lippin@wheatena (The Apathist) (11/12/87)
Recently dwb@apple.UUCP (David W. Berry) said: > Also since the copy protection scheme doesn't pass on a Mac SE, >or presumably a Mac II. This means that you wind up always playing the >unbeatable, cheating level when using it on an SE. A friend of mine claims to have empirical evidence that this is not, in fact, unbeatable. But it's not easy, either... --Tom Lippincott ..ucbvax!bosco!lippin "We demand ridgidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!" --Vroomfondel
andrew@ems.Ems.MN.ORG (Andrew C.Esh) (11/21/87)
In article <1396@cartan.Berkeley.EDU> lippin@wheatena.UUCP (Tom Lippincott, ..ucbvax!bosco!lippin) writes: >Recently dwb@apple.UUCP (David W. Berry) said: >> Also since the copy protection scheme doesn't pass on a Mac SE, >>or presumably a Mac II. This means that you wind up always playing the >>unbeatable, cheating level when using it on an SE. > >A friend of mine claims to have empirical evidence that this is not, >in fact, unbeatable. But it's not easy, either... > > --Tom Lippincott > ..ucbvax!bosco!lippin I got my copy of SC Plus and played it on an SE for two weeks, losing every game. I finally won one when the computer was given a home country with no sea bases. I was thinking I was stupid or something. :-) When I tried to set up an Appletalk session, I could not get past the logon/password stuff. I called PBI Software ((415) 349-8765) and got ahold of one of the programmers, but before I finished describing the problem he said "You're playing on an SE and it keeps beating the pants off you!" (I chuckled) Problem fixed, it requires an upgrade. After trading disks with PBI I was able to play it on an SE, an with a few acceptable glitches on the MAC II. Appletalk works now too, but only on the SE. This was a few weeks ago, so they may have it all ironed out by now. I have seen some of the glitches go away when I use the latest system/ finder, rather than the versions they distribute. SC is one of my most favorite games, along with Falcon (more in another message). It plays really fast on a Mac II, which is desirable since each move can take up to 30 secs on an SE toward the end of the game when there are hundreds of pieces to move. SE players can speed things up by setting automatic moves (patrol, city army/aircraft destination, stack moves, and "chalklines"). Don't get the wrong idea, it's not unbearably slow; I like instantaneous (read: MAC II :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) ;-) :-) :-) response because I usually know where I want to attack next. I have gone home many an early morning, sleepy eyed, tired but victorious (maybe :-), after a long night of "duking it out". Great game, beware of addiction. DISCLAIMER: I am in no way attached to anything (least of all PBI Software) except my MacII, this big spherical thing we're all standing on, and my car (in that order) ... and this paddle game, ... and this ash tray ...
pem@cadnetix.UUCP (Paul Meyer) (12/02/87)
andrew@ems.Ems.MN.ORG (Andrew C.Esh) writes: >In article <1396@cartan.Berkeley.EDU> lippin@wheatena.UUCP (Tom Lippincott, ..ucbvax!bosco!lippin) writes: >>Recently dwb@apple.UUCP (David W. Berry) said: >>> Also since the copy protection scheme doesn't pass on a Mac SE, >>>or presumably a Mac II. This means that you wind up always playing the >>>unbeatable, cheating level when using it on an SE. [...] >not get past the logon/password stuff. I called PBI Software ((415) >349-8765) and got ahold of one of the programmers[...] >[...]Problem fixed, it requires an upgrade. AARGH! I have become extremely irritated at PBI once again! Once upon a time I did not buy the original Strategic Conquest because the only copy I'd seen was (unknown to me) an illegitimate one. I did not want a game that cheated, whether or not I could eventually learn to beat it. Eventually I found out (from an article in a newsletter) that this was the result of a copy protection scheme, so I did go out and buy SC+. In fact, I enjoyed the game a lot--I like exploration and conquest style games--for a couple of months. When I got my brand new SE I rapidly discovered that the copy protection lost on it. I waited for any word in magazines or from PBI (since I'd registered my copy) that an upgrade was available, to no avail. This article was the first hint I had that I could get an upgrade. I have sent PBI a letter with my disks, and I wait to find out if they'll send me the upgrade. If they want 2 cents extra for it, I don't intend to pay--unless they will give me a way to put the game on my hard disk so I don't have to carry floppies around to play when I bring my Mac to my parents' house, or wherever. I can almost accept that PBI is continuing to use copy protection in the increasingly-hard-disk-oriented Mac marketplace. I can almost accept that the only way to discover that the copy protection has broken on a new machine is to realize that the program is cheating, and try a game at level one to verify it. I can NOT accept that PBI doesn't make the slightest effort to notify prospective purchasers or registered customers of upgrades--I admit they had no way of knowing that I had upgraded my machine, but why was *I* supposed to make a long-distance telephone call to find out what was wrong? At the time I bought SC+, I gritted my teeth at the copy protection but bought the game because it was the only decent wargame for the Mac. This is no longer entirely true, and more games are at long last becoming available. I am resolved that PBI will not receive another penny of my money unless they do something to let me carry their game on my hard disk and/or make it a lot easier to tell when the copy protection scheme has broken. If you haven't bought SC, don't! PBI will clean up their act only when they believe they are losing more sales because of it than they gain from it. (my mail connection will be flaky for the next month or so, so don't count too much on mailed replies getting through...) -- pem@cadnetix.UUCP (hao!isis!ico!cadnetix!pem)