hi there
just joined this forum, i have been into emulation for years especially ZX Spectrum
i have a question which i cant seem to find the answer too.
IS it ILLEGAL to download Amstrad CPC games ??? ???
Hi Nige,
Welcome to the forum!
There are plenty of games for the CPC that were released as freeware/public domain and you can download freely. There are also some commercial games that have since been released as freeware by their authors.
Regarding other commercial releases, yes it is technically illegal to download those games if you do not own the original version, although many of the software houses are no longer in business and even those that are do not proactively hunt down users (or even websites) for infringement of copyright.
This is the same as old games for the Spectrum though and other old formats, the CPC is no different in that respect.
Think it's also worth mentioning the fact that as the original games have done the money making bit decades ago, the fact that they are free to download now helps keep scammers from trying to cash in on flogging dodgy copies on the internet. You can still go on ebay and pay for a dvd disc loaded with old games, money for old rope as we say, and the original developer sees nowt for it.
Also as has been mentioned elsewhere, it is a form of digital preservation, as old originals may corrupt or expire in time.
In some regards it's the Free Software which isn't getting out there due to Copyright, because some program was published in some really old Computer magazine is subjected to Copyright.
thanks for the response, could anybody point me in the right direction for some public domain / free games????
CPC-POWER, sauvegarde du patrimoine de l'Amstrad CPC (http://www.cpc-power.com) is your best bet. Click on Softwares, the in the Publisher list box at the bottom of that list you can select Public Domain, then hit search.
Quote from: EgoTrip on 13:44, 24 August 16
CPC-POWER, sauvegarde du patrimoine de l'Amstrad CPC (http://www.cpc-power.com) is your best bet. Click on Softwares, the in the Publisher list box at the bottom of that list you can select Public Domain, then hit search.
Man, just as a courtesy you could point him to the Downloads section (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=dldir) right here :D
Quote from: Gryzor on 13:57, 24 August 16
Man, just as a courtesy you could point him to the Downloads section (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=dldir) right here :D
[emoji38]
thanks very much, so all the games in the download section here are legal to download
Quote from: Nige Rideout on 08:17, 25 August 16
thanks very much, so all the games in the download section here are legal to download
Are you a police man? A lawyer?
May be he's asking because he wants to redistribute the games legally (?).
Quote from: reidrac on 16:45, 25 August 16
May be he's asking because he wants to redistribute the games legally (?).
He told that he did a lot with speccy games - where is the difference?
It's illegal to download a lot of Spectrum software because someone at World of Sinclair decided to ask "do you allow your games to be available for download"
Quote from: ivarf on 17:27, 25 August 16
It's illegal to download a lot of Spectrum software because someone at World of Sinclair decided to ask "do you allow your games to be available for download"
Not actually correct, though a common misconception.
Unless you actively have permission to distribute from every copyright holder for each title (it can get really messy with licensed titles) it's technically illegal.
WoS makes a point of asking owners where they can be found and respecting their wishes. Many will argue that's foolish, because it inevitably results in more refusals than if you never asked (the default response is always likely to be no) however it has earned a lot of respect from some publishers as a result (and reversed a few bulk takedown orders)
Quote from: Nige Rideout on 08:17, 25 August 16
thanks very much, so all the games in the download section here are legal to download
YOU Will have to evaluate EACH TITTLE to see if the they are PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Ray
Thing is, it should be the copyright owners the ones that should exercise their rights. Come on, it's THEIR right and THEY shall use it or not.
I also hate that these matters cannot be talked in a rational way. I mean, suppose you are Mr X, from company Y and wouldn't like to see your game downloadable here, the only thing you have to do is send a PM or email to gryzor and ask for it, end of the story. When you bring your lawyers and ask for a ton of money for something nobody's talked about in 30 years, you are abusing your rights and you should lose them.
The sad part is that the shitty and abusive copyright laws are destroying our history and in some years there will be nothing left. Mark my words.
