DRM, Censorship, you brought it on yourselves.

[5mj7R7yf4Dwr3gdZyyu9PeGNwYjlNrjzuh3iTXQG]

My opinion, which has been solidified by the Windows Vista debacle, is that either side, the end users and the corporate industry, will abuse whatever loopholes they can exploit. Ironclad copy protection? Expect increased prices linked to popular franchises, lax quality control, artificial monopolies, price fixing and and so on. No copy protection? Expect entire piracy industries to sprout up and mercilessly undercut the legitimate market, usually starting in countries other than the intended market.

It's already been covered on this thread that the real "threat to the industry" (read: threat to the profits of the manufacturers and distributors, not so much a threat to the pittance received by the actual developers) is in the secondary market, not in the pirate community. Game piracy, while, yes, a menace, is minor compared to the legitimate practice of obtaining a played, uninstalled and used copy of a game without any additional profits going to the production company. And the present controversy around DRM tactics in use mostly stems from the fact that they are intended to slow down the secondary market (which they do) not pirates (which they don't).

My tactic has been, thus, to obtain legit rights to a game, and then obtaining a DRM-hacked copy of the game, so I am not limited to the number of installs, nor do I have to phone home when I do: my ability to enjoy a game or use a piece of software, should not depend on the well being of the company from which it originated. If Microsoft bought out EA tomorrow, turned them into a parking lot and then refused to honor EA licenses (all of which they can do), a lot of Spore and Bioshock players would be just screwed. I will not.

consider:
~ Entire regions of landfill are built entirely on dead DivX players and discs, despite permanent licenses to titles that remain legit, yet do not transfer to DVD or any other medium.
~ I'm staring right now at a 30GB Rocbox .mp3 player that does not work since Microsoft changed their audio media DRM schema and chose arbitrarily to cease support of this player.
~ Countless media files owned worldwide are useless despite the validity of their DRM licenses, just because Microsoft decided to stop honoring them in favor of newer tech. Again, the legitimacy of the license doesn't transfer to ownership of any other version.
~ Most copies of Windows XP Home will become useless about a year after the release of Windows 7, since Microsoft will cease to support activation, through WGA or otherwise. Corporate copies of XP pro that don't require activation will still install, but the countless updates will not be available on the Microsoft site.
~ Sony (the creators of SecuROM) has demonstrated a complete lack of qualm or scruple about installing dangerous rootkits without consent in order to protect their DR, much to the expense of many an end-user's time, energy and vital data. SecurROM 7.0 itself installs without permission, without EULA and operates at a higher privilege level than the user itself. And SecurROM refuses to support a clean uninstallation, just to make sure it can keep count of your runs for limited-run software. It also locks out legitimate superuser utilities that are used for reasons other than piracy (such as, say, coding or debugging). According to Sony, it has more rights to your computer's operation than you do.
~ The entire DVD industry banks on taking "extra bites of the apple", releasing multiple versions of popular movies with increasing amounts of quality or additional content. In these accounts, you own the medium, not the license, hence have to pay anew every time. But once you want to transfer a copy to your wife's .mp3 player, it becomes a one-user license, and you're expected to buy her a copy as well.
~ And I don't even need to elucidate on the RIAA lawsuits and those of whom they chose to make harsh examples.

If it really were about rampant piracy, where more than half of us owned illegitimate copies of games, and were the DRM to actually do something to slow this significantly, then maybe yes, we brought it on ourselves. But in reality, piracy is not what DRM stops or is trying to stop: it really is control legitimate end users, and how long and how much they get to play the game they bought.

If anything, DRM is going to ENCOURAGE more EUs to engage in piracy, not the other way around.

Derek.

 

[wordsmith]

If anything, DRM is going to ENCOURAGE more EUs to engage in piracy, not the other way around.

QFT.

Spore was the first major title with DRM that I am aware of. People who would usually have paid for the title went and pirated it instead. It's the rebellious human nature- someone says "don't do this", you automatically want to do it (unless you see a real, serious reason not to)

 

[rabidmidget]

This reminds of a friend i have with weird moral values which hurt my brain, such as when he said that he pirates EA games because he doesn't the company EA (for some reason he acts like publishers kicked his dog) because they use DRM which makes their games harder to crack... i think something in my brain burst when i heard this. so far the only times i have disliked DRM is when i had to rebuy DOW when i wanted to reinstall it and i had lost the manual (this was mainly my fault though), the time the internet was down because some joker cut the telephone wire so i couldnt install my new copy of far cry 2 and also the amount of times i have had to re enter the code for bioshock

 

[Lord Krunk]

I'll say two things.

