Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mac Version Of Halo Exemplifies Piracy Problem?

Posted by simoniker on from the copy-and-forget dept.

An anonymous reader writes "MacSoft takes popular games and ports them to the Macintosh for all the Mac users to enjoy, but according to a TwinCities.com article, apparently there are far more users pirating Mac Halo than actually buying it A MacSoft spokesman 'didn't release sales figures [for Halo] but said illegal downloads number at least in the hundreds of thousands.'" The article uses this specific game to discuss how PC and Mac publishers are "...making gamers enter special codes, authenticate themselves online and jump through more hoops." It ends by describing the pain of the developer in seeing their title pirated: "It was a dagger in the hearts of guys who worked 12 to 14 hours a day [on Halo]... We're on an emotional high, and it all comes crashing down."

5 of 266 comments (clear)

  1. Hundreds of thousands?? by Gr33nNight · · Score: 5, Funny

    but said illegal downloads number at least in the hundreds of thousands.

    There are over a hundred thousand mac gamers?!?

    (disclamer: this is a joke, i own a mac :)

    1. Re:Hundreds of thousands?? by DrEldarion · · Score: 5, Funny

      It actually breaks down like this:

      15,000 people downloading it 5 times each in order to make it seem like there are actually mac gamers out there.
      15,000 sympathy downloads from PC users
      10,000 people downloading the game accidentally on Kazaa when they clicked the wrong file while trying to download videos of Janet Jackson's breast.

  2. Isn't it public domain now?? by tprime · · Score: 4, Funny

    After all of these years, isn't Halo for the Mac public domain now? :-)

    --
    http://www.tomandemily.com
  3. Re:bungie = sellouts. by beerman2k · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, Chef, what's a sellout?

    Well, kids, that's when some in the [software] business tries to make money.

  4. I hate to be the one to break it to you by superultra · · Score: 5, Funny

    If Mac Halo is being pirated in great numbers as a result, I don't have a lot of sympathy for Bungie/Microsoft. They broke faith with their users.

    "Look, um, Macuser. I know what you and Bungie had was something special. But I think, and don't hate me for saying this, I think you just need to move on, you know. That something special. . .well, it was special for that moment. I mean calling Bungie's new girlfriend the Great Satan; that's just too far. Microsoft's not too bad of a girl, once you get to know her. I know it hurt deeply when it happened, and Bungie probably used the whole let's be friends line. But just because Bungie decided to just be friends and are hanging out all the time with Microsoft now doesn't mean that you can sneak into Bungie's house and take all his stuff. That's just too far, you know? Honestly, Macuser, I'm surprised that Bungie hasn't applied for a restraining order. Don't get me wrong, you're really good looking, I'd even say you're pretty hot. You've really got some curves on you, that's for sure. This breaking into the house thing though and taking their stuff, that's just...strange. I mean stuff like this, it's just...freaky is all. I think everyone's been trying to be real nice to you, but someone should tell you straight up. Sometimes you can act a little weird, you know? Just...off, a little. Maybe that's why Bungie left you in the first place? And you've still got Blizzard right? He's cool, right?

    Just trying to talk, ok, sort things out with you? Call me later?"