Gaming [Q] Why do people pirate?

[Lavanoid]

I've always found the "piracy is stealing" argument rather stale. It only works assuming that those who pirate would otherwise buy the games if they couldn't. This is definitely not the case. I fully understand where you're coming from and respect that you care so much for the developers, but piracy isn't exactly a criminal offense.

Indeed, I do care for the devs. I develop programs myself, and I like the feeling that people give gratitude because of it. How can game devs get the same feeling, when there's people who think that their hard work isn't good enough - all hard work should be given credit. Personally, before I buy a game - I watch gameplay video's of it first.

 

[Lavanoid]

I've always found the "piracy is stealing" argument rather stale. It only works assuming that those who pirate would otherwise buy the games if they couldn't. This is definitely not the case. I fully understand where you're coming from and respect that you care so much for the developers, but piracy isn't exactly a criminal offense.

Not to mention that game devs are people who go to work - which is why I feel that people who play games, should work for them - just as the devs had to go to work to produce them.

 

[sarkwalvein]

Indeed. It seems that there are lots of immoral people out there - no sense of guilt. Seems like people would rather give up privacy on the net, by removing - as you say, the anonymous aspect of the net. *metaphorical speaking

I don't think privacy is a real thing in the Internets nowadays, and I am not talking just about people as easy going as me (you could probably look up my nickname and you will know who I am). Anyway I don't think people here would act different even if they were not "anonymous".

 

[dauphin327]

http://kotaku.com/5954397/the-result-of-nintendos-investigation-into-underage-foxconn-workers

@OP ^

 

[vayanui8]

Ah, so they basically went out of business because of a loss of sales. The point still stands - they weren't getting enough cash, so they closed down. What if everyone pirated other companies? Lack of cash = closing down. It'll happen in the years to come, unless companies finally stop all the dirty pirates.

I fail to see your point on this. They didn't lose sales, they never would have made them in the first place. The fact is that they failed to make a product people wanted and thus shut down. Piracy is a very small amount, and its never going to become everybody pirating. Most people who pirate, myself included don't only pirate things either. I pirate some things to try out, buy things later. Another thing you fail to realize is that piracy in and of itself can be fun. Sure the process is complicated sometimes, and maybe it would just be easier to buy it, but in the end the journey to get there can be enjoyable too.

 

[Catastrophic]

Indeed, I do care for the devs. I develop programs myself, and I like the feeling that people give gratitude because of it. How can game devs get the same feeling, when there's people who think that their hard work isn't good enough - all hard work should be given credit. Personally, before I buy a game - I watch gameplay video's of it first.

This is a million unit industry you're talking about. Of course there will be people who don't like your product. Those people shouldn't matter if the majority of people like it.

 

[Lavanoid]

I fail to see your point on this. They didn't lose sales, they never would have made them in the first place. The fact is that they failed to make a product people wanted and thus shut down. Piracy is a very small amount, and its never going to become everybody pirating. Most people who pirate, myself included don't only pirate things either. I pirate some things to try out, buy things later. Another thing you fail to realize is that piracy in and of itself can be fun. Sure the process is complicated sometimes, and maybe it would just be easier to buy it, but in the end the journey to get there can be enjoyable too.

I see your point. I still feel that people who pirate should at least show some gratitude though. It's as if they don't care about anything, as long as they get it.

 

[dimmidice]

I've always found the "piracy is stealing" argument rather stale. It only works assuming that those who pirate would otherwise buy the games if they couldn't. This is definitely not the case. I fully understand where you're coming from and respect that you care so much for the developers, but piracy isn't exactly a criminal offense.

that's exactly how i see it too
every game that's pirated doesn't equal one game the company's not getting money for
when pirating you're not gonna worry about bad reviews, hardware requirements, whether or not you'l play it enough, whether or not you like it. if you don't like the game you'l end up playing it for a little bit and then deleting it. that happens a lot.

same with movies/music/tvshows.

hell, and even when you do like it and play it for a long time that's still not any lost revenue for them, unless the person was planning to buy it but then found the torrent and decided to get the download. which i reckon is a rather small % of pirates.

personally i buy the games i really like. even if its purely to feel right about it. i'd buy maybe one out of a hundred games if i couldn't pirate. and i'd wait for sales.

piracy is really a small issue for publishers, but they're so freaked out by it they overreacted to it in the beginning and practically encouraged people to pirate by giving the issue more attention and by adding idiotic security features to their games. they need to stop the mentality of one download = one less sale cause it's just idiotic.

