Comments on: Crazy Video Game DRM Prism, 1980′s Style http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/ Torrent News, Torrent Sites and the latest Scoops Fri, 25 May 2012 10:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Stayhigh http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-427217 Stayhigh Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:25:11 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-427217 @34 The game would give you a picture of zool in a certain pose, you line up that pose on your wheel and the holes underneath would reveal a code for you to key in to start the game. Its two pieces of card held together in the centre so they can rotate. The top layer has some holes cut into it. Other games had them too, see one of the monkey islands. You might be able to find out more, they were called code wheels, and we used to call it copy protection back in the day, not DRM! @34

The game would give you a picture of zool in a certain pose, you line up that pose on your wheel and the holes underneath would reveal a code for you to key in to start the game. Its two pieces of card held together in the centre so they can rotate. The top layer has some holes cut into it. Other games had them too, see one of the monkey islands.

You might be able to find out more, they were called code wheels, and we used to call it copy protection back in the day, not DRM!

]]> By: The Th!ng http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-426910 The Th!ng Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:27:44 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-426910 This article was a sad trip down memory lane for me. I had purchased a copy of Tomahawk for my beloved 48K ZX Spectrum, but I was unable to play the game due to not being able to decipher the codes with this goddamed contraption - I hope it's inventor and anyone else who seeks to foist DRM on us die a thousand deaths, each one more awful than the last. Apart from the above though I have always had a high regard for the 8 bit programmers and what they were able to cram into 48 Kilobytes of RAM. This article was a sad trip down memory lane for me. I had purchased a copy of Tomahawk for my beloved 48K ZX Spectrum, but I was unable to play the game due to not being able to decipher the codes with this goddamed contraption – I hope it’s inventor and anyone else who seeks to foist DRM on us die a thousand deaths, each one more awful than the last.

Apart from the above though I have always had a high regard for the 8 bit programmers and what they were able to cram into 48 Kilobytes of RAM.

]]> By: Oh the memories... http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-426137 Oh the memories... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:04:24 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-426137 That lenslok was a joke, cracked in a few minutes with the right tools. At the time I was even dissappointed how easy it was to circumvent. That lenslok was a joke, cracked in a few minutes with the right tools. At the time I was even dissappointed how easy it was to circumvent.

]]> By: JOn http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-425570 JOn Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:07:23 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-425570 Oh aye i forgot - another one i had was some coloured sheets that you had to put over some coloured blocks on the screen & would make a code appear - that at least had the advantage of getting used to the colours and being able to work it out after a few go's Oh aye i forgot – another one i had was some coloured sheets that you had to put over some coloured blocks on the screen & would make a code appear – that at least had the advantage of getting used to the colours and being able to work it out after a few go’s

]]> By: JOn http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-425567 JOn Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:05:05 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-425567 I had one of these for a speccy game - and it didnt come on part way through like the instructins say, it came on at the beginning and i have managed to play the game it was with twice i think, it was that bad (used to get it out every few months "for another go" lol) I had one of these for a speccy game – and it didnt come on part way through like the instructins say, it came on at the beginning and i have managed to play the game it was with twice i think, it was that bad (used to get it out every few months “for another go” lol)

]]> By: yellapieman http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-425478 yellapieman Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:36:01 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-425478 niniff.com/?YIT niniff.com/?YIT

]]> By: Jeff http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-425227 Jeff Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:46:50 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-425227 An old Electronic Arts Game for the Commodore 64/128 and other platforms of the time (mainly Atari 400/800 & Apple II) called Demonstalkers that came out in 1987 had a blue disc called Arthur's Magical Cypher. Every five levels of this Gauntlet- like game you had to enter a code based on what combinations were given by the game. Get it wrong and the game would end, of course. An old Electronic Arts Game for the
Commodore 64/128 and other platforms
of the time (mainly Atari 400/800 &
Apple II) called Demonstalkers that
came out in 1987 had a blue disc
called Arthur’s Magical Cypher.

