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

[loremazd]

2:"It's not affecting sales because people pirate games they weren't intending to buy anyway." I can understand this point, to a degree, and who knows, you may be telling the truth. However, this is really doubtful as the norm of the practice. Big PC hits of recent have hundreds of thousands of downloads on release day, and I bet every one of them would pay full price were it not for the alternative.

There are a few good reasons to pirate, the second example, if sincere being close to one. Testing compatability with your system is fine too, especially with almost no retailer offering money back for PC games. Usually I pirate if the only place I can get it is ebay or used.

I don't see that 2nd point as a good excuse at all, in fact it's probably worst than all the rest because how can you tell who wasn't intending? It's like saying their special because of whatever.

Also with the testing compatibility excuse, you can just look on the net for the requirements or look at the back of the box and compare it to your computer specs.

Just some challenges that may come your way.

Bugs are most certainly not very predictable in PC games. I'm sure all of us have been in a situation where the specs are fine and something wont work.

 

[Nazulu]

2:"It's not affecting sales because people pirate games they weren't intending to buy anyway." I can understand this point, to a degree, and who knows, you may be telling the truth. However, this is really doubtful as the norm of the practice. Big PC hits of recent have hundreds of thousands of downloads on release day, and I bet every one of them would pay full price were it not for the alternative.

There are a few good reasons to pirate, the second example, if sincere being close to one. Testing compatability with your system is fine too, especially with almost no retailer offering money back for PC games. Usually I pirate if the only place I can get it is ebay or used.

I don't see that 2nd point as a good excuse at all, in fact it's probably worst than all the rest because how can you tell who wasn't intending? It's like saying their special because of whatever.

Also with the testing compatibility excuse, you can just look on the net for the requirements or look at the back of the box and compare it to your computer specs.

Just some challenges that may come your way.

Bugs are most certainly not very predictable in PC games. I'm sure all of us have been in a situation where the specs are fine and something wont work.

Well I haven't but you make a good point. I own many computers and all of them have had their own special problems with the same software I installed on all of them.

But in the end it's not really a good excuse, you should bother someone and figure out what the problem is, I've found there is always a reason for everything.

 

[DuX1112]

If it weren't for piracy, gaming wouldn't be so widespread nowadays and would have a lot of less legit customers. I get an allergic reaction to the morally superior people who say people who pirate should be shot. I guess they never had a divx movie or an mp3 on their hard drives.

A lot of people who play pirate games are those who buy them afterwards if they like them. The best protection is MAKING A GOOD GAME, something what Ubisoft and EA will never understand. Those who play only pirated games and ignore the legit versions would never buy the original ones in the first place, no matter what game it is. Basically, piracy made much more good for the whole gaming industry than bad.

I've played WoW on private servers. I liked it, so I bought the original. It turned out to be a piece of crap not much long after, but eh, thanks to pirating, I bought an original game.

My friend downloaded a bunch of Blind Guardian mp3. He liked them a lot. So afterwards he bought a lot of original albums, shirts, went to concerts, etc. And many others like him as well.

My point is: piracy is underrated. It's wrong, yeah, but you're hypocrites, so I don't care. In Croatia, our games cost the same amount of money like in the USA, but we earn 3-4 times less on average. Some games are even more expensive in Croatia. So yeah, screw you.

edit
Oh yeah, I've never heard of renting a game, so I guess that can't be done in here.

This.

Greetings, Sir, from fellow Macedonia! And no, I ain't paying a third or a half of my salary for a lousy gameplay of 10-20 hours (3 days tops).

In another thread I suggested that big companies like Ubisof and EA should really revise their market model. They should be more aware of the fact that they're pumping luxury-priced games (for us, buying at least ONE original title is a dream, and a distant one too) into developing and third world countries (where only the rich can afford them), and then they get all frustrated because of pirating and people finding a way to the games they sell. To me, that's just stupid.

I mean, would you go out in a poor suburb somewhere and offer people to buy a luxurious, diamond-strewn Rolex, and seriously expect people would buy? Hell no, they'd probably beat you up and rob you, eventually. The rest will do nothing and be nice, but they'd gladly accept a watch someone stole from the Rolex seller.

