Before the web, we connected through our modem to the university a parent worked for and accessed a FTP server with the Fetch client. University affiliated peop

Before the web, we connected through our modem to the university a parent worked for and accessed a FTP server with the Fetch client. University affiliated people had put all kinds of little random things on the server, including some mod makers for Sim City 2000. I must have downloaded a half dozen little mod programs and absolutely went to town editing scenario files for the game. I was about 7 years old and playing with basically a glorified hex editor. Netscape navigator was pretty soon after that and I downloaded a lot of freeware chess and checkers programs. I would also look up game faqs and reviews. It was basically a magic portal to new software and information, mostly so I could game more.