Discover the Hilarious Anti-Piracy Trick in Super Smash Bros. for N64 That Will Leave You Laughing!

Anti-piracy measures often miss the mark. But sometimes, they surprise us with humor. Take Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64, for instance. If you play a pirated version 69 times, the game locks you into only using Mario. Yes, Mario—forever.

Back in 1996, many may not have even known that pirating games was a thing. Most of us were just trying to navigate the early days of dial-up internet. If you wanted a game, you might end up buying a crooked-looking cartridge from a flea market. If the title was scribbled in Sharpie or featured a sticker that looked off, chances were it wasn’t genuine. If this was your experience with Super Smash Bros., you probably got stuck playing Mario after 68 games.

This quirky anti-piracy trick is referred to as “delayed action.” You could enjoy the game for hours before it struck. On that 69th play, the fun faded as you realized your options had vanished.

Amusingly, this method is reminiscent of some successful anti-piracy strategies. Some games allow players to enjoy them briefly before presenting a cheeky message: “Hey, you pirated this! Want to keep playing? Buy a copy here.” This approach can turn piracy into potential sales. Meanwhile, more aggressive measures, like hardware locks or complicated software, tend to backfire. They often irritate legit users while the pirates simply bypass them.

Interestingly, the choice of 69 as the trigger number adds an extra layer of humor, even if it wasn’t intentional. In gaming culture, such quirky details create memorable tales.

Nintendo’s strategy reflects a broader trend. Research shows that a significant number of players have pirated games, but many still end up purchasing legitimate copies after enjoying them. According to a 2022 report by the Entertainment Software Association, nearly 25% of gamers admitted to having pirated games at least once. Yet, 70% of these individuals later bought a game they had previously pirated.

This dance between piracy and legitimate purchase underscores a complex relationship. Gamers are continually navigating between choices, humor, and memories from the golden age of gaming.

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Nintendo 64,Piracy,Super Smash Bros.