What we want (us who can't afford an original title) is some budget, stripped versions of games. Give me a reasonably priced game (maybe 10 EUR at most), without any manuals, without any fancy packaging - just the disc and a licensed, legal user account, and we'll be happy. And people would stop pirating. But you can't seriously expect me to go and throw 50 euros for a game I even may not like when I earn sth like 150 Euros a month - AND when I can get the SAME game from a friend , or download it from the Internet. And no, in MANY countries, U.S. law just doesn't apply, so don't try citing U.S. laws since I'm not a U.S. citizen, and the vast majority of the World isn't too.

So, I call for Ubi and EA to rethink their marketing models. Is it better to sell 50 original titles of Assassin's Creed 2 in Macedonia for 50 EUR, or is it better to sell 15.000 original budget copies of Assassin's Creed 2 in Macedonia, each priced 10 EUR?

You do the math. And when less people pirate, there will be no need for any lousy DRMs. Stupid prohibitions like not sharing something you lawfully bought and enjoy with your friends is what started the whole DRM vs Piracy thing. Just rewrite the laws in a more reasonable manner, do some damn research and adapt to different markets appropriately, and voila - you've abolished Piracy.

Easy.

EDIT: The nearest shop selling original game titles is in the capital, some 100+ kilometers from where I live. Trip to there = 2 hours, + trip to there and back ~ 18 EUR. So I have to travel to another city, and spend half my salary on a blockbuster game. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[mad825]

Out of curiosity? What if a friend loans me a game? Is that illegal? I am depriving them of a sale and all?

Dont listen to others, Its amazing so many people are against pirate coying yet they nothing about Copyright ^.^

well, yes it is illegal as such, In the UK is "wrong" in the eyes of the law and it also breaks the EULA which means that the company can sue your friend...well thats if they ever catch your friend, it more of a scare tactic tbh because they never find out

 

[Nazulu]

In another thread I suggested that big companies like Ubisof and EA should really revise their market model. They should be more aware of the fact that they're pumping luxury-priced games (for us, buying at least ONE original title is a dream, and a distant one too) into developing and third world countries (where only the rich can afford them), and then they get all frustrated because of pirating and people finding a way to the games they sell. To me, that's just stupid.

I agree. How about if they made a special price for those earning under a decent salary?

 

[DuX1112]

In another thread I suggested that big companies like Ubisof and EA should really revise their market model. They should be more aware of the fact that they're pumping luxury-priced games (for us, buying at least ONE original title is a dream, and a distant one too) into developing and third world countries (where only the rich can afford them), and then they get all frustrated because of pirating and people finding a way to the games they sell. To me, that's just stupid.

I agree. How about if they made a special price for those earning under a decent salary?

Well why should they, when they can extort / force people to pay them more? Just imagine: maybe everyone would want to buy the budget version, instead of the regular one. Maybe they'll start losing money - fast. Not that they can't function with those money too, but what the hell.

But too bad such extortion doesn't work - enter piracy. The poor man's friend (and product of), it seems.

 

[SilkySkyKitten]

Because it's not as big of a problem as people will try and claim. Yeah, it does count as a lost sale to a company, but more often than not the loss in profits isn't nearly as bad as some here will try and convince you. It's kind of like how record companies complain about illegal distribution of mp3s and such, when in reality it doesn't make as much of an actual dent in their wallets as they want you to believe.

Also, for anyone claiming that they don't pirate games in order to support developers and such, then I ask do you borrow games from other people or buy used copies of games? If you answered yes, well congratulations, you've just deprived the developer and publisher of those games a sale and have taken away from their profits. Thus, arguing against piracy if you buy used games is pretty much futile.

 

[Dahni]

I understand that but that's not what I was trying to say, I was saying that it was wrong to steal it, and they are no way entitled to free games.

can you not read?
THAT WAS NOT WHAT I TRIED TO SAY EITHER.

I said it was WRONG to steal it and I said gaming was not a right.

Why do you persist in arguing with me when I essentially said i agreed with you? -_-

Over charging for a inferior quality product and ripping off millions of children isnt a right either...but they still do it.

i didn't say it was nice that they did that either, though. The "millions of children" they rip off, get ripped off willingly. Anybody who makes & sells a product is pretty much mostly out for a profit. They'll charge as high a price as they want as long as people still buy it. People still buy it for a stupidly price, the developer makes a decent profit and, in the end, that's all they really care about. It's a sad reality, but it's the only one there is.

