The same can be said about Video Games, and all the developers you seem to think you are supporting. I have no concrete numbers, so let's make one up. 97% of all video game money you spend goes to Activision.Snotnarok said:
Poll: Your feelings of game pirating.
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And you sir, convinced my girlfriend to get an NDS acekard2i. She was my co-writer. You sir put into words almost everything I feel about our capitalistic society.FungTheDestroy said:
We live in a place where the creative minds are exploited by the ones with bottomless vaults of cash who view them only as an investment to get more money into their pockets. This should not be the case.
As a student of the game industry, I do not look forward to working for a corporation, although I may have to. I hope I can get the courage to try and start my own gaming firm but first I must graduate!
Cue crazy right-wing nut jobs!!! (LOL JK ROFL LOL)
I never understood why it's okay to watch it on youtube but not download the song. I guess the advertisements we see pay for it, or something.Bourne said:
I agree, and as you know, the Us vs. Them lawsuits have already been ongoing for years with thepiratebay and whatnot, and they even keep a section [http://thepiratebay.org/legal] on their site full of legal threats they've received, and sometimes their responses (which are especially entertaining to me.)SavingPrincess said:
I disagree with the ridiculous amount of profit that these middle-men make, and I wish it was possible for someone to simply create and distribute instead of create and need to send their product off to a middle-man to distribute. Sadly, there's a lot more to the videogame "industry" than the actual games, so publishers will try to take care of themselves for a few years.
Who said I buy from activision? They're not a nice company now a days and the latest comments to come from that CEO makes me want to stab him.FungTheDestroy said:
But the publishers actually DO things for the developers, produce the game, help fund the game, give them credit, get the games distributed, and advertise for them.
Record labels get them known (sometimes) but for the most part they pay them very little unless they're a huge hit. Otherwise they just ride on the bands success
... that aside, one needs to look at the facts surrounding the world in which we live:
If there existed a box with a button on it that said "Press This Button to Get What You Want For Free," (or as I like to call it, the PTBTGWYWFF... err... button) you can be rest assured that we'd all develop blisters on our preferred fingers from pressing that button more times per day than we think about sex... unless what we want is sex, then the amount of times we press the button would pretty much be equal I suppose... but that's neither here nor there.
So now mankind has figured out a way to make a semblance of this "magic button," at least in the digital world, and now all the creators of the products it can replicate for free were hoping that no one would press it and give them continually rising amounts of money for their products instead. Then, much to everyone's surprise, the reliable, decidedly human-nature-based world couldn't hear the creators over the sound of their incessant PTBTGWTWFF button pressing.
Shocking I know.
The point being is that complaining about it and trying to prosecute everyone (or a few select people who will serve as martyrs for their cause) isn't going to change anything. The only difference between now and yesteryear is now people who create things that they want us to pay them money to enjoy, have to be... well... umm... what's the word... oh yeah:
Creative.
See back in the middle ages, if a jester or minstrel walked into the court of a king to put on a little show and the king liked his performance, he would be showered with riches and food, women, and kept on the kingdom's payroll. If he didn't like his performance, the king would be equally entertained by watching whoever was closest with a blade and wasn't busy stuffing their face with potentially plague-ridden food run the poor little (expletive deleted) through.
Now however, we're required to pay up-front, with good faith that we're going to enjoy what we experience. I cannot count the hundreds of thousands of dollars I've given up over the years with the simple (albeit failed) promise that I was going to enjoy the experience I was paying for... and no, it's not what you're thinking of... I'm talking about music, movies and video games. Stay focused.
The problem with this is that creators, be they musicians, directors, actors, game developers... have a set "return on investment" in mind when they set out to create something that was based off a status-quo nearly a century old. If a movie costs $10 million to make, and it grosses only $16 million in box office sales, it's a failure. Let's ignore the fact that it made $6 MILLION dollars (which is probably more money than I'll ever see in a personal bank account in my lifetime), because the industry has become so bloated from the middle that hundreds of people who barely had anything to do with the creation of the product are making a ton of money from it. There was recently a credit in a movie that said: "Assistant to the assistant of so n' so." I mean really? With things like that in existence, we're supposed to feel bad that we didn't pay $12 for a movie ticket? (Avatar was $18 per person in 3-D).
