Seven Ways to Stop Piracy WITHOUT DRM
Seven Ways to Stop Piracy WITHOUT DRM
Posted 02/01/2012 at 1:35pm
| by Seamus Bellamy
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It’s a fact of life: Pirates be pirating. Last year, UK Interactive Entertainment estimated a 4:1 ratio of pirated games against those that were legally purchased. What do those numbers mean? A lot, when you’re talking about loss revenue. In interview with our own Nathan Grayson, CEO Marek Španěl of Bohemia Interactive admitted that for every legitimate player rocking a rocket launcher in ARMA 2, another 100 players with pirated copies of the game are turned away. That’s a whole lot of unrealized realized cash that should have wound up in Bohemia Interactive’s coffers. As most of our readers will be quick to point out, Bohemia Interactive’s not the only company to have their timbers shivered by digital piracy. As a defence against having their intellectual properties swiped, cracked and traded online like so many baseball cards, a lot of companies have turned to Digital Right Management; a move that seldom does more than temporarily slow pirates and enrage paying customers. Fortunately, there’s a growing number of non-DRM related options out there for developers and software vendors to explore that’ll stymy piracy while respect the rights of their paying users.
Bake in Deterrents
Instead of being Insidious, why not be hilarious when it comes to defending your wares from piracy? That’s what Serious Sam 3 developer Croteam did when faced with the problem of how to discourage the piracy of their creation without saddling their legitimate users with the frustrations that can stem from a healthy dose of DRM. Instead of crippling illegally obtained copies of the game, Croteam opted to make Serious Sam 3 a miserable experience for pirates by inserting an indestructible pink scorpion hellbent on destroying them into the mix. No matter where the players runs or tries to hide, the game’s hilariously powerful enforcer tracks them down and kills them, making it impossible to play the first-person shooter in peace.
Provide Higher Levels of Support & Quality Control
Rage, Fallout New Vegas, Skyrim and Battlefield 3 all have one thing in common: They were all a hot, glitchy mess when they were launched. A lot of pirates justify their pillaging of digital goods by saying that they refuse to pay for a product that doesn’t perform as it was intended to. While release schedules and industry pressures will always be a factor that decides upon when a piece of software made available to consumers, software developers would do well to consider adopting Blizzard’s “it’s done when it’s done” mentality and sit on their products until they’re able to vouch for their performance. If that’s not possible, then employing a robust system for error reporting and resolution is a must: After all, no one wants to pay for something that’s broken right out of the box, and if they do, they want to know what can be done to fix it as quickly as possible.
Perks
In an effort to quell the second-hand sale of their software, a growing number of developers have been offering consumers premium downloadable content perks tied to a single-use code. The Catwoman missions in Batman Arkham Asylum and the cross-game weapons and armour offered by Electronic Arts in a number of the games from their catalog over the past few years are great examples of this. We’re betting gamers would like to see more of this sort of thing—with tastier options than a few cosmetic items for our in-game characters. By routinely doling out fresh in game content to paying customers, development houses would be providing consumers with a compelling reason to pay for their wares. It might not stop piracy dead in its tracks, but it’d definitely boost sales.
Standardize International/Regional Releases
There’s plenty of excellent reasons to stagger the release of a new piece of software on an international scale: Doing so keeps servers from melting into pools of unusable silicon, and preserves the sanity of help desk agents, if only for a little while. That said, if a game’s not available in the states, even though the Italians have had it for a week, you know that someone, somewhere is going to be pirating that bad boy. By giving consumers what they want simultaneously on an international level, developers could strike another reason for illegally downloading an application from the the litany of excuses pirates have been employing for years.
Lower the Cost of Digitally Distributed Software
Placing a software product in a physical marketplace is a costly undertaking, matter how you cut it. Product production, art and marketing, shipping—they all cost a goodly sum of dollars that wind up getting factored into the retail cost of a piece of boxed software, thus forcing consumers to decide between buying groceries for the rest of the month or investing in a new application. For some reason—let’s call it crazed avarice—digitally distributed iterations of the same software often costs the same as their boxed up, marked up cousins. Were software developers to dramatically lower the price of their digitally distributed wares, it’d be an uphill slog for pirates to complain about the market value cost of what they’re swiping. Sure, lower prices for digitally distributed wares means a less robust bottom line, but some cash is better than none, and where piracy is concerned, no cash gleaned from the sweat of your programer’s brows is likely exactly what you’ll wind up with.
