Why do people think it's ok to pirate games?

[dj Facchiano]

Instead of "There wrong AMERICA HATING TERRORISTS" look at there perspective, if your a pirate you mostly likely never planned on buying said game in the first place. The reason they think its okay is because they don't see themselves as doing any harm. They're not preventing anyone else from buying the game nor are they significantly effecting the sales of said game. At my school when there are leftover lunches the people in charge of the lunches will give them away to kids who's families don't have enough money to pay for them, is this wrong? Because these kid's parents cant afford hot lunches should they have to go hungry? as for the ridiculous DRMS, you should blame companies stupid enough to believe they can actually prevent piracy, YOU CANT STOP IT! IGNORE IT!

 

[Cody211282]

Rather than go into 7 pages of history, I'll state my opinions on games and so called "piracy"

Firstly, I'm heavily influenced by the works of Lawrence Lessig [http://books.google.com/books?id=lmXIMZiU8yQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=lawrence+lessig&source=bl&ots=wR_STsE7Wy&sig=Zq7vEXF5uqJifnxIPjm5nLmItpM&hl=en&ei=jyjJS5PQGIzC8wTDoaSdCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCkQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false], who is currently fighting for an internet that remains significant in this day and age. Basically, he describes how law is used to try to usurp things that are unnatural. The DMCA, for all intents and purposes, is unnatural. Copyright holders use this badly worded document to destroy personal freedoms. (I'll get to gaming in a moment). During the 80s, games were the newest things, our laws reflected a sharing of ideas that lead to this expansion of entertainment. We've had a fair share of games come up. From the NES, to the NEO GEO, to the Wii, games are here to entertain us and wile away a few hours.

I can't speak for the entire world per se, but after watching the industry grow from Nintendo owned to corporate owned, I can honestly say there's been a lot of kinks that need working on.

The gaming stance that supposedly piracy hurts them - Let's get the facts Videogames made 41.9 billion in revenue [http://www.itfacts.biz/videogame-revenues-to-reach-419-bln-in-2009/12946]. Gamestop with used sales, Nintendo with consoles, people are making money on video games. Damn near double what came in ~2008. 21 billion [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28682836]. In no way is this chump change. In no way are these small numbers.

Now, let's look at a few other industries for comparison in 2009 alone. 9.76 billion dollars in the movie industry [http://www.seanpaune.com/2009/01/18/movie-industry-has-a-record-year-in-2008/], ~5-8 billion for music industry [http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/dmr2009.html]

Gobs of money are out there to be made. That much is certain. But where is it being made? What is now taking up people's time? That would be video games, which have usurped movies and music in people's free time (as well as their wallets). That's what those numbers are reflecting. The music industry lost its shot when it destroyed Napster. It's only a matter of time before the movie industry angers people that they don't WANT to see a movie. However, with the advent of 3D, they may be able to claim a niche that no one has right now.

I can go to newgrounds and play excellent quality games without ever paying for another Nintendo game. That doesn't take me out of the market, because I could go to Best Buy or Amazon right now and pick up a DS and go to town. Regardless, my financial decisions are my own, just as the millions of people within the US.

The Law says it is bad - Before 1999, before Napster, there was laws against copying VCR tapes. Eventually, a fair use standard was set. Even though the VCR has infringing capabilities, it can't be held liable for someone wanting to watch a movie at a later time than what cable companies wanted you to do. DMCA has changed the landscape for the worse in the US. It has usurped fair use in any way shape or form, all in the name of arbitrary stagnation.

Piracy - It seems each industry needs a scapegoat to justify a number of things. With video games, it's a justification for DRM (Ex - Ubisoft believing always on connection would work for them), the movies believe piracy is killing their profits, and music... HA!

With movies, it's almost safe to say that since TV technology in the home has caught up to TV technology in the theater, there's little point in people looking at movies as much. With music, you have a lot of people that have paid for music in various ways. Also, few major artists today are as endearing as the artists of the past. Elvis STILL makes more money than almost any major artist today. Take into consideration that a lot of music artists also make movies, because it's easier work and more money. So really, I doubt we'll see Ludacris make as many rap albums as he used to when he can make one move and recoup all of those losses.

Consumer piracy - People usually pirate for a few reasons.

1) Try before they by. Since we really can't corroborate this with any data we just have to accept that a few people will look at a game without paying for it. If it's a good one, they go out and buy it. If not, no money lost.

2) Nostalgia - This has to be the greatest motivator for a lot of so called piracy. As mentioned before, a LOT of games can't be played anymore. Who has possibly heard of Strider? Did you know the arcade game was similar to a Metroidvania type game but the Sega Genesis is a sidescrolling platformer? Unless you have the money for the arcade machine, it's doubtful (unless you've played the games) that you would know this.

