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Socoder -> Off Topic -> Question about game backups.

Sun, 03 Feb 2013, 07:35
steve_ancell
A friend of mine had Platypus on his computer and has lost the install files. Although he already purchased it from the internet, is it still illegal for me to provide a copy from my disk based version?.
Sun, 03 Feb 2013, 07:54
Dabz
Bit of a grey area that one... Basically, your both subject to the games EULA, which, will probably contain within it that you arent allowed to redistribute the games files... But, if he has bought a license to use it (Like any software), then, he should be able to use it, because a EULA technically hammers home the point that you don't actually own the software, but only have a license to use it.

I'd personally put it down as a moral thing... If he has bought it, and you know he's bought it, then, there's no real harm done in passing the installation files on, if he hasnt purchased it, then, that's a different thing.

I had an old XP product key years ago that came with a laptop that broke, I had it in the cupboard for ages, then, one day decided to build a new PC, so, I downloaded an unactivated copy of Windows XP from a torrent, burnt it, installed it, then banged my product key in, then, I had to activate it by phoning MS, I explained what I did, and they were fine and activated it accordingly.

So... Go with your toes!

Dabz



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Intel Core i5 6400 2.7GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB), 8Gig DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 64bit
Sun, 03 Feb 2013, 07:59
Jayenkai
In order to use the CD edition without the CD, he'd probably need to also use a crack to disable the copy protection (IIRC, Platypus had copy protection..!?)
That would be illegal, I think. Probably.. Most likely..

It's dodgy territory.
I think we'll file this one under the "whenever you lend a game to a mate for a few days, you never really can be sure if they don't already do this, anyway.." category..

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''Load, Next List!''
Sun, 03 Feb 2013, 08:21
Dabz

(IIRC, Platypus had copy protection..!?)


I cannot remember it having DRM, but, it was years ago, so, dunno, and, using a crack probably goes against the EULA too, so, knackered...

Thinking about them glory days, I do recall Quill3D having to have the sodding CD in the drive everytime you used it... Massive pain in the arse that!

Dabz

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Intel Core i5 6400 2.7GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB), 8Gig DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 64bit
Sun, 03 Feb 2013, 10:28
steve_ancell
I'm not sure about the DRM thing either but the CD is pretty old, George Bray sent Platypus and a Binman CD as freebees when I bought a Blitz 3D intallation CD within a certain time after enquiring about the B3D product.

|edit| That was about 2004. |edit|
Sun, 03 Feb 2013, 12:00
9572AD
Platypus has had so many different distributors under so many different licenses that I doubt they coincide between you.
OTOH, it's not like the creator gets any of the money...and the IP holders have more than made back what they paid him, so I wouldn't cry for anyone, either.

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All the raw, animal magnetism of a rutabaga.
Mon, 04 Feb 2013, 00:23
Dabz

it's not like the creator gets any of the money


He doesnt no... But, it's not like Idigicon put a gun to his head and said "Sign this or else"... He got a bum deal, he was in the middle of a bit of a crisis (His house burnt down if I recall), and obviously signed it on the basis of getting a bit of cash on the hip, without realizing [wahey] that Platypus would become a bit of a hit.

That's life really, he made a mistake, he's acknoledged his mistake in that regard, but still, it doesnt make it right to pass the game on to anyone though, regardless who owns the IP of the game nowadays!

If anything, back in the day, to get a game released and selling, anyone of us on BlitzCoder would've signed our gran away just to have that "I've sold a game" tag around our necks... And if anything, that episode probably did a hell of a lot for other devs after they realized you have to be really careful when signing deals and putting trust in people who will handle your creation.

My 2p

Dabz

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Intel Core i5 6400 2.7GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB), 8Gig DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 64bit