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Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

mrwint.github.io

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Re: Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

#4

Post by chuckadams »

_mlbt wrote: post #3

My favorite copy protection scheme was where you needed to enter some text from the printed manual that came with the game. The disks were easy to copy but the manuals required significant effort. I also just really miss printed game manuals.

My least favorite was the protection typical on C-64 games that caused constant resets of the floppy drive, banging the head against the stop repeatedly. tick-tick-tick-tick-BRRRRRAAAAAAP. I would crack games I owned (admittedly, most I did not own) just to keep them from eventually knocking my drive out of alignment. Loaded a lot faster too. Fast-Hack-Em FTW.

Re: Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

#5

Post by Mountain_Skies »

Apparently 'The Terminator 2029' had such a trick in it. One of my friends in college was obsessed with the game and was frustrated about not being able to complete one of the levels due to a target being inaccessible. Eventually someone told him it was an intentional flaw introduced into copies that were pirated. Not sure if he ever bought the game so he could finish it.

Re: Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

#6

Post by g4zj »

_mlbt wrote: post #3

My favorite copy protection scheme was where you needed to enter some text from the printed manual that came with the game. The disks were easy to copy but the manuals required significant effort. I also just really miss printed game manuals.

Is this functionally different from a typical license key or activation key?

Re: Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

#7

Post by Narew »

g4zj wrote: post #6
_mlbt wrote: post #3

My favorite copy protection scheme was where you needed to enter some text from the printed manual that came with the game. The disks were easy to copy but the manuals required significant effort. I also just really miss printed game manuals.

Is this functionally different from a typical license key or activation key?

for example "flashback" ask you a writen code in the manual at the beginning of each level if my memory is good. So it's was not a one time activation

Re: Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

#8

Post by _mlbt »

g4zj wrote: post #6
_mlbt wrote: post #3

My favorite copy protection scheme was where you needed to enter some text from the printed manual that came with the game. The disks were easy to copy but the manuals required significant effort. I also just really miss printed game manuals.

Is this functionally different from a typical license key or activation key?

Yes because the license key was easy to write down on a sticky note and provide it with the copied floppy disk. With this mechanism you either needed to have a copy of the entire manual, or at least all the answers to the questions it would ask.

Re: Uncovering the mechanics of The Games: Winter Challenge

#9

Post by Narew »

Narew wrote: post #7
g4zj wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this functionally different from a typical license key or activation key?

for example "flashback" ask you a writen code in the manual at the beginning of each level if my memory is good. So it's was not a one time activation

here a example of it : (I only remember the first version) https://www.reddit.com/r/dosgaming/comments/86yxp4/question_...
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