If a company doesn't provide a demo for a game is it ok to pirate it?

[TheLastSamurai14]

snip

It's a great idea, to be honest. Give the players a 10 or so minute taste of the game's start or an appropriate part of the game by utilizing levels that were already programmed. It's not hard, it's not expensive, and it's not time consuming. The only question is why aren't developers doing it? It can draw more players in. Unless, of course, their game is shit and they don't want people figuring that out without paying a hefty sum for it. Most of the time, though, that's not the case.

Devs, Y U NO release demo!?

If a shop doesnt let you have a bite of an apple before buying, is it OK to steal the apple?

No, of course not. Whats wrong with you?

The difference is that an apple is finite, while you can enjoy a game as many times as you want. It's like saying that the bitten part of the apple will instantly regenerate after you eat it. Sorry, but your comparison is flawed.

"Of course it is ok. It's their job to provide a demo, otherwise they should be legally obliged to allow pirating of any form. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InsaneTrollLogic]"

Gah...want to click...so bad, but...TVTropes!

why are you trying so hard to resist? You cannot run forever. There is no escape.
So you could just as well spare yourself the pain and effort and just succumb to your urges.
TVtropes will get you. one way or another.

NEVER! *shuts down computer*

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

Yes and no, given certain circumstances.

Yes if your intent is purely to play the game to test it out because a demo was not available to you and you will delete the game after you have only played it for a day.

No if you just want the game without paying for it and are validating your piracy on the lack of a demo.

This is why I feel like video stores like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video should be brought up again. Yes, I know the kiosks have effectively put most of these businesses out of business (or making their service obsolete), but what made me want to come to these businesses is the variety of content available. For whatever reason, I might not catch the latest movie or hyped video game, but I would like to sometime later on. If Blockbuster was still around, I could still check that game out well after it has been released. Instead, I'm now limited to either subscription sites or kiosks that might only carry titles from the last few years rather than titles that have been launched since the release of the console.

 

[RobDJClark]

No, is the answer to that.

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

Well morally, people should remember that no act is inherently bad. It's about the circumstances. In these circumstances (and I know this will get me a warning, but whatever) I'd say it's morally acceptable. legally, not so much.

 

[Rainforce]

I understand it with that mentality, but I wonder why the hell my idea hasn't taken root, it would take a minimal amount of time to set up a demo like this and it could very well make a good game sell tons better for a minimal effort at best, and I know that publishers are all for making a shitload of extra money for just a little bit spent. Hell demos could be used by players to highlight shit that needs to be fixed in patches before the game releases even, increasing game quality even further.

I agree on the part that potential customers should be allowed to have a look at the unfinished product in some way - to give feedback for bugs, bad gameplay, etc.. considering Minecraft success and other indie games with similar release concepts, I suspect it could really work way better than just developing behind closed doors. but then again: PUBLISHERS and their fucked up perspective on HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE (of course backed up by studies that show they're right, with nice pie charts and everything [I look at you skyrim selling stats that left out steam]). I can blame them for all the misery in the world : D! *easy mode*

 

[Broknhead]

considering how many reviews are out for any given game, its quite easy to get a clear picture of if its worth buying. find a reviewer who seems to value the same things you do in games.

 

[mental_looney]

You are not entitled to a demo so there not being one is no reason to pirate something that you could rent or just not get if you really aren't sure about it.

 

[OftPgwo0EeVZZ8Olue5VqrixBRwHyFV]

I'm going to bait... And challenge some of you to look past your North America.
I live in Brazil: Here, the law is interpreted as you are allowed to download something for personal use, this is not considered piracy. I am legally permitted to download any game or music or movie I want, so long as I don't try to make money out of it.

I own a PS3 and a more or less capable PC. If a multiplatform game is being released and a PC version is available, I will download it for the PC and give it a shot. I found out that 80% of the time, I end up buying the game for the PS3. No remorse and no shame.
I try to read reviews and watch videos, but if I'm still in doubt, I will get it and try it out. Delete it when I'm done testing and move on; no harm done.


Personally, the idea of "pirating" feels a bit bizarre and dated. So long as you have the moral integrity to do what is right and support the developers for a job well done, I see no reason why someone can't download a game to check it out.

 

[Rainforce]

Devs, Y U NO release demo!?

Spoiler: guess what (click)

 

[The Pinray]

You're kidding, right? If the developer doesn't let you try out their game it's okay to steal it. You realize how foolish that sounds now, I hope.

 

[Strain42]

It's ok to refuse to buy the game, but it's not ok to pirate it.

Didn't Extra Credits (I'm hoping it's not taboo to talk about them here...) actually address that exact same subject?

Write the developer a letter. If even a small handful of people wrote to them and told them that they didn't buy their game because they didn't release a demo, they'd put a lot more thought into releasing a demo in the future.

So no, it's not ok to pirate it. But you could at least try to do something for future games.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

Devs, Y U NO release demo!?

Spoiler: guess what (click)

>implying I have the will to generate that image

 

[Ickorus]

This thread should be locked, it's completely one sided since if you say yes you get an infraction.

On-topic: It doesn't make it OK to pirate it but I can understand the thought process behind the people who take that tact on it.

Personally, if a game I want doesn't have a demo (Looking at you, Dead Space 2 PC version) I just don't buy the game and send the developers an email telling them just that, I figure if enough people do that it might change something rather than causing them to punish legitimate players with DRM.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

What about a game like System Shock 2 which cannot be bought legally and sed prices are insanely high?

it took all of 2 seconds for me to find a bunch of used copies: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000K4AX/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

 

[Wintermoot]

for 24 hours if you like it buy it if you don,t like it don,t but delete it after 24 hours.
at least morally
demo,s are impossible for some games (like Bethesda games) in nearly every other case games SHOULD have demo,s just release the tutorial and stage 1 for free a demo done right is Half-Life day 1 it,s not even 1/4 of HL1 but it,s EXTREMELY long it,s free so pick it up if you never played HL1 and want to see a demo done right.

 

[AngleWyrm]

ultimately the correct thing to do is to compensate everyone fully for all of the work they have done. publishers deal with distribution, developers make the game, retailers take your money and deal with having a local store: all of these people deserve renumeration for their work.

When you buy a used game [http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000K4AX/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&tag=vglnk-c21-20], who gets paid?
What about when you rent a game [http://www.gamefly.com/], who gets paid then?

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

If you use it as a demo. If you play it and buy it if you like it and delete it if its shit, then yes. Anybody saying otherwise doesn't understand the way people make purchases in the modern age.

Now, I have no real issue with piracy in any event, but it is not cut and dry acceptable if you are just pirating it to pirate it, it is less defensible.

 

[Lunar Templar]

well >.> no it doesn't make it ok, there are very few legit reason to pirate, and by few i mean 2
1) if there is absolutly NO other way to get the game where you are
and
2) if the game is so old that's its out of print and they don't make money off it anymore

but there should be more demos out there then there are

 

[Erana]

How about waiting for a price drop? Better for your wallet, bugs are all sorted out, and the general consensus on whether or not a title is good has been long since decided.

Why don't more people consider waiting an option?