 

[Cody211282]

snip

Now now lets not bring real people into this especially not one that were victims of horrible parenting.

Plus its a well known fact that for prostitutes it is a hazard of the job. They are well aware it can happen and (the one who arnt forced into it), choose to do this of their own accord.

You really belive its mostly hookers getting raped, really?

http://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://www.paralumun.com/issuesrapestats.htm
http://www2.ucsc.edu/rape-prevention/statistics.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics

So lets go over this
Steady dating partner 21.6%
Casual friend 16.5%
Ex-boyfriend 12.2%
Casual date 10.1%
Husband 7.2%

That comes out to 67.6% of women are raped by someone they have/are dating, a friend or a a husband. Your just trying to justify the old saying that rape victims deserved it and that is sickening.(oh and by the why stranger are only 2%)

 

[Cody211282]

yes you are not removing it but you did manage to get something, that someone else made and you put zero resources into, for nothing and that is stealing.

You like drawing. You draw a copy of a famous painting worth $1M and hang it on your wall. You just stole $1M.

You like cooking. You look up on the web and find the recipe for the 300$ steak from the restaurant next door. You cook it. You just stole 300$.

You like digital data. You look on the web and you find a digital copy of a 60$ game. You copy it to your pc. You just stole 60$.

Same situation on the 3 cases, yet people only find something wrong with the third, why?

I have already stated why a few times now

 

[Cody211282]

I have been thinking about this for a while now and can't seem to come up with a good reason why someone would pirate a game. My line of thinking is since you didn't pay for it your stealing, and well stealing is wrong and a criminal action thus don't pirate game. But there has to be a reason so many people pirate games, maybe I just don't get it or haven't heard the right reason, "Because I can" "I don't have the money to spend on games/don't want to spend money on games" are the ones I hear most and they are not even that good of reasons to do it.
So I was wondering if anyone else had an incite or have heard a good argument for it?

Why do manufacturers think its ok to gouge prices far beyond a reasonable amount of profit?

Why do game developers spend millions of dollars on a media that can be replicated fro free. Texture artists for example draw a wage for photographing dirt. Just how many pictures of dirt does the next big budget game require ? Or are developers looking to get the maximum amount of money out of their employer ? If this is false then why can modders do a much better job than the developers ?

Why is piracy even an issue when its been proven that piracy actually encourages sales. In addition the information concerning piracy has all came from 1 guy and hes pulling stuff out his ass?

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/us-government-finally-admits-most-piracy-estimates-are-bogus.ars

Furthermore, why are normal users being punished by DRM and bizarre instantly breakable copy protection methods. Subjectively I purchased BioShock and was unable to play because my DVD player was the wrong kind, objectively no one in the world who isnt retarded thinks Ubisoft a company world reknowned for their shitty patch servers thinks 24-7 authentication servers a re a reasonable and fair solution. Starbreeze required default installs of Internet Explorer to use their game registration for patches and expansions. You 'must' use IE you 'must' use brand X dvd player? When did the people who make games get to dictate hardware & software standards ? These people expect rockstar wages for writing code for glorified tic-tac-toe programs and they cant even write good code, MW2's lack of dedi servers, broken connections, HL2's still broken hitboxes, BFBC2's awful retro server browser (At least they have the excuse of a heavy work load) and this is just to name a few minor issues. Empire Total War is spectacularly broken even a true fan will agree and it was in development for years. The mod that preceeded it by at least 12 months was superior in every way and felt more correct and had more balance. Summary - Why are they charging for broken poorly coded product ?

If you can answer any of these questions rationaly Id be impressed.

Well if they come out with a subpar product then don't buy it, it's that easy, illegally stealing the code and using the product without paying is wrong.

Lets say I make something I can sell it for whatever I think is a reasonable amount, and well if its a piece of crap then people don't have to buy it, but it doesn't give them the right to take it for free.

 

[Cody211282]

But the problem is your not just looking at the game and trying the best you can to re make it, your taking a copy of the code they worked on, thus stealing.

You aren't copying, you're copying, thus stealing.

You make a compelling argument there, oh wait.

The method of copying changes nothing. Unless you physically stole a game disc to copy it, theft was not involved.

