Why do you buy games?

[Skelletonike]

Up until my teenage years, I was a dirty stinkin' pirate.

My family was never fond of videogames, although it was because of my family that I grew so fond of them (my grandfather bought me a Mega Drive when I was 4, without knowing what it was).
Aside from the Mega Drive, I received a GBC when I was 8, a PSX when I was 10 and a PS2 when I was around 16 (it was a used system and the PS3 had already been released).

Other than those I wound up buying most of my own games and consoles with part time money. The first console I purchased with my own money was a used Nintendo DS, I bought an R4 with it and I pirated all I could. Heck, I joined the temp around that time, although I was a long time lurker.
After playing hundreds of games, I realised I no longer had that much fun with games, since they were free, all I had to do was change games if I didn't like it that much at the start. The result, I stopped pirating altogether. I am now 28 and the last game I pirated was over 10 years ago.
I don't regret it.

By buying a game I give it more value and I end up enjoying it more.

 

[Stwert]

@depaul remember piracy does not equal a lost sale - as @Stwert says there will always be a subset who won't pay for anything.

Right now I have to be very careful about what I buy. I don't have the luxury of going out and buying a game, getting it home and finding its a complete pile of trash and let's face facts how many demos do companies put out these days, especially AAA titles ? Not many. I use piracy as a means to an end, I'll see what games are worth my time actually pay for them when i can. I can't actually remember the last time i pirated a game and completed it, I usually get a couple of hours in and think meh that's enough and wont touch it again or i'll go out and buy it when i can.

Devs deserve to be paid for their efforts, just like writers, artists and musicians.

@Uiaad Does make a good point, there's a dearth of game demo's these days and even if there were more, have you seen the price of magazines? Who wants to pay nearly quarter the price of a game just to get a couple of demo's that might be shite.

Piracy can, as mentioned, be a means to an end for some people. Indeed having mentioned it, it's something I personally hadn't considered before, but it's not a bad idea all things considered. Download a game, give it an hour or two of playtime and if you're hooked, then buy it. I'm usually pretty certain that I will like the games I buy, so that's not an issue. But, there are a LOT of games I give a body-swerve either permanently, or until (if) I can eventually get it for a ridiculously cheap price in a sale or second-hand.

If I tried those fringe games when they were released, there's every possibility of me buying it sooner, and at full-price, if I discover I like it. Food for thought.

 

[Y0shII]

I buy games because I like them and know they are good (I buy games during sales, rarely buy games on release date and also buy used games if the price is low). Also I pirate games (like many people here in gbatemp do) and usually end up buying those same games either on console or pc (better if released on pc) because I really like them; I see piracy as a way to test those games and then get them if I like it or just delete the files (of course I do not sell any of those games, I used to trade them but now I just try to keep up with my current list of games on steam and other launchers so I do not need to pirate every game recently released).
I also pirate games if I can not get them via "legal" ways or if the games are considered as abandonware (so there is no other way to obtain those games).

 

[DANTENDO]

I don't get those who say I'll download it to test out - total waste of time and broadband usage -bloody hel just watch clips on YouTube

 

[Uiaad]

I don't get those who say I'll download it to test out - total waste of time and broadband usage -bloody hel just watch clips on YouTube

Yes because youtube allows you to feel how it plays. Especially with action games the difference in the way things control can make or break a game far more than graphics or sound - The problem with either watching someone else play or reading reviews is exactly that it is someone else playing and someone else's opinion when it comes to reviews.

 

[Stwert]

I don't get those who say I'll download it to test out - total waste of time and broadband usage -bloody hel just watch clips on YouTube

Waste of broadband? I suppose if you have a limited connection then, yes, very good point. Mine though is very rarely below at least a couple of TB a month, for all sorts of reasons - no limit so I don’t care what I use.

I do occasionally watch YouTube clips, but it doesn’t give you a feel for the game. It’d be like watching porn when you have the wife next to you, there’s a better way
Though I’ve never actually done the “download to test before” and there’s a good chance I never will, because I know what I want to buy. It’s definitely an interesting option, much like having a demo.

 

[emigre]

Appalling personal financial management.

 

[DANTENDO]

Yes because youtube allows you to feel how it plays. Especially with action games the difference in the way things control can make or break a game far more than graphics or sound - The problem with either watching someone else play or reading reviews is exactly that it is someone else playing and someone else's opinion when it comes to reviews.

A game could hav a crappy first few hours then a total turnaround and you may think bolox after the few hours so tht don't make sense - soz but about the controls thts rubbish we all kno how games operate unless it's a vr game - plus then you got playthrough the first couple of hours again or whatever hours you do thts just complete madness

 

[Y0shII]

I would rather use a demo for testing instead of downloading a full game (like recent releases that are over 100 GB), however for older games there are not many demos so you can not test it (in some cases not even for newer titles), only play the full game or like Dantendo said watch somebody else playing that game on youtube (however you will get their opinion, not yours and also you would not "feel" the game in your current setup). Do not get me wrong, I know piracy is not the best option but in some cases like older games or abandonware it is the only option available to enjoy those games; if the publisher makes the title available for purchase and even includes a demo then in my opinion piracy is no longer needed.

