Quick question, is this stealing?

[AngelicSven]

Hi everyone, this is about Project Ten Dollar.

So, I recently bought Alice: Madness Returns when it was released some time ago on Steam. Well, I was told there was a neat little DLC that gave me extras. EA pushing Origin so hard and didn't put it on Steam so I couldn't buy it, this DLC is like most/all of EA's, it's following the Project Ten Dollar template.

For those that are unfamiliar with this, it's essentially EA having DLC on the disc/data you purchased. So you still pay for it, but instead of downloading it, they simply 'unlock it' for you. So, as it was, it was actually there, I just couldn't use it. Well, being on PC, I just changed the 'Engine.ini' file to 'unlock' it.

So, I was curious, would you consider this a theft?

 

[No_Remainders]

Technically it's getting something you're meant to pay for without paying for it.

In a way, yes.

 

[MrJKapowey]

Personally, no. If it's on the disk and they aren't providing you with a way to get to it then you should be able to get it yourself.

 

[Weaver]

I'd consider it modding your game. You didn't take anything from anywhere you didn't already own, right? As in, no additional content was illegally transferred to your computer so you really didn't steal anything.

 

[Daniel Janhagen]

Almost. It's attempted theft, as EA is trying to steal from you.

 

[Akytalusia]

my only recommendation is putting more points into tact.

 

[Something Amyss]

Technically it's getting something you're meant to pay for without paying for it.

In a way, yes.

No, ACTUALLY it's getting something you're meant to pay for without paying for it.

But that doesn't inherently mean stealing.

So technically and practically no, but it's still not legally correct and it's ethically dubious. At best.

With the success of the "piracy is stealing" marketing deal the industry has done, I'm surprised the police haven't tried something similar. "Not wearing a seatbelt is murder" is about as accurate.

Both are wrong, but that does not mean both are equatable.

 

[Awexsome]

Really? It was just as easy to slightly alter a file that came with the game files in the first place?

Well I don't like the idea as much as anyone but yeah, you are technically breaking the law with that. But if it was that easy to get a loophole around it then that was a pretty big fail by EA. Digital distribution is untouchable by used game sales anyway.

 

[AngelicSven]

Almost. It's attempted theft, as EA is trying to steal from you.

I like this answer most.

As for how I feel about it. I don't feel like I did anything wrong and that I just found a loophole in their already extremely holey system of greed. Seriously, EA use to be radical but now they're greedy douchebags. It's really a shame to see them this low. :/

 

[Romblen]

Technically yes. Justified? Also yes. If I purchased the game, and then downloaded the game, I should have the content avalible.

I usually hate piracy, but this kind of DLC pisses me off.

If you stole the entire game instead of buying it then getting the DLC, then I would find it wrong. But if you paid for the game, the content that came with it is yours.

 

[hazabaza1]

I'd say you're okay. If it's in the disk/data files, then technically, it's yours to edit and mess with. So long as you don't distribute it, you'll be okay in my books.

 

[Aiden_the-Joker1]

I would say it isn't because if it is on the disc then you have already bought it. You are not buying it technically when you pay EA you are just paying them to unlock it for you.

 

[TokenRupee]

I'd say no. If they didn't want people to unlock without paying, don't put it the disc. Or better yet, get rid of the Project Ten Dollar garbage.

 

[yuval152]

I'd say no. If they didn't want people to unlock without paying, don't put it the disc. Or better yet, get rid of the Project Ten Dollar garbage.

Read my mind,putting locked content on the game's disk is basiclly just trolling the consumers.

EA needs to be closed for good.

 

[Mr. Creative]

It is stealing. Even though its frustrating to have to pay for something already on your pc, you agreed to those terms when you bought the game. If there's a game that charges you for something you think you should already have, then don't buy it. Theft only makes you the criminal.

 

[veloper]

I wouldn't even call that piracy.

The whole point of .ini files is the ability to edit them on the notepad.

 

[JPArbiter]

by letter of the law, yes you have comitted at least petty theft, and at worst computer fraud. regardless of how shitty and unethical you think Project Ten Dollar is (and I am on your side there) Theft is theft. check out this EC episode for a refresher.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2068-Project-Ten-Dollar

 

[Pappytech]

Technically, yes, it's theft.

However, that's not how I would view it. You bought the code needed to run the game, ethically you should be able to do anything you like to your copy of said code.

But, if you signed a contract saying that you wouldn't do something like that, then you're breaking that contract, which is where I see the ethical dubiousness of your situation.

 

[CorinthianRed]

Hi everyone, this is about Project Ten Dollar.

So, I recently bought Alice: Madness Returns when it was released some time ago on Steam. Well, I was told there was a neat little DLC that gave me extras. EA pushing Origin so hard and didn't put it on Steam so I couldn't buy it, this DLC is like most/all of EA's, it's following the Project Ten Dollar template.

For those that are unfamiliar with this, it's essentially EA having DLC on the disc/data you purchased. So you still pay for it, but instead of downloading it, they simply 'unlock it' for you. So, as it was, it was actually there, I just couldn't use it. Well, being on PC, I just changed the 'Engine.ini' file to 'unlock' it.

So, I was curious, would you consider this a theft?

Yes, that is theft, you dirty bastard, I love you, continue doing that.