Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Is this game really good?  I saw the box but havent seen it run yet.
    Is game play similar to _It came from the Desert_, ie. options
    available at different places, etc?
    
    George
    

    
    I played it at Memory Location on Saturday.  Seemed fun and I was about
    to buy it when....
    
    I realized that it had a look-it-up-in-the-book copy protection thing.
    Needless to say, I put it back on the shelf.
    
    I often wonder what the ratio of 'lost sales to copying' / 'lost sales
    because I didn't like the copy protection' is.
    
    Steve 

    i saw the game,an the music is very good.I feel that it is a great
    game for those that are looking for an alternative to the kill
    everything type. re-1 I have no problem with look up in the book
    copy protection. It allows one to put the game on the hard disk
    an that is the only thing I don't like about copy protection(of
    course you can also make a backup).as for lost sales I'd rather
    see quality games developed with look up for protection than not
    at all. If you look at it from the aspect of being a game that you
    buy for your children,then It may be benifical to have this kind
    of protection.I have seen children that could use the experiance
    of  finding a word in a manual,and it conveys the lession that 
    sometimes in life they may have to put out a little effort to obtain
    things they want.Of course I realize this may be an unusal view
    but it is a situation where all particapants can win. I have a backup,
    and can put it on the hard drive,kids can learn a often missed
    point,and the vendor is protected.In reality the length of time
    spent on a single game is not that long,where it should cause a
    great hardship. In hearing people talk I can say this is the least
    popular form of protection because it works.(copying a manual is
    often harder than copying a disk). it's he__ on consignment selling.

    I have to agree with .3, VERY few companies will release software with
    NO protection and I would prefer they stick with "Look-up" or
    "Codewheel".  You can have BACKUP copies, you can install on a hard
    disk and these outweigh (IMHO) the pain of ten seconds of looking up a
    word.
    
    George
    

re .4 - very few companies release software with no protection? That's odd -
I've only bought a very small number of copy-protected packages (2? 3?),
only one of which I still use.  And if they hadn't made non-copy-protected 
versions of DPaint available, I would have bought something else long ago.

I find that most of the software I'm interested in isn't copy protected, and
(with one exception) have never felt any urge to violate my policy of not
buying copy-protected software.

Possibly it's that I'm not much interested in games, and more interested in
productivity tools.  Wasting time looking up words or whatever with a game
isn't that important - I'm basically wasting time playing anyway (not to
denigrate game playing; I play lots of games, most of them just aren't
on the computer). But a productivity tool - especially one I start in my
boot sequence - that's another problem entirely. And it gets even worse if
you can't make backups.

	<mike

    The look-up scheme is acceptable to me providing it is an intricate
    part of the game...a classic example is the latest version of Zork.
    This game comes with a calendar detailing the lives of the twelve
    flatheads. You are NEVER asked to look up a word, but so many vital 
    clues and usefull bits of info are scattered throughout the calendar
    that winning the game is darn near impossible without it!
    
    Thats my idea of good game protection...

    I guess the reason that a lot of the productivity software is not
    protected is because protection is natural to many of these products.
    For example try using Turbo Silver without the manual. Now in looking
    at the Jetsons at my dealers I think that you are asked for a lookup
    at random times in the game.From what I can tell it hasen't hurt
    sales too much. The game appeals to both the kids,and their parents
    who grew up watching the cartoon on tv. It is a catch 22 situation.
    The better the game,and the more intutive it is to play the greater
    the need for protection.I play "Day of The Viper" quit often.It
    boots,and comes to a screen announcing a hardware failure on the
    Viper.In order to fix it you use a slide rule type of thing.you
    place the slider over the specified letter,and then you select 
    THREE failing components clicking on each. This happens only when
    you boot the game.After that you simply click yes to play again,and
    then if you want you can bypass any other screen and go directly
    to play.The few seconds I spend with protection is more than 
    compensated for by having the ability to bypass the death scene
    etc: I also have the game on my hard drive and it is only seconds
    after death before I'm off again.
    							bill
    ps. I almost feel I should buy Jetsons so i could offer a solution
    to note .0 However he has probably already gone further than I would
    have gotten.  

