Author Topic: What's your stance on game piracy? (Read 1875 times)

Rman · « **on:** November 14, 2007, 08:54:18 PM »

Game piracy has been around since the inception of the industry, as with other forms of media. I remember bootleg Pac Man arcade systems as a kid. I also got into game emulators, when they started getting good, mostly to play games that were never localized.

I try to support the industry, however, and I avoid downloading roms and such. I'm no saint, though. During my college years, when I lacked sufficient disposable income, I did get into downloading Dreamcast roms--such a great system.

My stance is the same with all forms media. If I'm not going to buy it I'll probably download a rom, try it out, and then erase it later. My conscience will bother me if I keep it. Games that I'm definitely going to buy I won't pirate, again, to support the industry.

What are your thoughts on the subject?

Himu · « **Reply #1 on:** November 14, 2007, 08:56:03 PM »

I pirate a game only if I'm not sure about it or if I can't find it. If I pirate it and like it, then I pay em back.

demi · « **Reply #2 on:** November 14, 2007, 08:56:19 PM »

Fuck it

hyp · « **Reply #3 on:** November 14, 2007, 08:56:52 PM »

yup i was in the same boat as you. in college i was a filthy poor so i had to bend the rules *just a bit* to keep the happy juice in my veins. now that i'm older, i'm trying to redeem myself from those sins by supporting the people that provide me with my entertainment. plus, i work w/ devs for a living so i'm on the other side of the fence now.

i've substituted downloading with renting if i need a "trial".

Shuri · « **Reply #4 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:00:26 PM »

People do what they want, I don't care at the end of the days.

I hate idiots who brag about leeching stuff. Look you're not special. Anyone can get shit nowadays.
I hate idiots who like to remind you that YES THEY PIRATE THINGS! PAY ATTENTION! THESE GAMES? I DIDNT PAY FOR THEM LOLZ
I hate idiots who pirate everything under the sun and actually don't buy ANYTHING at all.

Really, keep it low profile, and don't annoy people with it, it's just lame as hell. Also piracy does hurts niche games (shmups, fighters), so if you
are a fan of those games, please buy them; I don't wanna hear you crying when SNK cancels more stuff for America. It's pretty shitty for the people
who tried to bring the game over here 'due to massive internet hype' only to sell like 3000 copies because those fans downloaded the jp release ages ago instead of buying the american release.

demi · « **Reply #5 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:03:15 PM »

Quote from: hyp on November 14, 2007, 08:56:52 PM

i've substituted downloading with renting if i need a "trial".

Renting is the same thing, tsc tsc

hyp · « **Reply #6 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:09:07 PM »

meh, i really don't care if people pirate or not. they could really solve this problem by making shit cheaper.

Rman · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:11:46 PM »

It is an expensive hobby. $50 should be tops. But I don't know if that could generate sufficient revenue to fund next-gen projects, which are more costly to develop.

demi · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:12:12 PM »

If you're so concerned for the (now-defunct) developers of old VC games, I am sure your conscience won't mind plunking $8 down for a ROM.

FlameOfCallandor · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:14:40 PM »

I try to buy when I can, but every now and then I download a key for a game I know i wouldnt buy otherwise.

Himu · « **Reply #10 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:20:44 PM »

Quote from: Rman on November 14, 2007, 09:11:46 PM

It is an expensive hobby. $50 should be tops. But I don't know if that could generate sufficient revenue to fund next-gen projects, which are more costly to develop.

It's not that expensive if it's the only money oriented hobby you have and if only buy full price for games you really really really want. Me, almost every game I own is used in some form. If I like it, I'll support them in the future.

Rman · « **Reply #11 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:25:04 PM »

Quote from: demi on November 14, 2007, 09:12:12 PM

If you're so concerned for the (now-defunct) developers of old VC games, I am sure your conscience won't mind plunking $8 down for a ROM.

I'm not talking about VC games exclusively. I'm talking about piracy in general.

demi · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:28:36 PM »

Or in Himuro's case -- I am sure Sega is thankful for you buying those used Saturn games... in a time when it doesn't matter anymore

Himu · « **Reply #13 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:30:33 PM »

YEP!!

