BBS - Door Games and Underlying Technology

Okay, let's delve deeper into the world of door games on Renegade BBS, the underlying technology, and some relevant resources.

Door Games: The Heart of Interactive BBS Experience

Door games were a crucial element of the BBS experience, acting as interactive diversions and a significant draw for users. They were essentially external programs launched from within the BBS software. Here's why they were so important:

• Variety of Genres: Door games spanned a wide range of genres, including:
  • Role-Playing Games (RPGs): Like Legend of the Red Dragon (LORD), Trade Wars 2002, and Barren Realms Elite, these offered persistent worlds, character progression, and often social interaction.
  • Strategy Games: Examples include Global War and numerous variations of empire-building and conquest games.
  • Adventure Games: Text-based adventure games were popular, often presenting a branching storyline with puzzles and challenges.
  • Trivia and Word Games: Many simple trivia games or word puzzles were available.
  • Casino-Style Games: Games that emulated casino experiences were common, often using in-game currency.
  • Multi-User Games: While most were single-player, many door games offered multiplayer capabilities, sometimes with real-time interactions between multiple users logged into the BBS simultaneously.
• Escapism and Socialization: Door games provided users with a way to escape reality, immerse themselves in different worlds, and connect with others through competition, cooperation, or shared experiences.
• Addictive and Engaging: The games were designed to be engaging, offering goals, challenges, and a sense of progress that kept users coming back for more.
• SysOp Customization: SysOps could choose which door games to offer on their BBS, curating a specific experience for their users.

Underlying Technology:

The technology behind door games in Renegade BBS is relatively simple but ingenious:

1. External Programs: Door games were separate executable programs (typically .EXE files in the DOS environment).
2. Communication via ANSI: The door games communicated with the BBS through a text-based interface, often using ANSI escape codes to display colors and basic graphics. This was essential for presenting information and accepting user input.
3. Drop File: When a user chose to play a door game, the Renegade BBS would temporarily halt its main process, create a "drop file" that contained information about the user (username, user level, etc.), and then execute the door game program.
4. Game Logic: The door game would read this drop file, process the user's input, and perform its internal game logic.
5. Return to BBS: When the user quit the door game, it would return control to the Renegade BBS, which would then resume its normal operation.
6. Shared Data: Some games used shared data files to maintain persistent data across multiple users and sessions, enabling a sense of continuity and shared worlds.

Key Aspects of the Technology:

• Simple Interfacing: The drop file and text-based communication simplified the integration of external programs into the BBS environment.
• Limited Resources: Door games had to be efficient, as they were running in a relatively resource-constrained environment (often on older PCs).
• Batch Processing: The interaction between the BBS and the door game was primarily batch-oriented, not real-time, due to the nature of dial-up communication. This meant there could be some noticeable delays, particularly in games with heavy processing.

Relevant Websites & Resources

Here are some links that can help you explore Renegade BBS and its door games further:

1. The Renegade BBS Website (archived): Sadly, the original Renegade website is long gone. However, you might find references and potentially archived information through Wayback Machine searches.

   • Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/ (Search for "renegade bbs" or relevant domains)

2. MajorBBS Archive: This archive contains information and documentation about various BBS software, including Renegade.

   • https://www.textfiles.com/bbs/MAJORBBS/ (While focused on MajorBBS, you'll often find related info about other BBS software)

3. BBS Software and Door Game Archives: Many archives exist, often hosted by enthusiasts. These can be found through searches, and here are a couple of starting points:

   • The BBS Corner: https://www.thebbs.org/ (Often links to software downloads and information.)
   • BBS Document Archive: http://bbsdocumentary.com/ (While not direct game links, they have resources on BBS history and related software)

4. YouTube: Search for "Renegade BBS gameplay" or specific game titles. You will find many videos showcasing actual gameplay footage and demonstrations, which can help you understand the user experience better.

5. Retro Computing Forums: Look for online forums dedicated to retro computing, BBSes, or the DOS era. You will find active communities of people who have experience with these systems, often willing to share their knowledge and resources.

Key Door Game Examples and Further Research:

• Legend of the Red Dragon (LORD): Extremely popular RPG that became a standard on many BBSs. Search for "LORD door game" to find online communities and resources.
• Trade Wars 2002: A text-based space trading and combat game with strategic elements. Search for "Trade Wars 2002 BBS" to find dedicated communities.
• Barren Realms Elite: Another popular RPG game that was commonly found on Renegade systems.

Note: It's important to understand that many of the original download sources are no longer active, so you might need to use historical archives and forums to find the specific software or door games you're looking for.

In conclusion, door games were a vital and incredibly enjoyable part of the Renegade BBS experience. They were technically simple but powerful in their ability to provide unique interactive and social experiences for users. Hopefully, these resources will help you further explore and understand this fascinating aspect of retro online culture.