RE: .5

The implication I meant when I said it is not often to see unprotected 
software was in the realm of games.  It was sorta implied (though obviously
not well) by the fact that we are in "The Jetsons" note.  Anyway, as far
as productivity software goes I fully agree.  I expect to install it on my
harddrive and never have to fool with protections and, again in the productivity
field, I may even do as .1 and not buy something otherwise nice because they
put protections in.

All I was trying to get across is that in games most disks that I have gotten
and played with are copy protected and I much prefer a simple look-up or 
codewheel at boot time to no-backups/no-harddrive.  Matter of fact, _Dungeon
Master_ won't boot for me now and I have no options.  No backup was possible
and I can't find the blessed manual to get an address�.  If they has used
a lookup protection I'd still be able to play and not out $40.

George

�Please don't cry pirate!  The manual isn't needed much after you read and
learn some stuff and I am not as big on saving all original packing, etc.
It just leaves me without address or phone to try to get a new copy.

						-(gaw)

    
    re .8
    
    You said you lost the manual, so you would be bummin' either way, look
    up, or disk copy protection.  8^)
    
    Steve_last_day_at_work

    RE .8
    	YOU ARE A REGISTERED USER,so there should be no problem.I don't
    own Dungeon master but have no doubt that someone can supply a name
    and address for you.At that time send in the disk certified mail
    to protect yourself,and you will be all set.Regarding the documentation
    I get upset if I crease a page on one of my manuals,and any that
    have a lookup,and or coded device goes in a special drawer in my
    desk.
    								bill

    RE: .10 (Bill)
    
    I, too, have a special folder for "LOOK-UP" materials and manuals,
    the problem arises that _Dungeon Master_ didn't require a look-up,
    that the information (once I had gleaned) wasn't needed for constant 
    reference...therefore in the finest traditions of the disorganized...
    it went away.  I will (hopefully) someday remember to go to a store
    and copy the phone number/address of FTL down sometime.  I haven't 
    rushed because I fear they are going to try to charge me with an 
    "UPGRADE FEE" or somesuch nonsence. 
    
    George                             

    George,
    
    I see you are based in MA, unfortunately i am in France, and i have
    the English copy of DM. I will try to find the address, and see
    if they have the USA address aswell. I will post the answer later
    if no-body else replys first.
    
    Lewis.

RE: last

Thanks for the assist.  It is much appreciated.  Maybe by next month I can 
be playing DM again.  Until then...(and back to the topic)...

�Jetsons spoiler? and questions�

I bought this and have played around some and have to second .0's question
about how to get Elroy to come along to Robotopia.  Elroy asks about going
but decides against it 'cause he'll miss the Science Fair.  I've tried waiting
until the Science Fair is over (12:30 I think) but it seems to be the same
time as the Ship and I get fired.

Also, is there any way of getting more money?  The oceans on Robotopia seem
accesible if you have a minisub (purchasable at _Personal Travel Concepts_)
but I don't have the money. 

    Well it appears that my original note (.0) was digressed a bit but that
    ok.  I ended up calling the company that makes Jetsons and have a bit
    more information.
    
    Spoiler follows:
    
    
    	Elroy and Astro do no accompany George to Robotopia at all.  That
    was quite a revelation considering that they are on the front cover
    together.  Things happen later that you need one of them but not for
    the first trip.
    
    Re: -1  
    There is only one ticket so only George goes.  The submarine will not
    work on Robotopia..read what the clue says when you look at the sub.
    Also I havent found any more money and also no use as yet for the
    feathered hat.
    
    Regards

    Copied without permission from Dungeon Master Handbook (ST Version)-
    
    (boo, hiss, an STer...)

    I expect it is the same. 
    
    Regards ,
    
    Lewis(a helpful ST user-compared with unhelpful Amiga users) - joke !
    
    ;-)
    
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    Thanks for the info!
    
    George