TVC15 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:34:13 PM »

I buy all my stuff. The only exceptions I make are:

1) When something is online earlier than release, I will pirate, and then buy later (assuming game is not crap)
2) Crapware. I have a sweettooth for crappy games that I would usually never buy.
3) Old shit. More than 1 generation old, and it's fair piratin' game, I say.

hyp · « **Reply #15 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:34:46 PM »

Quote from: Groo on November 14, 2007, 09:33:13 PM

Back in school I used to pirate a lot, nowadays I hardly pirate anything.
Usually if I download something, I lack the urge to play it because it didn't cost me anything.

same here. i'd have collections of shit that i only dipped minutes into never to try again. when i spend my hard earned cash, i'm more inclined to get my money's worth.

Rman · « **Reply #16 on:** November 14, 2007, 09:41:01 PM »

Yep, it's much harder to get into pirated games. No commitment factor since no money was spent.

Polari · « **Reply #17 on:** November 14, 2007, 10:30:29 PM »

It doesn't bother me morally, the reason I don't really do it is because I can already afford to buy more games than I have time to play and don't really have the time to deal with all the effort involved. I even buy PSP games, crazy, I know.

TVC15 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 14, 2007, 10:35:33 PM »

Quote from: Polari on November 14, 2007, 10:30:29 PM

It doesn't bother me morally, the reason I don't really do it is because I can already afford to buy more games than I have time to play and don't really have the time to deal with all the effort involved. I even buy PSP games, crazy, I know.

That's pretty much my stance, actually, haha.

Ichirou · « **Reply #19 on:** November 15, 2007, 01:14:21 AM »

I don't do it, period.

Mondain · « **Reply #20 on:** November 15, 2007, 01:55:04 AM »

Our only purpose to life is to be slaves to consumerism. Until the day we die all that we'll be seen as good for, is making the economy run by purchasing products, as if we owed that to people with power. But it's also the inner nature of individuals in a post-industrial society dominated by people who are strangers to them and with whom they compete, to minimize what they give, and maximize what they take.

In any other domain of consumption, if it was as easy to get complete impunity for giving into something that has such an abnormally advantageous ratio of give vs take, we'd see similar behaviors.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #21 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:41:39 AM »

I did it when I was poor, but now that im not I buy everything I can.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #22 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:46:15 AM »

I tease people about it but I'm not really judgmental of them. I do wish Mondain would stop acting like he's so much smarter than people who don't pirate.

Oblivion · « **Reply #23 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:52:16 AM »

If I can steal it, it's mine.

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **Reply #24 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:53:06 AM »

I don't.

I dabbled in MAME and really old roms years ago, but my legit gaming collection is large enough, and my backlog is certainly large enough, that I don't need to aquire shit just to distract me from the stuff that I already have and still want to get to.
And I enjoy having the physical package. Even if I'm just carrying the disc in a sleeve, I just like having an archive somewhere. Its nice.

Mondain · « **Reply #25 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:55:13 AM »

I wish that game packaging was as awesome as it was during the golden years of PC gaming with all those huge boxes and 300 pages-long manuals filled with backstory tidbits and illustrations.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #26 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:56:21 AM »

I think youre challenged enough reading this forum, Mondain. Not sure 300 page manuals are your thing.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #27 on:** November 15, 2007, 03:06:02 AM »

I don't pirate games, software, or films. It just seems like the wrong thing. Or maybe I just don't pirate that stuff to justify my music stealing

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #28 on:** November 15, 2007, 03:09:03 AM »

I've done it before with Dreamcast (oh god it was so easy) and PS1 games, but I don't do it anymore. The only things I "pirate" now are:

1. Comics published before 1960. I figure they're fair game even if there is still a copyright held somewhere, because most of the creators are dead and they're never going to see a dime from any paper reprints. Also, the vast majority of that stuff will never see reprint anyway.

2. Old, obscure music and video material I can't really get anywhere else.

bagofeyes · « **Reply #29 on:** November 15, 2007, 03:33:40 AM »

I don't do it now that I can afford to buy games. But back when I was a student bum i did. I never felt bad about it either.

Powerslave · « **Reply #30 on:** November 15, 2007, 05:02:26 PM »

All the games I pirated back in the day I ended up buying their originals later on. So what can I conclude with this? Piracy increases sales.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #31 on:** November 15, 2007, 05:20:07 PM »

I've been pirating forever. Sometimes I buy what I pirate, sometimes not. I almost never buy a game that is more than 20 dollars.

I'm a horrible consumer.

Rman · « **Reply #32 on:** November 15, 2007, 05:28:17 PM »

I'm just glad game companies and platform holders haven't been as maniacal as the MPAA and RIAA with ridiculous lawsuits and such. But then again movies and music are pirated at a much greater level than games and also have greater appeal.

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Author Topic: What's your stance on game piracy? (Read 1875 times)