Every five levels of this Gauntlet-
like game you had to enter a code
based on what combinations were given
by the game. Get it wrong and the
game would end, of course.

]]> By: DeusExVerra http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-423322 DeusExVerra Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:22:58 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-423322 Wow, imagine lenslock Pong: Ping |. | Pong | .| Ping |. | Continue code: ||l,|.|;:|1l|' Fail | |. Too slow, try again? but seriously, what makes them think this will really work. Basically its no different from the current day serial number, only much more annoying, and even more potentially problematic (don't loose the litte piece of shit or you're screwed). All you gotta do to get around it is utilize modern day keygens to use the generated number as a code to simulate the visual aspects. Hell, I bet you could probably make a Photoshop action that decodes this or something. Wow, imagine lenslock Pong:

Ping |. |
Pong | .|
Ping |. |
Continue code: ||l,|.|;:|1l|’
Fail | |.
Too slow, try again?

but seriously, what makes them think this will really work. Basically its no different from the current day serial number, only much more annoying, and even more potentially problematic (don’t loose the litte piece of shit or you’re screwed). All you gotta do to get around it is utilize modern day keygens to use the generated number as a code to simulate the visual aspects. Hell, I bet you could probably make a Photoshop action that decodes this or something.

]]> By: Doug http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-423279 Doug Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:17:11 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-423279 DRM (new) RIAA Style: 1. Must buy a $14.99 CD. 2. Must have obtained a "CD Unlocker" (prices may very from $250,000+ because for each person that downloads the music illegally, we lose $250,000 [obviously]) 3. Plug "CD Unlocker" into headphones. 4. You get up to 30 seconds of playing time! 5. Repeat by buying the above products to listen to the next 30 seconds of the song. DRM (new) RIAA Style:

1. Must buy a $14.99 CD.
2. Must have obtained a “CD Unlocker” (prices may very from $250,000+ because for each person that downloads the music illegally, we lose $250,000 [obviously])
3. Plug “CD Unlocker” into headphones.
4. You get up to 30 seconds of playing time!
5. Repeat by buying the above products to listen to the next 30 seconds of the song.

]]> By: zarathustra http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-423154 zarathustra Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:42:12 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-423154 Ahh the memories - JSW colour grid LMAO! Brrrr-BEEP! Brrrr-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEadnauseam... =] Ahh the memories – JSW colour grid LMAO!

Brrrr-BEEP! Brrrr-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEadnauseam…

=]

]]> By: Eloquence http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-423153 Eloquence Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:41:11 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-423153 I still have a LensLok too... Came with some Rainbird software for the C64 actually. The Advanced Music System I think, with a MIDI cartridge and everything. I made some astoundingly horrible music that way... I still have a LensLok too… Came with some Rainbird software for the C64 actually. The Advanced Music System I think, with a MIDI cartridge and everything. I made some astoundingly horrible music that way…

]]> By: Finkangel http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422815 Finkangel Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:27:52 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422815 Not quite correct, I dug my Speccie out of the loft a little while ago and the lenselok (with Elite) worked perfectly on my (at the time) 32" Sony TV (a couple of keys could be used to scale the scrambled text to the correct size), and (just for the record) this was very far from the first physical DRM, go back a few years to Buzzard Bait on the Dragon 32, that had a physical dongle you needed to put in one of the joystick ports during loading or it would accuse you of being a pirate and refuse to launch... Not quite correct, I dug my Speccie out of the loft a little while ago and the lenselok (with Elite) worked perfectly on my (at the time) 32″ Sony TV (a couple of keys could be used to scale the scrambled text to the correct size), and (just for the record) this was very far from the first physical DRM, go back a few years to Buzzard Bait on the Dragon 32, that had a physical dongle you needed to put in one of the joystick ports during loading or it would accuse you of being a pirate and refuse to launch…

]]> By: www.eZee.se http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422736 www.eZee.se Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:57:31 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422736 Still searching for info on that "Zool Spinning wheel DRM on Acorn", can someone post a link or something, am raelly curious to know how it worked.. Thanks in advance! Still searching for info on that “Zool Spinning wheel DRM on Acorn”, can someone post a link or something, am raelly curious to know how it worked..

