Re: Asimov performs a valuable service; so why fight over it?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Supertimer writes ...
> 
> I think the fighting over Asimov is kinda funny because the stuff
> on Asimov sucks!  That stuff pales in comparison to the legitimate
> freewares and sharewares on the huge ground ftp server and even
> on the caltech server.  The only use of Asimov seems to be to
> pander to the emulator crowd.  There is nothing wrong with emus,
> but I find it disturbing that real Apple II users think that the .DSK
> images on the Asimov server is the only A2 software around.
> ....

     Granted, Asimov is not Ground or A2-Caltech, but, there are still
Apple II users working there to provide a free service. You, I, and
others with large software collections may never need to download
anything from Asimov; but, it is the only source available to most newer
users for many old, but very entertaining pieces of software. (Actually,
there have been a few occasions when one of my copy-protected originals
bombed and Asimov came to the rescue.)

     One of the attractions of buying an Apple II and becoming a new
user is knowing that the software base has not been lost and is
preserved on Asimov. And, if emulator uses enjoy playing Sneakers or
Wizardry or Falcons, how does this hurt II owners or, for that matter,
anyone? Maybe some emulator users will decide that the Apple II looks
like a fun machine and buy one.

     As commercial products, practically none of the old games have any
value to publishers like Sir-Tech, Activision, SSI, and Origin. Usually,
they will not even accept payment when it is offered-- too much bother.
But, a site like Asimov is an advertising gold mine. Consider the
competition to get players to even look at your new PC offerings. Asimov
is helping to steer players to modern Wizardry, Zork, AD&D, Ultima, etc.
adventuring.

     Much has been made of Asimov's supposedly shadowy, clandestine
existence. Mainly this is hype. Don't you suppose Activision, Origin,
... have been told about Asimov by the 'usual suspects'? Having been
informed, do you truly believe SSI or any other major software producer
would have the least difficulty closing down the site if it really
wanted to?

     Maybe these companies don't care. Maybe they like the free
advertising. Maybe they think it's kind of neat that someone is playing
their classics. Who knows? Not everyone in the software business is a
self-torpedoing ass; quite a few corporate decision makers are nice,
smart people.  

     Asimov is a very valuable Apple II resource, a priceless archive,
and a preserver of an important part of our history. It is a source of
much enjoyment. The people who work so hard to organize and maintain
Asimov deserve our thanks.



Rubywand