I'm with you there. Back in the day when LucasArts were still producing quality adventures for the Amiga, they used to include detailed instructions for making backup copies, and the manuals and reference cards specifically touted the fact that the games were not copyprotected (as opposed to most Amiga games at the time) and gave the advice NEVER, EVER to play a game from an original media but to ONLY EVER use the original media to create a working backup and then stash it somewhere safe until the backup copies broke. I like to consider LucasArts the company that taught me the value of backups and because of this I have often refused to buy games with obnoxious CP techniques that violate ISO9660 specs (CD-keys are OK, even though I've had a few problems with games I bought new and when I tried to register them someone else had already generated the key and used it, but at least they don't corrupt the physical media).Ceri Cat wrote:I have to admit CP peeves me to no end, the only people it ever stop are the 100% honest people who won't even dream of using a CP crack on a game. I'm not advocating piracy, nor am I condoning it, however I can understand the frustrations that lead to it. Partially why I didn't allow the manager of Cadogan studios to look at putting any into our projects, it was easier for everyone involved and less costs for us.
I think my most annoying CP moment was going to the Sims website and not being able to sign up because someone had managed to get my key from a keygen (I believe) and registered it already... And I'd only bought the game that morning.
I am VERY disappointed to see that even LucasArts has recently begun using CP techniques, specifically SecuROM, at least in Europe (since the right to make personal backup copies of purchased software is a civil right in many European countries). I believe this may be more due to their publisher (Activision) than LucasArts themselves, as prior to Activision becoming their publisher in Europe, no LEC games released here were copyprotected even if their US release counterparts were. Luckily, I have not had any problems with LucasArts' SecuROM protected games so far, but it's still sad to see that they've sold out on their heritage and principles.
On a more on-topic note, Sold-Out Software did use to use clean builds of the games (compiled without integrating the copy protection) on their releases which was very beneficial to some games that required all files to be installed on the HD and only required the CD for signature verification (such as Colin McRae 2.0). This removed the need for digging through CD collections for those particular games. It's sad to see they've caved in as well (if SOS and Mastertronic are the same).
I really believe the most apt (and hilarious) description of copy protections in general is this one quoted from the Jargon File:
copy protection: n.
A class of methods for preventing incompetent pirates from stealing software and legitimate customers from using it. Considered silly.
