Author Topic: The History of Furtopia.  (Read 40786 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline -Otakon-

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 514
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #25 on: November 27, 2004, 03:18:33 am »
Yeah, happy birthday Furtopia! Two years and some days old now! ^^
IM me via Yahoo messenger or ICQ (283619711)

Offline WhiteShepherd

  • furtopia.org Sysop!
  • *
  • Male
  • Posts: 4842
    • http://www.whiteshepherd.furtopia.org
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #26 on: November 27, 2004, 06:09:50 am »
Wow when it all started? Well a lot of the when has been answered.  So perhaps I can fill in some of the "why".  Hmm..

WARNING!  Long story ahead.. non-computer geeks and history buffs may need a sip at Mt Dew before continuing... '<img'>

Two things I've always loved growing up is computers and helping others.  When I was little before there was even a desktop computer I used to cut out twinkie boxes like tv sets and using card board pieces pretend how cool it would be if it was a machine animated game.

On my first apple computer (we could not afford one but my father found one from a fire) was a Apple II+ with 32k of ram.  The case was a little blackened and the "X" "S" and a few of the number keys were melted and unuseable.  But it was a working computer!  It wasn't long before I was customizing/upgrading it.  I bought a old mainframe 1200 baud modem from the college but had to figure out a way to "wire" it to my computer as apple cables were to expensive and hard to come by.  I solved this problem by stealing some wires from a dead power line.  I then threaded the wires through sewing needles and taped them in place with small band-aids.  Using a schematic I slowly began plugging the needles into the port on my computer.

Now I did not blow up my computer.  However I did prick and fry myself for most of the day (DarkDancer can attest to watching this event! ).  Plugging in one needle has a 75% chance of pulling out another and a 25% of pulling out more.  So I was busy.  But it did work and in Apple "Basic" wrote some of my first communication programs all designed for helping others.  "Modem Hound" was a repeat dialer for modem calling busy BBS's and was the first of it's kind.

Fascinated with communications with my first 286 I started "Music & More BBS!!!" in the early 90's.  The goal of this project was to create a home for artists where musicians could freely exchange, talk, and enjoy each others compositions (theme sound familiar?? '<img'> ).  The project took off like wildfire.  Aided by my a 60 meg MFM drive and 4 proto-type Sony daisy chain CD-ROM drives (for storage) "Music & More" grew to be the largest music BBS archives in the world for a couple of years.  It eventually ran Wildcat BBS under OS/2 on a 386 with 4 dial in lines and 6 telnet nodes (run from a dedicated slip line).  We also had many online text based games for members to enjoy and play together (Furs in Space on Furtopia came from one of these games).

Things continued to grow until the phone *mafia* stepped in.  In the mid 90's I got a call from a "man" at Ohio Bell "security".  He warned me unless I paid them a $300/month ransom (which I did not have) I would be stopped from using my modems.  I argued the point I should not have to pay it and the guy just taunted me.  Well the next day all my lines had bad noise problems and the modems were having a hard time keeping sync.  Every time Ohio Bell put in a order to repair the repair order was "cancelled".  At one point I was even assigned a manager to over see the repair until she gave up.  In the end after 8 months they told me the lines were "unfixable".  Nobody would listen.  One of the hardest things I ever had to do was shut down the "Music & More!!! BBS" and realize "why" it had to go.  However during this time I had hooked up with other "furries" over the IRC and learned about a small close group of individuals who was just like me.  This connection had got me thinking of hosting furry artists.

A couple years and college went by and with my mate Kylee, I got whiteshepherd.net in 1996.  Kylee thought the idea was cool to host artists too.  However I had little experience so whiteshepherd.net became my first "testing grounds" where I learned a lot from experimenting and my mistakes.  Running Xitami under OS/2 I hosted us and a couple of artist friends.