Ok well then if you want to get into it deeper then when you go the game you had to agree to the end user agreement, or whatever it is called, when you installed the game, by making copies of the game you are breaking the contract and the law, another person takes a copy of what you made, getting the same product for free, and is thus breaking the law again, basically you are taking something that has monetary value and not paying for it.

 

[ragestreet]

But the problem is your not just looking at the game and trying the best you can to re make it, your taking a copy of the code they worked on, thus stealing.

You aren't copying, you're copying, thus stealing.

You make a compelling argument there, oh wait.

The method of copying changes nothing. Unless you physically stole a game disc to copy it, theft was not involved.

Ok well then if you want to get into it deeper then when you go the game you had to agree to the end user agreement, or whatever it is called, when you installed the game, by making copies of the game you are breaking the contract and the law, another person takes a copy of what you made, getting the same product for free, and is thus breaking the law again, basically you are taking something that has monetary value and not paying for it.

Um...no. You just said that this person bought their game. They aren't stealing anything if they bought it. If anything I could say that this cab was rare but I thought nah forget it yo homes to Bel Air! I pulled up to the driveway around 7 or 8 and said to the cabbie yo homes smell ya later! I looked at my kingdom I was finally there to sit on my throne as the prince of bel-air.

What? It's about as rational as that argument. Ok if you want me to get serious I guess you could say that he's helping other people get it for free. It's still not stealing unless he stops other people from getting it legally though.

 

[jasoncyrus]

snip

coming froma guy who would murder someone in cold blood right off the bat, your mud slinging means nothing to me.

 

[Cody211282]

snip

coming froma guy who would murder someone in cold blood right off the bat, your mud slinging means nothing to me.

Yes because it was ether 1 guy dies or a 101 do, it's called triage, look it up, and you are just a sick bastard that think rape victims deserve it.

 

[jasoncyrus]

snip

coming froma guy who would murder someone in cold blood right off the bat, your mud slinging means nothing to me.

Yes because it was ether 1 guy dies or a 101 do, it's called triage, look it up, and you are just a sick bastard that think rape victims deserve it.

On the contrary I only stated those who willingly go into the prostitution area of work deserved it. I specifically stated those who did not were not included.

If you're going to try and slander me please get the facts straight. Plus I also countered your points about the cave senario. You chose out right cold blooded MURDER, rather than trying to get him free. Pretty sure with 100 people you could either dig push or pull him out.

 

[DuX1112]

Because it's not as big of a problem as people will try and claim. Yeah, it does count as a lost sale to a company, but more often than not the loss in profits isn't nearly as bad as some here will try and convince you. It's kind of like how record companies complain about illegal distribution of mp3s and such, when in reality it doesn't make as much of an actual dent in their wallets as they want you to believe.

Also, for anyone claiming that they don't pirate games in order to support developers and such, then I ask do you borrow games from other people or buy used copies of games? If you answered yes, well congratulations, you've just deprived the developer and publisher of those games a sale and have taken away from their profits. Thus, arguing against piracy if you buy used games is pretty much futile.

Correct.

 

[DuX1112]

@All: Please stop comparing piracy to murder, rape, etc. The comparison hardly holds any water (different scope, way different gravity).

 

[DuX1112]

drm is to stop second hand sales. Sheesh... doesn't no one get it? Piracy is just an excuse.

Also NO ONE HERE BUYS A GAME! You buy a license that allows you to play it. Not that anyone listens.

Also true.

 

[Babitz]

EDIT: The nearest shop selling original game titles is in the capital, some 100+ kilometers from where I live. Trip to there = 2 hours, + trip to there and back ~ 18 EUR. So I have to travel to another city, and spend half my salary on a blockbuster game. Thanks, but no thanks.

Greetings. Nice meeting you. Anyway, you reminded me of a Macedonian friend from a forum a while ago. He told me he has no stores where he can buy original games in the whole Macedonia. That was six years ago, though.

I'd really like to buy more original games then I do. In fact, I'd like to play only original games, it's I just that can't afford them, like many of us in under developed countries. We can afford them only a few years later when the price drops. Or stuff like The Orange Box (god bless you, Valve). But hey, MGS4 still costs 70 euro here. But hey, I guess it's okay too live in monetary better situated countries and moan about us being poor and able to afford only two original games in a year.