Black ops takes the crown for most pirated game of 2010

[Saucycarpdog]

http://kotaku.com/5720076/call-of-duty-black-ops-nabs-most-pirated-game-of-2010-distinction

4.2 million. I bet activision is a bit pissed. That adds up to about $252 million in lost sales.

Of course thats assuming factors are not involved.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Ahhh man...this is gonna mean new release prices are gonna go up by $10...again...

Piracy is lame.

 

[Rednog]

The numbers seem a little screwy that 4.2 million people really downloaded the game. I mean why? Sure there is single player and lan, but considering you can't (at least in my knowledge) get to the multiplayer, then what is the point of downloading the game?

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

 

[Gentleman_Reptile]

I'm no economist, at least not until I get a snazzy suit and the desire to feast on the flesh of first born sons, but $252 million in lost sales seems a small price to pay after the obscene amount of money they made after Black Ops took over MW2 as the biggest selling entertainment product in history.

Like Vegeta, I'm just saiyan....

 

[Saucycarpdog]

The numbers seem a little screwy that 4.2 million people really downloaded the game. I mean why? Sure there is single player and lan, but considering you can't (at least in my knowledge) get to the multiplayer, then what is the point of downloading the game?

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

Well, I kinda have to disagree with you. The game is valued at $60 and someone got it for free. Which means, the money it cost to make each of those copies was not payed back.

Maybe its not a lost sale, but it sure is a waste of money.

 

[Rednog]

The numbers seem a little screwy that 4.2 million people really downloaded the game. I mean why? Sure there is single player and lan, but considering you can't (at least in my knowledge) get to the multiplayer, then what is the point of downloading the game?

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

Well, I kinda have to disagree with you. The game is valued at $60 and someone got it for free. Which means, the money it cost to make each of those copies was not payed back.

Maybe its not a lost sale, but it sure is a waste of money.

Wait...what?
Hold the phone.
What do you mean the cost to make each of the copies was not paid back? There were no physical copies made for these people. It's not like Activision made 4.2 million copies of the game, packed it up, and somewhere along the shipping lines people stole these copies off the trucks. This is an illegal copy of the game. Activision takes no direct loss of money.

And like I said, whoever (to my knowledge) is downloading this game isn't necessarily playing it online, so it's not like they are getting the full game's worth.
Also just because someone pirates a game does not mean that they would otherwise have bought the game if said illegal copy was not available. Thus it a pirated copy is not directly a lost sale of the game.

 

[Wolfenbarg]

I'd hardly say it was many in losses. Piracy isn't physical stealing. It's basically digital replication of the product. They didn't actually lose that money from the licensing or production of the discs. Also, you can't say that most of those people would have actually bought the game as an alternative.

Also, for the most pirated game of the year to also be the highest grossing game ever made, that's kind of a fair deal to be honest. I am by no stretch condoning piracy. It is a practice I despise in all its forms, but this is kind of to be expected.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Ahhh man...this is gonna mean new release prices are gonna go up by $10...again...

Piracy is lame.

Really? I didn't think piracy had much to do with it, so much as knowing they could squeeze more money from consumers with Modern Warfare.

 

[monkey_man]

haha, brilliant I hope they try to sue everyone who pirated it. 4chan gonna /b/ mad

 

[Saucycarpdog]

The numbers seem a little screwy that 4.2 million people really downloaded the game. I mean why? Sure there is single player and lan, but considering you can't (at least in my knowledge) get to the multiplayer, then what is the point of downloading the game?

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

Well, I kinda have to disagree with you. The game is valued at $60 and someone got it for free. Which means, the money it cost to make each of those copies was not payed back.

Maybe its not a lost sale, but it sure is a waste of money.

Wait...what?
Hold the phone.
What do you mean the cost to make each of the copies was not paid back? There were no physical copies made for these people. It's not like Activision made 4.2 million copies of the game, packed it up, and somewhere along the shipping lines people stole these copies off the trucks. This is an illegal copy of the game. Activision takes no direct loss of money.

And like I said, whoever (to my knowledge) is downloading this game isn't necessarily playing it online, so it's not like they are getting the full game's worth.
Also just because someone pirates a game does not mean that they would otherwise have bought the game if said illegal copy was not available. Thus it a pirated copy is not directly a lost sale of the game.

I understand your way of thinking, and I agree with you on the not-costing-money-to-make thing. But, I also see your point of thinking in that people wouldn't have bought it if they didn't pirate it. And I do disagree.

The game was valued at $60 and some people got it for free. Even if it did not cost money to create, it still had the potentiol to make $252 million. And I count that as a lost sale because no money was made off of those 4.2 million copies.

 

[Sleekgiant]

and Activision goes bankrupt.

And nothing of value would be lost.

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

Exactly, most people pirate to try out a game, then purchase it later.

 

[SinorKirby]

Well of course it is, the game sucks so much that there's no reason anyone would actually PAY for it.

Only thing worth something is Zombies, and even that isn't worth buying the game over since World at War is about $30 cheaper.