 

[filfat]

I fail to see your point on this. They didn't lose sales, they never would have made them in the first place. The fact is that they failed to make a product people wanted and thus shut down. Piracy is a very small amount, and its never going to become everybody pirating. Most people who pirate, myself included don't only pirate things either. I pirate some things to try out, buy things later. Another thing you fail to realize is that piracy in and of itself can be fun. Sure the process is complicated sometimes, and maybe it would just be easier to buy it, but in the end the journey to get there can be enjoyable too.

the points is that if you never have an intention to buy the game in the first place you shouldn't play it, you cant both eat your cake and save it

 

[Lavanoid]

This is a million unit industry you're talking about. Of course there will be people who don't like your product. Those people shouldn't matter if the majority of people like it.

That's just the nature of things, yes. Still doesn't offer an excuse of piracy though. I guess it's just that I have a strong belief in right and wrong - I don't pirate because it's wrong. I guess not everyone is discipline enough.

 

[Lavanoid]

that's exactly how i see it too
every game that's pirated doesn't equal one game the company's not getting money for
when pirating you're not gonna worry about bad reviews, hardware requirements, whether or not you'l play it enough, whether or not you like it. if you don't like the game you'l end up playing it for a little bit and then deleting it. that happens a lot.

same with movies/music/tvshows.

hell, and even when you do like it and play it for a long time that's still not any lost revenue for them, unless the person was planning to buy it but then found the torrent and decided to get the download. which i reckon is a rather small % of pirates.

personally i buy the games i really like. even if its purely to feel right about it. i'd buy maybe one out of a hundred games if i couldn't pirate. and i'd wait for sales.

piracy is really a small issue for publishers, but they're so freaked out by it they overreacted to it in the beginning and practically encouraged people to pirate by giving the issue more attention and by adding idiotic security features to their games. they need to stop the mentality of one download = one less sale cause it's just idiotic.

Eh. I understand the point that you are making. However - let's just say, if piracy didn't exist and you couldn't afford a game - what would you do?

 

[dauphin327]

Even alot developers pirate; See IDA PRO

 

[Catastrophic]

That's just the nature of things, yes. Still doesn't offer an excuse of piracy though. I guess it's just that I have a strong belief in right and wrong - I don't pirate because it's wrong. I guess not everyone is discipline enough.

Too strong maybe. You seem to see everything in black and white.

 

[Lavanoid]

Too strong maybe. You seem to see everything in black and white.

Perhaps I do, at least I consider the people who work hard - not those who try to get things easily

 

[filfat]

Too strong maybe. You seem to see everything in black and white.

"You seem to see everything in black and white." if this were a Swedish forum i would have made a great joke here, however it just sounds racist when translated to English :/
I will be back.

 

[Catastrophic]

"You seem to see everything in black and white." if this were a Swedish forum i would have made a great joke here, however it just sounds racist when translated to English :/
I will be back.

Oh boi. I'd love to hear it.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

To save money. There are other reasons like being able to get games from other regions and sometimes getting games ahead of release, but in the end that's what it all comes down to and I think that applies for all pirates.
I also like messing with stuff and doing things I'm not supposed to so yeah

Lets face it, games are too expensive
If it was like Steam with great sales on games I want every now and then I would be much more likely to buy rather than pirate or at the very least buy games I enjoyed pirating when they go on sale.

 

[Lavanoid]

"You seem to see everything in black and white." if this were a Swedish forum i would have made a great joke here, however it just sounds racist when translated to English :/
I will be back.

Oh boi. I'd love to hear it.

Yeah, please do.

 

[FAST6191]

I still feel that people who pirate should at least show some gratitude though. It's as if they don't care about anything, as long as they get it.

Hmm, if Mr Jesus died for my sins and thus means I have no need of penance then I shall undertake a similar feat and attempt to be sufficiently thankful for every pirate that ever is and ever was. Problem solved.

 

[filfat]

Oh boi. I'd love to hear it.

No seriously you don't. its not actual racist in anyway, it just somehow sounds racist in English :/