Make an Effort to Actively Engage Your Community
Friends don’t steal from friends. Friends have your back. Whenever possible, you want your customers to be your friends. It doesn’t pay to get locked into an adversarial relationship with the people responsible for giving you money. Developers would do well to get to know and understand the concerns of their market. Insomuch as it’s possible, uncover the reasons why your market base feels compelled to pirate your products and do your best to address them. Listen to your customer’s frustrations and concerns, and whenever possible, provide them with the help they need and deserve. As the old adage suggests: Respect earns respect. While you might not be able to obliterate the piracy of your products entirely, a modicum of concern for your customers could help to reduce it.
Nuke Them From Orbit (It’s the Only Way to Be Sure)
You’ve tried lowering your prices. You’ve opted to forgo Digital Rights Management measures in favour of introducing downloadable incentives to paying customers and tormenting pirates with a frustrating in-app nemesis. Simultaneously releasing your software across all regions? Been there, done that. Hell, in an attempt to curb pirating, you’ve even gone so far as to drastically reduce the online price of your software. Sadly, none of it has managed to make a dent in your company’s shrinkage you’d been hoping for. At this point, you can keep on keeping on and hope that your non-DRM related anti-piracy measures and hope that they eventually gain traction, or sue the bejeezus out of anything that moves. Sadly, neither solution will be the cure-all you’re looking for. DRM is, well it’s DRM. Hated by the masses and viewed as a challenge by dedicated hackers, it’s only a matter of time until any Digital Rights Management solution is circumvented.
What about lawsuits, you ask hopefully?
As with most legal matters, suing the individuals who pirate your products is more of a marathon than a sprint. Take CD Projekt Red, the development house behind The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings, for example. Since it’s release in 2011, over 4.5 million copies of the PC game were illegally downloaded, putting CD Projekt Red in an ugly fiscal position, to say the least. In response to the rampant piracy they were being subjected to, the Polish development studio tracked down a large number of alleged pirates of the game and demanded they be paid for the the use of the software, or face legal prosecution. Great idea, right? Not so much: In the first few weeks of January, the development house announced that they would be discontinuing their legal crusade against those that would dare to pirate their game, chiefly due to the fact that the only thing that seems to enrage gamers more than DRM is the prospect of a shaky, difficult to support lawsuit based on the art—not science, mind you—of IP tracking.
If there’s a final, definitive solution to online piracy that doesn’t in some way involve Digital Rights Management, it has yet to be found. We can only hop that when such a solution is implemented, it’s one that’s as just to a product’s paying end users as it is to the companies that designed it.
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azstrathack
April 06, 2012 at 5:12pm
The "industry" has people that make a lot of money telling the companies how much they are "bleeding" to piracy and then they turn around and bloat the figures to cause panic and fear in government to get Orwellian laws passed in thier favor. That is one side. The fact is that if you really believe that companies charge too much you shouldn't buy thier games until and unless it reaches a price point you feel is reasonable. You shouldn't steal it, no matter your self rationalization to do so.There are more than enough editorial sites on games and productivity software that the try it first buy it second is nothing more than a pathetic excuse. The fact is we lack patience and want instant gratification and go for what we want when we want. Its a bad situation because we then are purposely making it an advisary thing and not a consumer thing. Learn some patience and just dont buy it, or steal it.
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JCCIII
February 07, 2012 at 1:02pm
Mass digital sharing is a solution and a problem evolved. You call it piracy and must know it did not happen overnight.
The need for consumers to have a voice has avalanched in the same manner an unrestrained industry has bulldozed them. You mentioned Rage, Skyrim, and Fallout, New Vegas as examples of irresponsible corporate abuse, but did you notice the arrogance is the same. People like John Carmack have little respect for releasing products responsibly and instead blame the drivers, idiocy.
