Sep 20, 2016 10:55
Back in the 90s, Sierra released a limited-edition VIP Copy Protection Key that would let the owner bypass copy protection for any of their games. It had to be implanted just above the gall bladder and was rated to last for 7 or 15 years. I'm not sure how my family could have afforded to buy me one, but apparently they got one for me for my birthday or christmas one year.
But 25 years later, it was well past its warranty and needed to come out. Fortunately this is just a quick outpatient procedure, like having a gall bladder removed, made even easier by the fishing line left dangling through the port where it was installed. Some local anesthetic and a quick yank, and it was out. It looked a bit like a pearl on a string, only a little more translucent.