Valve's Gabe Newell On Piracy: It's Not a Pricing Problem

New submitter silentbrad writes with a followup to our discussion this morning about Ubisoft's claims of overwhelming game piracy. An article at IGN quotes a different point of view from Gabe Newell, CEO of Valve: "In general, we think there is a fundamental misconception about piracy. Piracy is almost always a service problem and not a pricing problem. For example, if a pirate offers a product anywhere in the world, 24 x 7, purchasable from the convenience of your personal computer, and the legal provider says the product is region-locked, will come to your country 3 months after the U.S. release, and can only be purchased at a brick and mortar store, then the pirate's service is more valuable. Most DRM solutions diminish the value of the product by either directly restricting a customers use or by creating uncertainty." The quote was taken from an interview at The Cambridge Student Online, in which Newell speaks to a few other subjects, such as creating games for multiple platforms and e-sports.

Comments

Re:Too true

[Ethanol-fueled]

Every corporation has its resident professional shitter. The professional corporate shitter always an aging grumpy fat guy with health problems and a decent work ethic, who happens to be a slave to his bowel movements.

The professional shitter will spend no less than two hours per workday on the pot. Additionally, their bowel movements will be very pronounced - you walk into the commode and just know the professional shitter is in there. Signs of a good professional shitter are the heavy widespread stink of their bowel movements (people running out of the bathroom holding their shirts over their mouths and noses), the strained grunting and heavy breathing coming from the afflicted stall, and the professional shitters' enhanced appreciation for toilet humor while not in the restroom. Questions anyone?

Ethanol, I'm a professional shitter, and my co-workers are complaining about the time I'm spending in the restroom. What should I do?

An excellent question. If you are not on a prescription for opioid painkillers, get on one now. Doctors give them away like candy. Then, you can get a doctors note stating that the effects on such painkillers on the digestive system (constipation) are the causes of your long stays in the restroom. Your employer wouldn't dare fire anybody for medical reasons.