Later after Kylee moved on and I met Kada-Ru I explained this "furry community project" to her that would grow to help others from being a "part" of the furs who helped it grow.  Kada-Ru thought it sounded great and backed me 100% working side by side with me.  This was in 2001 and I got the domain Furtopia.org .  '<img'>

When I started Furtopia I wanted five key elements. 1st The server HAD to be the "upmost" in stability.  2nd speed must remain good for hosted members, 3rd: as a community service give the best for free (php, perl, ssi, mysql, etc), 4th attentive, quick, and friendly tech support/atnesphere. 5th always try to respect others as equals and let Furtopia be of the community and not just my needs/ideas.  Somewhere in that recipe and the efforts that put into it came a lot of furs who enjoyed the new place very much.

As far as hardware/design:  In 2002 the VERY first Furtopia ran on a Cyrix 133 using OS/2 and Xitami running on a 768SDSL line (at a operation cost of about $300/month).  At this time I had made a simple set of forums but i knew it was inadequate for what Furtopia needed.  I could make a fantastic server but was not experienced enough with forums.  In steps Ben who set up the Ikonboard we use today.  Very classy design that has grown on us all the way to our main page and T-shirts! (Thanks again Ben!'<img'> Next was a upgrade to a K6/2 550 (making the Cyrix the backup server), and as the "fur data flew" to keep speed up as promised this upgraded to a Athalon 2400 running on x2 768 lines).  Eventually we had to co-locate to where we are now in a Texas data center off of 11 giga feeds.

So for the curious that is the VERY beginning from a infancy concept in a kid pup to the home we have today. '<img'>

  WhiteShepherd
IRC quotes:

[05:01] <Kai_Misou> We cats sleep when we want and where we want.
[05:01] <WhiteShep> We dogs sleep WHEN we can. :/
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span =''><!--Quot

The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #27 on: November 30, 2004, 02:14:45 pm »
yes happy birthday to furtopia, and kada-Ru, and WS theres nothing with dreams you make it out what you want to happen, and you both did a fantastic job, keep up the good work

Offline Kada-Ru

  • Species: Golden Blue Pegasus
  • Member Since: 11-29-2002 Web Admin!
  • *
  • Female
  • Posts: 9701
    • Kaycy's Creations for Fun
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #28 on: January 17, 2006, 09:40:43 pm »
I'm going to pin this as so many members have wondered how Furtopia began. I found it by the search button but I think it is worthwhile to have pinned.

Furtopia's original look

Offline Kobuk

  • The "Malamute Dewd"
  • Hero Member
  • Species: Anthro Alaskan Malamute (Husky)
  • #1 Dew drinker.
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 28545
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #29 on: January 17, 2006, 09:53:55 pm »
Sure wish I woulda been around when Furtopia first got started three years ago. It would've been great to meet some of the very first members who made this community what it is.  '<img'>  But sadly, I'm only member #396.  '<img'>




Offline gremly

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Male
  • Posts: 215
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #30 on: January 30, 2006, 12:28:22 pm »
Quote (Rune @ Nov. 24 2004, 3:43 pm)
Way back mechine!

It's really cool! You can see what the website looked like when it was first made. You can even click the links and see what the forums, and other things looked like.

ahhh, neon blue writeing! it burns! :P hehe
Sig took down by Tigress's request

Offline Serra Belvoule

  • Hero Member
  • Holder of the Cookie Jar!
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 17006
    • Serra's Photo Album
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #31 on: February 13, 2006, 02:56:19 pm »
Got asleep at half of WS's story......... not!
Actually I did enjoy it. It's good to know when/where/how did this place started. =n-n= I just wanted to add it's a great thing you did. (all hail WS '<img'> )
I ate a bag of grapes and now I own the world.

Offline AladTheAnthroMeerkat

  • Hero Member
  • Timon? Issat you?
  • *****
  • Posts: 836
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #32 on: May 20, 2006, 10:18:44 pm »
Quote (Kobuk @ Jan. 17 2006, 10:53 pm)
It would've been great to meet some of the very first members who made this community what it is.  '<img'>  But sadly, I'm only member #396.  '<img'>

