Category:Mark A. Janelle

You'd better register...

Although he only produced one game of which I have empirical evidence, Mark A. Janelle is one of the more significant figures in the Game-Maker story. A very serious fellow, Janelle was one of RSD's first customers to make a shot at a professional exploitation of the Game-Maker software. He also managed the dial-up Night Owl BBS, which served as the semi-official Game-Maker community hub. Every copy of Game-Maker included a leaflet for the BBS.

After some recent discussions, I seem to recall some widespread connection issues. Either the BBS was only up during evening hours (as the name would suggest) or the number on the leaflet was incorrect. Either way, many people had trouble logging in. When one did log in, the place was a bit stiff and, again, serious. And being hosted in Kennebunkport, Maine, it was a hefty long-distance charge for almost anyone -- even those who lived in-state, as I did. Still, it was a good place to make connections and branch off to other sub-communities and smaller BBSes.

My memory is a bit hazy; I think the Night Owl BBS may have changed names, or the Game-Maker section may have moved over to other boards. On that list of 1990s Maine BBSes, I recognize a couple of other boards associated with Janelle's name.

As important as his BBS was to the Game-Maker culture, what even more people probably recognize is his game.