Software Piracy

[Modeps]

I'm getting SO tired of hearing people in here saying things like "just download it and get the crack" or " Thanks to mIRC, I don't have to pay for anything" in reference to pirating software.

And the worse thing is, these people are usually PROUD of what they're doing.

For those of you not in the business, teenagers, or poor college kids with uber-1337 download speeds and feel it's justified that you steal, you have no idea what it takes to go into developing a software package or game. The blood, sweat and tears that go into every line of code, every sprite, every model.... the sleepless nights that are spent with your mind racing on how to fix a pretty substantial bug. The long hours. Just so you can have the latest and greatest game to play....

Most of the time, these are fairly small development houses with only 20 or so people working on one project. So, if you take a game with a development cycle of 4 years, employing 20 people for 4 years to work on it probably cost at a MINIMUM a half a million dollars. That means 10,000 copies of that game must be sold before any profit is made (and that's not taking into account marketing dollars, publisher's cut, physical production costs, etc)

Here's an idea, if you dont have the money to buy a game either DONT PLAY or DOWNLOAD THE DEMO. I fail to see how anyone who is privileged enough to own a computer, xbox, ps2, or whatever can't afford $50 every few months for a new game to play.

I'm sure my words will fall on deaf ears, but what you are doing is not justified in any way.

Karma.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Who says games even have to cost $50?

 

[Armitage]

Nothing stolen on my boxes ... despite what SCO claims

 

[Anubis]

supply & demand

 

[nCred]

 

[agnitrate]

Certain software companies gear it so they KNOW people illegally download their software, but they know that when businesses employ these people, they will purchase their software a la Adobe. Doesn't Photoshop cost like $800? People need skills in Photoshop to become a good graphic artist, but how many artists do you know that have $800 lying around? Adobe knows people pirate their program but know that the businesses will cough up the money for it.

Games on the other hand are somewhat different. I buy games when I like them. I've downloaded a few games before and ended up buying them because they were great. I also have great faith in some companies that I know wouldn't put out a crappy product. I would buy a Blizzard game without even reading a review of it because I know it is going to be a good game with their name on it. I bought Doom 3 and I'm going to buy Half Life 2. Some people pirate and they wouldn't even buy the game so it's really no loss to the company. Piracy is a problem, but not as much as everybody makes it out to be. Perhaps if developers started making better games like the ones I mentioned above, it wouldn't be so prevalent...

-silver

 

[notfred]

I used to pirate all sorts of stuff in high school. I'd actually download stuff I'd never use just to collect it. Once I started writing my own software, and contemplating the idea that I may want to sell some of it someday, I stopped pirating it. My machines are all legal now.

 

[puffff]

the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

 

[Phoenix86]

Kida always want crap for free, they don't understand the value of a dollar.

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: Modeps
I'm getting SO tired of hearing people in here saying things like "just download it and get the crack" or " Thanks to mIRC, I don't have to pay for anything" in reference to pirating software.

And the worse thing is, these people are usually PROUD of what they're doing.

For those of you not in the business, teenagers, or poor college kids with uber-1337 download speeds and feel it's justified that you steal, you have no idea what it takes to go into developing a software package or game. The blood, sweat and tears that go into every line of code, every sprite, every model.... the sleepless nights that are spent with your mind racing on how to fix a pretty substantial bug. The long hours. Just so you can have the latest and greatest game to play....

Most of the time, these are fairly small development houses with only 20 or so people working on one project. So, if you take a game with a development cycle of 4 years, employing 20 people for 4 years to work on it probably cost at a MINIMUM a half a million dollars. That means 10,000 copies of that game must be sold before any profit is made (and that's not taking into account marketing dollars, publisher's cut, physical production costs, etc)

Here's an idea, if you dont have the money to buy a game either DONT PLAY or DOWNLOAD THE DEMO. I fail to see how anyone who is privileged enough to own a computer, xbox, ps2, or whatever can't afford $50 every few months for a new game to play.

I'm sure my words will fall on deaf ears, but what you are doing is not justified in any way.

Karma.

Agree with every word. Of course, I'm also a programmer.

