Something funny about GPL-warez

Although I haven't got it I was wondering: If there is a FULL version on the net, someone from Papyrus is working together with a warez-site/group !! Sometimes companies say their network was hacked and the game was stolen (like ID-software witht the Quake code), but imho the company is just ashamed of what happend !? What does the 'rest' of Ras think about this issue ?? Bart PS I state again that I don't have the warez verion!!

On Fri, 18 Sep 1998 09:28:43 +0200, "Bart-W. van Lith"

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>Although I haven't got it I was wondering: >If there is a FULL version on the net, someone from Papyrus is working >together with a warez-site/group !! >Sometimes companies say their network was hacked and the game was stolen >(like ID-software witht the Quake code), but imho the company is just >ashamed of what happend !? >What does the 'rest' of Ras think about this issue ??

It isnt a full version, its close but its still a beta. It also doesnt need to have come from Papyrus. A beta tester could have given it to a warez group, or in other games when the game is sent to shops to be put ready for sale, someone at the shop or distro place may have uploaded the whole game to a warez group again, so just because a full game is availible on the net, doesnt mean the people who made it 'leaked' it, its most likely a copy just went astray in transit so to speak. Paul.

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>On Fri, 18 Sep 1998 09:28:43 +0200, "Bart-W. van Lith" >>Although I haven't got it I was wondering: >>If there is a FULL version on the net, someone from Papyrus is working >>together with a warez-site/group !! >>Sometimes companies say their network was hacked and the game was stolen >>(like ID-software witht the Quake code), but imho the company is just >>ashamed of what happend !? >>What does the 'rest' of Ras think about this issue ?? >It isnt a full version, its close but its still a beta. >It also doesnt need to have come from Papyrus. A beta tester could >have given it to a warez group, or in other games when the game is >sent to shops to be put ready for sale, someone at the shop or distro >place may have uploaded the whole game to a warez group again, so just >because a full game is availible on the net, doesnt mean the people >who made it 'leaked' it, its most likely a copy just went astray in >transit so to speak. >Paul.

As far as leaked warez goes, the UK *** media is at the top of the list. Z.

On Fri, 18 Sep 1998 09:28:43 +0200, "Bart-W. van Lith" >If there is a FULL version on the net, someone from Papyrus is working >together with a warez-site/group !! AFAI understand a lot of this stuff comes from duplicators or such like. Cheers! John

Bart-W. van Lith wrote Sorry to everybody, BUT, there is already a full GPL version on the Internet since around 3days. No you will say it's 0.2, but it's really the full version. The main problem is that the mass testers that Sierra Sports took for really basic testing (technical support training and so...) aren't really at the same level as the "core-testers". Many of them are just casual gamers, 1 of them has maybe burned his CD to his friend... And the circle started. I can proove it that GPL-full is available, I was sent the *.nfo file. Note that I have a GPL version legally, and didn't downloaded it from any Warez websites. - Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> Good race at the Brickyard! - Official Mentally retarded guy of r.a.s. - Excuse me for my English (I'm French speaking) - Sponsored by http://www.awpss.com/ on the NROS - "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."--

Just for everyone's information... The core Beta team DID NOT... I repeat DID NOT even receive this version of the Beta. From what I've been told, Papyrus revises the code each day and releases a new beta... but the core team of eight Beta testers (as a whole) get their copies every couple of weeks (Eric T.... please correct me if I'm wrong here..) The Beta team received the 8/22 build (which happened to still have the revision # gpl.0.2.0.0). From what I've been told the 8/13 release (the WAREZ copy) was never sent to the team. I imagine this version was too buggy, and the 8/22 build featured some major improvement. (let's hope so!). So it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for a beta-tester (one of the core-group, anyhow) to leak the game. This arises the question of it being someone else who works for Papyrus directly, or like was mentioned, if Papyrus sent out media copies, they MAY have been the WAREZ revision (who knows?). My honest opinion is that the WAREZ release has done more good for Grand Prix Legends than it will do harm for SierraSports/Papyrus. The number of people around the world that are now aware of the game (sim!) has easily quadrupled. Everyone that has played the WAREZ version is raving about the product, and can't wait to get their hands on the full version. There ARE bugs in the WAREZ copy, and some things that need to be fixed up (such as framerates!- supposedly this revision has not been optimized yet), so everyone I've talked to has said that they will most definitely buy the retail version as well. Sierra (N. America, anyhow) hasn't done much promotion for themselves - they do NOT have the Monza track available on their site, they do NOT update their GPL pages (heck it STILL says "Spring, 1998" on that one page), they have run ONE ad in computer game magazines, they missed a golden opportunity (IMHO) during Speedvision's showing of the movie "Grand Prix" last week... the list goes on. So, the best thing that has happened for GPL was the leak.. sad as it may be. Comments or opinions are welcomed, doktorB http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl For the GPL track files, FAQs (I've got them!), installation help, release date updates, poll-of-the week, PC GAMER preview pics, and more! ----