3) Import only - See also Nostalgia. Some games are NEVER going to be brought into the US. Mother 3 is a perfect example. With samples of music from the Beatles and a far darker storyline than Nintendo is known for, it wouldn't be the right fit for most people. But it's still a great game with a great translation.

4) "Because I can" - This is the most egregious example of people that don't care. Sometimes, it's to finish a collection, sometimes it's funding. Regardless, these are the people at the extreme, taking from the industry anything it can.

5) Technologists - various sorts. Some are pirates, looking to crack the newest codes. Some are adverts of changing the system so their practices aren't illegal. Basically this group is just out for a challenge.

-------------------------------------------------

Now that I've explained a little about piracy and the groups within, I'll state my opinion on it. I doubt highly that piracy is affecting an industry as much as people make it out that they are. We have gotten along fine for the last 20 years with people allowing others to share movies and games albeit from Blockbuster, Gamestop, EBGames, or a friend. What people are failing to take into account is the very fact that our culture is changing. Music isn't the money make that it once was. It is no longer controlled by industry types such as the RIAA. The movie industry is struggling to find some type of balance between their own control and that of the consumer.

All the while, this massive sharing project we call the internet is supposedly taking money away? Look at the numbers again. There is money out there. My view is that the ones in charge aren't looking for new revenue streams, just pointing their fingers at the most plausible target, making things up instead of fixing their own problems.

Very well put argument, I might not agree with all of it but you did lay it out very well so kudos for you work here!

Also I would like to say the "Because I can" crowd seems to be the majority of pirates out there, and the most vocal about it.

 

[razormint21]

Piracy is evil and it kills the industry...

But we need the money for things we can't pirate.
It's really an argument of "not because you could, you should"

The only good thing with piracy is that it helps solidify a console's standing. Look at the PS2.
But it would be wrong to acknowledge this as a good thing. But since we are hypocrites, we will keep on pirating games, music, films, and software.

 

[infinity_turtles]

I wish people would stop saying I "know it's wrong". I disagree that it's wrong. That's the whole point.

Intellectual property should be supported if one finds it fulfills it's purpose adequately. You can't find that out until' you use it. This is assuming the person can afford to support it in the first place. If they can't offer the creators support, information still shouldn't be denied to them. If we were talking about books here, would you claim a poor person shouldn't be able to go to the library because they can't afford to buy books?

This is without getting into issues like "Most of the money goes to the publishers, not the developers" or "Someone doing equal work in another country, getting paid less, and making just enough to support themselves has earned just as much as you".

Now Cody, all of this has been said in someway in this thread at some point. How is calling that "because I want it" not simplifying it?

 

[RvLeshrac]

Here are, collected, almost literally, all of the reasons that have ever existed, and will ever exist, for pirating software.

I've hidden some explanations for these behind Spoiler tags. Read them, or not, but especially the one about <a href=http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2.

In no particular order.

1. I only need to use it once.

Once, before Corel had a CorelDraw trial, I needed to open a Corel vector drawing. To view a CorelDraw vector drawing, you need CorelDraw. CorelDraw is not cheap. I elected to pirate a copy of CorelDraw temporarily, rather than spend several hundred dollars on software I had no intention of ever using again.

This was YEARS ago, and I have not used CorelDraw since.

2. I can't mail a (cheque/floppy disk) to $FOREIGN_COUNTRY !
3. I keep entering the copy protection code, but the game won't take it!

You ever try to read a water-damaged copy protection page? Ever tried to read a water-damaged copy protection page that required coloured glasses/film?

And don't even get me started on the ones that used those litmus-pens and "invisible ink." They fade away after about a year, and can't be brought back.

4. My (floppy drive/ODD) won't read the (Everlock/Neverlok/Prolok/SecuROM/Safedisc/etc) (key disk/files/sectors/etc.).
5. My dongle is broken, and the company (is out of business/wants $X,000 to replace it).
6. My dongle requires a (SCSI/Serial/Parallel) port, and my new system doesn't have one of the right (type/capabilities)!
7. The software works in (Win95/98/NT/2k/XP/Vista/7), but (Win95/98/NT/2k/XP/Vista/7) won't see the (dongle/specialised hardware)!
8. The software works in (NT/2k/XP/Vista/7), but the licensing application won't (install/run).

This has happened to me with some Point-of-Sale software. The software licensing only installed a as a service on WinNT. Needed to migrate the software to a new machine, and not only did the company want $5k to migrate the license; they wanted another $20k for a newer version of the software. Instead, I found a crack for the old licensing service. The software itself ran perfectly fine on 2k Server.