Thanks in advance!

]]> By: tim from Radio Clash http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422731 tim from Radio Clash Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:49:25 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422731 I had a Lenslokk not on a game but on Rainbird Art Studio. Was really annoying when you couldn't get into the very software you owned, because Lenslokk was so bad, especially on a application you'd be using frequently! Also weirdly Elite 48K had Lenslokk, but 128K version didn't, but worked on a 48K spectrum if you had a copy of the manual ;-) I had a Lenslokk not on a game but on Rainbird Art Studio. Was really annoying when you couldn’t get into the very software you owned, because Lenslokk was so bad, especially on a application you’d be using frequently!

Also weirdly Elite 48K had Lenslokk, but 128K version didn’t, but worked on a 48K spectrum if you had a copy of the manual ;-)

]]> By: website design http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422671 website design Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:29:17 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422671 Obligatory: FUCK THE RIAA! FUCK THE MPAA! FUCK DRM! Obligatory:
FUCK THE RIAA!
FUCK THE MPAA!
FUCK DRM!

]]> By: Abo http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422637 Abo Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:26:14 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422637 'Back in the day files were shared the old fashioned way…..exchanging floppy discs through the mail. So next time you want to complain about how long a download is taking, it's light speed compared to the early days of warez. :P' Aye, but when I got into the C64 trading scene disks were sent and received daily so there was a fair bit of throughput. The top boys dialled BBS on their 300 baud modems though... ‘Back in the day files were shared the old fashioned way…..exchanging floppy discs through the mail. So next time you want to complain about how long a download is taking, it’s light speed compared to the early days of warez. :P’

Aye, but when I got into the C64 trading scene disks were sent and received daily so there was a fair bit of throughput.

The top boys dialled BBS on their 300 baud modems though…

]]> By: Abo http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422625 Abo Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:12:39 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422625 When I was a kid we used to just use a tape-to-tape and copy the games. Speedloaders made this harder though, but then I got a Multiface and a saturday job in a computer shop... You kids won't remember but shops back then weren't like Game or whatever, they were often dead seedy, just like the one I worked at. Piracy was dead easy then; just stick the Multiface in, load the first game, save it off and repeat until all the games released that week were copied by the time I went home. And got a few quid for working in the shop... When I was a kid we used to just use a tape-to-tape and copy the games. Speedloaders made this harder though, but then I got a Multiface and a saturday job in a computer shop… You kids won’t remember but shops back then weren’t like Game or whatever, they were often dead seedy, just like the one I worked at. Piracy was dead easy then; just stick the Multiface in, load the first game, save it off and repeat until all the games released that week were copied by the time I went home. And got a few quid for working in the shop…

]]> By: Not Me http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422586 Not Me Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:13:14 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422586 Never had any lenslock games. The worst I had was a Marble Madness clone that required a dongle to play the full game. As terrible as DRM is who doesn't love saying dongle? Surprised it never made a resurgence with the popularity of USB. I recall playing others requiring entering a word from some page of the manual. Of course you'd dutifully look up the 17th word in the third paragraph on page 63 and then the damned thing wouldn't work because they'd arsed up in printing the manual. Never had any lenslock games.

The worst I had was a Marble Madness clone that required a dongle to play the full game. As terrible as DRM is who doesn’t love saying dongle?

Surprised it never made a resurgence with the popularity of USB.

I recall playing others requiring entering a word from some page of the manual. Of course you’d dutifully look up the 17th word in the third paragraph on page 63 and then the damned thing wouldn’t work because they’d arsed up in printing the manual.