I'm #677 if that's of any consolation...  '<img'>

Whoops. I bumped the topic after five months of inactivity... X*6~





Offline Benjamin

  • the admin liger
  • Species: liger
  • *
  • Male
  • Posts: 3907
    • stripeymaney
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #33 on: May 27, 2006, 04:05:24 pm »
There. I've been using this information to help update the history and such on the Furtopia entry on WikiFur. '<img'>
 
http://furry.wikia.com/wiki/Furtopia
 
Benjamin

Offline Taren

  • Hero Member
  • Member
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 2136
    • Wikifur Profile
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #34 on: May 27, 2006, 04:28:53 pm »
Quote (AladTheAnthroMeerkat @ May 20 2006, 10:18 pm)
Quote (Kobuk @ Jan. 17 2006, 10:53 pm)
It would've been great to meet some of the very first members who made this community what it is.  '<img'>  But sadly, I'm only member #396.  '<img'>

I'm #677 if that's of any consolation...  '<img'>

Whoops. I bumped the topic after five months of inactivity... X*6~

I'm only #600. :\

Offline Kobuk

  • The "Malamute Dewd"
  • Hero Member
  • Species: Anthro Alaskan Malamute (Husky)
  • #1 Dew drinker.
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 28545
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #35 on: May 28, 2006, 11:17:13 am »
Quote
There. I've been using this information to help update the history and such on the Furtopia entry on WikiFur. '<img'>

http://furry.wikia.com/wiki/Furtopia


Good job, Ben. '<img'>  But you forgot one thing: You forgot to list Kaisilverfire as a moderator in the Staff section.  ':shock:'

Offline zachhart12

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Male
  • Posts: 81
    • http://www.myspace.com/zachhart123
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #36 on: January 13, 2007, 10:47:55 pm »
*shrugs*

Offline Foxxhoria

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Male
  • Posts: 407
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #37 on: February 11, 2007, 08:29:15 am »
Wow, it has been amazing to learn about the history of this site... and it all started out (basically) on a burnt-out apple!  And it took just two years to get to what is is now! Amazing...

Edit: four and a bit years... sorry ':p' but two years to get like this




Understanding leads to empathy,
Empathy leads to admiration,
Admiration leads to love

Optimism leads to disappointment,
Pessimism leads to joy,
although, with optimism you are happy almost all the time,
and pessimism you are sad almost all the time.

Where's the line between being bored and generally too lazy to do anything? :p

Offline Kattywampus

  • Hero Member
  • Catboy Harem Manager
  • *****
  • Female
  • Posts: 1381
    • http://www.kattywampus.com
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #38 on: March 07, 2007, 07:19:42 pm »
Quote (Kada-Ru @ Nov. 22 2004, 12:39 pm)
DJ Vix-N (4-11-02) and Kattywampus (4-12-04) were our first website applicants. (smiles)

Psst...'02

*cracks her back and shakes a cane*
Back in my day, we used to...  uh..  zzzzzzzz...

Wow, I didn't realize I was the 2nd webspace applicant!
I didn't want to join the forum at first, 'cause I don't like them generally, but Kada-Ru convinced me, and I finally did.  And then they gave me that artists' forum thingie within the forum, and I'm too shy to use it.  Hehehe.  I'm forum member #10, incidentally.

I was desperate to find webspace that was ad-free and springtime fresh.  One of my older sites, "The Ryo-Oh-Ki Shrine" got so many hits that it took me over the bandwidth limit to update it, so I had to abandon it.  That's about when WhiteShepherd posted to a.l.f. about his service.  Booyah!  (Read about your furry history on WikiFur, kiddos!'<img'>
NYA!  =^_^=

-Cuddly Battleship Kattywampus

My BigFurs Profile
My Auctions
My Catboy Harem!

Offline Prince Karo

  • Admewnistrator
  • Species: Fluffy-tailed kitten
  • i am watching yooou.. :3
  • *
  • Male
  • Posts: 6737
    • http://www.furaffinity.net/user/princekaro/
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #39 on: March 08, 2007, 08:27:53 pm »
My art: click here

Offline Kattywampus

  • Hero Member
  • Catboy Harem Manager
  • *****
  • Female
  • Posts: 1381
    • http://www.kattywampus.com
The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #40 on: March 15, 2007, 01:47:34 pm »
(Psst...Rune already did that)  ^^;;
NYA!  =^_^=

-Cuddly Battleship Kattywampus

My BigFurs Profile
My Auctions
My Catboy Harem!

