Argument #1: The corporations don't need the money
You know how Activision started? A small group of people programming for the Atari. In its day it was THE FIRST INDEPENDENT DEVELOPER IN THE WORLD. That's right, the big bad Activision was the 2D Boy of the 70s and 80s. So this big bad corporation that doesn't need your money, it started out as the golden child. So all you people cheering for the Infinity Ward staffers leaving to start their own company, think about that for a second. Oh wait, World of Goo (which was sold for whatever price you wanted for a time) was pirated to an insane degree. Good work.
Argument #2: I'm sticking it to them
I hate McDonalds, stupid restaurant! Which is why I eat there to stick it to them. Congratulations, you're a idiot. Boycotters, take note: boycotting a game is fine. Boycotting a game, then pirating it, just shows how much of a loud mouthed, attention seeking jackass you really are. It says you want the game, you want to play it, but you want to play it on YOUR terms and damn anyone, the game's developer included (even if they're an indy studio, damn them for wanting money to survive, greedy corporation!), who says otherwise.
Argument #3: I can't afford the game/Games are too expensive
Too fucking bad you entitled little shits. I can guarantee 90% of people with this attitude are kids who have never had to get by on $10 a week for months on end because there's no work in their field. And you think the fact you can't afford something justifies stealing it? Try that on a car and see how far you make it. With any luck you'll nearly hit a cop and they'll just shoot you and be done with it. Just think of it as stealing their bullets because you're boycotting being shot by police. See, your argument is perfect!
The video game culture right now is in a bad state. Gamers are an immature, loud mouthed, entitled group of people. We want everything, we want it now, we want it our way, and damn anyone who dares try to make a profit off it it, or do anything however slight that we don't like. It's like someone shifted our culture from creativity and game play to some mess based on the ideals of that jackass college student who hates everything but doesn't really explain why. Corporations are bad! My mass produced button I bought at HMV says so! Look at Left 4 Dead 2, the perfect individual example. Valve makes games too slow! What, a new game? BOO! It should be a free expansion pack! Wait, I know, I'll pirate the game! That will show them that I agree with them entirely but am too arrogant to actually purchase it.
Ultimately, there is no argument. Piracy is stealing, simple as that. We don't have threads arguing whether or not murder is justifiable, or whether breaking and enter is justifiable. It is legally illegal so stop trying to convince everyone you're doing something noble and rebellious. Piracy is the new smoking in class. The only one who doesn't think you're an idiot is you.
But then hey, we're the culture that demands we be treated seriously, while at the same time sending death threats to people we don't like, and making every single instance of nudity in video games a news post (seriously Escapist, you're not doing something good with that). How do you think the outside sees us? A bunch of thieving, lying, obnoxious, foul mouthed, immature, violent, dangerous individuals. No wonder the media always attacks us, we give them all the ammo they ever need.
As a post-note, I'm an artist. An INDEPENDENT artist. If you pirate my stuff, you know who it hurts? Me and only me. Go on, be a big man, ruin my day because you're a cheap fucker.
