CRACKERS II: The Data Storm

Software piracy in the 1980s and 1990s

The second volume in the CRACKERS series follows the underground as it evolves from local swapping networks into a global distribution system.

Digital visions and copy parties, intrigue and industrial espionage, disk traders and software pirates. Elitism, escapism and persecution. The mysterious world of crackers and their scene organisations continues to reveal another side of the computer age.

Zero-day warez and the rise of the elite

Zero-day warez and “101% cracks” complete with ++ trainers became the gold standard among leading C64 cracking groups.

By the early 1990s, software pirates had become increasingly organised, while the underground itself was developing into an international distribution network.

Uploading and downloading were becoming part of everyday scene life. Speed, exclusivity and reputation mattered more than ever, as groups competed to release software first and distribute it across continents within hours.

Welcome to the BBS age

Bulletin Board Systems became the distribution centres of the new underground – digital goldmines connecting crackers, couriers and traders around the world.

As console games also became vulnerable to copying, some participants recognised commercial opportunities far beyond the traditional cracking scene.

How did teenage crackers interact with black markets in the Far East? What led to one of Europe’s largest software-piracy raids of the 1990s? What role did American calling cards play? And how did cracked software find its way into commercial distribution channels?

The boundaries between hobby, competition, organised piracy and business were becoming increasingly difficult to define.

Networks without borders

CRACKERS: The Data Storm explores the networks, technologies and unexpected connections of the BBS era, when underground communication accelerated dramatically and software could travel around the world faster than ever before.

The book follows a scene whose members saw themselves as part of a digital elite, operating according to their own rules and ambitions while the commercial games industry struggled with piracy, changing technologies and rapidly shifting markets.

The Data Storm documents the moment when the cracking scene became truly global – and when an underground computer culture began to resemble the networked world that would soon follow.

Cracking crews & software pirates

Mr. Z, Eagle Soft Incorporated, Dynamic-Duo, Genesis Project, Cynix, ST/Amigos, ST Bandits, The Revolution, T.O.I., Nokturnal, The Big Four, HRFH, Hotline, MCA, Elite, Elitendo, The Empire, The Syndicate, ICS, The Blade Runners, The Medway Boys, Pompey Pirates, Automation, BBC, Sub Humans of Turkey, RBCG, The Marvellous V8, Fuzion, Positivity, Jordan Corp, The Stranglers, Hemoroids, The Corporation, VMAX, Factory, The Overlanders, TCB, The Replicants, The Masters, Euro-Soft, 42-Crew, CSS, STCS, ACF, Vectronix, Tristar & Red Sector, Quartex, Fairlight, Paradox, Skid Row, Anthrox and more …

Games industry & technology companies

Activision, Lucasfilm Games, Ubi Soft, Coktel Vision, Titus, Delphine, Lankhor, Ere Informatique, Infogrames, Eclipse, Gremlin, U.S. Gold, Ocean France, Argonaut, Domark, Accolade, Sega, Nintendo, Microsoft, Stacker …

Copy protection, law & scene infrastructure

IAAD, Brigade des Recherches, FAST, ELSPA, Copylock Software, RATsoft ST, DMC, Codehead, Cachet, Chaos Computer Club, Gravenreuth & Syndikus, Triton, Bobmark, Supercom Partner …

Interviews

Rob Northen — Copylock Software // Tsunoo Rhilty — STCS // AN Cool — TCB // Axe — Delight // Arthur Dent — CSS // Floyd — 42-Crew // Robocamp — VMAX // Ellfire — Fuzion // Dom — The Replicants // EGB — Automation // Orion — Fuzion // Yoda — The Marvellous V8 // Ratboy — STCS // Metallinos — Vectronix // Mr Fly — ICS // The Threat — ICS // Illegal — The Replicants // Bacchus — Fairlight // Zippy — The Medway Boys // Pan — Anthrox // The White Knight — Anthrox

Special features

When Cracking Became Popular — David Almer // The Spirit of Swapping — Cedric/Stranger HMD // The Wonders of ASCII Graphics — SNS // Photocopy Protection: Manuals // World of Copy Protection — Denis Lechevalier // Chaos Computer Club // Compact Disc Menus // AmiExpo Fair (Amiga Messe) // Scene Letters: Handwritten Culture // X-Copy Professional // Calling Cards & Minitel (France) // BBSes // Trojan Viruses // Total Apathy (demo)

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE HARDBACK EDITION

• 336 full-colour pages
• 170 × 230 mm portrait format
• 135 gsm Arctic Silk paper
• UV- and abrasion-resistant finish
• Made in Germany

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