Cracking a program

I need to crack a simulator/assembler for 68hc11 assembly language. I could really use the full version of the software but don't have $50 to shell out for it. I looked around trying to find a cracked version or a keygen for it without any success. My last option is to crack the thing myself. I'm not that familiar with reverse engineering but have a decent understanding of assembly language. I've tried running it through ollydbg and searching for specific strings, but no luck. I've also tried find calls out to windows api, but still haven't found anything. I was wondering if someone with more experience than myself could possibly suggest some other avenues of progress. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Isn't some of the challenges here on HBH tailored to key-gens? Maybe try them and then try your hand at it. Or maybe brute force it?

I always thought that for applications whose complete versions weren't available,you needed to be part of a team..Acc. to the data I have..it would be better if you got into private torrents and made friends..the people on the "scene" would be of much more help to you(if you want to go into this full-fledged)

Other than that..ask around..do a few searches..there must be someone in your vicinity who has the full version..:)

it depends, is it a fully functional demonstration? if so it is probably crackable. or is it a limited function demo in which you have to download more files? being it is an assembler if it is limited and more files need to be added it would not be worth a patch you had might as well write your own assembler because the files would be linked to the "language"

The simulator/assembler is a fully functional demo, it is just limited to certain features. Based on that it would appear crackable, but i'm not sure where to go from here. Any suggestions?

Link me I'll give it a go what the hell