]]> By: khisanth http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422514 khisanth Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:26:51 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422514 I still have one of these! Came with The Graphic Adventure Creator. worked perfectly! I still have one of these! Came with The Graphic Adventure Creator.

worked perfectly!

]]> By: Daniel http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422475 Daniel Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:45:12 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422475 I remember the lenslock device that came with out copy of elite. I wasn't previously aware that each lens device was unique. The greatest problem for it as a form of DRM was that you could just read the code off the screen with a little practice. My Brother and I would frequently have to do that when we couldn't find the device. It effectively just displaces a handful of the pixels in a monotype low res font. There aren't that many characters and they are all pretty distinctive shapes so you can learn them quite quickly. I remember the lenslock device that came with out copy of elite. I wasn’t previously aware that each lens device was unique. The greatest problem for it as a form of DRM was that you could just read the code off the screen with a little practice. My Brother and I would frequently have to do that when we couldn’t find the device.

It effectively just displaces a handful of the pixels in a monotype low res font. There aren’t that many characters and they are all pretty distinctive shapes so you can learn them quite quickly.

]]> By: Monster_mack http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422433 Monster_mack Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:31:04 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422433 Wow, an interesting trip back in time. I hope torrentfreak publishes more of these articles, which prove even more, that history, unfortunately, moves in circles. Wow, an interesting trip back in time.
I hope torrentfreak publishes more of these articles, which prove even more, that history, unfortunately, moves in circles.

]]> By: fuzzypig http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422416 fuzzypig Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:07:58 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422416 F*ck me! I remember using Lenslock(tm) on Speccy games! Jeez, if you were lucky you would get it right, inside three attempts, else *blip*, restart and another 10 min wait to reload! What about that bloody awful colour grid on Jet Set Willy on the speccy?! Best protection scheme I saw was that one Rocket Ranger, the wheel for the rocket fuel load, only took about 20 mins to write it all out in a spreadsheet, but still nice idea which sort of protected the game but also added to the fun! F*ck me! I remember using Lenslock(tm) on Speccy games! Jeez, if you were lucky you would get it right, inside three attempts, else *blip*, restart and another 10 min wait to reload!

What about that bloody awful colour grid on Jet Set Willy on the speccy?!

Best protection scheme I saw was that one Rocket Ranger, the wheel for the rocket fuel load, only took about 20 mins to write it all out in a spreadsheet, but still nice idea which sort of protected the game but also added to the fun!

]]> By: Old School http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422348 Old School Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:45:42 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422348 @#6 Back in the day files were shared the old fashioned way.....exchanging floppy discs through the mail. So next time you want to complain about how long a download is taking, it's light speed compared to the early days of warez. :P @#6

Back in the day files were shared the old fashioned way…..exchanging floppy discs through the mail. So next time you want to complain about how long a download is taking, it’s light speed compared to the early days of warez. :P

]]> By: Anonymous http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422330 Anonymous Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:23:51 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422330 Someone would end up completely removing the lenslok code from the game. Someone would end up completely removing the lenslok code from the game.

]]> By: gluestickchaos http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422284 gluestickchaos Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:26:24 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422284 i remember on the nintendo a game called star tropics had something kinda similar. about halfwa y through the game you ahd to dip this piece of paper that came with the game in water to read a code to enter into the subs computer to be able to do somethign to advance. i remember thinking what if i lost this or what if i didnt have thsi i wouldnt be able to continue. luckily it turns out the code is the same for every copy but still you cant advance without the code(now online). funny article though i just want one because. i remember on the nintendo a game called star tropics had something kinda similar. about halfwa y through the game you ahd to dip this piece of paper that came with the game in water to read a code to enter into the subs computer to be able to do somethign to advance. i remember thinking what if i lost this or what if i didnt have thsi i wouldnt be able to continue. luckily it turns out the code is the same for every copy but still you cant advance without the code(now online). funny article though i just want one because.

