Poll: Your feelings of game pirating.

[PrimoThePro]

i only do it to try out. no lie. ill play a game's intro, and if i like it, i may just get the real game. otherwise, the download goes out the window.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Only very old games that you can't find anywhere else or are ungodly expensive on ebay.

 

[RatRace123]

I don't support game pirating, nor have I done it. It causes developers to lose money and the community to look bad. And also my PC is too crappy to play games on.

 

[Delock]

While I doubt that anyone is actually clean of doing this (especially music when some songs are pretty much unavailible unless you pirate), I can't say I support it. I've got a ranking system as well for this

Music no one cares about, impossible to find legally
Music, approaching obscurity
Movies, older than 10 years
Music, popular/new
Movies, just taken off the shelf/cheap bargian bin
Games, Cheap games that originally came in on a floppy disc that are not rare and valuble
Movies, on the shelf, not new
Movies, New on DVD
Movies, In theaters
Games, Popular/less than half a year old
Games, New/hot sellers

If you pirate the last three, you deserve to be mugged. I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for "It's too expensive" when what you're basically saying is "I don't feel like paying so I'll just take the result of years of production and thousands of dollars." There's a reason why you have to pay for things, and just because something is in a digital format doesn't mean that it's any less important. It is stealing. It is an insult to anyone who pays for it as well as the creators. You're not at all entitled to it just because you can take it (that's like walking into a jewlery store, starting an armed robbery and using "But they were in the display cases" as an excuse as to why you had to take them).

 

[Regiment]

The piracy- as- trial strikes me as the weirdest. It's got to be incredibly hard to access a full game, play it, and decide "once I'm done with this, I'll give $60 to the company if it's worth it". I cannot imagine anything so good that the majority of the populace couldn't rationalize not spending money on.

I'd make the short argument that piracy is wrong, that it involves gaining access to a thing against the wishes of its creators and those who own it. If you want to own a thing, or access to a thing, in this world, you have to buy it, whether it's a car, a book, admittance to a museum, or a video game.

It's not a question of right and wrong, legal or illegal (two completely different subjects, that have absolutely nothing to do with each other when it comes to non-human issues, like copyright). It's called capitalism, a system based on spending as little as possible, and getting maximum product and profit. A system based on exploiting the weak and stupid.

In this case, you are the stupid, who are paying $30-$80 for pressed plastic that cost pennies to produce, and dollars to ship.

However, it costs much, much more than that to develop, program, voice, debug, playtest, package, market, and sell the game. It doesn't cost pennies to produce a video game.

And you do this because you think you are supporting the people who created the product, when really so much of that money is going to the big companies who publish it.

Your heroes are being exploited, and you are supported the injustice. Some say, "but at least some of it goes to them", yes, but by the time they get enough money to live for a year, the massive companies have gotten exponentially stronger. I won't support that.

This is their job. These big companies exist to publish and promote video games. You could argue that games would still sell without all that advertisement, that word of mouth is good enough in the gaming community, and you're right. The problem is that they would sell worse outside the closest- knit groups of the gaming community. Lots of people who buy video games don't follow the gaming scene, and lots of people who make video games can't advertise on their own.

Also: The "heroes" that write these games may be exploited by Big Business, but they make some profit when their games are sold. When their games are stolen they get nothing.

 

[The Undoer]

I pirate when I desperately want to play something, but I don't have the money to pay for it. On the other hand though by pirating things and enjoying them, I will buy the second if it's a series, so really, the Developers do get something out of me.. I guess? Personally, I really regret pirating a certain game, and would buy it but I have it now.

 

[kampori]

I have never, and will NEVER EVER partake in piracy of movies, video games, music, tv shows.. nothing. Piracy is wrong, illegal and RIDICULOUSLY STUPID. Because of people who do piracy.. the music industry & especially films, are doomed.

Hmmm. Record profits every year. Which industries am I describing? The film industry, you twat. Christ, if you're going to start spouting off, please make sure you have you're facts straight before you do. Anyhow, do you know how ridiculously stupid it is to claim that music and film would be doomed? Music and films will never dissapear. There is also research that suggests that pirates buy more music than most people.

Anyway, yes, I do pirate. I used to download games and such, but I don't do that anymore, mainly because I don't want to mod my 360. I have quite a few pirated PS2 games, but I can only find them second hand now anyway, so that isn't hurting the industry. As for music, I usually only buy compilation CD's, they are generally more value for money. I do own some normal albums legally though.

Twat. Yeah nice one.. a totally called for insult.

First of all, I mentioned in what I said that it was all my opinion, and was speculation. That's what I like to do, speculate, estimate. I'm not one for facts. Facts lie. People hide behind present facts because they don't want to or can't see beyond them, into the future, into speculation.
I never mentioned I had facts, and I don't and am not ashamed of. A lot of big things in this world exist without any form of fact.. religion, for one. (this is coming from a strong believer in Islam- I'm NOT slagging off religion).

