Former peer-to-peer file-sharing platform LimeWire has launched a new game that lets users experience the nostalgia of music pirating while rewarding them with cryptocurrency. The retro music-downloading game is based on the Microsoft Windows XP operating system and prompts players to search for early 2000s music and movies to download within a limited time. Each successful simulated download without a simulated “virus” earns the player points. To play the browser-based game, players need to enter their email addresses.
LimeWire was a popular music-downloading platform in the early 2000s but was shut down in 2010 due to federal copyright infringement. In mid-2022, the platform was relaunched as an NFT marketplace, which aims to become a leading creator content marketplace and membership platform. The NFT marketplace has no connection to the original LimeWire platform or its team.
The new game capitalizes on nostalgia for the early days of music pirating, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by the broader community, particularly given the illegal and unethical nature of music piracy. It also raises questions about the use of cryptocurrency rewards for promoting potentially illegal activities. Nonetheless, it is an interesting example of how Web3 technology can be used to create unique experiences and engage users in new ways.
