[The message below was originally posted by Gary Martin on the WWIVnet message network. Nine years later a copy of the message was shared as a comment on Slashdot by the user KlomDark: https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10665&cid=417542] 47/50: The Future of Martech Software Name: Gary Martin #1 @9354 Date: Thu Apr 16 08:59 1992 From: Castle Ravenloft (Topeka, Kansas) [913-842-0300] Statement of Direction, April 16th, 1992 Martech Software, Inc. Recently we asked the BBS community if they would be interested in an advanced version of Trade Wars 2002. The response has been overwhelmingly positive! With the exception of a few who expect to get something for nothing, Sysops across the country enthusiastically screamed "YES! YES!" for our advanced Single and Multinode version of Trade Wars 2112. With this vote of confidence, Martech will be moving ahead on the TW2112 project. We do not have an estimated release schedule at this time. Some concern was expressed that TW2002 registrants should get a discount on TW2112's cost. We agree. So at this time we are setting forth the following tentative pricing schedule: Trade Wars 2112 registration (for all versions of TW2112) For 1 to 4 nodes $35 US For 5 to 10 nodes $50 US For 11 to 25 nodes $65 US For 26+ nodes $80 US *** Upgrading from a previous registration of TW2002 gives you a *** *** Fifteen dollar discount on any of the above prices. *** Trade Wars 2112 Vga Terminal Program $10 US | Please note this registration is NOT a Sysop's cost, but | | a user's cost. The TW2112 Term Program will support | | 640 x 480 256 color mode and sound cards. It will offer | | many of the features, integrated into it, of the current | | mapping and database analysis programs. This will be a | | complete TW2112 environment for your Users! It will | | even function as a standalone Term package so Traders | | can set it to dial their favorite TWs games... | For those that are curious about the multi-node costs of TW2112, we plan on supporting both Multi-process setups (Desqview, Windows OS/2) and Multinode setups (Lantastic, Novell lans. Std file sharing using Share.exe for record and file locking.) The multinode prices reflect the amount of INTERACTIVE PLAY that will be incorporated into TW2112. Users will be able to combat each other realtime, join in mutual assaults on enemies (fleet warfare!), communicate with all active nodes (through Ship Messages) and sit down in the Tavern for a chat... TW2112 will be a new step forward in user interaction for the multinode environment. Well there you have it. This is the direction Martech is moving to. This summer we will put out a Maintenance release of Trade Wars 2002 first, to cover all known bugs, and add a few new angles to the game. Once thats out work will begin fulltime on TW2112. Sysops who have registered TW2002 will be given FIRST CHOICE when it comes to putting out TW2112. They will have it on their system long before anyone else does. We're doing this to show our appreciation for those who have registered the game and helped to support Martech Software. For future reference, we will require Sysops to mail in their TW2002 registration letter or card to be eligible for the discount on TW2112. Make sure you have yours in a safe place! Resends on lost letters will be available for our regular processing fee of $3 if you've lost it. To request a resend, fill out all pertinent info about yourself and your BBS and the approximate date of when you registered and mail that to us along with the $3 processing fee. Then HANG ON to your registration letter! TW2112 is going to blow you away. Martech Software, Inc. 134 Indian Avenue Lawrence,Kansas 66046