A history of DRM and copy protection schemes

[J T]

I found this video to be really interesting. There have been so many different ideas for how to copy protect games and they largely seem to be evolving into more horrible manifestations all the time. It's the early DRM that is most interesting though. There were some forms of DRM that when I was young I just accepted them as part of the game that required some sort of book or color wheel or a "feelie". I had forgotten about the little Alone in the Dark book. I hated that thing.

[ExedExes]

Good video. I remember that I couldn't play Indy 500 The Simulation because it was missing the manual. I also have to deal with the games that have StarForce DRM, even some of my PC arcade compilations, and I have reason to believe it killed my original laptop's CD ROM drive.

CD Keys will always be the best. One time type in, no more issues.

[DinnerX]

I didn't know Microsoft made the first PC game with DRM.

Somehow that seems right up their alley.

[CRTGAMER]

I found this video to be really interesting. There have been so many different ideas for how to copy protect games and they largely seem to be evolving into more horrible manifestations all the time. It's the early DRM that is most interesting though. There were some forms of DRM that when I was young I just accepted them as part of the game that required some sort of book or color wheel or a "feelie". I had forgotten about the little Alone in the Dark book. I hated that thing.

I don't remember that little Alone Dark Book, maybe the CD ROM version did not require it? I hated the code wheels and red pages that needed the red film and I still have Elite with the Lens Lock. It worked okay on a 1702 monitor but crap on the TV. At least all the older "DRM" was all available to the purchaser even if the company folded.

Many of my "protected" C64 games would give the drive head rattle, gaaah I hated those. Funny how someone actually wrote a program to make that 1541 drive head sing the tune of Daisy.

Nice entertaining Video, added the link to my take on DRM History I posted a while back.

History of Copy Protection DRM Future of Gaming
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 44#p313544

[Hobie-wan]

Funny how someone actually wrote a program to make that 1541 drive head sing the tune of Daisy.

You don't say.

[fastbilly1]

I stand by the opinion that the best use of DRM in game - past steam, is in the old Lucasarts game Their Finest Hour the Battle of Britain. This was a late 80s flight sim for the pc, that featured a code wheel. But the game would load up, let you pick a mission, pick an aircraft, take off, and actually fly around for a while before it would ask for the code. How it asked for a code is that on the radio it would ask for your password for the mission details. And if it was a long mission, the enemy would intercept your radio and you would have to change codes partway through the mission. It was DRM that was integral to gameplay:


And yes, my code wheel has seen better days. So the code would be something like Horst Wessel, Biggin Hill, and you would have to input: White Three, Blue Six, White 5 into your radio.

[gtmtnbiker]

You don't say.

[J T]

Funny how someone actually wrote a program to make that 1541 drive head sing the tune of Daisy.

You don't say.

If you think that's cool CRT, prepare to have your mind blown.


EDIT: one more

[CRTGAMER]

Funny how someone actually wrote a program to make that 1541 drive head sing the tune of Daisy.

If you think that's cool CRT, prepare to have your mind blown.

EDIT: one more

I like that second link, thanks! The eight Floppy Drive Mountain King orchestra is really good. The 1541 is still the king, it can produce all the tones compared to the eight PC Floppy drives. Bookmarked and downloaded!