Well, I’ve gone and found myself another project. Imagine that! 🙂
This time, we’re going way back. Back to the days of dial-up modems, bulletin board systems (BBSes), ANSI graphics, DOS door games, and staying up entirely too late exploring what was out there.
I’ve started my very own BBS, appropriately named The Night Shift, and it’s now online at bbs.liljoe.games!
A Little Trip Down Memory Lane
Back in the early ’90s, one of my friends had a computer with a modem. I didn’t have one at home, so whenever I spent the weekend at his house, I would stay up practically all night exploring bulletin board systems.
For anyone unfamiliar with BBSes, they were little online communities that existed long before social media became a thing. You’d connect directly to someone’s computer using a modem, browse message boards, exchange files, play games, and sometimes chat with other people who happened to be online.
My friend even hosted his own BBS, which made the whole experience that much more interesting. He eventually made me a co-sysop, and that’s when I adopted the handle Night Rider, a nod to one of my favorite TV shows growing up, Knight Rider. Yes, I know I spelled it wrong. LOL.
I particularly remember those massive Night Owl CD-ROM collections full of shareware and other software. I’d spend hours exploring files, finding interesting programs, and copying everything I could onto floppy disks to take home.
Those were some good times!
Fast-Forward Thirty-Something Years
A couple of years ago, I rediscovered the BBS scene and was amazed to find that it was still alive and kicking! I decided to try my hand at running a board using Synchronet. I called that little experiment Lil’ Joe’s Lair, but it never quite came together the way I’d hoped.
Then, recently, I stumbled across a project called **ATDT**, which allows you to run a BBS using ordinary shared web hosting.
Naturally, I had to try it.
Getting it installed was surprisingly straightforward, and before long I had a working bulletin board. Initially, it was just another experiment to see whether I could get something running.
But then I started tinkering.
I began creating message areas, customizing menus, configuring door games, and digging through my old collection of TheDraw fonts to make ANSI artwork.
Before I knew it, I was spending evenings doing the same kinds of things I enjoyed doing with computers back in the ’90s.
And I was having a blast!
Welcome to The Night Shift
I decided to give this new BBS its own identity, and The Night Shift felt like the perfect name.
It reminds me of those late nights spent at my friend’s house, staying awake long after everyone else had gone to bed, exploring BBSes and discovering new things.
And, of course, it seemed only appropriate to dust off my old sysop handle, Night Rider.
I’ve created a few places for visitors to explore:
- The Break Room — General conversation, introductions, and whatever happens to be on your mind.
- The Terminal Room — Computers, technology, retro hardware, and BBS nostalgia.
- The Arcade — Gaming discussions, old and new.
- The Graveyard Shift — Off-topic conversations and late-night ramblings.
- The Supply Closet — A small file library, including some RollerCoaster Tycoon creations.
There’s also a Game Room with classic BBS door games, including Legend of the Red Dragon, TradeWars 2002, Usurper, and a few others.
And because no self-respecting BBS from the ’90s would be complete without colorful ANSI artwork, I’ve been spending a ridiculous amount of time creating custom welcome screens and menus using TheDraw.
Some things never change. 🙂
A Little Piece of the Old Internet
One of the things I’ve found myself missing about the early internet is how personal it felt.
I remember the days of LiveJournal, when people would write about completely ordinary or ridiculous things, and friends would jump into the comments. Sometimes we’d have the funniest conversations over absolutely nothing.
It wasn’t about collecting likes, chasing followers, or trying to impress anyone. It was just people sharing little pieces of their lives and having fun.
Today’s internet feels different. There’s certainly no shortage of content, but sometimes it feels like there’s less actual interaction.
I miss that.
I’m not expecting The Night Shift to somehow recreate the internet of 1994 or 2004. And I certainly don’t expect it to become the next big online community.
Honestly, this started as another personal playground, and that’s perfectly fine with me.
But if a few people discover it, stop by, leave a message, play a game, and maybe strike up a conversation, that would be pretty awesome.
Sometimes the simplest things are the most enjoyable.
Come Clock In!
So, if you remember the days of dialing into BBSes, or you’re simply curious about what the internet was like before everything moved into a web browser, I’d love for you to stop by.
The Night Shift is still evolving. I’m figuring things out as I go, adding features, experimenting with ANSI artwork, and undoubtedly finding new rabbit holes to disappear into.
But that’s half the fun!
The Night Shift BBS
Connect: https://bbs.liljoe.games
Sysop: Night Rider
Your after-hours connection.
When the world sleeps, we connect.
See you on the night shift!