DRM-Free Game Suffers 90% Piracy, Offers Amnesty

bonch writes "Independent game Machinarium, released without DRM by developer Amanita Design, has only been paid for by 5-10% of its users according to developer Jakub Dvorsky. To drive legitimate sales, they are now offering a 'Pirate Amnesty' sale until August 12, bundling both the cross-platform game and its soundtrack for $5. Ron Carmel, designer of DRM-free puzzle game World of Goo, stated that his game also had about an 80-90% piracy rate, claiming that the percentage of those pirating first and purchasing later was 'very small.' He said, 'We're getting good sales through WiiWare, Steam, and our website. Not going bankrupt just yet!'"

Comments

Re:It's 90% piracy for DRM'd stuff too

[BorgDrone]

Mind if I come over your house and take whatever I want as long as you can still live?

No, but you are welcome to visit and copy my TV and stereo any time you want.

Penny Arcade says it well

[phantomfive]

As with many things game related, Penny Arcade says it best. In the struggle between pirates and game-makers, only the pirates win.

Re:Next step to prevent PC piracy

[interkin3tic]

Even a school kid without a job could buy a few games a year by cutting down on candy.

nom nom nom nom...

But without my gold-leafed hershey's kisses, I won't have enough energy to fight the zerg! ...nom nom nom nom