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From: long@mcntsh.enet.dec.com (Rich Long)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Thoughts on copy protection
Message-ID: <18906@shlump.nac.dec.com>
Date: 13 Jan 91 18:04:32 GMT
Sender: newsdaemon@shlump.nac.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 26


 I recently bought two games: Mission Starlight and Pipe Dream.

 Mission Starlight ($29) was not copy-protected in any fashion, and I
 installed it on my hard disk.

 Pipe Dream ($17) was not copy-protected on disk, and I installed it on my
 hard disk. However, Pipe Dream provides a code wheel, from which one must
 enter a code to start a game. (To be fair, there is a DA version that does
 not require a code, but it is somewhat less impressive).

 Now, arguably, Mission Starlight is the better game. Why then was Pipe Dream
 protected? I'm going to send it back, as I loathe all forms of copy
 protection, including cutesy code wheels. 

 What are people's thought on this? Do you mind code wheels/disk-based copy
 protection schemes? Do you think Starlight's higher price is due to "assumed
 piracy" or to perhaps more time required for development?

 One other thought: I have some older games that I bought for my SE. Now that
 I have a ci, I find they cannot be made to run, as the disks are
 copy-protected, and I can't upgrade their systems! 

Richard C. Long  *  long@mcntsh.enet.dec.com       
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