I remember Microsoft with its Windows ME, but more notably Vista, which was a callous beta project sold to unsuspecting customers to con them into accepting the OS renamed Windows 7, basically stealing money to beta a new OS and then changing the name. The same is said of corporations disenfranchising with their lie about 4G.
Do not advocate selling something broken with the excuse of “employing a robust system for error reporting.” How about, do not expect backlash with such unethical practices.
Never sell me something mislabeled with trickery. I will see I have been ripped off. My time is too valuable, and if an entity injures people in that way, the laws of nature will diminish it. Semantics is notorious for flip-flopping on its success and realizing there is a price to be paid for ripping people off, but, even so, it has never paid enough for its thievery.
So-called piracy is not an excuse, it is a justification based on good reasons and justice, but lack of respect for companies like CD Projekt Red is very disappointing because it is a company of integrity. For the same reason, I have supported Blizzard until it releases always-on Diablo III.
The nature is the same. Corporations unrestrained, like Hewlett-Packard, will disrespect consumers believing that there is no need for accountability, unrestrained or zealous consumers will, in turn, rebel against such greed and eventually do the same thing by allowing greed to overtake sensibility, ignoring good companies like Blizzard and CD Projekt Red.
When there is no ability to moderate, human nature moves to extremes, corporate greed to consumer greed, always a price must be paid.
In the end, if history teaches us anything, these natural wars of equalization are what help keep order when there are laws allowing inequality, exploitation, and abuse of the people.
Sincerely,
Joseph C. Carbone III
TooManyLosers
February 09, 2012 at 12:41pm
"So-called piracy is not an excuse, it is a justification based on good reasons and justice"
justice? is that really the word you wanted here? Sorry, but this is purely and simply an excuse for 'Justified Stealing', and unless your a modern day Robin Hood I'm afraid your still mostly doing it for personal gain. Can a thief lecture people about integrity? Sure they can. But should they? I don't think so
JCCIII
February 09, 2012 at 6:40pm
Robin Hood: confronting crushing oppression, forcing change because the oppressing powers are overwhelmingly powerful, empowering the weak, whom have no voice, with a voice.
Would you rather civil war breakout in the United States or that people organize and protest less drastically?
Human beings are narrow-minded and are exploited due to the condition.
Exploiting civilizations is an art and science industry, and this past century it has become progressively blatant, in-your-face, ‘we will steal from you, and we have lobbied pseudo-laws to protect us, made alliances to keep you from understanding, and friendships to keep you off our backs while we steal from you.’
Do you think Maximum PC no longer has The Dog because Mr. Mah Ung is too busy or our valued publication was unable to promote someone else into the position? It was shut down because advertisers were getting angry and the publication was losing revenue and taking flak due to an honest voice.
Those angered, if run aground, have the right cure; ‘we will take your money right from your bank account. It is called the bailout and numerous other favors at your expense; thank you, you weak minded imbeciles.’
‘Keep it up. We have erased the fourth amendment with the so-called Patriot Act, and were getting ready to invade your homes. We now have authorization to call upon the military to protect us if you get angry, and you do not know to even care.’
However, as I said, torrents have become a threat to our commerce, but, more importantly, they have awakened people to freedoms lost, oppression, but, also, renewed empowerment.
The way things are moving, if we are unable to find liberty by honoring transparency, which would create good product standards, recognizing antitrust laws from systems that honor innovations of greed and propaganda rather than useful products, we will self-destruct.
I certainly would not want to threaten to throw myself off of buildings like those oppressed people in China to be heard, or light myself on fire as in Egypt.
Have you considered we have Apple and Microsoft to thank for much of the trouble in the United States and abroad?
In a kind way, I am nudging you, wake up. Have you missed what was communicated? Greed infects us all, and there must be a moderator to keep order.
Sincerely,
Joseph C. Carbone III
TooManyLosers
February 10, 2012 at 7:17pm
Gee wizz, we're talking about video game piracy and your talking about overwhelming oppression and exploitation. I've seen overwhelming oppression and exploitation during my 12 years in the Army 10th Mnt Division, mostly on foriegn soil where those two topics are an everyday way of life (for the people trying to make a living in those crapholes). I am thankful to be back in the U.S. complaining about piracy and 'out of control free commerse'. Simply put, IF I feel I'm being taken advantage of by a vendor, I simply keep my money in my pocket and make do without just fine ;-) I don't make excuses for stealing
JCCIII
February 12, 2012 at 12:41am
With six years in the United States Marine Corps, I have seen, lived, and been broken by hell, and, therefore, understand your thankful appreciation toward our home, the USA; this place is amazing. But, we are losing our freedom. Try to see, perceive, the truth.
