Re: can someone please help with this.

[Michael Hardy <arxgame@gmail.com>]

On Tuesday, 4 December 2012 17:05:54 UTC-6, BLuRry  wrote:
> On Tuesday, December 4, 2012 4:20:35 PM UTC-6, Michael Hardy wrote:
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> > Hi, I have this blackjack game in BAS format (Source Code) when they type load Blackjack then type list it shows my source code. I'd like to make it where it doesn't show my source code. you said you know several different ways. can you give me an example of how to do one please? it doesn't need to be too complex.
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> > Thank you :)
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> If you make blackjack the startup program (save it as "HELLO" if you're in dos 3.3) then it will begin right as the disk boots up.  Before the game quits it can just issue the "new" command to wipe out the program listing.  This is not a fool-proof method but it is very simple to do and a good deterrent.
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> Other methods: 
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> 1. Patch the applesoft basic entry point in memory so that if the user manages to get to the basic prompt the computer just reboots.  You'd have to replace the entry point with a JMP to the reset vector.  This is probably not the easiest solution but it would be a relatively effective one.
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> 2. Compile the program with a basic compiler so that it no longer exists in source form.  This is effective as well but has a disadvantage that you can no longer edit the program later if you lose your copy of the source.  Using a compiler will also speed up your program.
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> 3. Don't write it in basic, write it in assembly.  But learning 6502 assembly might not be something you wanted to do to make a blackjack game. :-)
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> 4. Write your disk with a copy protection scheme that makes it impossible to see the files if you boot from any other disk.  See, anything you do to make your program escape-proof can be bypassed by just booting a master dos disk and then swapping in your disk to load the program.  If your disk uses a modified dos then the only way people could see it is if they crack your disk format.  If you dig through this newsgroup you'll see a lot of conversations dedicated to the topic of cracking old games for the sake of preserving them.  And even if you protect your disk, I can halt my Apple //e emulator and take a memory dump then find your program in the memory dump and save it in deprotected form again.
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> If you keep your game in an unprotected format, then people like me who use a hard drive instead of floppies can copy the game in file form to the hard drive and use it there.
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> So why is protecting the source so incredibly important?  Game publishers did it to prevent piracy, but it's kind of a pointless endeavor now on this platform.
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> -B

Hi ok Thank you for you're information. I'll try these things. It's not really important but I just wanted to learn how to do it :)

Thank you once again. I'll try the save blackjack as hello.

Thank you :)