|
Lenslok
Lenslok is a copy protection mechanism found in some computer games and other software on the 8-bit Atari computers, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL, MSX and Amstrad CPC. The first game to use it was '' Elite'' for the ZX Spectrum. Overview Lenslok was released in 1985 as a plastic lens in a foldaway frame. The Lenslok device was essentially a row of prisms arranged vertically in a plastic holder. Before the game started, a two-letter code was displayed on the screen, but it was corrupted by being split into vertical bands which were then rearranged on screen. By viewing these bands through the Lenslok they were restored to their correct order and the code could be read and entered allowing access to the game. The device was small enough when folded flat to fit next to an audio cassette in a standard case. In order for the Lenslok to work correctly the displayed image has to be the correct size. This meant that before each use the software needed to be calibrated to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lenslok2
Lenslok is a copy protection mechanism found in some computer games and other software on the 8-bit Atari computers, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL, MSX and Amstrad CPC. The first game to use it was ''Elite'' for the ZX Spectrum. Overview Lenslok was released in 1985 as a plastic lens in a foldaway frame. The Lenslok device was essentially a row of prisms arranged vertically in a plastic holder. Before the game started, a two-letter code was displayed on the screen, but it was corrupted by being split into vertical bands which were then rearranged on screen. By viewing these bands through the Lenslok they were restored to their correct order and the code could be read and entered allowing access to the game. The device was small enough when folded flat to fit next to an audio cassette in a standard case. In order for the Lenslok to work correctly the displayed image has to be the correct size. This meant that before each use the software needed to be calibrated to tak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ace (video Game)
''Ace'' (stylized as ''ACE'' as acronym for ''Air Combat Emulator'') is a combat flight simulator video game published for the Commodore 64, VIC-20, and Plus/4 in 1985 by Cascade Games. It was ported to the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Amiga, and ZX Spectrum. The player takes the role of a fighter jet pilot defending the English coastland against an enemy invasion, having to fight off aerial, ground and naval forces while Allied bases evacuate. The display shows the plane's instrumentation and cockpit view. The game was well-received and, despite various issues, it was lauded by critics as one of the best air combat simulators of the time and particularly praised for its accessible gameplay. The game was developed with a budget of £40k by the small UK-based Cascade Games, who later produced two sequels to the game. Plot The game is set on the Southern coastland of England during an enemy invasion against the remaining Allied forces. The player takes the role of a fighter plan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Copy Protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy prevention and copy restriction, describes measures to enforce copyright by preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media. Copy protection is most commonly found on videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, HD-DVDs, computer software discs, video game discs and cartridges, audio CDs and some VCDs. Some methods of copy protection have also led to criticism because it caused inconvenience for paying consumers or secretly installed additional or unwanted software to detect copying activities on the consumer's computer. Making copy protection effective while protecting consumer rights remains a problem with media publication. Terminology Media corporations have always used the term copy protection, but critics argue that the term tends to sway the public into identifying with the publishers, who favor restriction technologies, rather than with the users. Copy prevention and copy control may be more neutral ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Copy Protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy prevention and copy restriction, describes measures to enforce copyright by preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media. Copy protection is most commonly found on videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, HD-DVDs, computer software discs, video game discs and cartridges, audio CDs and some VCDs. Some methods of copy protection have also led to criticism because it caused inconvenience for paying consumers or secretly installed additional or unwanted software to detect copying activities on the consumer's computer. Making copy protection effective while protecting consumer rights remains a problem with media publication. Terminology Media corporations have always used the term copy protection, but critics argue that the term tends to sway the public into identifying with the publishers, who favor restriction technologies, rather than with the users. Copy prevention and copy control may be more neutral ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as the ''ZX81 Colour'' and ''ZX82'', it was launched as the ''ZX Spectrum'' to highlight the machine's colour display, which differed from the black and white display of its predecessor, the ZX81. The Spectrum was released as six different models, ranging from the entry level with 16 Kilobyte, KB RAM released in 1982 to the ZX Spectrum +3 with 128 KB RAM and built in floppy disk drive in 1987; altogether they sold over 5 million units worldwide (not counting List of ZX Spectrum clones, unofficial clones). The Spectrum was among the first home computers in the United Kingdom aimed at a mainstream audience, and it thus had similar significance to the Commodore 64 in the US and the Thomson MO5 in France. The introduction of the ZX Spect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Incentive Software
