I miss shareware floppies.
At least with NES cartridges you can purchase them at used game stores. Shareware floppies, in contrast, are nowhere to be found—unless you scour eBay. And even then, good luck!
Shareware was an incredible experience. During a time when cartridges were expensive and most people could only afford one or two, people were giving you games—and you could legally play them!
All right, so let me be clear. It’s not shareware software that I miss. Yes, anyone can download shareware right now and run it.
What I miss is the physical experience of shareware. If you’re unfamiliar with it, picture this.
A friend of yours talks to you at recess. He tells you that he just played the best game ever – so good, he must give you a copy. He passes you that small 3.5” floppy with a handwritten word on the label. He gives you a nod, tells you that you must try it.
You go home, turn on your PC, put the floppy into the drive – and for the first time ever, you encounter Doom. You’re completely, utterly blown away.
So what do you do? You make your own shareware floppy copy, pass it off to another friend, who’s about to discover Doom for the first time.
Now that was the physical experience of shareware.
@atomicpoet @book
right, people talking about shareware aren't saying it as a euphemism. Games and more practical software were being distributed in demo versions (usually quite substantial). Playing the game, when you got to the end of the demo you would get a physical address to write to, a price, and a payee name for your cheque if you wanted to buy the whole thing. Unlimited copying of the demo as a marketing device was all covered by the licence.
Do I need to explain a cheque?
Chris Trottier
Book
Angela Glansbury 🚽