1:

So, to return to my title statement; DRM and Censorship, you brought it on yourselves.

How is censorship part of this equation? I understand DRM and am not too bothered by it... but in what way is censorship justified by pirating?

Some threads were around a while back, saying how terrible Censorship was. In any case, the censored sites were pirate sites, and should have been censored. The issue is, they were talking about how many more sites would be censored to combat piracy, such as Youtube.

Ergo, Censorship is caused by piracy.

You may want to clear that up as what most people have probably mistaken you for is the censorship of things in videogames (like F.E.A.R 2's gratuitous amount of blood, sex scenes in GTA4 and Mass Effect etc) being caused by DRM, which wouldn't make any sense.

Second: I'm a predominantly console gamer with an old computer so I'm not affected as much by all this DRM piffle, however I still like the ideas of "One Disc, One Key" that I came up with a while ago, and free DLC for legitimate copies.

Thanks for the advice: I realise that it must be confusing considering how many people have asked why I mentioned Censorship in the first place.

 

[Flour]

If anything, DRM is going to ENCOURAGE more EUs to engage in piracy, not the other way around.

QFT.

Spore was the first major title with DRM that I am aware of. People who would usually have paid for the title went and pirated it instead. It's the rebellious human nature- someone says "don't do this", you automatically want to do it (unless you see a real, serious reason not to)

Spore was the first title where people were encouraged to download it, Bioshock was one of the first games with SecuRom DRM.

 

[manicfoot]

DRM shouldn't treat legitimate customers as criminals. Currently it does. It's pretty much like a police officer responding to a call from a woman who's been raped and saying "You got raped? With that skirt you were asking for it"

 

[Baby Tea]

You're really stuck in your own little world, aren't you? People who have been disappointed by a product, will be much more careful when buying another, similar product. Game sales would drop if piracy was made impossible.

It's more common than you think, and it's not irrelevant why I pirate games. It's only irrelevant for your little "every pirate wants everything for free" argument.

Then, how exactly would I get educated on a game when there is no proper demo and reviews can't be trusted? Yeah.. that would have meant that the total amount of games I would have bought in the last 3 years is exactly one. The Orange Box, because Valve automatically gets my money if I get to play a new Half Life game.
I don't think I ever meant to use it as an excuse, I already stated that there was absolutely NO chance of me buying games if I didn't play downloaded games.(technically I never download anything, my brother is the one with the high-speed torrent site, I just abuse the fact that we're on the same network)

Oh for Pete's sake.

I'm not saying that demos are bad, and I'm not saying it's bad to want to try to play a game before you get it to see if it's good. I completely understand, and I think it's a fantastic way to know if a game is right for you and your computer.

What I AM saying, is that the lack of a demo isn't an excuse for pirating.

Read the little back and forth between Butters and I:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.86308.1276723

No doubt that there needs to be some reformations within the industry in terms of quality control, and customers knowing for sure what they are getting. No doubt. I'm 100% behind anyone who says similar. All I'm saying is that lack of quality control or demos doesn't give anyone the right to break into vigilante pirating.

With pirating, the developers see loss of potential sales (Whether you agree with that or not, they do).
But if there wasn't pirating, and game sales DID drop, as you suggest (And I agree), then they can only blame themselves, and not scape-goat pirates. Then they'd HAVE to make changes to their games and game development practices.

But as it stands, since pirating is so prevalent, they just fall back on 'it's pirating' and you are going to be stuck with unsure, poor out of the box quality. Pirating allowed, and continues to allow, the industry to slip into a lazy slump with a finger propped up and pointed at the 'Blame Piracy' poster on the wall.

Illegally downloading something isn't a right. It's just one more reason why the industry isn't giving as much of a shit.

 

[Wyatt]

Don't steal and ***** when you are no longer trusted.

some of us arent, we dont steal but we get screwed with DRM anyhow, while those of us who DO steal dont have to deal with DRM at all.

its not the pirates that are bitching, they are laughing their balls off at those of us saps still willing to do the 'right' thing and actualy PAY to get fucked.

 

[Lord Krunk]

But as it stands, since pirating is so prevalent, they just fall back on 'it's pirating' and you are going to be stuck with unsure, poor out of the box quality. Pirating allowed, and continues to allow, the industry to slip into a lazy slump with a finger propped up and pointed at the 'Blame Piracy' poster on the wall.