This is not about videogames; the issue is integrity and why many people use peer-to-peer networks to protest oppression. Hopefully you will understand, I am not advocating stealing, never will, but I understand the chosen fight, and I support them.
Furthermore, can one steal back what has already been stolen from him or her?
I served, in the USMC, to protect and uphold the Constitution, our people, and noble causes, which is our common oath. My strategic service should have included congressionally approved philanthropic exercises because war can be waged against poverty and disease rather than life, creating friendships and standards to be envied globally and therefore mirrored globally.
Consequently, sound reasoning tells us why we need to stop wasting lives, money, and countless other resources in wars. It is self-centered egocentric behavior that has us setting up dictatorships, overthrowing democracies, and creating civil unrest in countries that do not support our corporations’ agendas. This is not about videogames; it is about being heard. And, the empowerment is giving voice back to the oppressed.
I am thankful, but do you understand most people are not allowed ownership of a home? Here in California, we must pay tax on property for the rest of our lives, and the state is continuously throwing people out of their homes because they cannot afford the pseudo-legal taxes.
Be an American; vote for the Hon. Dr. Ron Paul. End the Federal Reserve, the IRS, and corrupt government.
Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826):
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
Sincerely, Joseph C. Carbone III
Holockau5t
February 12, 2012 at 8:40am
I'm not going to sit here and say I started "sharing" as a way to fight he government or corporations. I started it because it was easy and I always loved trying before I buy, if a title was decent and was treated as a work of art and maintained i'd go out and purchase said title. Hence why I like steam so much because they offer free demos of most of the games that are released and their prices don't suck (excpet for those triple a almost $70 titles...how the F*** is a game worth that much? and it still can't make sandwiches..smh...). 9/10 devs aren't even taking the initiative to back their titles nowadays, releasing half-a**ed works and so on. We don't want to pay to be f*cked! With that said, yes you are exactly right! This war isn't simply the consumer vs the dev, it's on a more epic scale. We (the consumer) are getting cheated by corporations especially riaa, mpaa, microsoft, apple,etc. on a daily basis. As you said they're paying their way into the government and getting control over things they shouldn't have, but ultimately our own government is greedy enough to say, "hey, you got the cash, why not?".
Not only that but because of such corruption, we're losing our freedoms so that they can feel safe while they dwell in their greed. These are billion dollar industries, and we're the hard working citizens that they thrive off of and they need us to keep thriving; yet they abuse us in every way possible. It's a conform and obey or die situation and no company, government body, or the likes of should have that power or put any individual in such a situation, especially in the name of money or under the premise of security. It's one thing to profit off the works, yes, that's a no go; but sharing (I know plenty of you call it stealing, I really don't care) for the sake of spreading the content on the web, I'm all for it. Not only do devs get the notoriety for their works but most of us who honor and appreciate said works will go out and purchase just to show support. The people doing the reverse engineering really only do it to prove they can do it and to combat the dumba** drm's these companies impose on titles.
If it's an indie game and I'm at least 99% positive it's an indie game, I'm going to buy it. However, EA, Activision (oh don't get me started on the call of crap series after the first 3 and of course i know the rights were sold or whatever I don't care), Ubisoft and big namers that just release bs to get a quick buck can blow me until their faces are blue. All that said, I want to commend you for not only explaining in detail what the situation is, but also for your contributions in the fight for our freedoms, it's good to see that someone really knows what's going on and knows that piracy isn't theft for some, it's a way to retaliate against the bulls*** that politics and politicians and the industry keep trying to dish out. Again, thank you! No further comments.
win7fanboi
February 11, 2012 at 8:59am
It's nice to think we are lucky but if this country continues the trend of ignoring what's right and making an example of regular Joe's while peddling fear to erode liberty and spreading distrust it won't be that long before we join those places where oppression is rampant. Banks get bailouts, realtors that forge papers to get unreasonable loans passed go unpunished, congress tries to break the internet and is on beck and call of industries with deep pockets, uneducated TSA agents have the power to grope you, make you pass through scanners that are unsafe, etc. while the rich fly in private jets. Corruption is rampant and blatant from top to bottom in the govt.
