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--- research:zzt_preservation_phonebook [2021/03/08 20:01] – created asie
+++ research:zzt_preservation_phonebook [2021/12/08 21:22] (current) – [America On-Line] asie
@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 This is a rough document listing information on services which have had valuable content related to ZZT preservation, and any potential notes useful for preserving them.
+===== Official ZZT Distributors =====
+==== Confirmed ====
+  * USA: Epic MegaGames (already contacted)
+  * UK (early): Nildram Software (already contacted)
+  * UK (later): Epic MegaGames UK
+  * Canada: Distant Markets, Box 1149, 194-3803 Calgary Trail, Edmonton, AB Canada T6J 5M8
+==== Unconfirmed ====
+  * Germany: CDV-Software, Ettlingerstr. 5, 7500 Karlsuhe 1, Germany (official Epic reseller, but did they sell ZZT?)
+  * Australia: BUDGETWARE, PO Box 496, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia (official Epic reseller, but did they sell ZZT?)
+==== Shareware-only? ====
+  * Finland: unknown (mentioned on sale in Pelit 1994/03, likely just the shareware copy)
+  * Poland: unknown (mentioned on sale in Computer Studio #10, likely just the shareware copy)
 ===== Bulletin Board Systems =====
@@ Line 12: / Line 31: @@
 The SysOp was Chip Hageman (mythran42). No success in contacting so far - the Internet record ends with a dead end in mid-2018.
+==== Software Visions BBS Distribution Sites ====
+  Software Visions Official BBS Distribution Sites-
+   Alternative Dimension        Tol Eress?a
+   (602)955-4720                (801)296-0617
+.4k baud                   14.4k baud
+   Rob's Place
+   (705)497-3028
+.4k baud
+   Gator Country BBS            Warp Zone BBS
+   (904)783-4071                (607)324-7084
+.2k baud                   38.4k baud, 4pm-12am
+   Around Town-Islip Terrace    Romantic Bytes BBS
+   (516)859-0703                (206)776-2836
+.4k baud                   19.2k baud
+   Metal Alternative Music BBS  The Black Realms
+   (312)463-8535                (812)424-3781
+.4k baud                   14.4k baud
 ==== Others ====
+  * **Rose Media**, **Canada Remote Systems** - Canadian BBSes mentioned in an early game by Darren Hewer.
+  * **The StrongHold BBS** - mentioned in The Lost Monkeys as an official support channel.
+  * **KastlerocK BBS** - source of "Escape from the Land for Noz"; operated from 1992 to 2004 by Jamie Kowinsky, see [[http://bbslist.textfiles.com/724/|Textfiles BBS List]].
   * **Da Warren BBS** - [[https://www.crummy.com/warren/files/zzt/|preserved]] by the SysOp, Leonard Richardson, in 2008!
+  * Multiple BBSes are listed in the final release of Warlord's Temple.
 ===== Pre-Internet Online Services =====
@@ Line 35: / Line 82: @@
   * **12830** - MegaZeux
-Unfortunately, the ArchiveTeam efforts from 2014 failed to capture the data from them:
+Unfortunately, the ArchiveTeam efforts from 2014 failed to capture any potential data from them:
   * The file dump only goes up to library **5044**,
   * The description dump for libraries 12000-12999 omits either of the MegaZeux file libraries.
-There are some unconfirmed rumors about the MegaZeux file libraries having been removed in the past, but I don't remember where I heard them.
+The ZZT/MegaZeux message boards were shut down in March 1998, with uploads no longer being accepted by October 1997. Citing mWorld:
+>As most of you probably know by now, we have added ZZT, SuperZZT, and MegaZeux to the list of programs for which we are no longer accepting uploaded add-ons, and will we not be adding any new ones to the libraries at this time.
+>Good day to you. Upon inquiring with PCCMarcia as to the recent shut-down of the AOL ZZT message boards in the PCGames forum, she said that it was probably to make room for new boards, and that you are the one who is in charge of the message boards. If at all possible, I would like confirmation of PCCMarcia's comments as to the ZZT' Message Boards disappearence. Any information you could relay to myself would be highly appreciated. I thank you for your time in reading this, and look forward to a prospective response. -—Kaine
 ==== Others ====
@@ Line 46: / Line 98: @@
   * **CompuServe** - Hard drive dumps and their owners exist, but it seems they are very fractional and don't cover the ZZT community on CompuServe.
   * **GEnie** - No information.
-  * **Exec-PC** - bbs.execpc.com stopped responding sometime in the last few years. Unfortunately, we didn't get to it in time.
+  * **Exec-PC** - It appears that all the ZZT-related files still up on Exec-PC have been archived. No information on any further discussions/etc.
 ===== Forums ====
@@ Line 52: / Line 104: @@
 ==== Epic MegaBoards ====
-Used to have a ZZT section. No further information available.
+Used to have a ZZT section. Hosted on ''http://megaboard.epicgames.com/'' in the late 90s; a few posts are preserved by the WayBack Machine.
+It appears the section saw very little activity, with the only preserved threads (from March 18th, 1999) being copy-pastes of posts from another forum or an announcement of such copy-pasting ongoing.