I admit to having some pirated software while in college (mostly expensive development/support tools that I couldn't afford back then and our college didnt' have a special agreement at that time). However, after finishing college, I've made a point to buy software and eliminate the pirated stuff. My laptop is fully legit to the best of my knowledge.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

BS. They can afford it, its just like anything else, if you want it, save up for it. The alternative to download and steal it is too easy, therefore they choose this option.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

These are the same people who all have $30/month cell phones and $100 athletic shoes, right?

 

[LordPhoenix]

Well until teens mature / get a job, they will pirate. that's for sure.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

TOTAL BS

if they didnt buy that mismatched primer colored body kit and big metal wing for their POS car they coudl buy all the games they wanted

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

These are the same people who all have $30/month cell phones and $100 athletic shoes, right?

Don't forget the $150 throwbacks and $75 pants. Gotta Keep It Real, Yo. Word. Bling Bling.

- M4H

 

and how many mp3s are on your computer?

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

BS. They can afford it, its just like anything else, if you want it, save up for it. The alternative to download and steal it is too easy, therefore they choose this option.

my bad, shouldnt of said afford. meant 'unwilling to pay'.

 

[nageov3t]

my roommate (a programmer, of all things) is the biggest pirate that I know.

he refuses to pay for an OS, so I'm, like, "dude, just run Linux." he'd rather steal XP (and subsequently can't patch, so he has mad issues on his comp).

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: troytime
and how many mp3s are on your computer?

Hundreds ... every one ripped from my own CD collection.

mp3 != pirated

 

[Acanthus]

Rediculous pricing is what makes people steal.

If we could easily afford it, it wouldnt be worth the time and effort to go download it even.

Look at the new ESPN series of games, $20 a pop on release, and they are still making money, as a matter of fact those games are flying off the shelves as a result of the price.

 

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: troytime
and how many mp3s are on your computer?

Hundreds ... every one ripped from my own CD collection.

mp3 != pirated

my bad, i should have asked how many illegaly downloaded mp3s

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

BS. They can afford it, its just like anything else, if you want it, save up for it. The alternative to download and steal it is too easy, therefore they choose this option.

my bad, shouldnt of said afford. meant 'unwilling to pay'.

True to an extent, they are still 'willing to pay' for the other said toys, so what's different about software?

I think it relates to the way people look at computers, even adults. When you computer breaks down you take it to the shop, just like your car, right? No, you call a friend/family member/company IT staff to get it done for free.

Free?!? WTF? Why do these people expect free service? It's the same reason I won't build PCs for sell. Dell won't support your software, why should I? But if I don't, I'm giving bad service and get a bad rap. No thanks, not worth the headache.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Kida always want crap for free, they don't understand the value of a dollar.

maybe it's because they do understand the value of a dollar that they want stuff for free

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: troytime
and how many mp3s are on your computer?

Hundreds ... every one ripped from my own CD collection.

mp3 != pirated

Exactly. I've made a point in the past year to remove and downloaded mp3s I have on my computer. All of my mp3s on my pc were ripped from my CDs that I bought with my money.

edit: I type slow

 

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: puffff

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX

Originally posted by: puffff
the problem with the gaming industry is it's target audience (high school, college students) in most cases cant afford games at $50 a pop. it's like rolex trying to sell its watches to teenagers. it's just not a fundamentally sound business plan.

BS. They can afford it, its just like anything else, if you want it, save up for it. The alternative to download and steal it is too easy, therefore they choose this option.

my bad, shouldnt of said afford. meant 'unwilling to pay'.

True to an extent, they are still 'willing to pay' for the other said toys, so what's different about software?

I think it relates to the way people look at computers, even adults. When you computer breaks down you take it to the shop, just like your car, right? No, you call a friend/family member/company IT staff to get it done for free.

Free?!? WTF? Why do these people expect free service? It's the same reason I won't build PCs for sell. Dell won't support your software, why should I? But if I don't, I'm giving bad service and get a bad rap. No thanks, not worth the headache.

Thats a good point about calling friends/family....so true.
If i had a dollar for everytime i heard "pay you? it only took you 10 minutes to fix it!?"