Illegally downloading something isn't a right. It's just one more reason why the industry isn't giving as much of a shit.

Thanks for the help, I agree with your mentality.

However, 'trying a game to se if I want it' is yet another false ideology, as they already have it, and can't be bothered using the extra effort to pay.
The same thing goes for 'if I didn't want to buy it, it doesn't count'. Because, essentially, you've stolen it instead.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

However, 'trying a game to se if I want it' is yet another false ideology, as they already have it, and can't be bothered using the extra effort to pay.

Not if they uninstall it afterwards.

 

[theultimateend]

But as it stands, since pirating is so prevalent, they just fall back on 'it's pirating' and you are going to be stuck with unsure, poor out of the box quality. Pirating allowed, and continues to allow, the industry to slip into a lazy slump with a finger propped up and pointed at the 'Blame Piracy' poster on the wall.

Illegally downloading something isn't a right. It's just one more reason why the industry isn't giving as much of a shit.

Thanks for the help, I agree with your mentality.

However, 'trying a game to se if I want it' is yet another false ideology, as they already have it, and can't be bothered using the extra effort to pay.
The same thing goes for 'if I didn't want to buy it, it doesn't count'. Because, essentially, you've stolen it instead.

I've already explained on two different DRM threads why both what you quoted and you are wrong.

Likewise using the word 'essentially' really makes for a weak argument.

NOTHING stops developers from making cheap concept games, many dev teams already do this but they never release it to the public which would be a perfect way of testing the waters before wasting money. Piracy is just the excuse given to cover a lack of innovation and overall poor product quality.

World of Goo had concept version of it up before the game was finished, it isn't impossible, nor is it difficult, nor is it expensive, likewise its ALREADY a part of the development process so there is no extra pressure involved (it would likely end up saving them 100 million dollars they'd otherwise have spent on a piece of shit game then blamed Piracy even when their game was barely pirated because of previously mention shit quality).

Also don't say 'industry' for the most part its a few shallow companies, mainly EA and Sony, that are fighting so hard to spread propaganda about what is going on. Good games are made all the time they just aren't made by big devs.

Hinterland is a great base for an amazing full fledged game (with multiple levels and character saves and such).
Defense Grid is the first game I've played in years that has gotten me thinking.
World of Goo is one of the first games in a long time to make me smile.
and Galactic Civilization II from Stardock has gotten increasingly more fun with every expansion (the latest being amazing).

Are ANY of these people creating shit because of this fantasy piracy land the people here are trying to paint? No...they are busy making good games, getting good customer relations, and making money. Because that's ALL that anyone asks for, respect your customers, create quality products, and stop thinking about nothing but making money. (likewise with entirely subjective material...seriously...nobody has given numbers to prove that their theory of pirates != sales ever)

Like I said in another thread. If you are solely in the business of making money, you will not survive. If however you would like to make money by being solely in the business of making quality goods or services, you will thrive for a very very long time.

Don't steal and ***** when you are no longer trusted.

some of us arent, we dont steal but we get screwed with DRM anyhow, while those of us who DO steal dont have to deal with DRM at all.

its not the pirates that are bitching, they are laughing their balls off at those of us saps still willing to do the 'right' thing and actualy PAY to get fucked.

If is the right thing if your being punished for it? Likewise it's all but been stated directly that EA's current DRM setup is primarily for halting second hand sales which they do not support nor do they feel should be legal.

Spore was the first title where people were encouraged to download it, Bioshock was one of the first games with SecuRom DRM.

Likewise SPORE was a great example of abandoning your principles in the hope of bolstering the almighty dollar.

I bought that game and it's been such a strong event for me I've not (and never will) but another game made by EA ever again. Every time they absorb companies I like they destroy them in the hopes of milking money off the lowest common denominator.

So, to return to my title statement; DRM and Censorship, you brought it on yourselves.

How is censorship part of this equation? I understand DRM and am not too bothered by it... but in what way is censorship justified by pirating?

Some threads were around a while back, saying how terrible Censorship was. In any case, the censored sites were pirate sites, and should have been censored. The issue is, they were talking about how many more sites would be censored to combat piracy, such as Youtube.

Ergo, Censorship is caused by piracy.

Now what bothers me about you. Is you are another one of those people who thinks censorship (or banning for that matter) has ever helped a problem.

