Crack intro: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:48, 7 March 2019

Revision as of 17:06, 9 May 2019

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A '''crack intro''', also known as a '''cracktro''', '''loader''', or just '''intro''', is a small introduction sequence added to [[Software cracking|cracked software]]. It aims to inform the user which "cracking crew" or individual cracker removed the software's [[copy protection]] and distributed the crack.<ref name="EuroGamer" /><ref name="wired"/><ref name="0dayartTheVerge"/>

They first appeared on [[Apple II]] computer in the late 1970s or early 1980s,<ref name="wired" /><ref name="jason_scott_2010" /><ref name="reunanen2010" />, and then on [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]] and [[Amstrad CPC]] games that were distributed around the world via [[Bulletin Board System]]s (BBSes) and [[floppy disk]] copying.<ref name="reunanen2010"/> Even the commercially available [[ISEPIC]] cartridge, which produced [[memory dump]]s of copy-protected Commodore 64 software, added a custom crack intro to the snapshots it produced.<ref name="kevelson198510"/> Early crack intros resemble [[graffiti]] in many ways, although they invaded the [[private sphere]] and not the public space.<ref name="carlsson2009" /><ref name="kotlinski2009" />

As time went on, crack intros became a medium to demonstrate the purported superiority of a cracking group.<ref name="jason_scott_2010" /> Such intros grew very complex, sometimes exceeding the size<ref name="arstechnica2013" /> and complexity<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalekultur.org/files/dk_whatisthedemoscene.pdf|title=The Demoscene|publisher=Digitale Kultur e.V.|format=PDF|accessdate=2010-10-25}}

</ref>{{better source|date= June 2015}}</ref> of the software itself. Crack intros only became more sophisticated on more advanced systems such as the [[Commodore Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], and some [[IBM PC]] clone systems with sound cards.<ref name="reunanen2010" /> These intros feature big, colourful [[2D computer graphics|effects]], [[chiptune| music]], and [[Scrolling#Demos|scrollers]].<ref name="demographics" /><!-- 4:12+ -->

Cracking groups would use the intros not just to gain credit for cracking, but to advertise their BBSes, greet friends, and gain themselves recognition.<ref name="jason_scott_2010" /> Messages were frequently of a vulgar nature, and on some occasions made threats of violence against software companies or the members of some rival crack-group.<ref name="jason_scott_2010" />