In the decade after Ward Christensen and Randy Suess created the first BBS, there was a growing tension between commerce and the common good.
BBSes were born in a spirit of openness and sharing, but it wasn't just a hobby anymore, according to folks like Jack Rickard and Phil Becker. It was "an emerging growth industry of unprecedented opportunity."
https://breakintochat.com/blog/2026/03/16/business-of-bbsing-ansi-art-and-webcomics-part-4/
#retrocomputing #ansiart #textmode #ansi #bbs #bbsing #computerhistory #history #mastoart #comics #digipres
In the early 1990s, as BBSes turned into businesses, some sysops and developers started making real money.
Could ANSI artists and publishers do the same?
https://breakintochat.com/blog/2026/03/16/business-of-bbsing-ansi-art-and-webcomics-part-4/
Part 4 of my series "ANSI art and webcomics" is here!
#retrocomputing #ansiart #textmode #ansi #bbs #bbsing #computerhistory #history #mastoart #comics #digipres
Gairaigo is now released!
Inspiration drawn from #Kanji, #Shoji, #Kumiko, and #Hanafuda. Get it now ->
littlebitspace.com/resources#Gairaigo
#ascii #asciiart #ansi #ansiart #art #bbs #text #textart #textmode #typography #typedesign #design #pixel #pixelart #font #japan
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. ยฃ99 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.
Fuji in Bloom
New font in development. The second image is with default font
#art #ascii #asciiart #ansi #ansiart #bbs #computer #computerart #demoscene #digital #digitalart #text #textart #textmode #textpunk #8bit #8bitart #pixelart #pixel #fuji #japan #japanese#sakura #bloom #landscape
ANSI-Saver โ A macOS Screensaver
https://github.com/lardissone/ansi-saver
#HackerNews #ANSI-Saver #macOS #Screensaver #GitHub #TechNews #OpenSource
Josh Renaud
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MeaTLoTioN
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Dr. Fortyseven ๐ฅ โโโโ