Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!ihlpe!kimes
From: kimes@ihlpe.ATT.COM (Kit Kimes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Re: Financial aspects of new 8 bit software
Message-ID: <3965@ihlpe.ATT.COM>
Date: 19 Dec 88 14:27:11 GMT
References: <12629@cup.portal.com>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 48

> Kit & Daryl, plus anyone else who'd like to comment:
> 
I'm hardly the one to ask since I'm not a developer, but I'll make some
comments anyway.  

> What and how big a role does software piracy play in the development and
> distribution of Atari 8bit software?  What software protection schemes are
> the current rage, and how does that affect the ability to successfully market
> (and make money off of) Atari software?  I had heard that piracy was the prima
> primary reason new titles were not being developed for the Atari 8bit.
> 
As a member of a User Group and a supporter of some local BBS's, I have to
say that the majority of currently active Atari 8bit users are extremely
conscience of the piracy problem.  NO pirated software is allowed or even
discussed at our User Group meetings.  This is not to say there are no pirates.
I don't know if there are or not.  However, I do know that there are local
boards that have some pirated software on them and, frankly, I'm glad that
they do.  If it weren't for this "service", some of the older software would
no longer be available.  Even some of the newer software that has been 
available in other countries but is not available in the US is available this
way.  Two that I have seen are Amourote (sp?) and Arkanoid.  Arkanoid is a
GREAT game and should be available here.  I would buy a copy, even though I
already have a copy.

Honestly, I don't see piracy as the major problem.  As has been stated before,
the number of sales determine whether a company supports a certain computer
or not.  Commodore and IBM piracy is rampant, but they have such a large
installed base and sell so much software that the companies put up with it
because they still make a handsome profit.  Atari software sales are way 
behind any other major brand computer.  Even Infocom sees that it isn't 
profitable to convert their games for the Atari 8bit computers and they are
mostly text adventures, with little worry about the graphics conversion
problems.  What's the answer?  I don't know for sure, but Atari has to be
in the forefront of the software battle.  They have stated that they will be
(at least, in cartridge based software), and that is a good commitment.  I
just haven't seen as much in the way of results as I would like.  The XE
game system is selling pretty good around here (thanks in part to Nintendo
selling out again this year).  Atari has to build on that momentum and
strike while the 'iron is hot' but releasing good quality software.  Kids
are fickled.  If their parents buy them an XE game system and they can't
get 'Super Mario Brothers' and good software like their friends have, they
will be back asking for a Nintendo for their birthday.  I know my son has
been after me for more than a year now, but I haven't caved in.


					Kit Kimes  
					AT&T--Bell Laboratories
					...att!ihlpe!kimes