Yet all legal for someone to sell a copy of say Prince of Persia on ebay for £150 ..... wheres the justice!
Quote from: Lazy Dude on 13:07, 26 August 16
Yet all legal for someone to sell a copy of say Prince of Persia on ebay for £150 ..... wheres the justice!
Well, if software companies don't keep a bit of their stock and sell it by themselves later...
What like 30 years later? :P really!
Quote from: Lazy Dude on 18:06, 29 August 16
What like 30 years later? :P really!
Well, if you think that this is silly, why to complain if others do? :P :P
and here's another, also good: http://cpcrulez.fr
For search games: http://cpcrulez.fr/games.htm
Enviado desde mi iPad utilizando Tapatalk
With all my respect for cpcwiki (great for his wiki) and cpcrulez (for his archives), cpc-power is the place for media preservation. 8)
Quote from: TotO on 20:35, 29 August 16
With all my respect for cpcwiki (great for his wiki) and cpcrulez (for his archives), cpc-power is the place for media preservation. 8)
With all respect: NO! They refuse to conserve certain DSKs for CPC. As long they do that, forget it.
Quote from: TFM on 22:50, 29 August 16
With all respect: NO! They refuse to conserve certain DSKs for CPC. As long they do that, forget it.
Gosh. Out of interest which are they "refusing" to conserve? Seems odd that?
Quote from: CraigsBar on 00:46, 30 August 16
Gosh. Out of interest which are they "refusing" to conserve? Seems odd that?
I'm assuming @TFM (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=179) is referring to Cyber Chicken.
Are you speaking about this: cyber huhn © amc soft (2013) (http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dumps&num=10071)
Yep.
The only thing available is the ROM of Cyber Huhn, but no Disc/Tape for Cyber Chicken, even the Crack Disc of Cyber Huhn isn't available.
This link is not the original game ???
cyber huhn © amc soft (2013) (dumps&num=10071)
(http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dumps&num=10071)
Quote from: TotO on 10:50, 30 August 16
This link is not the original game ???
cyber huhn © amc soft (2013) (dumps&num=10071)
(http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dumps&num=10071)
Cyber Huhn came out as a Prelude to Cyber Chicken as part of the 16Kb ROM Game Contest.
100 Boxes of Cyber Chicken was sold Commercially (I'm guessing that's 50 Tapes/50 Discs), but I've never seen it.
I have Cyber Chicken on disk, number 69/100 8)
Quote from: AMSDOS on 10:57, 30 August 16
Cyber Huhn came out as a Prelude to Cyber Chicken as part of the 16Kb ROM Game Contest.
100 Boxes of Cyber Chicken was sold Commercially (I'm guessing that's 50 Tapes/50 Discs), but I've never seen it.
There is 3 downloads tabs: Cyber Huhn ROM, Cyber Huhn Floppy crack, Cyber Chicken original floppy dump. And all is explain about hte games versions...
So I don't understand the problem???
Quote from: TotO on 11:02, 30 August 16
There is 3 downloads tabs: Cyber Huhn ROM, Cyber Huhn Floppy crack, Cyber Chicken original floppy dump. And all is explain about hte games versions...
So I don't understand the problem???
So when you click on the ROM for Cyber Huhn, you get a Page and in there is a Link to Download the program. For the Floppy Crack/Original Disk & Tape Page, it's got no Link to let you download, just a name of a File as a Result of the Warning Icon - "No Permission from the Author to permit to downloading files".
Quote from: AMSDOS on 11:13, 30 August 16
So when you click on the ROM for Cyber Huhn, you get a Page and in there is a Link to Download the program. For the Floppy Crack/Original Disk & Tape Page, it's got no Link to let you download, just a name of a File as a Result of the Warning Icon - "No Permission from the Author to permit to downloading files".
Exactly... And that means what that means... cpc-power done the preservation job but can't provide files because the author don't want to share.