Prohibition created massive crime rings.
Heroin, Cocaine, and every other substance made illegal immediately became more popular and more prolific.
The censoring of (access to) pornography in persons under 18 created a mystique about sex that leads people to be curious. Likewise its not exactly something you can try and throw to the side for most people. "Eh that was boring"

Censoring of controversial arts during most major wars made them just more desired and caused their numbers to increase (until the censorship reached levels of violence).

Child pornography has been getting more aggressively censored every year and EVERY YEAR since as far back as I've looked the services monitoring it have used phrases like "massively increasing", "huge spike", or "incredible expansion".

Censoring does NOT stop anything ever and it never has. It just creates criminals and likewise it creates craftier criminals.

Is that REALLY what is best? Having crime still exist in ever growing numbers but living in a veil of ignorance where you don't believe it is.

That's why I feel this topic is ridiculous. Nobody brought this on themselves, as it stands even if piracy DIDN'T exist EA would still have introduced DRM because they are adamantly against second hand sales. It just bothers me when people make these wild accusations when all evidence points to the opposite spectrum for the exception of the people producing the propoganda.

Crysis didn't sell poorly because of piracy.
SPORE wasn't hurt by piracy.
DoWII won't be hurt by piracy.

They'll sell to the people that like them and not to the people who don't for the exception of a small group of people who wouldn't buy the product regardless of piracy existing or not. What hurt Crysis was having a CEO who feels that consumers know nothing and when they don't like a game its because "they don't understand games", SPORE was hurt because EA has a pension for bastardizing good ideas to help sell to people who can barely walk because they know as well as candy companies that little children can milk their parents for money, DOWII may see sales losses because its an entirely different game than its successful predecessor.

Piracy is a scape goat that cannot be legitimately blamed for any of the problems people have laid out here. Because all the things piracy gets blamed for could be fixed with (relative to total costs) almost nonexistent costs.

 

[Wyatt]

If is the right thing if your being punished for it? Likewise it's all but been stated directly that EA's current DRM setup is primarily for halting second hand sales which they do not support nor do they feel should be legal.

dude, im on YOUR side. perhaps if i could make a suggestion, maybe you could actualy read other peoples replys before you start trying to cherry pick things out of them.

i have found your posts to be pretty much spot on with my opinions about the subject and indeed one of your replys was a great improvment over an idea that I had touched uppon previously. do us all the courtesy to atleast read what we write before you reply like we have you.

now as a specific answer to what i quoted, yes its the right thing to do to pay for someone elses work. i totaly agree that pirating someones work is wrong, there is no excuse for stealing something. my point is 2 fold. number 1 the thieves arent being punihsed by DRM, and 2 i dont feel any sympath for the companys that are abusing DRM to punish their paying customers that get pirated. the OP said that we are bringing the DRM shit on ourselves, hes flat out ignorant if he really thinks this. its a simple fact that DRM doesnt stop pirats and the only people it DOES effect are the very people that are PAYING for their games. you do make a great point about the resale aspect of the DRM as well. as ive said in previous posts only fools can see this issue in any other way than companys trying to milk every last cent they can out of those willing too do the right thing and PAY for their product, and they are trying to accomplish this royal screwing by using the cover of 'stoping piracy'. even Credit card companys, the gold standord of customer fuckery practices, stand in admiration of this blatiant money grab by game companys.

anyhow id MUCH prefer the Government step in and punish those companys rather than leave it in the hands of 'pirates' but since the government here in the states atleast doesnt seem to be doing anything at the moment than the best 'justice' that we honist consumers can get at the moment is too sit and laugh our asses off at companys like EA that are getting a royal screwing on the torrent sights.

 

[Lord Krunk]

However, 'trying a game to se if I want it' is yet another false ideology, as they already have it, and can't be bothered using the extra effort to pay.

Not if they uninstall it afterwards.

But do they? I doubt it wholeheartedly.

But as it stands, since pirating is so prevalent, they just fall back on 'it's pirating' and you are going to be stuck with unsure, poor out of the box quality. Pirating allowed, and continues to allow, the industry to slip into a lazy slump with a finger propped up and pointed at the 'Blame Piracy' poster on the wall.

Illegally downloading something isn't a right. It's just one more reason why the industry isn't giving as much of a shit.

Thanks for the help, I agree with your mentality.

However, 'trying a game to se if I want it' is yet another false ideology, as they already have it, and can't be bothered using the extra effort to pay.
The same thing goes for 'if I didn't want to buy it, it doesn't count'. Because, essentially, you've stolen it instead.

I've already explained on two different DRM threads why both what you quoted and you are wrong.

