628 Years to Crack 712 Retro Game Protections

628 Years to Crack 712 Retro Game Protections: A Preservation Challenge

In a nutshell: A study reveals the immense difficulty of preserving classic video games due to outdated anti-piracy measures. While modern games are cracked relatively quickly, older games with legacy protections are proving incredibly resistant.

The MAME Preservation Project

Researchers studied the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator (MAME), a crucial tool for preserving vintage games. Of 3,783 arcade machines examined, 712 had anti-piracy measures requiring circumvention. Cracking these games took a collective 628 years.

Challenges in Circumvention

The study highlights several challenges:

• Encryption of game data
• Memory Controller Units (MCUs) with memory scrambling
• Suicide chips (e.g., Hitachi FD1089/FD1094) requiring battery power
• Early Atari games with slapstick protection

Proposed Policy Actions

The researchers suggest several policy changes, including:

• Clarifying that cultural heritage institutions can circumvent TPMs for preservation.
• Weighing the costs of TPMs against the benefits to rightsholders.
• Requiring rightsholders to provide access to TPM-protected works for European institutions and researchers.

This research underscores the significant challenges and social costs involved in preserving our digital cultural heritage.