50 Ways To Test Your NES Shareware

Ewan wrote:NesGame caught my eye, not because it's another NES emulator for Series 60, but because of the limitations it has for it's "demo before purchase" part of the shareware cycle. It allows a maximum of 50 key presses before it asks for the reg code. I'm not sure this is enough time to evalutate the app and get people convinced to buy it.

The whole concept of shareware seems to have been hijacked. Originally, shareware meant that the software was full working and could be used as intended. The idea being that if you liked it then you'd pay up as per the nag screens. Now shareware is used for stuff which should really be called 'trial' or 'demo' apps, much of which can only be used for a few days or with drastically reduced functionality. And, in this, only 50 keystrokes 8-(

I accept that games are a special case, as they have a limited 'play life', mind you, but this seems overkill.

Steve Litchfield
http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/

slitchfield wrote:The whole concept of shareware seems to have been hijacked. Originally, shareware meant that the software was full working and could be used as intended. The idea being that if you liked it then you'd pay up as per the nag screens. Now shareware is used for stuff which should really be called 'trial' or 'demo' apps, much of which can only be used for a few days or with drastically reduced functionality. And, in this, only 50 keystrokes 8-(

I accept that games are a special case, as they have a limited 'play life', mind you, but this seems overkill.

Steve Litchfield
http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/

Shareware grew in the days when programs were written and used largely by enthusiasts who liked to get into the spirit of things, but now they're usually written by teams and used by people who think they're entitled to as much free software/music/movies as they want. If you make payment optional, no one pays. :frown:

Funny how the author charges $5.98 for v1.01 of this emulator, and charges $11 something for v1.05. Hmm...