Lenslok
Lenslok is a copy protection mechanism found in some computer games and other software on the 8-bit Atari computers, Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL, MSX and Amstrad CPC. The most famous game to use it was Elite for the ZX Spectrum.
The Lenslok device was essentially a row of prisms arranged vertically in a plastic holder. Before the game started, a two-letter code was displayed on the screen, but it was corrupted by being split into vertical bands which were then rearranged on screen. By viewing these bands through the Lenslok they were restored to their correct order and the code could be read and entered allowing access to the game. The device was small enough when folded flat to fit next to an audio cassette in a standard case.
In order for the Lenslok to work correctly the displayed image has to be the correct size. This meant that before each use the software needed to be calibrated to take account of the size of the display. Users found this setup particularly annoying, at least in part due to the poor instructions that were initially shipped. Additionally, the device could not be calibrated at all for very large and very small televisions, and some games shipped with mismatched Lensloks that prevented the code from being correctly descrambled. The Lenslok system was not used in later releases of Elite.
Software that used the Lenslok system:
- Elite, released by Firebird
- OCP Art Studio, released by Rainbird
- Fighter Pilot, released by Digital Integration
- Tomahawk, released by Digital Integration
- TT Racer, released by Digital Integration
- Jewels of Darkness, released by Level 9 Computing
- The Price of Magik, released by Level 9 Computing
- Silicon Dreams, released by Level 9 Computing
- ACE, released by Cascade Games Ltd
- Graphic Adventure Creator, released by Incentive Software
- Moon Cresta, released by Incentive Software
- Supercharge, released by Digital Precision
References
- Lenslok Instruction Sheet (PDF file)
- Bird Sanctuary - Lenslok Article containing further details on Lenslok, with photographs.
- LensKey A Lenslok emulator allowing access to emulated versions of the games.
- CRASH 26: LOKed OUT?
- Sinclair user 48 letters: Lenslocked out
