Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!psuecl!tgm From: tgm@psuecl.bitnet Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games Subject: Re: SimEarth copy protection Message-ID: <1991Jan31.135756.587@psuecl.bitnet> Date: 31 Jan 91 17:57:56 GMT References: <18659@natinst.natinst.com> <1991Jan28.043033.11475@en.ecn.purdue.edu> <4f802472.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> Organization: Engineering Computer Lab, Pennsylvania State University Lines: 65 In article , evett@drinkme.umd.edu (Matt Evett) writes: > First, I do not find SimEarth's copy protection scheme all that bothersome. > It is certainly far superior to having to insert a master disk every time > the program starts. I keep a little chart of "keywords" (copied out of my > documentation) next to my Plus at home. It's no big deal to have to refer > to this chart whenever I fire up SimEarth, Faces, etc. SimEarth's scheme *is* bothersome, as are all copy protection schemes. The "keyword" method is better than master disks, but not much. Instead of forcing you to keep a master disk handy, SimEarth forces you to lug around the manual. Of couse, you could photocopy the pages containing the keywords, but that's yet even more hassle. What happens if the manual isn't handy? For example, I bought SimEarth over Christmas break, while I was at home, and copied it to my Mac's hard drive. After break, I brought my computer back to school, but forgot the SimEarth manual. So, when I got a little free time and decided to play SimEarth, I fired it up and was asked for the density of Mars or something, which I didn't exactly know offhand. There I was, a legitimate user, locked out of the program I payed for. > I strongly sympathize with software manufacturer's > needs to protect their copyrights. I sympathize with software houses trying to keep criminals (pirates) from robbing them blind, but up to a point. And that point is where I, the legitimate use, begin to suffer. > This need is amply (and frequently) > demonstrated in this very newsgroup (indeed, by the letter quoted > above). Do not assume everybody is a criminal. While I'm sure some less than perfect characters roam the net, in general the net community is fairly honest. > For entertainment software, my sympathies are even more with the > manufacturers. Entertainment software typically is not a big money maker. > Moreover, the software is relatively inexpensive; I see no reason why > people can't scratch up the $30 or $40 bucks to buy a good game. Computer games are, in general, reasonably priced--especially in comparison with Nintendo type games. > Many of the people reading Usenet are programmers. They make their living > by selling--not giving away--software. This readership, more than any > other, should be supportive of reasonable copy protection schemes. It's > nice to condemn software piracy, but it's even nicer to do something about > it. > > --Matt Evett Here's my idea of a reasonable copy protection scheme. You boot up Game X and the first thing you see is a window that says in big bold type, "Please don't steal from us." Below the headline are a few paragraphs about what piracy does to the software industry, written in an honest, up-front manner. Most pirates are young and don't really understand that their actions harm the industry. By educating them and appealing to their sense of what's right-and-wrong, perhaps piracy can be reduced at the source, without holding the legitimate user hostage to master disks, manuals, and hardware keys. --Tom Moertel thor@chopin.psu.edu