The need for these patches shifted from "convenience" to "essential" due to changes in Windows security:
digital rights management (DRM), which required the original physical CD-ROM to be present in the drive for the game to launch. Convenience Cracks: Simcity 3000 No Cd Patch
(1999) remains a landmark in the city-builder genre, but modern users often encounter significant hurdles when attempting to run original physical copies The need for these patches shifted from "convenience"