Obscure IGS Graphics Protocol For Atari ST BBSes Celebrated with New Artpack (breakintochat.com) 5
Developer/data journalist Josh Renaud is also long-time Slashdot reader Kirkman14 — and he's got a story to tell:
How do you get people interested in an obscure Atari ST graphics format used on BBSes in the late 1980s and early 1990s? Recruit some folks to help you make an artpack full of images and animations showing it off! That's the idea behind IGNITE, a new artpack from Mistigris computer arts and Break Into Chat, featuring 18 images and animations created in "Instant Graphics and Sound" format.
I love telling unknown underdog computer stories, and IGS sucked me in. This fall, I published a six-part, 14,000-word history, introducing readers to a cast of characters that included Mears, the self-described "working man without a degree" who often downplayed his own coding ability; Kevin Moody and Anthony Rau, two Navy guys in Florida who bonded over their love of Atari and BBSing; Steve Turnbull, an artist and scenic designer working in Hollywood; and many others.
But IGS isn't just a thing of the past. Two years ago, on New Years Eve 2022, Mears made a surprise announcement — he was releasing a new version of IGS, thirty years after he had stopped working on the project.
Because I (inadvertently) had spurred Larry to action, I felt an obligation to make some art using his new tools. I completed my first piece — a drawing of a ship from the sci-fi game FTL — in early 2023. Over the subsequent months, I kept at it, and ended up creating a number of fun animations. I'm particularly proud of the [Star Trek-themed] animated Guardian of Forever login sequence, and a brand-new Calvin and Hobbes-themed animation I created just for this pack.
I had long wanted to release an all-IGS artpack as a way to honor Mears, highlight IGS, and maybe stir other people's interest in trying this format. To lower the barrier to entry, I created my own web-based drawing tool, JoshDraw, which supports a small subset of IGS's features. To my surprise, I successfully recruited seven other people to submit nine static images to include in the pack.
I love telling unknown underdog computer stories, and IGS sucked me in. This fall, I published a six-part, 14,000-word history, introducing readers to a cast of characters that included Mears, the self-described "working man without a degree" who often downplayed his own coding ability; Kevin Moody and Anthony Rau, two Navy guys in Florida who bonded over their love of Atari and BBSing; Steve Turnbull, an artist and scenic designer working in Hollywood; and many others.
But IGS isn't just a thing of the past. Two years ago, on New Years Eve 2022, Mears made a surprise announcement — he was releasing a new version of IGS, thirty years after he had stopped working on the project.
Because I (inadvertently) had spurred Larry to action, I felt an obligation to make some art using his new tools. I completed my first piece — a drawing of a ship from the sci-fi game FTL — in early 2023. Over the subsequent months, I kept at it, and ended up creating a number of fun animations. I'm particularly proud of the [Star Trek-themed] animated Guardian of Forever login sequence, and a brand-new Calvin and Hobbes-themed animation I created just for this pack.
I had long wanted to release an all-IGS artpack as a way to honor Mears, highlight IGS, and maybe stir other people's interest in trying this format. To lower the barrier to entry, I created my own web-based drawing tool, JoshDraw, which supports a small subset of IGS's features. To my surprise, I successfully recruited seven other people to submit nine static images to include in the pack.
Pack link and anyone remember IGS? (Score:1)
If anyone would prefer to download the actual artpack, you can get it here [mistigris.org].
I'm curious if there are any present-day Slashdot users who ever saw or used IGS (or its later PC successors "BIG" and "CONDOR") during the years 1988-1993. I'm sure it's unlikely, but I'd love to hear from anyone if you're out there.
Re: (Score:1)
Do I have to go buy an ISA modem and get POTS to use this? When does CompUSA close today? I might have re-subscribe to Computer Shopper to order a modem.
Re: (Score:1)
Do I have to go buy an ISA modem and get POTS to use this? When does CompUSA close today? I might have re-subscribe to Computer Shopper to order a modem.
Those were the days -- though I doubt CompUSA would have stocked Atari ST hardware.
For anyone who might be wondering, no, you don't need any special hardware to experience this pack. If you grab the pack, it includes PNG and MP4 versions of the art for viewing on modern systems ... as well as the original .IG files for people who have Atari STs or feel adventurous enough to try setting up an emulator.
Many of the animations in this pack can be seen on my telnet BBS, Guardian of Forever [synchro.net] -- but only with a
Ewww, Atari ST (Score:2)
Amiga is still THE KING, baby!
Amiga scene is still alive.