Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!gatech!bloom-beacon!think!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!decvax!decwrl!hplabs!sdcrdcf!trwrb!scgvaxd!stb!michael From: michael@stb.UUCP (Michael) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: all copy protection Message-ID: <1637@stb.UUCP> Date: Fri, 10-Jul-87 14:55:55 EDT Article-I.D.: stb.1637 Posted: Fri Jul 10 14:55:55 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 15-Jul-87 01:48:12 EDT References: <1303@crash.CTS.COM> <593@madvax.UUCP> <1813@vax135.UUCP> Reply-To: michael@stb.UUCP (Michael) Organization: STB BBS, La, Ca, USA, 90402 Lines: 84 Summary: Its a matter of respect. In article <1813@vax135.UUCP> cjp@vax135.UUCP (Charles Poirier) writes: >From time to time I hear a rather strange argument. It goes thus: >"If software worked better, if it cost less, if one could get better >value for one's money, there would be less piracy." How about, "If they respected me, I'd respect them. If there was a game that was actually worth the inflated price, then I'd buy it. If there was a game that was priced according to its worth, not according to what the company thinks it should be at to recover their costs, then I'd buy it." That last part is pure economics, nothing special. >For example (and let me state, I am NOT accusing this author of piracy): > >In article <593@madvax.UUCP> richc@madvax.UUCP (Rich Commins) writes: ... > >Fine idea, but I don't think the suggested solution will be effective: > >>If the software that is being sold was of better quality I think their >>would be less stealing of software. I've seen better public domain >>software, than some of the stuff being sold. > >This kind of argument assumes pirates are ethical Darwinists. Their >noble motivation is to weed out the baddies who overcharge for rotten >code by refusing to pay them for it. And whats wrong with that? Personally, thats exactly my opinion (I boycott software that doesn't play by the rules.) Consider this: Last wednesday, at a user meeting, someone demo'd an adventure thats the sequel to "The Pawn" (I don't remember the name). It was very well done, had all the things I wanted, could run from a hard disk, etc. Then I asked if you could exit the game. I tried it. Amiga-nm did nothing (a cli was active). Quitting did not put you back where you came from, it required you to reboot. It didn't even bother to reboot for you. Sorry, I don't buy non-multitasking stuff. There is no reason that it could not have saved the stuff intuition needs before tromping over it, and then restore it before quitting. Remember, this is their second game (at least). They've done this before. They should have learned by now how to restore intuition, or else how to get their stuff to work with intuition. The point is, I was willing to pay cash for that game, right then and there. At least, until I discovered that this reboot problem. I was also willing to buy Alien Fires, until I discovered that it was copy protected. As far as "I've seen better PD than the commercial stuff", why should I pay when I can get better for free? >I just don't understand the logic of this. Pirates are thieves. >Typical, smirking, self-centered thieves. Thieves are not motivated by >social ideology. They are motivated by getting something valuable at >the expense of others, preferably without getting caught. Oh sure, all >thieves have some thin excuse with which to salve their self-image. Hmm, well, consider this: Way back when, I had a model one. (My parents have it now; still makes a good word processor). Some time ago, I calculated how much I had spent on software, and the value of the software I had. I had been a fairly active pirate. I found that the totals roughly balanced. In other words, my pirating had enabled my to stay even, nothing more. I personally find pirating to be a matter of respect. I have no respect any more for EA. I'd pirate anything they make in a minute if I thought they made anything worth the disk it would take up. Marble Madness was the biggest disapointment I can think of. Dpaint one is beaten hands down by Images (Which I bought). The only other reason to pirate is to try a program out before you buy it. I've done this; it led to my buying (yes, buying) the Manx Commercial system and Gizmoz. I almost bought Facc on wednesday; but the person was sold out (he was a dealer, opening a new store in the area, and trying to get customers). I haven't pirated a copy, because I have too much respect for Perry and ASDG. But I can't find a place that has it in stock, either. On the other hand, I've formatted my ACS, returned a skyfox that I got for a birthday present (0 to mach 4 in 4 seconds, in a "realistic" game? What are you, a pile of jello?), formatted lattice. Ok, maybe I'm in the minority. But my .signature still stands. -- : Michael Gersten seismo!scgvaxd!stb!michael : Copy protection? Just say Pirate! (if its worth pirating)