Re: Apple II-- doing just fine

[CUTblakeney@home.com (Jeff Blakeney)]

On Mon, 09 Aug 1999 16:52:40 -0500, Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
wrote:

>     Actually, software piracy has never been a serious problem on the II series.
>Those who would be inclined to buy a game or language system generally did/do so.
>Those who could not or would not spend the money either did without the software or
>got it from some friend or "pirate BBS". In most cases, this "pirate" distribution
>probably served to increase sales.

I don't see how "pirate" distribution would ever help sales.  If I had
a pirated copy of a piece of software, what incentive would I have to
buy the original?  Also, why would anyone I know pay for the software
when they could just get a free copy from me?

Piracy takes sales away from developers and that is definitely a
serious problem.  Especially now when there are so few users to pay
for software, having even a few of them using pirated copies makes a
large dent in the developers return for his time and effort.

>     For any software culture to flourish, you need users. If no one else is
>playing a game, the game automatically becomes much (_much_) less interesting.
>People do not like to use software in a vacuum. It is the same principle which
>keeps FM music broadcasters in business despite the fact that most listeners have
>CD and tape collections.

I've never had a problem with playing games in a "vacuum".  After all,
I've been in the vast minority as an Apple II user for over a decade
where I live.  The only contact I have with other Apple II users is
online or at my users group and we don't talk about the games we are
currently playing there.  Even my PC game purchases have nothing to do
with what the rest of my family or friends are playing.  I buy and
play what I'm interested in and can afford at the time.

By the way, don't FM music broadcasters stay in business because they
continue to get advertisers to pay them money?  I don't see how this
relates to software piracy and people playing games in a "vacuum".

>     Today, virtually every entertainment software release _depends_ upon "piracy"
>for success. The prices are purposefully set to guarantee 'unauthorized'
>distribution. (And, if you skip the warez sites, the software maker may call you
>and offer to send the game for a free 1-month tryout.)  This promotes interest and
>boosts sales to those who do shop and buy gaming software.

How can a program succeed if it gets pirated?  A successful program is
one that sells well and piracy cuts into sales.  The prices are set
the way they are to ensure that the company makes enough money off the
program to stay in business despite the fact that some people are
going to pirate it.

By the way, I've never had a software company call me and offer to
send me a game.  I've had shareware software that has given me a
limited trial offer but never a commercial program.

>     Why does anyone buy software? A popular myth is that an unauthorized copy is
>as good as 'the real thing'. Almost always, this is not true; and, really, everyone
>knows it. It is always best to have 'the box', the maps, (the cards, coins,
>"miniature space fleet", etc.) and the original docs. If the product is a language
>system, just a copy of the software leaves you without the manuals.

I've bought software that was no more than a CD in a jewel case.  The
documentation was on the CD.  Why did I buy it instead of copying it
and having an exact copy of the original, packaging and all?  Because
it is against the law to do so and I got it for a price I was willing
to pay.  It wouldn't be in my software collection otherwise.

By the way, if you think that having an original is best to have, why
do you keep promoting the sites that let people download pirated
copies of software instead of urging them to track down originals?

>     Software piracy becomes a serious problem in an institutional setting- for
>example, in schools and businesses. This is why the real hit of the current
>anti-piracy commercials is on the guy who says it's okay to borrow some
>spreadsheet, etc. from someone at work. The people doing the commercials could not
>care less about game software-- most likely, they realize that their ads _increase_
>unauthorized distribution of entertainment wares.

Software piracy is a serious problem everywhere. Just as piracy of
video and audio products is a serious problem.  It doesn't matter
where it happens or on what scale.  If someone is breaking the law,
they are breaking the law.

I haven't seen/heard any anti-piracy commercials so I can't relate to
the rest of the paragraph.

>     At present, despite rising user numbers, there is not a great deal of Apple II
>commercial software activity. This is not due to rampant software piracy. All of
>the major software archives from ACN Florida through Uni-kl.de respect the rights
>of copyright owners and avoid offering software currently being sold by the
>copyright owner. A software creator could not wish for a more 'pirate-free zone'
>than II computing.

That paragraph sure moved around a lot.  As I said in another thread,
users don't create software, developers do.  Without the developers
creating new software, there won't be much "software activity".  If
there are a lot of users that are using pirated software then the
developers will be less inclined to write or release their software
unless it was intended to be freeware or public domain.

The problem with the FTP sites you mention is that they aren't
respecting the rights of the copyright owners of older software.  This
means that at some point you will end up putting a current developer's
software on these sites.  When is anybodies guess.

>     The chief reasons for the relatively low level of Apple II commercial activity
>are not so difficult to identify. One factor is pricing. Most current commercial
>software is priced for a few big hits, not for general distribution. Hardly anyone
>pirates this stuff; they just don't use it.

Much of the commercially available Apple II software that I've seen is
$20 or less.  There are a few exceptions but those are almost always
worth the price.

>     While Byte Works does a decent job of marketing its products; most commercial
>producers are virtually invisible. We can show them in the FAQs Vendors List; but,
>it is up to them to take care of advertising.

I think the developers of commercial software do a fine job of
advertising their products on Delphi's A2 and A2Pro forums.  They also
get coverage in Juiced.GS, Shareware Solutions II and sometimes even
in The Lamp!.  There isn't much advertising done here because this
newsgroup isn't very friendly towards them so they don't post here
anymore.

>     Those who create something worthwhile need to be willing to sell it. Too much
>stuff which should be sold is given away. Even if the price is $5-$10, it's
>something; and, it encourages others to develop products to sell.

Huh?  Those who create something worthwhile need to be willing to
release it.  Whether it is released as public domain, freeware,
shareware or commercial doesn't really matter.  I don't see how this
would "encourage others to develop products to sell".  From my
discussions with the remaining Apple II developers, they don't get a
lot of sales.

>     Finally, there is talk of "dead platforms" and "who killed the Apple II". This
>does not encourage product development. Besides, it misrepresents the facts.
>
>     Apple, Inc. surely blew an opportunity to make the II series today's major
>platform; but, if eliminating the Apple II was an objective, they blew that, too.
>No one killed the Apple II. The Apple II is here and running software every day for
>many thousands of users around the world.

Here I agree with you whole-heartedly.  The Apple II is not dead so
long as we don't let it die.  Support the remaining developers,
discourage the pirates and we'll all have a healthier platform.

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