Well, I say that because there are companies who do beta testing at 'home'. Beta testers are welcomed at the head quarters, so no games are being transferred out of the company! If Game-companies want to battle warez, they should think again about beta testing! http://www.lionhead.co.uk is an example of 'inside beta-testing' Bart

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> On Fri, 18 Sep 1998 09:28:43 +0200, > >Although I haven't got it I was wondering: > >If there is a FULL version on the net, someone from Papyrus is working > >together with a warez-site/group !! > Why do you say that? All it requires is that a beta-tester release his > copy to the public, in violation of his non-disclosure agreement. It would > have nothing to do with Papyrus. > -- > * rrevved at some ISP which calls itself mindspring dot com > * s.p.u.t.u.m. (unit.26) - http://www.sputum.com

Sorry for the misunderstanding..... My mistake, cause all I wanted to say was: Why has nobody on r.a.s. pointed out that companies themselves can prevent games from being warez, and that they are willing to take several risks (like beta testing). Most compare it to stealing, while I like to compare it with something like: "going to Sudan with a truck full of food, leave it unattended on the road, with all doors wide open!" :-) But I still haven't downloaded the warez version Still no hard feelings :-) Bart > On Fri, 18 Sep 1998 19:26:35 +0200, [...sir-snip-a-lot....]

I completely agree with your comments regarding (a) Sierra Sports complete antipathy with regard to their site for up-dated GPL information and (b) the fact that this "warez" thing must be the greatest freebie promotion for a product since the impact that Lady Godiva had on bi-focals! > Just for everyone's information... -- Regards, Bruce. ---------- The GP Legends Historic Motor Racing Club is located at:- http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/

In another thread, Bruce Kennewell wrote (in response to an assertion from doktorB) I saw another example recently. On Thursday, I received a copy of "interaction" magazine, which is apparently published quarterly by Sierra. It's essentially a promotional magazine, with articles on all their current games, and a few miscellaneous ads from companies like Diamond Monster. Lo! And behold! There's a four-page article with screen shots of GPL! There wasn't any "news" in the article that we don't already know about, but I was happy to see Sierra at least promoting this to their other customers and enthusiasts. Here's what was odd. The magazine opens with a "Launch" section, in which recently or soon-to-be released games are covered in detail. (There were articles on Starseige, Starseige TRIBES and Ceasar III -- I'm not familiar with any of these.) GPL was back in the "Focus" section. I'm not sure what that means to the editor or other readers, but I would have taken it to mean that the sim is still in development. Whatever. BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT GPL ON THE DEMO CD-ROM!!!! There are 18 demos on the CD from different categories. But no GPL. The Sierra Sports featured demos are Nascar 2 (boy, there's some latebreaking stuff), Trophy Rivers and Golf. But no GPL. Not Monza, not the Glen. Nothing. Sheesh, I hope they fill that open marketing position at Sierra soon. Eagerly (and impatiently) awaiting, Kurt