More and more and more and more people are pirating. Again, no facts.. just.. I know. Of all my circles, friends, school, work, people around me, the markets in any city.. its obvious. Piracy is sky-rocketing. I'm not talking about in the next year, or even decade.. but if it continues to do this (rise), then one sad day the entertainment industry will collapse.
People do not make things for free in this industry.. especially after people illegally go behind their backs and just syphon it off the internet.
It's not fair, and as I said, stupid. Illegal for a reason. Don't do it, and never will.

 

[TransMando]

If I wasn't able to find a game maybe, I've never really been motivated to do so.

 

[Tucker154]

I dont like pirating for one simple reason,the game develpores put alot of time and hard work into their games to make money,not to give people their games.But nif the gam is horrible ,pirate away!

 

[Blatherscythe]

No, the developers need to pay employees and make money. People who pirate games are robbing the developers of the game make it harder for the game companies to pay employees. Game pirates are the reason good games rarly come out and they also cause some companies to fire employees. I will never EVER pirate any thing.

 

[Obrien Xp]

If you can't buy a disk copy, then idc how I get it.

 

[Spiner909]

Pirating is wrong. If you like a game you should support the company and pay for it. However: if you just want to pirate a demo or something, I don't find it all that bad.

 

[Cthulus MailMan]

Would you steal a purse....

How bout a car...

Or a bike....

What about some CDS....

Then why steal games....Pirating is theft....thefts wrong...

(BTW ...yes to all of the above....except purse....I have no need for it}

 

[Lamppenkeyboard]

I have pirated older games before, but I never really got comfortable doing it. I do get music through less than legitimate means, but the main things I have gotten a "discount" for are the discographies of Frank Sinatra, and performers playing Chopin. Neither of which I believe really need the money (maybe the performers, although I don't truly know how their royalties work).

And I frankly don't give a shite about the publishers.

 

[FungTheDestroy]

The piracy- as- trial strikes me as the weirdest. It's got to be incredibly hard to access a full game, play it, and decide "once I'm done with this, I'll give $60 to the company if it's worth it". I cannot imagine anything so good that the majority of the populace couldn't rationalize not spending money on.

I'd make the short argument that piracy is wrong, that it involves gaining access to a thing against the wishes of its creators and those who own it. If you want to own a thing, or access to a thing, in this world, you have to buy it, whether it's a car, a book, admittance to a museum, or a video game.

It's not a question of right and wrong, legal or illegal (two completely different subjects, that have absolutely nothing to do with each other when it comes to non-human issues, like copyright). It's called capitalism, a system based on spending as little as possible, and getting maximum product and profit. A system based on exploiting the weak and stupid.

In this case, you are the stupid, who are paying $30-$80 for pressed plastic that cost pennies to produce, and dollars to ship.

However, it costs much, much more than that to develop, program, voice, debug, playtest, package, market, and sell the game. It doesn't cost pennies to produce a video game.

And you do this because you think you are supporting the people who created the product, when really so much of that money is going to the big companies who publish it.

Your heroes are being exploited, and you are supported the injustice. Some say, "but at least some of it goes to them", yes, but by the time they get enough money to live for a year, the massive companies have gotten exponentially stronger. I won't support that.

This is their job. These big companies exist to publish and promote video games. You could argue that games would still sell without all that advertisement, that word of mouth is good enough in the gaming community, and you're right. The problem is that they would sell worse outside the closest- knit groups of the gaming community. Lots of people who buy video games don't follow the gaming scene, and lots of people who make video games can't advertise on their own.

Also: The "heroes" that write these games may be exploited by Big Business, but they make some profit when their games are sold. When their games are stolen they get nothing.

I'd say piracy as trial works as, "I'll play the first two hours, and if I want to continue I'll buy the game. If the first twenty minutes are unplayable then I'll delete". What you described is some jackass claiming to pirate-to-trial.

I'll just say that the rest of your argument is based on the assumption that the current business model in which money is distributed is correct. That the only way to do things is to continue to support the system that is already in place.

I take the ironic route and ask, is this really the only way? Can't it be done differently? Is money the only way you can show support to the creators? Did they really put in all this effort just to make money? Are you sure they didn't want to create a world for us to live in, or convey some sort of message?

I don't pirate EVERYTHING. Obviously I can't take full PS3 games; I have to buy them in a store, whether new or used depends on the publisher of the game (guess which publishers don't get new purchases from me).

And on the argument of the Big Companies taking more money than they deserve, well Video Games aren't completely horrible in that aspect. Paying for a game may barely support the developer with direct money, but it makes sure that they keep their job, and have a chance to make another game. (The amount of support is relative to the amount of money the game makes. Compared to the amount a game makes in profit, the people who actually made it really are only paid pocket change; pennies). Where as in the movie industry, even the worst movies are planned to shove out a profit, or else they would never get made.

