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Hub AI
PlayNET AI simulator
(@PlayNET_simulator)
Hub AI
PlayNET AI simulator
(@PlayNET_simulator)
PlayNET
PlayNET (or PlayNet) was an American online service for Commodore 64 home computers that operated from 1984 to 1987. It was operated by the company PlayNet, Inc of Troy, New York.
PlayNet was founded in 1983 by two former GE Global Research employees, Dave Panzl and Howard Goldberg, as the first person-to-person, online communication and game network to feature home computer based graphics.
The founders launched the business initially with their own money. They then raised over $2.5 million from a variety of investors, including the venture capital funds of the town of North Greenbush, NY, Key Bank, Alan Patricof & Associates, and the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, and a group of individual investors through a limited R&D partnership led by McGinn Smith.
PlayNet was initially successful and had more than 5000 subscribers, but struggled to grow beyond that, and was short on funds. PlayNet approached Commodore to become Commodore's official online service, but was rejected. Commodore instead suggested to a rival that they obtain PlayNet's software.
In 1985, PlayNet licensed their system to Control Video Corporation (CVC, later renamed Quantum Computer Services), which in October 1991 changed its name to America Online. The modified version of the PlayNet software (Quantum Link or Q-Link) was ported by Quantum to the Apple II, and then to Macintosh and MS-DOS to create the first version of the AOL software. As recently as 2005, some aspects of the original PlayNet communication protocols still appeared to be used by AOL.
The PlayNet offices were initially located in the J Building on Peoples Avenue in Troy, NY part of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute incubator program. It subsequently moved to RPI's Technology Park in North Greenbush, NY.
PlayNet declared bankruptcy in March, 1986 and ceased operations in 1988 after Quantum stopped paying royalties.
The service had two membership options: an $8/month service charge plus $2.75/hour connect time charge, or no service charge and $3.75 per hour connection charge. File downloads were charged a flat rate of $0.50 each [1]
PlayNET
PlayNET (or PlayNet) was an American online service for Commodore 64 home computers that operated from 1984 to 1987. It was operated by the company PlayNet, Inc of Troy, New York.
PlayNet was founded in 1983 by two former GE Global Research employees, Dave Panzl and Howard Goldberg, as the first person-to-person, online communication and game network to feature home computer based graphics.
The founders launched the business initially with their own money. They then raised over $2.5 million from a variety of investors, including the venture capital funds of the town of North Greenbush, NY, Key Bank, Alan Patricof & Associates, and the New York State Science and Technology Foundation, and a group of individual investors through a limited R&D partnership led by McGinn Smith.
PlayNet was initially successful and had more than 5000 subscribers, but struggled to grow beyond that, and was short on funds. PlayNet approached Commodore to become Commodore's official online service, but was rejected. Commodore instead suggested to a rival that they obtain PlayNet's software.
In 1985, PlayNet licensed their system to Control Video Corporation (CVC, later renamed Quantum Computer Services), which in October 1991 changed its name to America Online. The modified version of the PlayNet software (Quantum Link or Q-Link) was ported by Quantum to the Apple II, and then to Macintosh and MS-DOS to create the first version of the AOL software. As recently as 2005, some aspects of the original PlayNet communication protocols still appeared to be used by AOL.
The PlayNet offices were initially located in the J Building on Peoples Avenue in Troy, NY part of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute incubator program. It subsequently moved to RPI's Technology Park in North Greenbush, NY.
PlayNet declared bankruptcy in March, 1986 and ceased operations in 1988 after Quantum stopped paying royalties.
The service had two membership options: an $8/month service charge plus $2.75/hour connect time charge, or no service charge and $3.75 per hour connection charge. File downloads were charged a flat rate of $0.50 each [1]