1985: 617-720-36XX

A lovely antidote by Mike Flynn from the early computing days appeared in HardCore Computing #3 from 1982. Wizardry was released on the Apple II in September 1981, and this confirms Pirate's Harbor was online, and a known pirate discussion board back then.

The Pirates of Wizardom
On a different note, I was using an A.B.B.S (Apple Bulletin Board Service) called 'PIRATE'S HARBOR.' After reading some of the public bulletins, I ran across the following:
THE SUBJECT OF SOFTWARE PIRACY HAS BEEN AN OPEN TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON THE BOARD FOR SOME TIME. IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, A PERSON CAME ON OUR BOARD WHO CALLED HIMSELF 'ROBBING HOOD,' WHO SAID HE LIVED AT RISLEY HALL AT CORNELL, WAS A SOPHOMORE, AND ALSO HIS REAL NAME WAS 'FRED WILLIAMS'. IN EARLY DECEMBER , I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS REALLY SOMEONE FROM THE COMPANY CALLED SIRTECH. WHICH PRODUCES A GAME CALLED 'WIZARDRY. SOMETIME IN JANUARY, HE FOUND OUT THAT WE KNEW WHO HE WAS, AND AFTER SOME DISCUSSION DECIDED TO 'COME CLEAN.' I TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD TELL HIS STORY AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT.

The preceding bulletin was left by the system operator or 'SYSOP'. After doing a little checking, I learned that Robbing Hood was actually Robert Woodhead and that the reason he logged on to a pirate's bulletin board was to get an idea of the level of piracy concerning his program, Wizardry. In my opinion, this is one occurrence of deception that I heartily condone. Wizardry is by far the best game program of any type that I have ever played 'bar none'.