That's how I first heard about GPL, from the Sierra Interaction Magazine - more than TWO YEARS AGO ... my ex-girlfriend had a computer (I didn't) and had just bought Hoyle Solitaire or something. We filled in the registration card, and soon after received the magazine. There was a picture from GPL (I believe it's the same one that's on the bottom of my 3rd page of screenshots ( http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl ) with a sentence or two about the product... That was enough to tweak my interest! (but then I'm a racing nut! - I'm sure the majority of people just glanced right over it). Have been following it ever since.. On a side note (kind of), Sierra USA - still showing "early October" - the one page still shows "Spring, 1998".. Sierra UK - now has the Monza demo (full) available for download.. BUT HAS REMOVED AN EXTENSIVE GPL SECTION THAT WAS THERE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS - why?? They had a complete in-depth section, with a history of the development, the features, a magazine review, pictures (got a few of them on my site), and more. When I first came across it, I was very impressed - this was what Sierra SHOULD be doing - well done Sierra! - but where the heck is it now??? --- bad move!! Sierra Germany - they HAD a pretty good GPL section.. had some black and white pictures (on my site, again), had an interview with Patrick (somebody)... who was a German racing car driver.. he gave his impressions on the realism of driving GPL compared to a real car. Had a couple of great pages full of information... but guess what?? THE GERMAN WEBSITE www.sierra.de IS NOW NOT UP AND NO NEW LINK IS GIVEN - that means that the entire Sierra (de) website is gone, along with all that great GPL information. (good thing I took most of the good stuff before they disappeared). Sierra France - DOESN'T HAVE ANY MENTION OF GPL - has "Half-life", which is soon to be release.. has Pro-Pilot, which is a new Sierra game, but absolutely no mention of GPL - its as though the game didn't even exist. Pretty sad situation, that's for sure. Sierra.. I second the motion - if you're looking for new marketers, I'd be more than happy to help you out. Just give me a shout! doktorB http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl For the GPL track files, FAQs (I've got them!), installation help, release date updates, PC GAMER preview pics, and more! This week's Poll-of-the-Week: Did you, or didn't you download the WAREZ GPL? ----

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>In another thread, Bruce Kennewell wrote (in response to an assertion from >doktorB) >>I completely agree with your comments regarding (a) Sierra Sports >>complete antipathy with regard to their site for up-dated GPL >>information. >I saw another example recently. On Thursday, I received a copy of >"interaction" magazine, which is apparently published quarterly by Sierra. >It's essentially a promotional magazine, with articles on all their current >games, and a few miscellaneous ads from companies like Diamond Monster. >Lo! And behold! There's a four-page article with screen shots of GPL!

There >wasn't any "news" in the article that we don't already know about, but I was

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>happy to see Sierra at least promoting this to their other customers and >enthusiasts. >Here's what was odd. The magazine opens with a "Launch" section, in which >recently or soon-to-be released games are covered in detail. (There were >articles on Starseige, Starseige TRIBES and Ceasar III -- I'm not familiar >with any of these.) >GPL was back in the "Focus" section. I'm not sure what that means to the >editor or other readers, but I would have taken it to mean that the sim is >still in development. Whatever. >BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT GPL ON THE DEMO CD-ROM!!!! >There are 18 demos on the CD from different categories. But no GPL. The >Sierra Sports featured demos are Nascar 2 (boy, there's some latebreaking >stuff), Trophy Rivers and Golf. But no GPL. Not Monza, not the Glen.

Nothing. >Sheesh, I hope they fill that open marketing position at Sierra soon. >Eagerly (and impatiently) awaiting, >Kurt

Most warez versions are late beta's "leaked" by journalists who give game x to friend y who gives it to friend z etc. People in software companies know that if they give their software away to pirates before release they're looking at a return to the job queue without much chance of being picked up by another software house with that on their record. M

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>Although I haven't got it I was wondering: >If there is a FULL version on the net, someone from Papyrus is working >together with a warez-site/group !! >Sometimes companies say their network was hacked and the game was stolen >(like ID-software witht the Quake code), but imho the company is just >ashamed of what happend !? >What does the 'rest' of Ras think about this issue ?? >Bart >PS I state again that I don't have the warez verion!!

> I can proove it that GPL-full is available, I was sent the *.nfo file. Well, having the info file sure proves everything, right? Did you get the README.TXT file too, as that would also be adequate "proof". :-) Those claiming to have a full release version should compute and post a cryptographic checksum of the executable. Then, when the full retail version is released, anyone can compute the same checksum on the released executable and verify that those who claim to have the full retail version are full of shit. Simple enough, right? ---Jim