Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!helios!tamsun.tamu.edu!cmw1725
From: cmw1725@tamsun.tamu.edu (Christopher Walton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: Run (don't walk) to your store.  Lemmings has been released.
Message-ID: <12434@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Date: 21 Feb 91 16:34:02 GMT
References: <1991Feb16.193252.20795@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG> <12274@helios.TAMU.EDU> <1858@public.BTR.COM>
Sender: usenet@helios.TAMU.EDU
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In article <1858@public.BTR.COM> timm@public.BTR.COM (Timothy M. Maffett  timm@btr.com) writes:

>So, this fancy copy protection gave psygnosis at LEAST (maybe more)
>A WOPPING -14 (thats right, NEGATIVE, as in <0) DAY jump on software pirates
>in the US.  I guess they are right, these CP schemes really do work
>(just not as intended, these LOSE sales to legit users).

You guys don't realize the reason that COPY protection exists... 
COPY protection is not there to STOP a game from being pirated, (or cracked as
you SHOULD say) COPY protection is not meant to stop the hard core pirate that 
calls up the local pirate bbs and downloads a cracked version, it is meant
for the casual pirate who just copies a program for a friend, or copies a
program and, God forbid, sells the COPY.  You must realize that the "pirates" 
who get cracked games are not included in marketing strategies, they are not 
likely to buy ANY game be it cracked or not.  If a company does include pirates
in their profit margin (no matter how good the protection) they are bound to go
under. COPY protection DOES work, it only works for the reason it was intended,
not for what every Joe thinks it was intended for.  That -14 day jump on the
pirates is a moot point, that happens to virtually EVERY game.  That copy
protection DOES work when you consider that the program is not copyable with
any of the commercial copy programs, and the friend who was waiting for you to
copy it for him decides, he'll just go out and buy it because finding a
parameter, or a copy program that will copy it is taking too long.

Christopher Walton
cmw1725@tamsun.tamu.edu

>-tmm