[STEAM] iPod fans evade Apple’s DRM to preserve 54 lost clickwheel-era games

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Old-school Apple fans probably remember a time, just before the iPhone became

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, when Apple released a

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of

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for

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. While those clickwheel-controlled titles

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, they represent an important historical stepping stone in Apple's

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through the game industry.

Today, though, these clickwheel iPod games are on the verge of becoming lost media—impossible to buy or redownload from iTunes and protected on existing devices by incredibly strong Apple DRM. Now, the classic iPod community is engaged in

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in a way that will let enthusiasts enjoy these titles on real hardware for years to come.

Perhaps too well-protected

The short heyday of iPod clickwheel gaming ran from late 2006 to early 2009, when Apple partnered with major studios like *****, Square Enix, and Electronic Arts to release 54 distinct titles for $7.49 each. By 2011, though, the rise of iOS gaming made these clickwheel iPod titles such an afterthought that Apple

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, years before the classic iPod line was discontinued for good in 2014.

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