And of course, this is Activision we're talking about. No one cares about them, and tons of people would rather that they DO go bankrupt. I know I wish they would, especially after what they did to StarCraft II.

 

[commiedic]

I am glad that people are not buying such a shitty console port. I mean horrible reviews for PC anyways. I am guessing that is the platform that it is getting pirated on the most.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

Ahhh man...this is gonna mean new release prices are gonna go up by $10...again...

Piracy is lame.

Really? I didn't think piracy had much to do with it, so much as knowing they could squeeze more money from consumers with Modern Warfare.

Nah its not just Modern Warfare and Activision games, over here prices are increased by about $10 every now and then for all Xbox new releases (I think PS3 is the same but I'm not sure) one of the reasons for it is to combat piracy, less people are paying so make those that are paying pay more.

In Australia an Xbox or PS3 new release will cost $120, a few months ago it was $110, before that $100.
This only encourages piracy. The whole idea is ridiculous, I know prices of everything inevitably go up but it seems to be happening way too fast, so fast that its just crazy.
Or maybe its just me.

 

[Enkidu88]

and Activision goes bankrupt.

And nothing of value would be lost.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner! Awesome post.

Considering that Activision made record breaking profits from the game, I hardly think those numbers are indicative of any actual loss suffered by the company.

 

[Sleekgiant]

and Activision goes bankrupt.

And nothing of value would be lost.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner! Awesome post.

Considering that Activision made record breaking profits from the game, I hardly think those numbers are indicative of any actual loss suffered by the company.

Also is it just my imagination but didn't Activision ruin Tony Hawk games and Guitar Hero?

 

[Thunderhorse31]

Any further attempts to bilk Activision out of a profit has my full support. Let the boycott continue!

 

[yundex]

The numbers seem a little screwy that 4.2 million people really downloaded the game. I mean why? Sure there is single player and lan, but considering you can't (at least in my knowledge) get to the multiplayer, then what is the point of downloading the game?

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

Well, I kinda have to disagree with you. The game is valued at $60 and someone got it for free. Which means, the money it cost to make each of those copies was not payed back.

Maybe its not a lost sale, but it sure is a waste of money.

Wait...what?
Hold the phone.
What do you mean the cost to make each of the copies was not paid back? There were no physical copies made for these people. It's not like Activision made 4.2 million copies of the game, packed it up, and somewhere along the shipping lines people stole these copies off the trucks. This is an illegal copy of the game. Activision takes no direct loss of money.

And like I said, whoever (to my knowledge) is downloading this game isn't necessarily playing it online, so it's not like they are getting the full game's worth.
Also just because someone pirates a game does not mean that they would otherwise have bought the game if said illegal copy was not available. Thus it a pirated copy is not directly a lost sale of the game.

I understand your way of thinking, and I agree with you on the not-costing-money-to-make thing. But, I also see your point of thinking in that people wouldn't have bought it if they didn't pirate it. And I do disagree.

The game was valued at $60 and some people got it for free. Even if it did not cost money to create, it still had the potentiol to make $252 million. And I count that as a lost sale because no money was made off of those 4.2 million copies.

I don't get it, if I pirate every game ever released, does that mean i'd buy everything if piracy wasn't possible? They're all "lost sales" too.

 

[Saucycarpdog]

The numbers seem a little screwy that 4.2 million people really downloaded the game. I mean why? Sure there is single player and lan, but considering you can't (at least in my knowledge) get to the multiplayer, then what is the point of downloading the game?

Also, because it has to be said over and over in each piracy thread, a download does not mean it is a lost sale.

Well, I kinda have to disagree with you. The game is valued at $60 and someone got it for free. Which means, the money it cost to make each of those copies was not payed back.

Maybe its not a lost sale, but it sure is a waste of money.

Wait...what?
Hold the phone.
What do you mean the cost to make each of the copies was not paid back? There were no physical copies made for these people. It's not like Activision made 4.2 million copies of the game, packed it up, and somewhere along the shipping lines people stole these copies off the trucks. This is an illegal copy of the game. Activision takes no direct loss of money.

And like I said, whoever (to my knowledge) is downloading this game isn't necessarily playing it online, so it's not like they are getting the full game's worth.
Also just because someone pirates a game does not mean that they would otherwise have bought the game if said illegal copy was not available. Thus it a pirated copy is not directly a lost sale of the game.

I understand your way of thinking, and I agree with you on the not-costing-money-to-make thing. But, I also see your point of thinking in that people wouldn't have bought it if they didn't pirate it. And I do disagree.

The game was valued at $60 and some people got it for free. Even if it did not cost money to create, it still had the potentiol to make $252 million. And I count that as a lost sale because no money was made off of those 4.2 million copies.

I don't get it, if I pirate every game ever released, does that mean i'd buy everything if piracy wasn't possible? They're all "lost sales" too.

I'm saying that those copies had the potentiol to make $252 million becuase you got the game for free. If I got a cookie recipe from a bakery and made the cookies myself and gave them out for free, sure the bakery wouldn't be losing any money, but they would be losing business.

Look, I don't want to start a piracy arguement right now. Let's just drop it and we can all have our own opinions.