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futureal · #1 08-26-2002, 07:19 PM

So, I find myself in an odd position related to vBulletin hacking.

A user here has written a hack, and endlessly tormented users with screen shots, promises, beta testing and so on, but is charging money for the hack itself. He even has a link to Paypal in his vb.org signature (which is actually the final straw that prompted me to write this message).

I have written my own version of the same hack -- which *I* think is superior, but of course we all prefer our own work -- with the same games and more. My hack started on the same source as his, but is essentially 95% my own code now (with the remaining 5% being var names and related syntax left over from the original source).

So the question is, do I release my hack? Or do I sit on it?

On the one hand, I don't like the idea of people selling hacks, at all. At least, not selling (advertising) them here at vb.org.

On the other hand, I respect the author for the work he put into it, and I do not want to simply screw him over. Additionally, I do not want to piss off the users who have already paid for his hack (and I believe there are at least a few).

Ultimately, I have put a lot of effort into *mine* and would like to release it (and definitely would, were it not for these circumstances) but I can envision an ensuing war that I don't want to be a part of.

(If anybody's interested, you can see my Arcade hack in action at www.shadowsofnamek.com as in my signature below...)

Boofo · #2 08-26-2002, 07:55 PM

Release it and let the users decide. Just let them know that there is a free version available. I'm with you on the charging crap. I'll help you ride out any rough waves that come along. If you decide not to release it publicly. I would be interested in trying it out.

Goldknight · #3 08-26-2002, 08:07 PM

Who cares? As Boofo said, just release it and let users decide. And I second Boofo too if you decide to not release it then I ll join Booo to try it out =D

Edit: Just be yourself, no one can tell you what to do but yourself

NTLDR · #4 08-26-2002, 08:10 PM

I agree here as well. If the code is 95% your own its clear your not trying to rip anyone off or realeasing a hack which is mostly someone elses code.

Sweet Cheeks · #5 08-27-2002, 03:51 AM

Heck yeah! Release it. And its free, woohoo :banana:

futureal · #6 08-27-2002, 05:01 AM

Heh, OK you guys have convinced me. I started adding a bunch more features tonight, but I will be posting something in the beta forum soon.

Erwin · #7 08-27-2002, 07:07 AM

Release it.

I want to have a look at it myself. I started this crazy Flash craze when I posted the original Tetris hack in the first place. john is not even letting me try his arcade hack, which is fine, since he has obviously spent a lot of time adding stuff to my original Tetris hack (which I ported over from vBPortal). Oh well...

Boofo · #8 08-27-2002, 07:10 AM

And the really sick part in all of this is that he is using vb.org to make money off of it. That kind of ruins the fun of hacking for me. Is he giving you anything for getting it started?

Quote:

Originally posted by Erwin
Release it. I want to have a look at it myself. I started this crazy Flash craze when I posted the original Tetris hack in the first place. john is not even letting me try his arcade hack, which is fine, since he has obviously spent a lot of time adding stuff to my original Tetris hack (which I ported over from vBPortal). Oh well...

zootsuit · #9 08-27-2002, 07:21 AM

Yeah, he said he was going to release the hack [along with the Store Integration] saying nothing about 'donations.'

I really don't mind paying for a hack at all! Heck, I paid for Karma, but this seemed a tad disappointing, IMHO.

Futureal - I think you should release it. There are plenty of 'duplicate' hacks in these forums.

Go for it! :banana:

Boofo · #10 08-27-2002, 07:24 AM

There is a BIG difference between donations and releasing a hack only to those who have paid, which is all what he is doing really amounts to. He is only calling it donations to hide the fact that you must pay for it to get it.

Quote:

Originally posted by zootsuit
Yeah, he said he was going to release the hack [along with the Store Integration] saying nothing about 'donations.'

I really don't mind paying for a hack at all! Heck, I paid for Karma, but this seemed a tad disappointing, IMHO.

Futureal - I think you should release it. There are plenty of 'duplicate' hacks in these forums.

Go for it! :banana:

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