“They should do it legally: come along and be published if you are clever!” -- Dominic Wheatley, Domark

Zero-day warez and 101% cracks with “++ trainer” are the golden standards among the C64 crackers. In the early 19903, software pirates organised themselves and the underground scene grew into a global distribution network. Uploading and downloading became daily business.

The BBSes (Bulletin Board Systems) became the distribution centres, the software goldmines. And when the console games became copyable, some sensed a business opportunity. But how did teenage crackers deal with the Far Eastern black market? And what led to perhaps the largest European piracy raid of the 19903? Which role did American calling cards play? And how were the groups able to distribute their cracks via public commerce?

Featuring: Mr. Z, Eagle Soft Incorporated, Dynamic-Duo, Genesis Project, Cynix, ST/ Amigos, ST Bandits, The Revolution, T. 0.1., Nokturnal, The Big Four, HRF H, Cynix, Hotline, MCA, Elite, Elitendo, The Empire, The Syndicate, ICS, The Blade Runners, The Medway Boys, Pompey Pirates, Automation, BBC, Sub Humans of Turkey, RBCG, The Marvellous V8, Fuzion, Positivity, Iordan Corp, The Stranglers, Hemoroids, The Corporation, VMAX, Factory, The Overlanders, TCB, The Replicants, The Masters, Euro-Soft, 42-Crew, CSS, ST CS, ACF, Vectronix, Tristar 8: Red Sector, Quartex, Fairlight, Paradox, Skid Row, Anthrox, Activision, Lucasfilm Games, Ubi Soft, Coktel Vision, Titus, Delphine, Lankhor, Ere Informatique, Infogrames, Eclipse, Gremlin, U. S. Gold, Ocean France, Argonaut, Domark, Accolade, Sega, Nintendo, Microsoft, Stacker, IAAD, Brigade des Recherches, FAST, ELSPA, Copylock Software, RATsoft ST, DMC, Codehead, Cachet, Chaos Computer Club, Gravenreuth & Syndikus, Triton, Bobmark, Supercom Partner... and many more.

CRACKERS: The Data Storm illuminates the networks and visionary entanglements of the BBS age. The world of the underground elites is spinning faster and faster. Their digital utopia sets them apart from the harsh reality of a doomed games industry. With 90-page interview section.