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Denver, 6:47 AM
Wed Dec 2
62 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/13/09
"Old days" isn't an exact term because the method still exists as a revival in a (just released) German adventure called "The Whispered World".
The game package includes real 3 dices with runes on em. You have to get 3 matches to the dice position depicted on screen to get in the game.
While it is rather annoying to enter those runes each start, this "copy protection" also has a nice additional use: Those dices can also be used for a package-included tabletop-game called "Droggle"
09/13/09
It used to annoy the shit out of me but at the same time, it encouraged me to read book - probably the biggest gaming manual that doesn't go by the name "strategy guide".
Civilizations copy protection was cool too. At first I didn't even realize that it was copy protection. I just assumed it was a way of teaching me part of the game. I learnt all the different combinations that were needed to be a god king and not get my units taken away.
09/13/09
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09/13/09
Says it all.
09/13/09
I sorta wish my copies of Monkey Island had their codewheels - alas, for the CD version (combination of 1 and 2) they seem to have simply bypassed all that. I feel like I've missed out.
09/13/09
09/13/09
those were the days..............
pricks...
09/13/09
Bloody hell, THAT takes me back. We never had a game capable PC when I was a kid and the stuff I played on our Amstrad CPC464 rarely required code wheels and manual word look-ups (though I was certainly aware of them). Transformers tech-specs, on the other hand: now you're talking.
09/12/09
They really accomplished nothing, and many games that went to CD-ROM did away with them. But some of them, like the pirate wheel, were funny.
09/13/09
Personally I feel that on-line validation systems such as Steam are a perfect match for modern PC gaming. If you sugar coat the pill enough (with features like automated game patching, cheap digital purchasing and community services) then most PC gamers seem willing to put up with it. If the only other option is a continued de-emphasis on PC gaming, it's surely an inconvenience worth suffering.
Has anyone else noted how the PC version of a multi-plat is always delayed? It can be partially justified by throwing a few extra features in (PhysX support, etc) but the simple truth is that the developers want to make their money on the consoles before they open the door to mass piracy on the PC. Who can blame them?
09/12/09
09/12/09
And since the code wheel was about as good at preventing piracy as StarForce et al., why don't we just go back to those? It's not the "green" option but it would be kind of cool... d^_^b
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09/12/09
Chris Kohler at Wired has a good article about this: [www.wired.com]