Found via: https://hackers.town/@CyberpunkLibrarian/112046696080448828

Okay, I found this on Reddit and I had to share it.

A guy shows up in r/bbs, a subreddit dedicated to classic and new computer bulletin board systems. I’m a big fan. Anyway, this guy shows up and says: Hey, does anyone remember the BBS game my dad wrote? It was called Buccaneer, and it was a pirate game you played on BBSes. Dad died six and a half years ago and I just wonder if anyone heard of his game?

Turns out… people have heard of Buccaneer.

One person has it running on their board. Another person was able to share the ZIP file for others to put it on their boards. Oh no! It was software you had to buy if you wanted the full version of it. But Dad is gone, and the kiddo has no idea how to open up the software to everyone.

No problem, someone posted a quick C programme that will generate keys for you. The kid might be crying because now even more people can play his dad’s game.

There’s some kinda lesson here in abandonware, but also in humanity. This kid may or may not own the copyrights to his dad’s stuff. Who knows? But one thing he certainly doesn’t have is the ability to make it work.

But because of a few folks on the Internet, running some old software, and someone who took a few minutes to write a keygen? Well, his dad is still out there somewhere, and he’s playing pirates.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bbs/comments/1b626zo/curious_if_anyone_remember_my_fathers_door_game/

  • akacastor@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 months ago

    This is so cool to see posted here! I’m the guy that broke my usual don’t-post-on-reddit rule to share a keygen for Buccaneer. It really is a fun game, too, even if it can be a bit brutal (this is the third day in a row my ship got sunk!).

    There continues to be a thriving community of BBS users and sysops, there is a mix of new software and mods along with the old (there are CBBS systems operating - that is the original BBS software created in the late 1970s!). The fsxNet echomail network is great, linking a lot of active BBSes together and with good conversation and lots of help for retro-tech issues and projects.

    If you’re interested in playing Buccaneer online, The Fool’s Quarter BBS has the game online. Another interesting BBS to check out is 20 For Beers reachable via telnet at 20forbeers.com:1337.