If creative industries GTFO'd away from alternate business models, perhaps they need to restructure their development models instead. Arresting and fining everyone won't make a difference; not to mention that people make it their personal crusades (in their spare time without money being made) to circumvent any sort of DRM that the industry can come up with.
Unless we go back to the middle-ages model; where we're allowed to view any movie, listen to any song, play any game without paying a dime upfront. If we enjoy ourselves, we give the creative teams money... if we don't... we shoot them.
If there existed a box with a button on it that said "Press This Button to Get What You Want For Free," (or as I like to call it, the PTBTGWYWFF... err... button) you can be rest assured that we'd all develop blisters on our preferred fingers from pressing that button more times per day than we think about sex... unless what we want is sex, then the amount of times we press the button would pretty much be equal I suppose... but that's neither here nor there.
So now mankind has figured out a way to make a semblance of this "magic button," at least in the digital world, and now all the creators of the products it can replicate for free were hoping that no one would press it and give them continually rising amounts of money for their products instead. Then, much to everyone's surprise, the reliable, decidedly human-nature-based world couldn't hear the creators over the sound of their incessant PTBTGWTWFF button pressing.
Shocking I know.
The point being is that complaining about it and trying to prosecute everyone (or a few select people who will serve as martyrs for their cause) isn't going to change anything. The only difference between now and yesteryear is now people who create things that they want us to pay them money to enjoy, have to be... well... umm... what's the word... oh yeah:
Creative.
See back in the middle ages, if a jester or minstrel walked into the court of a king to put on a little show and the king liked his performance, he would be showered with riches and food, women, and kept on the kingdom's payroll. If he didn't like his performance, the king would be equally entertained by watching whoever was closest with a blade and wasn't busy stuffing their face with potentially plague-ridden food run the poor little (expletive deleted) through.
Now however, we're required to pay up-front, with good faith that we're going to enjoy what we experience. I cannot count the hundreds of thousands of dollars I've given up over the years with the simple (albeit failed) promise that I was going to enjoy the experience I was paying for... and no, it's not what you're thinking of... I'm talking about music, movies and video games. Stay focused.
The problem with this is that creators, be they musicians, directors, actors, game developers... have a set "return on investment" in mind when they set out to create something that was based off a status-quo nearly a century old. If a movie costs $10 million to make, and it grosses only $16 million in box office sales, it's a failure. Let's ignore the fact that it made $6 MILLION dollars (which is probably more money than I'll ever see in a personal bank account in my lifetime), because the industry has become so bloated from the middle that hundreds of people who barely had anything to do with the creation of the product are making a ton of money from it. There was recently a credit in a movie that said: "Assistant to the assistant of so n' so." I mean really? With things like that in existence, we're supposed to feel bad that we didn't pay $12 for a movie ticket? (Avatar was $18 per person in 3-D).
If creative industries GTFO'd away from alternate business models, perhaps they need to restructure their development models instead. Arresting and fining everyone won't make a difference; not to mention that people make it their personal crusades (in their spare time without money being made) to circumvent any sort of DRM that the industry can come up with.
Unless we go back to the middle-ages model; where we're allowed to view any movie, listen to any song, play any game without paying a dime upfront. If we enjoy ourselves, we give the creative teams money... if we don't... we shoot them.
Wow, Auronvi. I haven't seen you post in ages. Where you been?
In my opinion, we pay for the internet already, everything should be free on it already but obviously that is not the case, unfortunately.
What I like is that a lot of developers are releasing their games for free to download status, like the original Command and Conquer.
In my opinion, we pay for the internet already, everything should be free on it already but obviously that is not the case, unfortunately.
What I like is that a lot of developers are releasing their games for free to download status, like the original Command and Conquer.
Now you know the whole ninja vs pirate thing?
