How Console Piracy Affects Gaming

Thanks to GameSpy for posting a three-part article discussing the problems of pirated console games, and the steps being taken to combat the problem. The article talks to IDSA boss Doug Lowenstein, and suggests that "..console piracy is a worldwide industry, as multi-national as wireless telephones or McDonalds hamburgers.", also contrasting the piracy problems of the major manufacturers: "Nintendo's piracy problems are more localized than those of Sony and Microsoft. While GameCube piracy has not been a problem, Game Boy piracy, on the other hand, has proliferated."

Comments

Re:Come on...

[Hogwash McFly]

Wanting to buy a game and wanting a game are two quite different things. I might really want Final Fantasy XCVII Ultra Edition but might not want to pay £40 for it. That's when I might pirate it (hypothetically of course).

Your statement is moot because pirating a game is the opposite of buying it so if they're gonna buy it then they're not gonna pirate it. Try this:

We all know that most people would pirate a game that they want but don't want to buy.

These 'most people' make up quite a large amount of gamers and are the reason why game piracy is a multi million dollar industry

Piracy

[Anonymous Coward]

I never would've got into computers if it wasn't for piracy. I bought my C64 and later the Amiga because of the easy access to games on BBSs and personal trading with friends. I was a kid so I couldn't even afford to buy most of the games anyway (maybe one or two a year at best) so nobody was losing any money. Now that I'm older and have some cash I don't pirate my games, but still only buy one or two a year because most of the titles just aren't worth it. :-)

Profit source

[DrWho520]

One thing to remember in all of this is where these companies get their profits. Profit is not made on selling systems, but on selling and licensing games. The X-Box costs about $300-400 a pop to produce (don't quote me on that). MS loses money on each X-Box they sell. I do not know about Sony or Nintendo, but they may sell at or below cost as well. You have probably read the business philosophy, "Give away the razors, sell the hell out of the blades." They give away the consoles and sell the games. Nobody pirates the consoles, they pirate the games, and that's where the profit comes from.

Lowering prices?

[charlie763]

OK, so they can sell a number of games while there are many being pirated and still keep a profit (even if it's a little one)? Maybe it's time for them to realize that consumers are unwilling to pay these high prices and that they should lower prices to meet consumer demand. If they lowered prices it may reduce piracy and increase profits from their current state. Honestly, they are never going to be able to stop people from pirating games...people are just too smart.