Offline Kumori-kun

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Male
  • Posts: 51
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #41 on: June 04, 2008, 05:50:44 pm »
Wow, this place is that old? Correct me if I'm wrong, bu I heard this was the biggest furry forum on the net as well.

Aside, I think I like the old theme better. Just my opinion.
This is my signature...

Looking for Virginia furs. If you're around here, please PM me!

Offline Varg the wanderer

  • Species: Maligator/Tervuren
  • Furtopia cannot be held down!
  • *
  • Male
  • Posts: 3046
    • My writings and leatherwork at SoFurry!
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #42 on: September 08, 2008, 08:24:11 pm »
You might be right. I'v been a member since 2003, and I have seen this place explode in the number of furs that have joined. I also have yet to find a furry forum that even comes close to being as good.
My writings and other stuff: https://varg-stigandr.sofurry.com/

"I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by." - Douglas Adams

"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." -Thomas Jefferson

Offline Adamina

  • Hero Member
  • pretty poison
  • *****
  • Female
  • Posts: 1587
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #43 on: December 22, 2008, 07:20:26 pm »
Varg is right :)
Gosh it's been so long since I've been back, but nowhere else is as good...
And of course old members still visit!
It's nice to know that Furtopia is still here to welcome me back...
Although I'd forgotten my password and apparently the email address I had registered here was one I stopped using shortly after joining, so I *did* have to re-activate an old email account to re-set my password. But it was worth it :)
"I wish I could write with the mystery of a cat"
-E.A. Poe

Offline The Wise one

  • Hero Member
  • Bro
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 15101
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #44 on: August 02, 2012, 11:44:37 pm »
It makes me feel....happy to search through old topics that were made in 2004 and such. It somwtimes makes me feel like a detective sometimes, and somtimes it makes me feel small. Its somtimes even undescribable. I love this place and you guys are like internet family. :D
Check out my Deviantart if you wanna http://kimberlinphotography.deviantart.com/


Offline Mylo

  • *
  • Posts: 4298
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #45 on: August 01, 2013, 10:36:24 am »
We worked out a design, on paper, very much in its' infancy, (which I still keep for nostalgia) and worked on what we wanted it to have etc.

Do you still have this design?  Would it be possible to post a picture of it for historical purposes (fun)?  :D

Offline Mylo

  • *
  • Posts: 4298
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #46 on: August 01, 2013, 11:23:49 am »
Let's take a visual tour of the history of Furtopia... :D

The first Furtopia:


Back then, Furtopia had a lot of cool features, like a Sketch-a-chat (don't know what that is):


...a "Furtopia Dice Rollem'":


...and Furry E-Cards:


Here is Furtopia's homepage after a modification:


...and here are the beloved Furtopia Forums!


...and after a modification:


It's amazing to see how this place evolved over the years. :D

Check out the history of Furtopia using the Internet Archive. 

Offline Mylo

  • *
  • Posts: 4298
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #47 on: August 01, 2013, 11:27:28 am »
Last but not least....

Did you know that at one time Furtopia had a sister site? 

Meet...Dragon City


Offline SkyFire

  • Hero Member
  • Species: Pheonus Vulneras
  • The Sky is grey, for my Rose did fade away.
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 10486
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #48 on: August 01, 2013, 11:43:50 am »
Wow. its amazing, the visual history, not to mention the sister site..... :)
Every great hero has walked the fine line between darkness and the light. Every legendary hero has set foot in both.
10K post club.

Offline Kobuk

  • The "Malamute Dewd"
  • Hero Member
  • Species: Anthro Alaskan Malamute (Husky)
  • #1 Dew drinker.
  • *****
  • Male
  • Posts: 28545
Re: The History of Furtopia.
« Reply #49 on: August 01, 2013, 07:46:52 pm »
Last but not least....

Did you know that at one time Furtopia had a sister site? 


There was a third site too. Though not quite related to Furtopia in any way. It was called (I believe?) Artistsworld.org, and the site was mostly related to artwork.