It also happened to me for a few versions of zMUD, until a Vista-compatible version of the licensing tool was released. The fact that I couldn't use zMUD for about 6 months was the determining factor in my not purchasing cMUD. Way to lose a customer, Zugg.

9. I don't have (any/enough) money.
Yeah, this one is crap.

10. Every other game I buy is crap, and I can't spend $(30/40/50/60) on EVERY game. I can't return them!

This is the one where people who don't know any better whine "But there are demos!"

News flash, kiddies: Demos don't exist for EVERY game. They also may not tell you ANYTHING about the actual game (See: Brütal Legend)

There was one a magical time when Gamestop would accept returns. Then someone, likely someone who complains about piracy, decided to sue them because they happened to get an opened game. Now, literally no one accepts returns on opened software. And the publisher *WILL NOT* give you a refund. I tried for AGES to get a refund on a copy of <a href= http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2. I didn't play an Ubisoft game for 4 years after that. Because of <a href= http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2.

...

You should click on <a href= http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2, if you haven't. I'm really trying to get you to read <a href= http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2 here.

Oh, and <a href= http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2? It deleted my entire %SystemRoot%, leading to the next one...

11. I lost the installation media. (Alternate form: The dis(c/k) is damaged.)

Yeah, when you don't have a copy of your OS disc and you need to get those files back before you reboot, see how self-righteous YOU get about piracy.*

*It isn't legal to distribute copies of the Windows files, though it is legal to distribute copies of the media.

12. The company doesn't exist any more!

13. There's no place to buy software in my city!/The one place to buy software in my city doesn't carry the software!

Made a lot more sense 20-25 years ago, but this house is made primarily of cards.

14. I need a backup copy of my (disc/disk/cart/etc).

15. Because I can.

This is the one that makes more sense than any of the others combined. This is also the one that no one seems to have the proper understanding or reverence for. I would explain this, but I'm instead going to tell you that you need to go read "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feinman." I promise you that it will both be worth your time AND explain everything.

16. I bought <a href=http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070411/barton_11.shtml>Pool of Radiance 2.

By the way, I also bought Daikatana. This gives me the moral high-ground against the gaming industry even if I eat kittens.

By the way, there are a lot of people who go on and on and on and on and on and on about how "information wants to be free." This is complete crap and, when you call them on it, they will fall back on one of the above. No one really believes that "information should be free" - they simply believe a subsection of #15: "any information that I don't currently have should be free, if I can find a way to get it."

 

[Spawndex]

If I have the money, I buy the game I want. If I can't I pirate it and if it's good I buy it later.

 

[Cody211282]

Also I would like to say the "Because I can" crowd seems to be the majority of pirates out there, and the most vocal about it.

So? People who would never have made a legitimate purchase are not taking anything from anyone.

You can quibble over the moral implications all you want, but nothing (piracy) minus nothing (never would've bought it) will always be nothing.

I like how you have tried to justify the fact that just because you want something it should be yours, I have countered this point enough from you I'm not going to do it all night.

 

[Irishhoodlum]

developers suck so much ass cuz they put the lame drm stuff guise so i have to pirate to rebel against the system and those damn greedy bastards who want money for there products they worked years on i mean REALLY? DON'T THEY KNOW? i'm the fucking man i cant be bothered to pay for something i can get phree also i smoke lots of pot add me on xbox live if ur a hawt gurl my tag is x420snipedeathxXx


Yeah kids, pay for your stuff.

 

[infinity_turtles]

By the way, there are a lot of people who go on and on and on and on and on and on about how "information wants to be free." This is complete crap and, when you call them on it, they will fall back on one of the above. No one really believes that "information should be free" - they simply believe a subsection of #15: "any information that I don't currently have should be free, if I can find a way to get it."

I believe information should be free in the same way I think health care should be free. Everyone should be paying for everyone to have access to information. It shouldn't have to be bought on an individual basis.

 

[demoman_chaos]

Only when said game is unable to get by normal means. New games are a definite no though since they are easily gettable.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

If the industry doesn't care about my country, why should I care about it?

 

[infinity_turtles]

I meant that in more of a perfect world type situation. I'm well aware that it'd be horribly flawed if put in practice.

 

[blankedboy]

I only pirate games that are far too old to buy now in stores, i.e. abandonware. For example, I'm downloading a PSX game right now.
There are two reasons I don't pirate current games.
1: Filesize is too big
2: I can get the game anyway.

 

[kickyourass]

Cause people in general are jackasses who would rather risk time in prison then pay 40 bucks for something.

My opinion is, if you're in a situation where you can't afford spend $40-60 dollars on a game (Like having to choose between food and games), you probably have far more important things to do then play video games. Or if you're a cheap son of a ***** who just doesn't feel like it, you're the reason game companies suffer and I hope you die in a fire.