Possible new game for RISC OS

Over at Stardot user Square Mezzmer is testing the water for a Kickstarter for a new game: http://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=14668

For a RiscPC? What?

If I was a part of that forum I would vote “not interested” for this, not because it seems to be aiming to ancient hardware (and emulator(s)?) but the mention of “digital lock” turns me right off.

I had DRM with Ovation. It failed on RISC OS 3.
I had DRM with Interdictor. Had the discs around (when my A5000/RiscPC was in use) but no idea where the manual and it’s colour chart went.
Same story for the freaky diagrams what were part of the DRM in …

…damn, I don’t remember the title. It was a platform game in this amzingly designed alien world, where you climbed up on a lot of stuff. You could take a train to another part of the game (named after continents – Africa, Europa, America, Asia (or something like that)). I think a French outfit created it. And as for the protection… freaky. And without the manual… Grrr!

So, sorry. A blunt NO. If I want DRM and all the associated hassles, I’ll buy myself a PS4…

…damn, I don’t remember the title.

Flashback.

Thanks. That’s the one.

Here’s a picture (big!) that I think would make a brilliantly geeky backdrop: https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA22334.jpg

In case you didn’t read the announcement, the latest ADFFS boot scripts remove the manual based protection from both Interdictor and Flashback. I got fed up having to dig around for manuals when testing titles, so removed the protection prompt from all legacy games where there wasn’t a rerelease that removed it.

Neither of these titles use DRM however, DRM switches the confirmation of your usage rights to software, invariably these days that’s via an active internet verification, but could be encryption along the lines of DVD and Blu-ray where the key is in the firmware, allowing region lock. Most game based DRM does not provide a means for the user to confirm their rights, either manually, or interactively with the vendor such as you can do with Windows for example.

Ooh, ADDFS and Flashback. Sweet…

Neither of these titles use DRM however, DRM switches the confirmation of your usage rights to software

I take a broader view that “DRM” can be loosely applied to mechanisms such as passcode entry. It is a means of ensuring that you are permitted to play the game – if you don’t have ‘X’ (usually the user manual) then you won’t have the codes, so you don’t get to play.
It’s nothing fancy like the modern phone home encryption stuff, but it does attempt to block unauthorised use, so it should count as a form of DRM.

Mini update to the announcement. The developer droped the idea of using a DRM system and clarified that the game is intended to run on all RISC OS systems.

Hi guys. Yes I did drop the DRM idea – as discussed in the forum I wanted people who contributed/ordered a copy of the game to feel they owned something. The majority of people said NO to DRM for which I dropped the idea.

I just registered here. I’d like to create a full post about the game, is that a good idea?

Hi Square Mezzmer,

In my opinion that’s fine. I usually do that for titles in development.

Cheers,

Tony

I just registered here. I’d like to create a full post about the game, is that a good idea?

That’s the best place to do this :) Welcome!

Iconbar has an interview with Tim if you are interested in learning more about him and his game idea.