Likewise using the word 'essentially' really makes for a weak argument.

NOTHING stops developers from making cheap concept games, many dev teams already do this but they never release it to the public which would be a perfect way of testing the waters before wasting money. Piracy is just the excuse given to cover a lack of innovation and overall poor product quality.

World of Goo had concept version of it up before the game was finished, it isn't impossible, nor is it difficult, nor is it expensive, likewise its ALREADY a part of the development process so there is no extra pressure involved (it would likely end up saving them 100 million dollars they'd otherwise have spent on a piece of shit game then blamed Piracy even when their game was barely pirated because of previously mention shit quality).

Also don't say 'industry' for the most part its a few shallow companies, mainly EA and Sony, that are fighting so hard to spread propaganda about what is going on. Good games are made all the time they just aren't made by big devs.

Hinterland is a great base for an amazing full fledged game (with multiple levels and character saves and such).
Defense Grid is the first game I've played in years that has gotten me thinking.
World of Goo is one of the first games in a long time to make me smile.
and Galactic Civilization II from Stardock has gotten increasingly more fun with every expansion (the latest being amazing).

Are ANY of these people creating shit because of this fantasy piracy land the people here are trying to paint? No...they are busy making good games, getting good customer relations, and making money. Because that's ALL that anyone asks for, respect your customers, create quality products, and stop thinking about nothing but making money. (likewise with entirely subjective material...seriously...nobody has given numbers to prove that their theory of pirates != sales ever)

Like I said in another thread. If you are solely in the business of making money, you will not survive. If however you would like to make money by being solely in the business of making quality goods or services, you will thrive for a very very long time.

Don't steal and ***** when you are no longer trusted.

some of us arent, we dont steal but we get screwed with DRM anyhow, while those of us who DO steal dont have to deal with DRM at all.

its not the pirates that are bitching, they are laughing their balls off at those of us saps still willing to do the 'right' thing and actualy PAY to get fucked.

If is the right thing if your being punished for it? Likewise it's all but been stated directly that EA's current DRM setup is primarily for halting second hand sales which they do not support nor do they feel should be legal.

Spore was the first title where people were encouraged to download it, Bioshock was one of the first games with SecuRom DRM.

Likewise SPORE was a great example of abandoning your principles in the hope of bolstering the almighty dollar.

I bought that game and it's been such a strong event for me I've not (and never will) but another game made by EA ever again. Every time they absorb companies I like they destroy them in the hopes of milking money off the lowest common denominator.

So, to return to my title statement; DRM and Censorship, you brought it on yourselves.

How is censorship part of this equation? I understand DRM and am not too bothered by it... but in what way is censorship justified by pirating?

Some threads were around a while back, saying how terrible Censorship was. In any case, the censored sites were pirate sites, and should have been censored. The issue is, they were talking about how many more sites would be censored to combat piracy, such as Youtube.

Ergo, Censorship is caused by piracy.

Now what bothers me about you. Is you are another one of those people who thinks censorship (or banning for that matter) has ever helped a problem.

Prohibition created massive crime rings.
Heroin, Cocaine, and every other substance made illegal immediately became more popular and more prolific.
The censoring of (access to) pornography in persons under 18 created a mystique about sex that leads people to be curious. Likewise its not exactly something you can try and throw to the side for most people. "Eh that was boring"

Censoring of controversial arts during most major wars made them just more desired and caused their numbers to increase (until the censorship reached levels of violence).

Child pornography has been getting more aggressively censored every year and EVERY YEAR since as far back as I've looked the services monitoring it have used phrases like "massively increasing", "huge spike", or "incredible expansion".

Censoring does NOT stop anything ever and it never has. It just creates criminals and likewise it creates craftier criminals.

Is that REALLY what is best? Having crime still exist in ever growing numbers but living in a veil of ignorance where you don't believe it is.

That's why I feel this topic is ridiculous. Nobody brought this on themselves, as it stands even if piracy DIDN'T exist EA would still have introduced DRM because they are adamantly against second hand sales. It just bothers me when people make these wild accusations when all evidence points to the opposite spectrum for the exception of the people producing the propoganda.

Crysis didn't sell poorly because of piracy.
SPORE wasn't hurt by piracy.
DoWII won't be hurt by piracy.

