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An In-Depth Look At Game Piracy

Posted by Soulskill on from the share-and-share-alike dept.

TweakGuides is running a detailed examination of PC game piracy. The author begins with a look at the legal, moral, and monetary issues behind copyright infringement, and goes on to measure the scale of game piracy and how it affects developers and publishers. He also discusses some of the intended solutions to piracy. He provides examples of copy protection and DRM schemes that have perhaps done more harm than good, as well as less intrusive measures which are enjoying more success. The author criticizes the "culture of piracy" that has developed, saying. "Fast forward to the 21st century, and piracy has apparently somehow become a political struggle, a fight against greedy corporations and evil copy protection, and in some cases, I've even seen some people refer to the rise of piracy as a 'revolution.' What an absolute farce. ... Piracy is the result of human nature: when faced with the option of getting something for free or paying for it, and in the absence of any significant risks, you don't need complex economic studies to show you that most people will opt for the free route."

16 of 504 comments (clear)

  1. Piracy is the result of human nature by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Piracy is the response of all good, thinking people to an epidemic of Ninjas.

    1. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by chaoticgeek · · Score: 5, Funny

      I still hold to the picture I found online somewhere that explains copyright infringement and piracy. It defines piracy as "Stealing shit on the high seas." Which I find to be much better than what most people say it is... Not to mention it is so much more funny when people bring up piracy and I ask them when they started stealing shit on the high seas.

      --
      hello
    2. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by johnsonav · · Score: 4, Funny

      That reminds me of when I went to the computer store to buy a new laptop. The salesman asked me if I'd like to buy a mouse too. I told him no. I didn't think it and my cat would get along.

      --
      ... and that's when the C.H.U.D.'s came at me.
    3. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by KDR_11k · · Score: 5, Funny

      Piracy is the attack on a ship or airplane over international waters using another ship or airplane. Unfortunately sky pirates don't seem to exist, they'd be so damn cool they'd counteract global warming in a chinch.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by ConanG · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sky pirates sound cool, but it might not turn out the way you imagine.

    5. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by Si-UCP · · Score: 4, Funny

      Piracy is the response of all good, thinking people to an epidemic of Ninjas.

      What are you talking about? There's not a ninja in si

    6. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by Ainu · · Score: 2, Funny

      I hear that the Chinese navy is going to be deployed to fight the pirates... how ironic!

    7. Re:Piracy is the result of human nature by ciderVisor · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why make language drab and limit copyright infringement to a single word?

      Oldthinkers unbellyfeel Ingsoc.

      --
      Squirrel!
  2. File Sharing is not piracy! by pm_rat_poison · · Score: 5, Funny

    What does gaming have to do with piracy?

    1. Re:File Sharing is not piracy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That was only a few centuries ago, NOT A LONG TIME (I'm european) And it was deliberate over-the-top propaganda back then too.

    2. Re:File Sharing is not piracy! by Prefader · · Score: 5, Funny

      That was only a few centuries ago, NOT A LONG TIME (I'm european)

      I'd love to know what exactly that's supposed to mean. Does time work differently in Europe than it does in the rest of the world?
      These definitions were in use generations ago. Propaganda or not, it's part of the language now.

  3. Re:10 Page Article VERY LONG by drquoz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dude, you just pirated that article.

  4. Re:Most of "their" Statistics have no source by similar_name · · Score: 2, Funny

    A society that holds itself to embrace science, rationality, and logic should ignore numbers that have no sources. Do not accept numbers that came from no place.

    Where is that society? I would love to move there.

  5. Try this: by Mateo_LeFou · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tell people: "If **AA can refer to unauthorized copying as piracy, it should be fine if we refer to the filing of SLAPPs as 'rape'"

    --
    My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
  6. Re:saying. "Fast forward to the 21st century" by melikamp · · Score: 4, Funny

    For me, no game is worth more than $5. Not because I'm cheap, but because I hardly ever play, and if it do, it's only for a while.

    You, sir, are a terrible consumer, and should be ashamed of yourself. What is next? Christmas becoming a holiday of the spirit, with no shopping involved? People like you doomed USA.

  7. Re:You show your arrogance. by 3vi1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Piracy has pushed id as being multiplatform" stated Hollenshead [id's CEO] (source)

    Oh Noze! A company that grossed over ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER EMPLOYEE PER YEAR for many years in the 90's quit innovating had to start selling to a wider audience to maintain their profit ratio.

    Their fucking kids must make Ethiopians look soooo fat.

    (note: I always bought their stuff because I respect the hell out of Carmack. But, your argument sucks.)