 

[Stwert]

A game could hav a crappy first few hours then a total turnaround and you may think bolox after the few hours so tht don't make sense - soz but about the controls thts rubbish we all kno how games operate unless it's a vr game - plus then you got playthrough the first couple of hours again or whatever hours you do thts just complete madness

The other, and main reason I don’t watch other people playing games is, it ruins it for me. I don’t want to see all of the surprises a game has to offer and then have to play through that same game again. Just ruins the fun for me.

Maybe I’m just old fashioned, well, I am, but I’ve never seen the attraction of watching someone else play a game. Most of the fun from a game - for me, is discovering everything for the first time. That would just be destroyed by watching a play through. I don’t mind video reviews so much, they tend to not show spoilers and just short sections.

Suppose it’s just how I grew up with games, there was little information beyond a review or two, and what your friends said about it. Then you’d buy it and get the pleasure of not having already seen it. So, that’s what I still do.

 

[djnate27]

To play them, duh.
I turned over a new leaf. I have collected many "backup copies" over the years. I now only play the ones that I have purchased a copy of (physical or digital). I realize that in most cases the publisher/developer won't get a dime because most are bought used, but it's the best I can do.

 

[Deleted User]

[REMOVED]

 

[Minox]

I buy it because I have a job and can afford paying for it. I used to pirate games when I was younger, but now I don't have to.

 

[Taleweaver]

Pirating games is no different from stealing money from someone.

why wouldn't we just steal anything from anyone? huh?

Okay, okay, I'll bite. But I'm sure you've been slapped to death with this :

Partying makes a copy of someone's work. Stealing doesn't, but makes the original object no longer available for the original possessor.

So in answer : my girlfriend and me would be stealing each other's money all the time if non - virtual money behaved in the same way as stealing video games do.

 

[eyeliner]

Okay, okay, I'll bite. But I'm sure you've been slapped to death with this :

Partying makes a copy of someone's work. Stealing doesn't, but makes the original object no longer available for the original possessor.

I wanna go to that slapping party, yo.

Why do I buy software instead of searching for hack/cracks and other stuff?
Lack of patience to browse shady sites looking for a crack and getting bombarded with porn ads, betting ads and penis enlargement pills ads.

I got pornHub, I don't gamble, my penis is fine as it is.

Also, I can delete the software/game and install it later, not needing to keep a copy of it somewhere.

Games are also becoming cheaper and cheaper, and sometimes free.

Regarding PC, of course.

Consoles are an entirely different matter. I get games mostly after they get on a sale, or get them used.

Yes, my penis is proportionally sized to my body. In my opinion, of course.

 

[depaul]

Sorry I'm not pretending I've never downloaded copyrighted contents... But in principle, I still think it's a theft.

People work hard for long time to create a game. They need to sell well in order to get paid for their work. Any pirated game means 60$ less from their revenues.. Excuse me but here's where I see that pirating even one copy really means stealing some dollars from the company and therefore from its staff.

Many companies went out of business because of piracy. Take for example Sega Dreamcast : they did their best to save the console but piracy unavoidably destroyed it.

I know laws aren't perfect and most of times they are broken but I am more or less a religious person, I feel guilt whenever I play a game I don't own, and I try to buy most of my games.

 

[DANTENDO]

It's a simple qoute really- you buy the console so you buy the games

 

[chrisrlink]

Sony ps4 I would/maybe if a 7.02 exploit ever comes out Nintendo switch hell no i hate them on so many levels it's not even funny

 

[Alexander1970]

Why do you buy games?

Actual for the WiiU.
Because I am to dumb to get "Free Backups" to work.

 

[Taleweaver]

Sorry I'm not pretending I've never downloaded copyrighted contents... But in principle, I still think it's a theft.

People work hard for long time to create a game. They need to sell well in order to get paid for their work. Any pirated game means 60$ less from their revenues.. Excuse me but here's where I see that pirating even one copy really means stealing some dollars from the company and therefore from its staff.

Many companies went out of business because of piracy. Take for example Sega Dreamcast : they did their best to save the console but piracy unavoidably destroyed it.

I know laws aren't perfect and most of times they are broken but I am more or less a religious person, I feel guilt whenever I play a game I don't own, and I try to buy most of my games.

Oh, I agree it's a crime, all right. But it's more akin to stealing an idea than theft. I mean... You wouldn't say Jesus Christ was stealing bread and wine when He made some illegal copies, right?

The thing is : I'm frankly fed up with the 'it's all the same' attitude some people have. And just as well worth the 'one company made millions on one product, therefore it's okay if I pirate everything' the other camp tends to use.
Situations just can't be boiled down like that...