Draft:C-Net 12.0

C-Net 12.0 (C-Net 64) was a full featured, single-line, bulletin board system (BBS) software system released in 1987 for the Commodore 64 microcomputer by Perspective Software. It was based on C-Net 10.0 written by Ken Pletzer and was coded by Don Gladden and Ray Kelm. It originally sold for $64.95 or a upgrade from V10 or V11 for $35.00.

C-Net 12.0 was one of the most powerful and flexible BBS program available for Commodore computers. It was written mostly in BASIC, so it is very easy to modify. The editor, I/O routines and other speed-intensive modules are written in machine language for speed.

One unique feature of C-Net is "P-Files", or program modules. These enable C-Net to run unrestricted by the memory limitations of Commodore computers. Basically, C-Net keeps a "main program" in memory that contains the basic C-Net functions and routines like the main menu and the commands available from all levels. Then, it loads in a "P-File" for whatever subsystem you are using. An official P-File disk was available from Perspective for $18.95.

Hundreds of P-File games were also created. Some popular ones were Murder Motel (by Sean Wagle ), Empire, Dragon World (by Joseph Benton ), Battle (by Big D ) and Orion. C-Net 12.0 also had a flexible security model and fully customizable sub boards, upload/download areas and e-mail. It also used MCI (Message Command Interpreter) commands to handle graphics. PETSCII art was also a popular creative outlet on BBSs of this era.

C-Net 12.0 was not based on C-Net 11.0/11.1a but was based primarily on C-Net 10.0 written by Ken Pletzer. Version 11.x, which was written by Jim Selleck, was succeeded by C-Net 11.6. Which was eventually rebranded as C-Net DS2. After Several versions of DS2, it was acquired by Storm’s Edge Technologies in 2012.

When purchased, the buyer would receive a single 5.25 Floppy disk, instruction manual and a dongle to prevent piracy. This dongle would plug in to joystick port 2.

The C-Net family of BBSs were supported nationwide by a dedicated group of sysops known as the C-Net Sysop Support Center (CSSC). This group was headed up by Fred Dart (aka The Chief), John Moore (aka Little John), Gear Jammer and others around the country. The CSSC released some of the more popular p-files such as Wallwriter and Voting Booth. Another very popular modification released by the CSSC was Multi uploads and downloads w/ direct disk access. While there was not official headquarters for the CSSC, Port Commodore BBS, run by Fred Dart, was one of the main places to find these fixes. Using the CSSC network, they would share fixes and modifications that sysops could make to their own code. Sysops across the country created their own P-Files that could be incorporated into other BBSs if the sysops chose too. Because of this, C-Net 12.0 BBSs could look very different from each other.

During the summer of 1988, version 12.1 (also written by Don Gladden) was set to be released as a $7.98 upgrade. During this time Don Gladden left Perspective Software and took 12.1 with him. After a few changes, it was rebranded as Image BBS 1.0. The CSSC was replaced with NISSA (The New Image Sysop Support Association). C-Net 12.1 would eventually be released by Perspective Software.