But as long as we get to buy what we want by maxing out our credit cards, who cares? We keep deluding ourselves that our country is so much better. All the while some of the places where conditions are worse than here are rising. China may be making people work for cents per week but they are strengthening their economy while they hack multi national companies like google and govt agencies like DoD. They stole multi billion $$ and decades worth of research on that prototype fighter. If there ever came a time for usa to go to war with them we may be in for a rude awakening. Seen Matrix? Take the red pill and wake up people.
Johanes
April 02, 2012 at 2:08am
If you are a producer, keep it for yourself so it does not get pirated. Art must be free for all.
jktz122
February 04, 2012 at 8:11am
http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2012/02/03/you-will-never-kill-piracy-and-piracy-will-never-kill-you/3/
says it all about the movie and music industry
warptek2010
February 03, 2012 at 12:29am
One thing software companies need to do besides drop the DRM crap is please stop already with the bundling of other 3rd party software that we DON'T NEED OR WANT on our machines or at least make those optional in the 'Standard Install'. (I choose the 'Custom Install' option always)
Secondly and more importantly... can you guys design a piece of software that doesn't require some resident service to be running all the time??? Do software companies realize that just about every piece of commercial software installs some service and they build up and up until we have dozens and dozens of extra services running all the time?
Yeah, I know... we MaximumPC types know how to turn it off and tweak our systems the way we want but the average computer user may not have that knowledge at hand or even know about it.
dgrmouse
February 03, 2012 at 10:54pm
Even as an informed user, it's tough to police your system these days. The fact of the matter is that the obfuscation is part of the strategy. Microsoft shares the blame, as they don't provide enough tools to help us sandbox applications. UAC was a step in the right direction, but services and applications that unnecessarily request administrative privileges sidestep UAC pretty easily. For UAC to really be effective, MS would need to be proactive about revoking badging rights - forcing companies like EA to remove all Windows logos from their game boxes after release would be pretty damning. And, of course, some of their own products also deserve scrutiny.
win7fanboi
February 07, 2012 at 7:02am
In android the OS lists specific permissions that the app needs which is not a bad idea for a desktop OS as well IMO. I heard Windows 8 is going to be mobile-esque so it might have something like that but from what I have have heard I don't think I will be upgrading to Win 8. It has makings of Vista 2 if you ask me.
Hilarity
February 02, 2012 at 11:22pm
I pirate everything I can get my hands on except some music and quite a bit of porn. Love my porno collection in the lounge! Usenet cannot be matched for value. I couldn't care less about paying for it. I'd rather spend money on more important things like prostitutes and drugs.
rsaotome
February 02, 2012 at 6:24pm
As a great deal of us, I'm a gamer who came from the 80's, the only thing I object to, is a publisher trying to sell me pieces of a game in small DLC's or having pre-order incentives, etc. What if I don't feel like buying a game when it's first released, or just don't have the cash, well, out of luck I guess.
Now a DLC like with what Rockstar did with GTA4 & Red Dead Redemption, that was pretty sweet, lots of extra stuff to do & I have the physical discs.
How many games can people still play from the 80's, that are 100% there, ready to go, all of them. BUT 20-30 years from now, will gamers be able to say the same thing?
carage
February 02, 2012 at 3:44pm
I'm not sure how Serious Sam handles the impossible to defeat creature, but I hope they do send a clear message to the gamer that this is only a side effect of the pirated copy, otherwise chances are the gamer would just shrug it off and say this game sucks, and the company permanently loses a would-be customer and perhaps all of his friends.
rosatonj
February 02, 2012 at 10:08am
How about activision? They sell us map packs (EA now too) but they do nothing to foster a user community. Activision doesn't release demos and they don't have betas. They don't do a thing except recycle trash and accordingly I feel nothing for pirating their turds in order to find the gems before they destroy the developer that made them.
