Did this actually exist?
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- Dizzy
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Did this actually exist?
Hi folks, couldn't find anywhere else to post this so thought this would be the best place for it.
I was talking to a guy on a random Facebook Spectrum group a few weeks back, and for the life of me I can't find the conversation now, but he brought something up I've never heard of before and with a huge amount of searching, I can't find anything about it, so I thought I'd check here.
He said with a fair bit of authority that one of the big publishing houses back on the day set up a short-lived campaign that was called something along the lines of: "The Dream Catchers" or "The Dream Weavers" (definitely something with Dream in the title). They had the idea of essentially hiring children to sell their games in playgrounds in order to beat piracy, and he went on to say that this company advertised the endeavor in Spectrum magazines.
I'd love to dig into the concept more, and find out what happened, but I'm also not even sure if the entire thing is complete hokum or not. Has anyone heard of this? Come across the adverts? Am I chasing a wild goose?
Thanks in advance!
I was talking to a guy on a random Facebook Spectrum group a few weeks back, and for the life of me I can't find the conversation now, but he brought something up I've never heard of before and with a huge amount of searching, I can't find anything about it, so I thought I'd check here.
He said with a fair bit of authority that one of the big publishing houses back on the day set up a short-lived campaign that was called something along the lines of: "The Dream Catchers" or "The Dream Weavers" (definitely something with Dream in the title). They had the idea of essentially hiring children to sell their games in playgrounds in order to beat piracy, and he went on to say that this company advertised the endeavor in Spectrum magazines.
I'd love to dig into the concept more, and find out what happened, but I'm also not even sure if the entire thing is complete hokum or not. Has anyone heard of this? Come across the adverts? Am I chasing a wild goose?
Thanks in advance!
Re: Did this actually exist?
You sure this wasn't a dream...
Re: Did this actually exist?
Maybe check your emails you might have one that reminds you of their username** ? Figuring here that you may have chosen to get emails.
** Realise it does not tend to put the message content in the email, but the group name and username might be enough for you to recall, maybe. Then at least you'd know the group to ask in if anyone knows.
Just a random thought.
** Realise it does not tend to put the message content in the email, but the group name and username might be enough for you to recall, maybe. Then at least you'd know the group to ask in if anyone knows.
Just a random thought.
Re: Did this actually exist?
We had this in my school, except for weed.
- 5MinuteRetro
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Re: Did this actually exist?
You’re definitely not imagining that post as I read it too and it piqued my interest at the time — but I can’t remember now which FB group it was on.RoseTintedSpectrum wrote: ↑Fri May 06, 2022 10:09 pm I was talking to a guy on a random Facebook Spectrum group a few weeks back, and for the life of me I can't find the conversation now, but he brought something up I've never heard of before and with a huge amount of searching, I can't find anything about it, so I thought I'd check here.
He said with a fair bit of authority that one of the big publishing houses back on the day set up a short-lived campaign that was called something along the lines of: "The Dream Catchers" or "The Dream Weavers" (definitely something with Dream in the title). They had the idea of essentially hiring children to sell their games in playgrounds in order to beat piracy, and he went on to say that this company advertised the endeavor in Spectrum magazines.
Pretty sure he called it “The Dream Catchers” and I *think* he said it was by CRL. I Googled at the time but don’t recall finding anything convincing, and then I guess I lost interest and forgot about it until now.
Retro stuff, real quick
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- 5MinuteRetro
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Re: Did this actually exist?
And having just Googled afresh I wonder if it might be related to this, and that the OG FB poster got his wires/memories crossed? The Dream Makers/CRL: https://www.thespectrumshow.net/crl.html
Retro stuff, real quick
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Re: Did this actually exist?
I think I've got my FB emails switched off because it peppers them at me like a machinegun, and I barely even use the thing!spider wrote: ↑Sat May 07, 2022 8:55 am Maybe check your emails you might have one that reminds you of their username** ? Figuring here that you may have chosen to get emails.
** Realise it does not tend to put the message content in the email, but the group name and username might be enough for you to recall, maybe. Then at least you'd know the group to ask in if anyone knows.
Just a random thought.
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Re: Did this actually exist?
Yes! That was it, it piqued my interest because I'd just been writing something in relation to CRL. Hmm... Might have to do more digging.5MinuteRetro wrote: ↑Sat May 07, 2022 12:05 pmYou’re definitely not imagining that post as I read it too and it piqued my interest at the time — but I can’t remember now which FB group it was on.RoseTintedSpectrum wrote: ↑Fri May 06, 2022 10:09 pm I was talking to a guy on a random Facebook Spectrum group a few weeks back, and for the life of me I can't find the conversation now, but he brought something up I've never heard of before and with a huge amount of searching, I can't find anything about it, so I thought I'd check here.
He said with a fair bit of authority that one of the big publishing houses back on the day set up a short-lived campaign that was called something along the lines of: "The Dream Catchers" or "The Dream Weavers" (definitely something with Dream in the title). They had the idea of essentially hiring children to sell their games in playgrounds in order to beat piracy, and he went on to say that this company advertised the endeavor in Spectrum magazines.
Pretty sure he called it “The Dream Catchers” and I *think* he said it was by CRL. I Googled at the time but don’t recall finding anything convincing, and then I guess I lost interest and forgot about it until now.
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Re: Did this actually exist?
Oh god, I've found it! It IS real!5MinuteRetro wrote: ↑Sat May 07, 2022 12:11 pm And having just Googled afresh I wonder if it might be related to this, and that the OG FB poster got his wires/memories crossed? The Dream Makers/CRL: https://www.thespectrumshow.net/crl.html
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Re: Did this actually exist?
It's just Tupperware parties for the playground.
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Re: Did this actually exist?
Re: Did this actually exist?
Ironically the kids selling the games would've probably been earning more per sale than the programmers who wrote them!
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- Van_Dammesque
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Re: Did this actually exist?
I'd imagine that the scheme wouldn't last long. simply buy a CRL game (even a few mates club together to buy it) then copy the hell out of it, then either give it away for free at a, say, pound less than the game being sold!
- Lee Bee
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Re: Did this actually exist?
Fascinating.
I think this was a clever idea and I applaud the innovation. I fail to see the ethical problem with it, certainly not to the extent that police were called! Kids can have paper rounds, make money from babysitting etc. And parental permission was obviously needed.
It's not exactly "child labour" is it? It's basically just promotion. I wonder if someone would call the police if they saw a child sharing a game promo with his mates on Facebook?
I think this was a clever idea and I applaud the innovation. I fail to see the ethical problem with it, certainly not to the extent that police were called! Kids can have paper rounds, make money from babysitting etc. And parental permission was obviously needed.
It's not exactly "child labour" is it? It's basically just promotion. I wonder if someone would call the police if they saw a child sharing a game promo with his mates on Facebook?
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Re: Did this actually exist?
Reheated Pixels - a combination of retrogaming, comedy and factual musing, is here!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
Re: Did this actually exist?
I remember going into a computer shop and buying Jack The Ripper. I'd have been about 15 at the time (and looked about 10). The lady behind the counter didn't bat an eyelid, asked no questions and I left with the game!
- Lee Bee
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Re: Did this actually exist?
And now we live in a time when there's even more complacency toward this issue. Google makes no attempt to offer age ratings for YouTube videos, and there seems to be no public pressure (or even interest) in protecting minors from bad language. Magazines aimed at 7-year-olds now promote (on the front cover) obscene adult acts full of cussing. I simply can't understand how things got this way or why no one cares.