Now businesses that are much more one sided and money grabbing, like Music companies who take all CD profit, or the Movie industry which is 90% controlled by five or six companies, I refuse to give them my money. It's currently a system I will not support, and eagerly await for it to collapse and reform.

Do I care that I'm hurting people? Trick question: They were already suffering, and they will continue to until the system changes. I care about people who legitimately work hard, but shoveling money towards them won't help, only strengthen their masters who keep them on chain, desperate to keep their job. The video game industry is deadly. Everyone wants a job in it, so a publisher won't hesitate to hire someone willing to work at half your wage, doing twice the work.

I'll support the creators by taking in what they created, and enjoying it; passing on the word to other people. I won't support the companies who are taking all the money for themselves.

This is all on the assumption that the current system is false, and needs to change. to change things, some people will have to suffer and fight the good fight. But if you think everything is good the way it is, and people should keep quiet and make the best out of it, then continue to think that money is important, and is the only way to get what you want, and help those you think you are helping.

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[thublihnk]

Piracy is not stealing, Piracy is not crippling the industry, and I would even argue Piracy isn't wrong.

Stealing would be if I walked into the the B&M store and walked out with a copy without paying for it. In software piracy, there are no direct losses to the company--I'm not taking any of their materials, I'm downloading ones-and-zeroes off the internet on someone else's dime. If the piracy option wasn't in play, ten times out of ten I wouldn't go and buy the software instead--I'd just do without it. I'm gaming on a budget, all my console games come in through Gamefly (with the small exception of Rock Band) and all my PC games are either pirated or come in through Steam during their super nifty sales.

DRM isn't the solution to game piracy, the solution to game piracy is creating a product that cannot be stolen. You may hear this and think "that's the whole purpose of DRM", and you'd be wrong. Point me to one DRM solution that has completely stopped unauthorized use of the software in question, and I will high five you through the internet so hard your router will break.
When I say create a product that cannot be stolen, I mean things like multiplayer servers, limited edition trinkets, and other such solutions (I've heard really great ideas in this department but I can't for the life of me think of any, perhaps the whole thing with Borderlands where preordering folks got to play with the designers)
But there's always a way to give a reason to buy over pirating, and it doesn't have to come down to DRM. In fact, DRM has become something that has hurt the game industry more than it helps. I can think of quite a few games for the PC that I've decided not to play or buy, not because of the game's content or playability, but because of the draconian and insane DRM measures. (GTA IV for 5 bucks on Steam was one of these)

 

[Mortons4ck]

Just a nitpick. Pirating has been around much much longer than filesharing on the internet. Copying the old C64 tapes og Amiga 500 disk was THE way to get new games at the time (unless you where rich and lived in a large city where you might be lucky enough to actually find the games in stores). Copyparties where big events.

D-d-d-don't copy, that floppy!

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

I don't pirate games because you get caught most of the time with games.

I don't have a problem with people pirating games over any other media form though.

 

[Regiment]

I take the ironic route and ask, is this really the only way? Can't it be done differently? Is money the only way you can show support to the creators? Did they really put in all this effort just to make money? Are you sure they didn't want to create a world for us to live in, or convey some sort of message?

To be blunt, if they didn't want to make money, they wouldn't sell the game; they'd offer it for a free download. I'm not claiming anyone's motivated solely by money, but it must play some part.

Do I care that I'm hurting people? Trick question: They were already suffering, and they will continue to until the system changes. I care about people who legitimately work hard, but shoveling money towards them won't help, only strengthen their masters who keep them on chain, desperate to keep their job. The video game industry is deadly. Everyone wants a job in it, so a publisher won't hesitate to hire someone willing to work at half your wage, doing twice the work.

I'm not entirely sure what systematic change you aim to affect. I understand that these big companies may be hurting the little guy, but the little guy works for them voluntarily, and stealing his work doesn't make the system better- it shows a certain degree of disrespect for the little guy's work.

This is all on the assumption that the current system is false, and needs to change. to change things, some people will have to suffer and fight the good fight. But if you think everything is good the way it is, and people should keep quiet and make the best out of it, then continue to think that money is important, and is the only way to get what you want, and help those you think you are helping.

Who's suffering when people pirate games? It's not the people pirating the games- they get what they want, and don't have to pay for it. It's the people who earn a livelihood making and selling the games- the (arguably corrupt) big businesses and the (admired) game designers.

The problem is that the system is intertwined and that Big Business and Little Guy are intimately connected. The only options (buy or don't buy) boil down to "help Big Business and Little Guy" or "hurt Big Business and Little Guy". It's a matter of opinion, honestly- you're arguing that Big Business has to go, and I'm saying the Little Guy needs to earn a living.

 

[Canid117]

My opinion?

No amount of DRM is going to stop it.