user-base continued to grow. The main limitation with the software at this point was that addon's had to be manually compiled which required users to purchase Borland C and have programming experience. Seeing this limitation, Tim implemented loadable module support which allowed addon's to be distributed as 16-bit binary NE DLL's. This eliminated requiring users to purchase compilers and have programming experience just to operate a BBS.
-Galactic Innovations, a third-party development firm led by Scott Brinker (currently Galacticomm president), was acquired by Galacticomm in 1991. The Major Database, Dial-Out, Kyrandia, and other utilities and multi-user games were directly offered by Galacticomm as a result of the acquisition. In 1991, Galacticomm released Version 5.3 which offered Novell NetWare LAN support.
+In 1992 The MajorBBS v6 was released and with the addition of loadable module support it's user-base sky-rocketed. By the end of 1994 Galacticomm had reportedly sold over 15,000 copies of the software, and would go on to release eight revisions that year. In December 1994, CEO Scott Brinker was interviewed by Inter@ctive magazine and publicly announced their new multimedia BBS software named “Project Victory”. The MajorBBS v6.25 was finally released on January 11th, 1995 and would be the last version retaining the “MajorBBS'' name.
+also saw the rapid growth of public Internet access which drew a large percentage of its users from the BBS community. Like many BBS companies of the time, Galacticomm held delusions that they could compete with the growing popularity of the Internet. “Project Victory”, now renamed Worldgroup, was publicly announced on January 30th 1995 and Worldgroup v1.0 would be released in May that same year. In September, v1.0.1 was released and Galacticomm switched compilers from Borland C++ 3.1 to 4.5. All addons compiled with Borland C++ 4.5 were no longer compatible with previous MajorBBS/Worldgroup releases.
-The Major BBS Version 6.0 ($259) implemented a major architectural shift in 1992 with native protected mode operation and source code-free integration of add-ons. This allowed system operators to easily add products from Galacticomm and third-party developers without requiring recompilation of the base system. In 1993, Galacticomm launched Version 6.1 which offered online graphics capability and enhanced support for Microsoft Windows. Currently shipping Version 6.2 with integrated RIPscrip, QWK-mail, rewritten file library and polling services.
+was a very turbulent year for BBSing and Galacticomm would see the exit of many long time ISV/TPD's along with scores of disgruntled Sysops who had invested many thousands of dollars into their systems only to be slapped in the face with massive architecture and price structure changes. In May 1996 Galacticomm would release Worldgroup 2.0, but BBS's as a whole were declining at an exponential rate. Tragically on August 6 at the age of 41, Tim Stryker took his own life in the mountains of Colorado.
+After Tim's passing, Galacticomm struggled on but with the loss of their visionary as well as droves of users leaving BBS's for the Internet. The company was destined for failure. Galacticomm would go on to release Worldgroup v3 for DOS in 1997 and v3.12 in 1998 before abandoning DOS entirely. In 1999, Worldgroup v3.2 was released for Windows but before the end of the year Galacticomm would shut its doors. Over the next few years, leadership of Galacticomm would change many times, but none was able to regain the momentum they once had with The MajorBBS.
+In 2002 the company would ultimately file for bankruptcy and fade into the annals of time.
-By 1994, Galacticomm was one of the largest BBS software providers in the world.
-The Galacticomm mission statement was: **//"To do really cool things in the field of computer communications and make a buck at it."//**