Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!syntron!jtsv16!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcae!hubcap!disd
From: disd@hubcap.UUCP (Gary Heffelfinger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Rocket Ranger's Code Wheel
Message-ID: <3354@hubcap.UUCP>
Date: 26 Oct 88 15:58:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: hubcap.3354
References: <2327@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Organization: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Lines: 65

From article <2327@ssc-vax.UUCP>, by dmg@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Geary):
> 
>     First it was MauraderII with their d*mn "look up word 6 on line
> 8 on page 22" before you can use the program.  Now, it's EA with their
> insufferable code wheels.
> 
>     Rocket Ranger's code wheel p*sses me off because it's like one of
> those commercials that try to appear like they are not a commercial -
> you know, a simulated newscast with the words COMMERCIAL MESSAGE
> at the bottom of the screen.  The code wheel, we are to believe, is
> a *cute* addition to the game, so we can figure out how much fuel
> RR needs to hop from country to country.  It is, however, nothing
> more than copy protection at it's slimiest worst.
Oh, how can you call it the worst?  Why is it worse than those that
"adjust" the alignment of your drive?  Why is it worse than the kind
that don't allow you make backups?  I just don't understand the logic.
I don't like the damn wheels and document lookups much either, but if it
allows a few vendors to stay in business, so be it.  
 
I want to be able to make backups.  I want to be able to put these 
programs on my hard disk.  Under normal copy-protection methods I can 
do neither.

> 
>     I rented RR for the weekend.
>     I played ONE (count 'em) *ONE* game of it the whole weekend.
Hmmmm, that's too bad.  A friend of mine has gotten quite addicted to
it. 

> 
>     The game ended when I grew tired of looking up values on
>     the *secret* (OH PULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE)
Oh, cmon, isn't that just a *little* bit more imaginative than "Please
type in the first word on line 2 of page 53?"  At least give them that.

>     decoder wheel, and guessed at a number for fuel.
> 
>     The number I guessed was not a valid one to get to Iran or
>     whatever, and guess what RR did then.  Did it tell me - "Hey
>     that's an illegal value for fuel, try again" - NO it simply
>     said something to the effect of:
> 
>     WRONG VALUE FOR FUEL ...
>     *between the lines - this is probably a pirated copy, we'll show 'em*
>     GAME OVER.
I whole-heartedly agree here.  At least they ought to give you a second
chance to get it right.  I won't come to their defense here.














-- 
Gary Heffelfinger  -  Not speaking for Clemson Univ.  (ISD)      
uucp: ... !gatech!hubcap!disd    inet: disd@hubcap.clemson.edu
---===      Amiga.  The computer for the best of us.     ===---