So, what is the problem as they respect what TFM or the editor asked??? :-\
Quote from: TotO on 10:41, 30 August 16
Are you speaking about this: cyber huhn © amc soft (2013) (http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dumps&num=10071)
Nope, they could give Cyber Chicken free now. Since all boxes are sold out. It was very nice from them to block it for a while, but now it should be unblocked.
No, what I'm talking about is the complete lack of FutureOS related stuff, search for it and you get zero hits. And this is a shame, especially since there is an advanced Cyber Chicken version for FutureOS (little more features than the boxed game) called Space Chicken, this has to be freely available (but it's only on my homepage, not there). :-\
While they got no FutureOS software, they got lots of stuff for CP/M and SymbOS. So what the heck? I once had email contact with one of them, I quite couldn't follow his argumentation.
Whatever, if FutureOS stuff is missing, they are not complete. On the other hand they host lots of unfinished bullshit (which got deleted in the CPCWiki for example).
I don't want to tell them how to do their job, because they DO a great job. Just pointed out my personal opinion. That's all. :)
So you want them to have futureOS stuff on there but they won't.
I hope their reasoning is good.
Quote from: TotO on 13:22, 30 August 16
Exactly... And that means what that means... cpc-power done the preservation job but can't provide files because the author don't want to share.
So, what is the problem as they respect what TFM or the editor asked??? :-\
I think it's a mistake on Kukulcan's part. It used to be that if an author wanted to forbid downloading of a particular program,
every version of that program (original DSK, modified DSK, CDT, etc.) would be prohibited. I made a suggestion to Kukulcan that it should be possible to amend CPC-POWER so only some versions, but not others, should be prohibited.
I think Kukulcan has simply forgotten to tick a box somewhere on his back-end database to say that the 'modified' DSK version of
Cyber Huhn (which I assume is the 16K one-level demo version for the CPCWiki competition) can be downloaded.
Meanwhile, it is possible to download the 16K version of
Cyber Huhn from NVG. (ftp://ftp.nvg.ntnu.no/pub/cpc/games/arcade/cyberhuh.zip) :)
Quote from: seanb on 16:52, 30 August 16
So you want them to have futureOS stuff on there but they won't.
I hope their reasoning is good.
Well, I don't mind actually. All that crap in on my homepage anyway. But one can't call 'cpcpower' the 'all you need' page if it doesn't cover everything. IMHO it's totally valid to have a group of cpc page covering anything. F.e. cpcwiki, cpcpower, and cpcrulez and maybe others. I'm not such an expert with that topic. :)
Have you said to cpc-power that Cyber Chicken can be free to DL? No... So, it will be not.
Is cpc-power peoples known FutureOS? If they don't, and nothing exist on floppy, how they can known to preserve it?
May be you should have to inform them about those things? ;D
By the way, the work behind cpc-power to preserve the CPC softwares is not simply hosting files, like 100% cpcwiki and 90% of cpc-rulez does.
Before those files exists and can be downloaded from any websites, they have done a hard work to research (and pay) for floppy discs and backup them with special tools to be sure about the integrity, next creating valid images. w/o cpc-power, "no files" on other websites and no software preservation.
Read my posts, all answers to you comments I gave before.
Quote from: TFM on 15:33, 30 August 16
Nope, they could give Cyber Chicken free now. Since all boxes are sold out. It was very nice from them to block it for a while, but now it should be unblocked.
If this is ok to download now, could someone possibly make it available on cpcwiki ? ;D
Anyone and everyone can go into the downloads section and add a file...
Quote from: Gryzor on 14:18, 01 September 16
Anyone and everyone can go into the downloads section and add a file...
Cool, would be nice if someone could upload "
Cyber-Chicken " then, now that TFM said it should be unblocked on cpc-power.
I didn't get back into using the Amstrad until last year, so missed out on trying to get the game at the time as didn't even know about it.
