Category Archives: Protected Software Info

Protected Software Info

the Original Parameter Cross Reference

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So this is a nice program and the PDF print out can be easily found online. But this is not a copy program, but will tell you what copies what. You type in the software’s name and it tells you what will copy it. The PDF online is for volume #8 and is 155 pages long!
If we didn’t have the PDF available then this program would be more useful. Also I prefer this program over the similar program called: What Copy’s What

Teja_Soft_Ad-1_Page_7In this ad by Tejas Soft for the Original Parameter Cross-reference there is now over 9,000 listings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Steverd’s Parameter list

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This is my personal Commodore Master Parameter reference. This picks up where the Original Parameter Cross Reference Vol#8 left off. I have over 1400 titles on this list about 25% that is not on the original list. I also only list THREE programs per title. I made this list for my own personal use and did not need to list every single parameter program, I decided three choices was enough.

Here it is now in a PDF Version: masterlist 6-2015

Bounty Bob Strikes Back

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Bounty Bob Strikes Back by Big Five Software.

This title is know in the C64 world as one of the hardest to copy disk out there.

bountybobstrikesback

The only thing thought I knew of that could copy it was Jim Drew’s SuperCard+ and a custom copier.(Version 3 of the Supercard-Plus.)

There are also different version of this disk.
It is also reported that Big Five software never used mass duplicators.

Jim Drew reports that this used completely aligned half-tracks.

C64preservation.com reports that most tracks are in custom GCR format offset 1/2 on each halftrack. Lower-grade version of Spiradisc-like protection from Apple II

 

21 Second Back up – Spiral track protection

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A new format of C64 copy protection found 25+ yrs after it’s release?

Most of use know that Bounty Bob was likely to be the hardest C64 game out to copy. But have you tried to copy 21 Second back up? Well it pretty much impossible to copy also. It wasn’t until just recently that Jim Drew (interviewed here) maker of the SuperCard got his hands on an original copy of it. Here is Jim’s Quote from his post on LEMON64,

“Because this disk uses true spiral track protection.
Tracks 10, 10.5, and 11 contain valid data that was written WHILE the head was stepping.
So, the data (which is 10 x 512 bytes long) is written on an ‘arc’ as the disk spins
and the head steps between tracks 11.0->10.5->10.0->10.5->11.0″

Goto the Lemon64 link above to learn more!!

 

Time Crystal by Sachs

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Time Crystal

Here in this ad there is a side note from Jim Sachs claiming that the delay in the release of his next game ‘Time Crystal’ will have to be delayed because of the rampant copying in the C64 industry.  They need this time to raise more capital and investigate more sophisticated protection techniques.

There was a demo/preview released of this game. See a screen shot below. But the final game was never released?
Why? I always had the feeling that the above was just a passive aggressive attack on software pirates. When they really need to buy time to get the game finished. OR was it just a publicity trick?

BUT what is the truth? Has Jim Sachs ever commented on this? Why not use RapidLok, V-Max, Vorpal, Fat Tracks, etc, some of these protection schemes had been out at this time. Or even the dreaded dongle?

Time_Crystal