I was thinking, if pirating a game is taking it without permission and ninjaing a topic on a forum is saying something that someone else wanted to say before them, than would a game ninja steal the game before it's released?
I love it when I hear that a game is on the internet long before the release date. It makes me know that someone in the company thinks that their games should be distributed free of charge for everyone to enjoy. (or a review copy but let me have my fantasy!)
Game ninjas ftw!
I was thinking, if pirating a game is taking it without permission and ninjaing a topic on a forum is saying something that someone else wanted to say before them, than would a game ninja steal the game before it's released?
I love it when I hear that a game is on the internet long before the release date. It makes me know that someone in the company thinks that their games should be distributed free of charge for everyone to enjoy. (or a review copy but let me have my fantasy!)
Game ninjas ftw!
Thanks, I feel loved. Was working in school for a few weeks. Life got in the way. Plus I was playing a lot of games. I love it here! Lifetime member of escapist!Dommyboy said:
I felt morally shameful after installing Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. I did not illegally obtain the game, quite the contrary I bought the title brand new from a CompUSA. I installed, ran, played and was enthralled on a level I have not experienced since completing the demo of Deus Ex in 2001. Shortly afterwards I found out that Activision had terminated the entire development staff who had worked on the title weeks prior.
Who is then in the wrong? Who is the theif? The people who illegally download or gets a burnt copy of that game, or the people who took away the jobs from the ones who worked on the game and now collect all the profits made from it as their own?
Who is then in the wrong? Who is the theif? The people who illegally download or gets a burnt copy of that game, or the people who took away the jobs from the ones who worked on the game and now collect all the profits made from it as their own?
I've invested in one of these, and as someone who "lacks the financial backing to enjoy his accustomed lifestyle" (Read: YAAAARRRR!!!), I would certainly agree that these are worth the investment.auronvi said:
As for the whole is it okay thing, I would say it depends on who pirates it. For instance, someone like me. I don't think I've finished a single game that I've "acquired", and probably haven't even gotten halfway through most of them. While I would love to support the developers, I would feel jipped at paying full price for something I won't ever fully finish. And yes, that's on me, but I think it makes perfect sense. The same with going to see movies and theaters. Games and movies get more and more expensive, and my financial means are diminishing. Life's a *****.
I live in Australia.
Games get censored left, right and centre.
Who wants to play a censored game?
Blame the Australian Government for encouraging piracy
In saying that I only pirate games renowned for single player: E.g. Fallout 3, Stalker: Pripyat, Half Life 2. I'll buy games for multi-player or if I have been following a game religiously (re: Just Cause 2) I'll buy it.
On a side note. In Borderlands pirates can play with people who bought the game without need of a crack or anything...
Games get censored left, right and centre.
Who wants to play a censored game?
Blame the Australian Government for encouraging piracy
In saying that I only pirate games renowned for single player: E.g. Fallout 3, Stalker: Pripyat, Half Life 2. I'll buy games for multi-player or if I have been following a game religiously (re: Just Cause 2) I'll buy it.
On a side note. In Borderlands pirates can play with people who bought the game without need of a crack or anything...
You have an option for 'old games' and an option for 'to try games' but no 'old games and for demo-ing new games'. I for one think that if you download an illegal copy and delete it after X many playing hours (like 1-2) and never share it with anyone or anything for the sole purpose of determining whether or not it is worth spending money on, then I see no problem (ethically at least), and as for downloading old games on old platforms that no-one makes any real money out of, then I have no ethical problem with that either. My only problems come from profiting from piracy or downloading a game you would have otherwise bought (as in, it would be worth spending money on).
It's like the freeloaders that only read manga or watch anime online. Except it pisses me off more.
I used to be heavily against pirating, but after I got dropped from all my classes for the whole semester due to a glitch and was forced to either waste $20,000 or drop out of college (I dropped out), I haven't really been to concerned about EA, Paramount, or the music companys' bottom lines. World's screwing me over, and I've got nothing wrong with depriving a couple obscenely rich companies of money they were never going to get anyway. Is it an immature rationale? Perhaps, but I really don't care anymore.
