diff --git a/handler/app/milestone.go b/handler/app/milestone.go index 217e207c..178f51d3 100644 --- a/handler/app/milestone.go +++ b/handler/app/milestone.go @@ -1466,9 +1466,9 @@ func Collection() Milestones { Title: "The first application and utility groups", Year: 1991, Month: 1, Highlight: true, Lead: "Nokturnal Trading Alliance and IUD", Content: "

The PC's first dedicated application and software utility groups emerged at the beginning of 1991. " + - "Groups such as Nokturnal Trading Alliance and " + - "IUD International Network of Crackers Utility Division started to package, " + - "crack and exclusively release the commercial software that was available but was not considered gaming titles.

" + + "Groups such as Nokturnal Trading Alliance, and later, The Hill People and " + + "IUD International Network of Crackers Utility Division start to package, " + + "crack and exclusively release the commercial software that were not considered games.

" + "

Yet this form of software piracy dominated the elite bulletin boards for the PC and had done so for a long while. " + "Typically, individuals compiled these \"app\" releases anonymously or for upload to their local bulletin boards instead of under a Scene group for competition. " + "Was this solo anonymity the legacy of do-it-yourself cracking and Unprotection documentation common on the PC in the 1980s, or maybe a fear of big tech and their lawyers?

" + diff --git a/view/app/index.tmpl b/view/app/index.tmpl index 046070f8..b0f02ddd 100644 --- a/view/app/index.tmpl +++ b/view/app/index.tmpl @@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ Apple II and Atari

On computers, the Scene most probably originated in the USA in 1979 or 1980 on the Apple II microcomputer platform, - with the catalyst being the popularity of the platform's new floppy disk drive, + with the catalyst being the popularity of the floppy disk drive, the inclusion of disk copy-protection in software, the availability of usable modem software, and the formation of early online messaging using computerized bulletin board systems. - It was the genesis of a new era for computer game development, + The timing was the genesis of a new era for computer game development, early copy protection, piracy groups, and online culture. - While famous today, the range from Apple wasn't the best-selling of the early microcomputer generation. - But for some reason the expensive and influential system attracted both the classic hacker and the technology-curious. + While famous today, the II-series from Apple wasn't the best-selling of the early microcomputer generation. + However, the expensive system's design and marketing attracted classic hackers and technology-curious.

This period also saw the introduction of Atari's 400 and 800 microcomputers. @@ -69,19 +69,19 @@

IBM PC
- Instructions for modifying IBM PC software and removing disk copy protection schemes exist as CompuServe and bulletin board posts that go back to 1983, possibly earlier. - However, unlike the Apple II, these authors were not kid pirates pursuing free games. - Instead, the instructions, known as Unprotects, were created for pricey business software purchased legitimately and often credited to real-life contacts. - The copy protection found in early IBM PC software was an inconvenience for many users, especially for businesses where damaged or lost disk media could lead to software lockout. + Numerous textfile instructions exist for modifying PC software and removing disk copy protection schemes, such as the CompuServe and bulletin board posts that go back to 1983, possibly earlier. + But unlike the Apple II pirates, the authors were not kids seeking free games. + Instead, these "Unprotect" instructions were created for pricey business software purchased legitimately and frequently credited to real-life contacts. + The copy protection found in early IBM PC software inconveniences users, especially for businesses where damaged or lost disk media leads to software lockout.

- For PC wares distribution, some US and Canadian pirate bulletin boards probably hosted uncracked commercial software early in the system lifecycle. - However, end users would presumably remove copy protection using freely available Unprotect instructions from public message boards. + Separately, PC wares distribution did exist early in the IBM PC's lifecycle, at least in North America, with bulletin boards offering legal and illicit software. + However, end users would presumably remove any copy protection in commercial software using freely available Unprotect instructions from open and public message boards.

- So far, it seems that individual crackers and later piracy groups didn't start modifying and distributing cracked IBM PC games until 1984 or 1985, and it didn't pick up nationally until 1988 and 1989. - Oddly, by this time, the more expensive business and system software was free of copy protection and was the most common form of software found on many PC pirate boards. - Yet, these wares were frequently packaged and distributed anonymously and even contained detailed installation instructions, which their authors often kept uncredited. + We know that individual crackers and later piracy groups didn't start modifying and distributing cracked IBM PC games until 1984 or 1985, and it didn't pick up nationally until 1988 and 1989. + Oddly, the more expensive, copy-protection-free business and system software was often the most common software found on many PC pirate boards. + Yet, these wares were frequently packaged and distributed anonymously and even contained detailed installation instructions, which their authors often left uncredited.

The proliferation of bulletin boards running on IBM PCs and the sharing of all this software led to an Art Scene.