Yes. I've been asked me how to replace files, I've been asked how to copy. Then I get "how dare you not help me" type DMs, though
usually not on F95. These days it's just "plop, enjoy, got issues maybe I'll respond". One guy decided to use my zero-day releases to try and extort a developer for Bitcoins. Developer reached out and explained the situation, so I decided to permanently stop releasing same-days for small developers and go with a minimum 2-week rule (except for AAA-title games, they're zero-day). Posted about that attempt to wrangle the dev (and not the 2-week rule yet) and a rando account DMed with a "friendly" titled conversation but ass-all content. They kept the reasons for their insult-laden DM out of it. Obviously the extortionist. Then I posted about the 2-week rule and got more flak but idc, my own rule, if they want to remove DRM or crack something they can do it themselves. It's more of a flip-off if you don't like it kind of thing. I do try to be communicable, but eh. I don't really have a defined set of rules about what constitutes a small developer, but it's mostly patron count or quality of the game given duration of development, stuff like that. The developer of this game clearly understands most code and is capable, so I threw the first three out as betas if you will, lets people actually see the content because the grind is obvious from the nature of this one. Grind = delay or content obfuscation for the purposes of content filler. Eg it's the fake boobs of game development. Er, respectfully meant for all silicone-enabled peoples out there. DRM and/or grind or bad development that requires fixing despite multiple attempts to convince a dev tends to convince me early is fine. Only reason I'm on this site is because I thoroughly enjoy removing DRM, I don't even like or play the games themselves aside to help other's bug-fixing or some obscure thing. At least here it's not the same commercial packers and compressors that bore me because nothing is original. Here, you can sometimes find unique protections. They are almost always rather poor, but at least
entertain. The anti-cheat in this one drew my attention. Anti-cheat in a single-player game? Nah. Let people play (single-player) as they desire. Made me curious, because I've seen all kinds of protections of anti-cheat in single-player and it baffles me as to why they'd ever. It's SP...they harm none but
maybe themselves and they
specifically desire it, so allow it. It was quite easy to determine the anti-cheat here, it blatantly describes itself throughout the binary. Product page describes it, its source is simple and downloadable, that easily told technique (primitive). But it entertained, for a while. I've taken to running Linux 24/7, so I don't even use Windows tools to do this, not even a VM. Adds a little more to it, I guess. On a side note, there are developers I don't ever crack, mostly due to their income situation or the caustic thread (eg gimme crack, I'm entitled because I'm a random person demanding it) or their content is genuinely original (eg they are entirely creating it or paying for it). Certain exceptions to that. Unity is a AAA-engine, free-game in my opinion for the 2-week rule. Ren'Py/Godot or other free open-source engines I typically don't bother with unless it's some $$$ Patreon stuff, like more than $5/m and they're 4 years into it with little to show, eg a milker. Nothing but subscription-model extortion (in my opinion) and I despise that kind of taking advantage. Dev time plays a lot into it. For instance, if Naughty Road (Light of My Life) implemented DRM, I wouldn't touch it purely because their content is 100% genuinely original, they engage with the community, plus they've been victims of assholes setting up stores (language-barrier type ops) siphoning customers off and away with link/img/content replacement re-branding efforts. That's beyond the pirate ettiquette in my opinion. Hell, I bought them a few coffees to support the dev. Same with Coming Home. There are some decent developers out there, shame it's so difficult to find'em. If you like it and can afford it, support it. On another side note I usually fix bugs too, or give feedback about code or game-engine issues to help developers. Certain developers have a decent but lacking understanding of engines/file formats (example), so I've commented how compress their content maintaining 98% or better likeness in img format, turning some 7GB releases into an average of 300-400MB (they were storing as ARGB 100% with 1080p images, BITMAP). Sped their game up significantly switching to a lossy (but still quality) format and shrank one well over 75%. This post has more content than I intended, digresssing before I fill a thread.
Edit: (Blegh) I also help with accessibility issues. A lot of developers try disabling Ren'Py options, a serious no-no, like rollback or forcing transitions or hard-pauses in code. Blood-boiling. I usually post long threads about that stuff.