]]> By: commensense http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422253 commensense Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:50:48 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422253 "hope and pray that no-one reintroduces this one" Why would it bother anybody? These days it would be cracked in seconds!!!! “hope and pray that no-one reintroduces this one”

Why would it bother anybody? These days it would be cracked in seconds!!!!

]]> By: EGGPIE http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422097 EGGPIE Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:53:15 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422097 and if you got it wrong you had to reload. 5 minutes of your life wasted over some plastic crappy device. It took me maybe half an hour of reloading and playing with this thing just to get to fly a wireframe apache... and if you got it wrong you had to reload. 5 minutes of your life wasted over some plastic crappy device. It took me maybe half an hour of reloading and playing with this thing just to get to fly a wireframe apache…

]]> By: Mr.Afghanistan http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422081 Mr.Afghanistan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:34:26 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422081 Stone Age Games LoL If someone give me for free, i ain't gonna take it for FREE ! ! ! Stone Age Games LoL

If someone give me for free, i ain’t gonna take it for FREE ! ! !

]]> By: NoZone http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422079 NoZone Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:32:18 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422079 This goes along with all those crazy clear red cards that "mysteriously" expose some code. This goes along with all those crazy clear red cards that “mysteriously” expose some code.

]]> By: Dan http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422060 Dan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:04:39 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422060 The images on the instructions remind me of something from one of the Dharma stations in Lost The images on the instructions remind me of something from one of the Dharma stations in Lost

]]> By: www.eZee.se http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422030 www.eZee.se Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:21:19 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422030 > The Zool Spinning wheel DRM on Acorn/Risc-OS was epic I dont get it, how was it used? > The Zool Spinning wheel DRM on Acorn/Risc-OS was epic

I dont get it, how was it used?

]]> By: Anon http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-422005 Anon Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:49:06 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-422005 The Zool Spinning wheel DRM on Acorn/Risc-OS was epic http://i31.tinypic.com/i41pv6.jpg The Zool Spinning wheel DRM on Acorn/Risc-OS was epic

http://i31.tinypic.com/i41pv6.jpg

]]> By: BurritoBoy http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421992 BurritoBoy Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:37:17 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421992 I remember a neighbor having one of these when I was growing up. IIRC the game was something where you were a spy collecting fragments of a shredded secret document and then you had to assemble it. I remember a neighbor having one of these when I was growing up. IIRC the game was something where you were a spy collecting fragments of a shredded secret document and then you had to assemble it.

]]> By: trn http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421984 trn Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:28:47 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421984 That's really excellent. That’s really excellent.

]]> By: Rycon http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421979 Rycon Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:20:34 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421979 Only a retard would bring something like that back.. soo lensloks here we come. http://rycon.baywords.com Only a retard would bring something like that back.. soo lensloks here we come.

http://rycon.baywords.com

]]> By: Crandom http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421960 Crandom Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:36 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421960 Imagine something like this for every different song you had on an ipod. "You are about to play Coldplay - Viva la Vida. Please find one of your thousands of individual lensloks and enter the code." I would lol at that. Imagine something like this for every different song you had on an ipod. “You are about to play Coldplay – Viva la Vida. Please find one of your thousands of individual lensloks and enter the code.” I would lol at that.

]]> By: zx spectrum fan http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421940 zx spectrum fan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:39:48 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421940 I remember those, some sort of fast loader i think. The one i could never copy was Invasion of the Body Snatchas, a defender-like shoot em up. It was recorded in bursts if my old brain doesnt deceive me I remember those, some sort of fast loader i think. The one i could never copy was Invasion of the Body Snatchas, a defender-like shoot em up. It was recorded in bursts if my old brain doesnt deceive me

]]> By: Relic http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421925 Relic Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:18:36 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421925 I had almost forgotten about this, nice to see that it has not been lost in the mists of time. They really were terrible devices and they never really gained a foothold. Prior to this, discs and tapes had more subtle copy protection but almost inevitably somebody would figure out a way to crack it. I seem to remember that 'Ultimate Play The Game' games had pretty decent software-only copy protection. Knight Lore, Alien 8 anybody? I had almost forgotten about this, nice to see that it has not been lost in the mists of time. They really were terrible devices and they never really gained a foothold.