Would like to have it on disc for my real cpc's and possibly convert to cart if possible. ;D
Quote from: Phantomz on 15:19, 01 September 16
Cool, would be nice if someone could upload " Cyber-Chicken " then, now that TFM said it should be unblocked on cpc-power.
I didn't get back into using the Amstrad until last year, so missed out on trying to get the game at the time as didn't even know about it.
Would like to have it on disc for my real cpc's and possibly convert to cart if possible. ;D
Hmm. Ok, I have to ask Marco from AMC soft, just to be on the save side. Will email him later, but it should be all fine. Then I can upload it. [nb]Meanwhile you can play the extended version, called Space Chicken for FutureOS. See my hp.[/nb]
Quote from: TFM on 15:28, 01 September 16
Hmm. Ok, I have to ask Marco from AMC soft, just to be on the save side. Will email him later, but it should be all fine. Then I can upload it. [nb]Meanwhile you can play the extended version, called Space Chicken for FutureOS. See my hp.[/nb]
Cool 8)
Don't worry if you can't, it would be nice if you could for those that missed out getting the game. ;D
Anyone know where I can download Relentless?
Quote from: ukmarkh on 15:36, 01 September 16
Anyone know where I can download Relentless?
From CPC-POWER (http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dumps&num=10072). There are no restrictions on downloading it.
I've tried that site, doesn't work.
Quote from: ukmarkh on 22:45, 01 September 16
I've tried that site, doesn't work.
Attached.... Archive.zip containing the DSK and HFE versions. tested and working
Quote from: Phantomz on 15:32, 01 September 16
Cool 8)
Don't worry if you can't, it would be nice if you could for those that missed out getting the game. ;D
Got an answer from Marco, he is cool with that. His concern is only that it may not be fair to the people who actually bought the physical copy.
So have some fun...
I'm perfectly fine with that ;D
I mean, the difference is the physical copy, as with Orion Prime, so I would feel bad if no one else could play it.
Quote from: TFM on 18:37, 06 September 16
Got an answer from Marco, he is cool with that. His concern is only that it may not be fair to the people who actually bought the physical copy.
So have some fun...
Thanks for this TFM and Marco too. 8)
Quote from: robcfg on 21:19, 06 September 16
I'm perfectly fine with that ;D
I mean, the difference is the physical copy, as with Orion Prime, so I would feel bad if no one else could play it.
I bet most people will be like that to be honest, always nicer to have the original version. ;)
Quote from: TFM on 18:37, 06 September 16
Got an answer from Marco, he is cool with that. His concern is only that it may not be fair to the people who actually bought the physical copy.
So have some fun...
Thanks for that... but, in this thread it won't be found by anyone. You could upload it to your original thread or (better still) the Downloads section/Games or a wiki page so people can get to it!
Feel free to do with it what you want, I have the flu, so count me out for some days.
Quote from: TFM on 20:38, 11 September 16
Feel free to do with it what you want, I have the flu, so count me out for some days.
Ah, get well soon ! Chickensoup may help !
Quote from: SRS on 21:21, 11 September 16
Ah, get well soon ! Chickensoup may help !
Yes, thanks. Guess Marco will provide a link on the CC homepage... So here we go:
Cyber-Chicken for CPC - Cpage Site (http://www.cc-cpc.de/site/cpage/4)
Everybody feel free to upload it where ever you like. :)
Nice.
Is it different from cyber huhn © amc soft (2013) (http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=dumps&num=10071) ?
Regarding the time stamp on the DSK, it's a bit newer, but tbh I really don't remember. If there is a difference, then it should be very minor / invisible. :)
Quote from: TFM on 18:37, 06 September 16
Got an answer from Marco, he is cool with that. His concern is only that it may not be fair to the people who actually bought the physical copy.
So have some fun...
Tested OK on MiST-board CoreAmstrad r005.8.2 :)
Nice! :)