They'll sell to the people that like them and not to the people who don't for the exception of a small group of people who wouldn't buy the product regardless of piracy existing or not. What hurt Crysis was having a CEO who feels that consumers know nothing and when they don't like a game its because "they don't understand games", SPORE was hurt because EA has a pension for bastardizing good ideas to help sell to people who can barely walk because they know as well as candy companies that little children can milk their parents for money, DOWII may see sales losses because its an entirely different game than its successful predecessor.

Piracy is a scape goat that cannot be legitimately blamed for any of the problems people have laid out here. Because all the things piracy gets blamed for could be fixed with (relative to total costs) almost nonexistent costs.

I don't respect your decision, as I can't respect a pirate/pirate sympathiser, but I respect your reasons, and I believe you are entitled to your own beliefs. There are some flaws in your argument, such as making uneducated predictions and comments, and the fact that you say I like DRM (didn't hurt me, but there are legitimate reasons why people hate it), when I don't say as such. It's like you just paraded into this thread screaming 'OMG ANTI-PIRATEZ LETZ FLAM EM LOL!', without looking at the OP. I said that pirates were the reason for DRM, not a viable way of preventing it. It's basically punishing consumers because of the untrustworthy medium in the gaming industry, and really, are they to be trusted?

Likewise, TALKING LIKE THIS weakens your argument.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

As long as an opportunity exists I won't condemn the people who take advantage.

So, just as an example, if a store didn't have security cameras or guards, you would be all right with people robbing it?

 

[CAPPINJACK]

When I read the first post I immediately thought this:

Blah blah blah, windbag, etc...
You're against DRM = You're a pirate
Blah blah blah. If I cover your ears the problem will go away. Let's just not mention the "P" word anymore ok?

There was another idiot who had this "if you're not with us, you're against us" mentality. And I'm sure he'll eventually find those WMDs...

I don't care what bullshit story you might concoct. I don't care how you might try and wrap up your real point of view (as stated above) in pretty language and attempt to pass off your narrow viewpoint as eloquent and thought provoking debate. It's not. You're just another DRM apologist.

Disliking DRM does not mean you're a pirate. Not talking about unpleasant stuff will not make it a better world and it certainly doesn't make a problem go away.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Use the HK-47 logic. Cheating is only called cheating if one is caught in the act. Otherwise it is seen as intelligence. As long as security is lax enough that pirates can do what they do as often as they do with as much consistent success as they do, I cannot help but blame their victims for being too weak to defend themselves. It has been said on this very thread that pirates are lazy. What might a particularly talented and driven internet pirate accomplish if the lazy ones are already so dangerous?

Interesting comment, but the lazy ones are the ones who merely download the material. The harder-working ones are the ones distributing the materials in the first place.

As for you:

When I read the first post I immediately thought this:

Blah blah blah, windbag, etc...
You're against DRM = You're a pirate
Blah blah blah. If I cover your ears the problem will go away. Let's just not mention the "P" word anymore ok?

There was another idiot who had this "if you're not with us, you're against us" mentality. And I'm sure he'll eventually find those WMDs...

I don't care what bullshit story you might concoct. I don't care how you might try and wrap up your real point of view (as stated above) in pretty language and trying to pass off your narrow viewpoint as eloquent and thought provoking debate. It's not. You're just another DRM apologist.

Disliking DRM does not mean you're a pirate. Not talking about unpleasant stuff will not make it a better world and it certainly doesn't make a problem go away.

Jeez, you didn't read it.

And I've never had any Bush black-or-white mentality with regard to this, but for the most part, I am right.

Do your homework before trying to start a flame war; I'm starting to doubt the intelligence of this forum now.

 

[Meatstorm]

I quess one way to reduce piracy could be global release dates. I can relate to someone who has eagerly waited for some specific game to come and then learns that i will be released few weeks later in his country.

I also dont like the idea of overly complex anti piracy measures since its bound to harm those who have actually bought it. (even though i dont like it i admit that they have right to do so)

 

[BubbleGumSnareDrum]

Developers will not convince me that piracy is bad by turning into money hungry douchebags with no respect for their fans.

Things like "booster packs" where they nickel and dime you for weapons/characters/maps whatever make me angry, especially when it's often so obvious that said content could (and likely should) have been in a game the day it came out. Things like exclusive content only given to people who pre-order the game and buy it brand new at full price, ensuring that anybody who rents the game or buys it used will never, ever see that content. Things like giving unlockables to pre-orderers right off the bat while anybody else is at a distinct disadvantage online because they'll have to play for months to get those unlocks.

All of these things do not make me more aware of the bad effects of piracy, they simply make me less keen on forking over dough for a game.