Prior to this, discs and tapes had more subtle copy protection but almost inevitably somebody would figure out a way to crack it.

I seem to remember that ‘Ultimate Play The Game’ games had pretty decent software-only copy protection. Knight Lore, Alien 8 anybody?

]]> By: zx spectrum fan http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421924 zx spectrum fan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:15:45 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421924 sure it was but how did you get a copy bac then? I had half a dozen friends with Spectrums and we pirated like crazy from each other but there was no internet to spread the stuff and no way to get the knowledge unless you knew someone in a scene or demo group Man i really miss thoses POKEs :( sure it was but how did you get a copy bac then? I had half a dozen friends with Spectrums and we pirated like crazy from each other but there was no internet to spread the stuff and no way to get the knowledge unless you knew someone in a scene or demo group

Man i really miss thoses POKEs :(

]]> By: Crynsos http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421920 Crynsos Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:10:57 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421920 "Lenslok is a trademark of A S A P Developments..." Yeah, really... if the name doesn't mean, to play the games ASAP, then maybe to scare your customers away ASAP? That's a joke, I mean... how crazy was the world back then? Well, actually it isn't much better now, but the "great inventions" of these earlier times, and Lenslok is a perfect example, were just crazy... “Lenslok is a trademark of A S A P Developments…” Yeah, really… if the name doesn’t mean, to play the games ASAP, then maybe to scare your customers away ASAP?

That’s a joke, I mean… how crazy was the world back then? Well, actually it isn’t much better now, but the “great inventions” of these earlier times, and Lenslok is a perfect example, were just crazy…

]]> By: historian http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421910 historian Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:56:32 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421910 elite was cracked and fully playable for free on ZX Spectrum short after release :) elite was cracked and fully playable for free on ZX Spectrum short after release :)

]]> By: TonInter http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421896 TonInter Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:39:31 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421896 This reminds me of my history classes. :S This reminds me of my history classes. :S

]]> By: yuriythebest http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421894 yuriythebest Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:38:28 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421894 what's next? DRM cyborg eyes? what’s next? DRM cyborg eyes?

]]> By: www.eZee.se http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421893 www.eZee.se Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:38:14 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421893 LOL, dude, i dont know if you are really cool or really old coz i dont even remember this sh!t! Guess i was the generation directly after this "lenslock" crap (Although i did play pong, i think i really entered around the Super mario era... still one of my all time favourites. Although pac-man and mario cant really compare to todays high def games, they still more than made up for it in fun to play... ok, guess i'm old too :) ) Cheers! www.ezee.se LOL, dude, i dont know if you are really cool or really old coz i dont even remember this sh!t! Guess i was the generation directly after this “lenslock” crap (Although i did play pong, i think i really entered around the Super mario era… still one of my all time favourites. Although pac-man and mario cant really compare to todays high def games, they still more than made up for it in fun to play… ok, guess i’m old too :) )

Cheers!
http://www.ezee.se

]]> By: *ENiGMA* http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421888 *ENiGMA* Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:35:45 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421888 what the fuck? thats cool... no really it is. but then i'm really weird, i find etymology interesting. i bet those prism things are really collectible these days. what the fuck? thats cool… no really it is. but then i’m really weird, i find etymology interesting. i bet those prism things are really collectible these days.

]]> By: Nogin http://torrentfreak.com/crazy-video-game-drm-prism-1980s-style-080617/#comment-421868 Nogin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:22:47 +0000 http://torrentfreak.com/?p=2889#comment-421868 When will these assholes learn? Collective knowledge should be free. And yes, I have Gout in my left tit. When will these assholes learn?
Collective knowledge should be free.
And yes, I have Gout in my left tit.

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