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February 02, 2012 at 9:24am
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burntham77
February 02, 2012 at 8:46am
Steam is a big reason why I don't pirate. The other reason is I'm not a jerk. But really, Steam makes things so convenient and affordable, you can't afford NOT to buy games that way.
TooManyLosers
February 07, 2012 at 12:07pm
Unless your only ISP option where you live is Verizon wireless. Believe it or not, there are alot of honest avid pc gamers out there without the option of cable ISP or hardwired broadband because of where they live. LOL, I might possibly move if my darn house would sell at a reasonable market value.
praack
February 02, 2012 at 7:18am
when did purchasing a game second hand become the same as pirating the game?
the one (purchasing second hand) is legal commerce, with a reciept and within the law
the other is illegal
sounds like the writer is buying into the big lie now being spoken that all people who buy used games are the same as anyone who steals the game- not true
and current game pricing is an arbitrary price point put out on video games anyway.=-latelty the move is to make you pay the same cross platform - even though the PC version is now usually a second hand PORT from the xbox with broken features (yes I am looking at you Batman Arkham City)
unlike the magazine reviewers a lot of people cannot afford to drop 300 dollars for 5 games
Bullwinkle J Moose
February 02, 2012 at 12:41am
Microsoft could make a lot of money by selling $20 open source copies of XP-Pro without all the DRM crap!
They never seem to realize that several Linux versions are not only FREE but could put Microsoft out of business once STEAM is working natively
Linux now has very good wireless-N support for "my" hardware and it will only get better in the future
There is no point in jumping through all the "Authentication" CRAP in a $200 Operating System when Microsoft can simply Disable multiple copies online that have the same embedded security code
If you want to screw Microsoft on a $20 copy of XP that has been updated for SSD's, Direct-X and all the other tweaks by giving a copy to your friends, then you deserve to lose your $20 copy and then you can go buy a $200 copy of Windows 7 with all the DRM crap if you want
XP just works with everything I need to work (Except SSD's)
NOBODY will screw Microsoft if they stop screwing us
I still have not found a single valid reason why I would need a 64 bit O.S. for what I need a computer for
If you REALLY need a 64 bit O.S., then go ahead and pay for a $200-$300 DRM'd piece of....um....software or go get Linux for Free!
Try competing with Linux by making an Open source, non-DRM'd copy of updated XP-pro for $20 or your shareholders can commit suicide YESTERDAY for all I care!
The market has changed Bill and we ain't going back if we can avoid a Monopoly with Locked Boot Loaders!
If you need a REAL software designer, give me a call....
Read the first post I made far below for further details>
aferrara50
February 05, 2012 at 8:53am
so because you disagree with the pricing scheme you break the law? makes a ton of sense. Price is definitely lower than demand for windows since a majority of the world's pcs use it, especially 7 ultimate. The features it gives compared to basic are easily worth easily $500 on a high end rig since it actually allows you to use all of your ram instead of a measly 8 or 16gb (home premium and basic)
win7fanboi
February 02, 2012 at 7:36am
I will start out by saying that I have no love for Microsoft but I have had enough of your asinine comments. You will decide what the cost of Windows OS is now? Yea Linux is free so why is it that you use Windows?
From your other post :
"I have been protesting Illegal copyright claims and Illegal licencing agreements for years by using only UNLICENCED copies of Windows that Microsoft claims are "Illegal""So while trying to "boycott" microsoft, you are yourself using windows and then condemning the company and it's products. Get the fuck outta here.
Bullwinkle J Moose
February 02, 2012 at 11:39am
Sorry, but I Make The Rules Here Punk!
Now Get Off MY Internets!
LOL
livebriand
February 01, 2012 at 10:32pm
A few things: DRM doesn't do a thing to stop pirates but pisses off a lot of paying customers (and makes some of them pirate, thus HURTING the publisher more). Most people who pirate wouldn't buy the content in the first place (or they pirate to check it out, and end up buying it because of that, HELPING the publisher). Some pirate because stuff is too expensive ($60 for a game? WTF? There's no way in hell I'll pay for that! Make it $15 and you'll get quite a few buyers). The thing is, you can't stop piracy. Period. Not pissing off your customers can do quite a bit in reducing it though.
