INN was not always called The Imagination Network. It was first called The Sierra Network or TSN. It was started and owned by Ken and Roberta Williams of Sierra Online sometime in 1992. When AT&T bought TSN in 1993 it became The Imagination Network - INN. This change upset many users. The sysops were no longer known as TSNname but now were called INNname. Prices also soared.
I found TSN in the spring of 1993. My husband played a flight simulator game called "Red Baron" I thought what was so cool that you could chat with people after the game in the waiting room! This was what I found most interesting about TSN! I quickly began to investigate this place. I found out that there were trivia games held weekly in one of the rooms in the clubhouse. I forget the actual name of the room but it was later changed to Trivia Haven.
My first experience with trivia was on July 4, 1993. I went in to a game that was packed! I think I was overwhelmed and left. thinking that the people were very clique. I went back a few times and a few times turned into a nightly basis. I would sign on at 6pm and sign off around midnight. Midnight would turn into 2am then 3am then the sun would come up! I was hooked! I gradually met some fascinating people.And long term friends :)
INN was basically a gaming network. A place to go to play games with other people and to meet other people. Similar to AOL but it was not connected to the internet. It was it's own little community. Equipped with Message boards, mail and a "phone" to find people! Once you signed on to INN you picked a name to use and got to make your own "Toon" This was your picture that people would get to know you by. Your toon could be altered and changed as you liked it. You could also change your name as you pleased. I was TeriJ but changed it to many different names depending on my mood or the season.
Once you signed on to the main map you could choose to go to whichever area you picked. There was SierraLand, The Volcano , The Arena, The Clubhouse, Casinoland/LarryLand. Within each of these areas were different rooms. The clubhouse was where you could go to play different card and board games. The games available to play were Chess, Checkers, Hearts, Spades, Go, Euchre ,bridge, backgammon, cribbage, flip flop and most important Trivia! You could play any game in any room but different rooms were set up for different games. Within each room would be message boards to post about your game or just leave messages to people. Some of the rooms were Trivia Haven, Teen Hangout, Chess, Hearts. If you liked the topic of the room you tended to hang out in that room. Trivia used to share a room but we eventually got our own room name and message boards to go with it! Lemmings Leap was the message board that the triviot players voted on to name.
With rising costs on INN I eventually realized that if I wanted an unlimited account, that I would have to work for INN. I could get paid to play!! A dream come true for me ;) I became a HOST in Feb of 1996. HOSTDanae. I mainly worked 6-9 central time weeknights. But filled in whenever I could as the pay was nice too! Being a host was easy. It was what I did best. I got to meet people and talk to them! I got them to like INN and learn games and got them hooked! IT came naturally to me as when I wasn't hosting I had been doing the same thing. I didn't want INN to fold. It also had fringe benefits. I got an extra account for the family, which I sorta had a friend use ;) I dont think I was supposed too but ehh I did anyway ;) But alas all good things must come to an end...On Aug 31 of 1996, INN went "Off the air" We had a fairwell party that night and were online until midnight when the plug was pulled. We all migrated to various parts of the internet. And some other places have been formed but none have been quite the same as INN.
Chicaglow 1 June 3-6 1994
The first "Gathering" I was part of was in the summer of 1994. we all met in Chicago. "Chicaglow I" We had a blast! There were many "had to be there" jokes and phrases that were started at this gathering. Among those were; "Sold out" "Yellow Socks" "wet spot" Scuseme was involved in ALL Of these ...Some of the people from trivia I remember being there were..ScuseMe,Heprockz,Tigerlily,Sissy,
JR,DavidB,TammyB,,Thorby,DonnaM, Jenidots, edDd, and lots more!!!
I will post pictures here of this event when I get a chance!
Bulletin boards on INN were a means of communication between members.
They were informative, silly and fun. This was taken from a bulleting board near the "END OF INN".
Post From INNLAURA
We had a second gathering in Gurnee Illinois at 6 flags the following July. I met Jessicara here in KC for this one and we both flew to Gurnee to meet the rest. Blackhawk and Bebop picked us up at the airport. I also met Desiree and Catalina at this one. Sadly I had to say goodbye to my friends on Sunday July 9 - However breakfast that morning was fun ;)
Chicaglow 3 - June 13-16 1996
And then a 3rd gathering the next year in Gurnee Illinois in July. Which proved to be even more eventful :D
We haven't had any more "chicaglow" gatherings but it be would be fun to see everyone again!
Pictures