Incentive Software Ltd. was a British video game developer and publisher founded by Ian Andrew in 1983. Programmers included Sean Ellis, Stephen Northcott and Ian's brother Chris Andrew. Later games were based on the company's Freescape rendering engine. Developed in-house, Freescape is considered to be one of the first proprietary 3D engines to be used in computer games, although the engine was not used commercially outside of Incentive's own titles. The project was originally thought to be so ambitious that according to Ian Andrew, the company struggled to recruit programmers for the project, with many believing that it could not be achieved. Paul Gregory (graphics artist for Major Developments, Incentive's in-house design team) mentions that Freescape was developed by Chris Andrew starting in September 1986 on an Amstrad CPC, as it was the most suitable development system with 128K memory and had adequate power to run 3D environments. Due to the engine's success, it was l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is Computer hardware, hardware or software that enables one computer system (called the ''host'') to behave like another computer system (called the ''guest''). An emulator typically enables the host system to run software or use peripheral devices designed for the guest system. Emulation refers to the ability of a computer program in an electronic device to emulate (or imitate) another program or device. Many Printer (computing), printers, for example, are designed to emulate Hewlett-Packard, HP LaserJet printers because so much software is written for HP printers. If a non-HP printer emulates an HP printer, any software written for a real HP printer will also run in the non-HP printer emulation and produce equivalent printing. Since at least the 1990s, many video game enthusiasts and hobbyists have used emulators to play classic arcade games from the 1980s using the games' original 1980s machine code and data, which is interpreted by a current-era s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Product Key
A product key, also known as a software key, serial key or activation key, is a specific software-based key for a computer program. It certifies that the copy of the program is original. Product keys consist of a series of numbers and/or letters. This sequence is typically entered by the user during the installation of computer software, and is then passed to a verification function in the program. This function manipulates the key sequence according to a mathematical algorithm and attempts to match the results to a set of valid solutions. Effectiveness Standard key generation, where product keys are generated mathematically, is not completely effective in stopping copyright infringement of software, as these keys can be distributed. In addition, with improved communication from the rise of the Internet, more sophisticated attacks on keys such as cracks (removing the need for a key) and product key generators have become common. Because of this, software publishers use additio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tomahawk (video Game)
''Tomahawk'' is a 1985 video game published by Datasoft. Gameplay ''Tomahawk'' is a game in which the player pilots a AH-64 Apache gunship. Reception M. Evan Brooks reviewed the game for ''Computer Gaming World'', and stated that "Tomahawk does offer cloudbase and turbulence as interesting options, but overall, the simulation is simply not innovative or exciting enough to justify a strong recommendation." Reviews *''Amtix!'' - Jul, 1986 *''Amtix!'' - Nov, 1986 *''Commodore User'' - Feb, 1987 *''Zzap!'' - Mar, 1987 *''Popular Computing Weekly'' - Feb 12, 1987 *'''' - Jun, 1991 References < ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Level 9 Computing
Level 9 was a British developer of computer software, active between 1981 and 1991. Founded by Mike, Nicholas and Pete Austin, the company produced software for the BBC Micro, Nascom, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Oric, Atari, Lynx 48k, RML 380Z, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Amiga, Apple II, Memotech MTX, and Enterprise platforms and is best known for its successful text adventure games until a general decline in the text adventure market forced their closure in June 1991. Level 9's first release was an extension to Nascom BASIC called ''Extension Basic''. The first game, also for the Nascom, was called ''Fantasy'' and was similar to ''Valhalla'', but with no graphics. Other products from that era were ''Missile Defence'', ''Bomber'' and ''Space Invasion'' — all for the Nascom. The tapes were duplicated and sent out by mail order by the brothers based on orders generated by the classified advertisements they ran in the ''Computing Today'' magazine. They were originally based in High Wyco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Price Of Magik
''The Price of Magik'' is the third game in the '' Time and Magik'' trilogy. Gameplay Sequel to the previous game; Myglar the Magician, guardian of the Crystal, has become insane and is draining its energy for his own use; he must be defeated before it is exhausted. Reception John Sweeney for ''Page 6'' said "this adventure is excellent value for money. Congratulations on another great game, Level 9." ''Amtix'' said "No doubt the game will be another smashing success. It's just a pity that all their imagination seemed to be exhausted in well hidden ideas and nothing was left to beef up the plot or flavour the atmosphere." Keith Campbell for ''Commodore User'' said "as with all Level 9 games, one can only say, 'Their best yet!'" Rob Steel for ''The Games Machine'' said "There is nothing to bind the adventure together, it is simply a number of rooms containing unexciting creatures, clues to one of the 18 spells or nothing of interest." *''Sinclair User'', review of ''The Price o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
OCP Art Studio
OCP Art Studio or Art Studio was a popular bitmap graphics editor released in 1985, created by Oxford Computer Publishing and written by James Hutchby (original ZX Spectrum version). It featured a GUI with windows, icons, pull-down menus, pointing devices menus, tool windows and could be controlled using an AMX Mouse. Some of the distinctive features include: *Different pens, sprays and user-definable brushes *Undo function *Textured fills (with user-definable patterns including stipples, hatches, bricks, roof tiles, etc.) *Font editor *Drawing of geometrical shapes. Releases The OCP Art Studio Released in 1985 for the ZX Spectrum home computer and in 1986 for the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64. The Advanced OCP Art Studio Released in 1986 and developed by Dimitri Koveos for the ZX Spectrum 128K as "Art Studio Version 2.0", supporting the 128k memory models. In 1987 the Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC versions were released. An Atari ST port was developed by Chris Hinsley and rele ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
