Here is informative content about — a unique digital subculture tied to the early days of software piracy, cracking groups, and the BBS (Bulletin Board System) era. What is Warez Art? Warez Art refers to the visual graphics (typically ANSI and ASCII art) created by members of warez groups — underground organizations that cracked and distributed commercial software, games, and media illegally, primarily from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. These images were not the software itself, but the digital "calling cards" displayed when a cracked program was launched or when users entered a private BBS.