Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!usc!snorkelwacker!spdcc!merk!alliant!linus!mdh
From: mdh@linus.UUCP (Mike Houle (version .6 beta))
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Pirates!  by MicroProse (not a review, a complaint, please read)
Keywords: Pirates! MicroProse RipOff
Message-ID: <84978@linus.UUCP>
Date: 27 Dec 89 12:19:21 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: SOON to be, The Orginization of Procrastinators
Lines: 59


   Hello,

     I just want to tell everybody about a new called Pirates!
     (Note:  This is not a review about the game, this is a complaint
      about the companies policy about copy protection and backups.
      all opinions are mine, not my companies, so please read accordingly)

     Pirates is by a company called MicroProse and it is a Black & White game
 for the Macintosh (although it is color for other computers).  If that isn't
 bad enough, it is copy protected.   Now I understand why some companies
 feel that they have to copy protect there software, but I hate to ever
 use a Master Disk for anything.  I feel much safer using a copy that
 could accidently get ruined.  In addition to copy protection (which
 is just an inconvience) they also use the old enter some information
 from the manual just to make sure you didn't get around our copy
 protection...

      Now, I can see using one of the above methods, but using both
 for just a games is a bit redundant.  Honestly, if someone is going 
 to take the time to crack the program, do they think that they wont also
 take the time to copy the different pieces of information from the manual
 that the program is going to ask for.  This just makes the game harder to
 start, or start over as the case may be...

      Also, they say in the manual that if you lose the Master diskette,
 you can get a backup, BUT THEY CHARGE YOU $10 FOR THE BACKUP.  That is
 just a bit unreasonable, is it to cover the cost of disk duplication and
 mailling (I think not...). They say that the $10 does not include a new
 manual, so why do they charge $10.


     If anyone from this company is listening...  Lighten up...
 Remember that there is no copy protection that can not be worked around
 given time.  If you wish to make a game unusable to people who pirate
 software, do as you do with asking for information from the manual.
 Sierra does this, and I think it is wonderful.  I can keep my master
 disk safe and sound and only have to worry about spilling coke on my
 manual... :-)

     So If you are thinking about buying any games from this company,
 remember there policy on copy protection (it was a gift for me, 
 otherwise I might not have bought it).


P.S.   If anyone knows a way that I can circumvent the message to insert
 the Master Disk (any good hack),  I would love to know it so I can rest
 easier playing the game.


<--------------------------------------------------------------------->
    Sorry to be preachy, but I was in a it got me mad to have to keep
 on inserting the "Master Disk" whenever I tried to start the game.

-- 
  Mike  Houle                         |
              mdh@linus.mitre.org     |  If I wanted a Clue, I would go out
  ! UUCP ->   decvax!linus!mdh        |          and buy one.
  ! ARPA ->   mdh%linus@mitre-bedford |