Hey.That_Dude
February 01, 2012 at 10:17pm
Please note that silicon doesn't melt that easily. It's gives up the magic smoke (or release the genie/ghost that was trapped inside that made it run). That's what happens. Didn't Santa tell you?
Logun
February 01, 2012 at 8:09pm
I'm all for Online Pass as a "reward" for early adopters. If you don't mind waiting for a sale then those who do not want to pay full price can still enjoy a reduced cost and the reward. I have no issue with the buying and selling of used games but I also believe we need to actively support the developers to ensure more games in the future. (and yes unfortunately the means supporting EA and Activision too as they go hand in hand with developers)
dgrmouse
February 02, 2012 at 5:50am
This has absolutely nothing to do with piracy. This is about fighting the used games market and maximizing profits. That said, retailers are a pretty big piece of the traditional tiered distribution scheme video games have been sold within - if they can make a little extra money with used games, don't they deserve your support in the same way? Personally, although I find the price of used games to be too horribly overpriced to consider, I think that a person should be able to rent or trade games and still enjoy them fully. If we allow publishers to bundle multiplayer as a separate, for sale, component, it sets a dangerous precedent. Before you know it, you're paying for levels, guns, vehicles, and - oh, wait, that's already happening. $60+ retail games that nickel-and-dime players worse than f2p titles are among us, and it's unacceptable. If you feel so strongly about supporting developers, start writing checks. Don't speak for me.
OccultAssassin
February 01, 2012 at 7:51pm
One thing I would like to see is more demos. I don't want to buy a game only to find out it is a horrendous waste of money. I've seen so many people I know pirating games just based on the fact that there isn't a demo and they want to try before they buy. I know this won't solve the issue but it could help. The DLC thing is something I've been saying to a lot of people. Seriously if I buy a new game give me a code to get all and future add-ons. The main reason I don't pirate games is I want to support studios whose games I enjoy hoping that my contribution helps them in creating sequels or more games.
Jaeger_CDN
February 02, 2012 at 9:08am
Not just more demos (which is also a reason why people pirate) but demos that actually give you a sense of the gameplay and atmosphere of the game. I remember downloading the demo for Just Cause 2 through steam, within 20 mins of playing that they had a sale.
tornato7
February 01, 2012 at 8:14pm
I agree. I won't pay for a game unless I can try it first or my friends recommend it or it is insanely cheap.
imagonex
February 01, 2012 at 7:18pm
First of all, we should stop using the term piracy. It gives it a romantic connotation. Flat out, it's stealing. I wonder how these online thieves would feel if we were to go into their place and steal all their stuff? Steal their bed, food, fridge, PC, laptop, etc. I'm sure if the tables were turned on them, suddenly, well, it wouldn't be all that much fun anymore. If there's one thing a pirate hates most, it's having his loot stolen. If we used the same methods they used back then to stop pirates, such as a bullet in the head or sinking their ship, well, trust me, online thieves would suddenly get in the fetal position pretty quick.
iheartpcs
February 02, 2012 at 8:05am
The term "stealing" is even more inappropriate.
If someone came in my home and "stole" my stuff, I would be pissed.
If someone came in my home and "made copies" of my stuff for themselves, I would have no problem with that at all.
Scatter
February 02, 2012 at 2:15pm
Theft, stealing, whatever you want to call it isn't just about taking something away from someone else. Its about taking something that doesn't belong to you and you aren't entitled to. I can steal cable television service from my cable company by attaching a splitter to my neighbor's connection in the basement. She isn't losing a thing but it's still theft of service and I can be arrested for it.
People need to get over the silly "because I can make unlimited copies inventory isn't being lost so it isn't theft" excuse.
win7fanboi
February 03, 2012 at 6:42am
nutjobs like you and the guy who talked about putting a bullet in the head are the reason some people pirate even when they can afford to buy the content. keep up the rhetoric.
win7fanboi
February 02, 2012 at 8:41am
not to mention that piracy doesn't involve going to anyone's home.
win7fanboi
February 02, 2012 at 7:50am
haha.... bullet in the head. Maybe you should remove yours 'cause it's blocking your ability to use your brain.
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