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2005-04-19 03:08

Duke
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Registered: Jun 2003
Posts: 20

RECHARGING THE CRACKING SCENE

I wrote the following article for the last edition of Vandalism News, and I am just curious to hear your take on the subject matter. Here goes:

The cracking scene is doing well these days. Groups are active, and crackers are able to keep busy with games supplied to them by sceners who finecomb the history books of games released, games uncracked. They are out there, and why they were not cracked in the first place is a mystery - but questions like these aren't asked, instead we rejoice over the heightened activity in the scene. I spoke with Jucke in this issues Board Report, and he fondly remembered back to the days when the Christmas rush actually meant a ton of games and the most activity the cracking scene could hope and dream for during the year. Now it's the biggest slump of the year. Sceners are busy with real life, and the unreleased games can wait. The competition isn't there for the individual games. Sure, there are a few new games released, but mostly they are done by people with a clear link to the scene, and because of that you will actually see the game developers supplying a cracking group with the game. Unheard of, you say? Nevertheless it's the reality. No rush. It's all been planned out nicely. It's a different game indeed.

This morning an idea came to me. I am not sure if the idea will work in terms of getting any support from the scene, but I do think it would be an idea that could lift the cracking scene to the status it once had - with all the competition for which you could possibly hope. The idea, in a nutshell, is to announce a list of, let's say for argument sake, 10 games at a set time every Friday. The games would be selected at random, and yes, the games would all very likely have been cracked and released in the past. Alright, I hear the screaming already. Yes, I realise the games have already been released, and that as far as making the game available to players would be a mute point. The game, after all, is already out there to be had. Pal and NTSC. No, that isn't the point at all. The idea is to feed the cracking scene the ability to once again compete on a same-level playing-field. Imagine this scenario if you will: 10 games are announced on a web site by an independent body ... someone with no interest in who may get the first-release at the end of it all. Once the list has been announced, the cracking-groups would then have to acquire the games. Sounds easy? Nope. They would have to acquire, and prove, that they have the original when they crack it. Sure, there may be some crackers who luck out by knowing someone sitting on the original. There are people who have collected all originals since the dawn of time. But even so ALL should be able to get hold of the games announced, and that leaves just one factor: time! Yes, time. The same factor that meant anything back in the golden days of the cracking scene. Who can get the game first, crack it, release it, or even better, have it NTSC fixed before the release. That is the idea. The games on this list should, however, not be counted as valuable as a brand new and un-released game, but the difference could be made up in the release charts. One point separates the two different types of releases, let's say. The un-released, new game, is still king. But the game from the list is still good, and would be a way for cracking-groups to earn some prestige points by beating competitors to the punch.

The idea will be controversial. I know that. But even so it is an idea worth debating, at best. It would benefit the scene, and no doubt I would enjoy seeing the competition again out there, and checking out the new versions of old games. Defender of the Crown, put out again? Pirates? Better versions, different intros, groups of 2004 behind them? I think it would be a killer. Also, the idea of, let's say Defender of the Crown, placed on the list, and then we all wait to see who gets to put it out first. Imagine the competition right there. Will it be Nostalgia? Onslaught? Triad? FairLight? Or maybe even the 5-10 new cracking-groups that would pop up to take advantage of the added games to the playground. I get pretty excited over this idea, and you should, too. Because, after all, the alternative is no competition. And what is the value in that?

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2005-04-19 15:59

The Overkiller
Account closed

Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 342

Yes! And also provide a better version of a game even if it was released by another group before. This is the main goal of the active cracking groups. In the past the most important thing was to win the rush of the "first-releasing", now crackers do something more on a release: trainers, HS, Dox and in some games also important code fixing.

2005-04-19 20:15

White Flame

Registered: Sep 2002
Posts: 136

3 words come to mind reading this: "artificial life support" :)

2005-04-20 16:54

Duke
Account closed

Registered: Jun 2003
Posts: 20

Well, thank you to all for the debate. I have put an article together based on what was said, and also commentary and such, that you can read in the next edition of Vandalism News. It will be printed in the 'Behind the Scene' chapter. Hope you will read it :)

2005-04-20 17:01

Stan
Account closed

Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 187

Nice try. Seriously, a nice idea. But as Burglar put it, who is ever willing to spend time again on such artificial race for glory and fame. The ol' times are over. Sad but true.

2005-04-22 10:14

Jazzcat

Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1044

For first releases and lots of groups competing, yes, these times are over. For quality cracks with Gamers Guide style inspiration, these days are far from over.

The biggest problem is - is there enough active crackers?
I don't think there is. Unless some retired people throw away their walking sticks and have a go again.

2005-04-22 16:47

Tch
Account closed

Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 512

Wouldn´t it be really easy to cheat?
As was mentioned somewhere else in the forums:
-download the other cracks
-rip the trainers
-pack it using exomiser
et voila..
Besides,would it be allowed to use e.g.Vice, so it is easy to save stuff from $0000-$07e8.
I remember what a pain it could be when games used those locations.

2005-04-22 17:24

The Overkiller
Account closed

Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 342

Of course TCH, but for example we prefer to release games never trained before or less trained. Obviously if someone release a +4 version of xxx game when another group already released a better version, this is another point of course. Before do a relase I think that it's important to have the knowledge of the previous releases of the past.

2005-04-22 18:26

Tch
Account closed

Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 512

Quote: Of course TCH, but for example we prefer to release games never trained before or less trained. Obviously if someone release a +4 version of xxx game when another group already released a better version, this is another point of course. Before do a relase I think that it's important to have the knowledge of the previous releases of the past.

First: Lots of respect to you and your mates!

Hadn´t thought about the point you´re making.
I thought all games would have been done by now.
But to merrit the compo some credit,the ´victim´ should be a good multi-filed game.
How many of those are still out there,untrained?

2005-04-22 19:20

The Overkiller
Account closed

Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 342

Hehe to be sincere this "compo" thing is totally senseless at my eyes. We are too much busy in real life that it's a miracle if we still spend time on cracking. Btw: I'd be happy to see in a next future a brand new Brutal crack, your work on Rolling Ronnie was really ass kicking!!!

2005-04-22 19:47

Tch
Account closed

Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 512

Thanx man,I tried many ways to free up space for our intro.
But even our smallest one (see Intrology) wouldn´t fit.
It was one of the few really good games back then and I wanted to give it the honour it deserved.

As for a new crack from Brutal...
I have just talked to R.C.S. and he is eager to do some.
Be patient,there are still some Brutal intros unused. ;)

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