Piracy

[EricBess]

This question has come up in a couple of other threads. I've wanted to post a response, but rather than post it in each thread, I've decided to create a poll to see what everyone else thinks on this matter.

Just to make things clear, there is a point where I think software becomes public domain. In effect, the manufacturer isn't producing it any more and the only way to get the title is to find it elsewhere. I'm not talking about this. I'm talking about new products on the market.

Being a programmer, I have my opinions, but I'm really interested in what other people have to say.

 

[Spiderman]

I think it's bad in general and in principle, but I can say I've done it, especially in the '80's with my Apple II+ software. Geez, everything I had was pretty much pirated.

Nowadays though, I try to buy it. 'Cause you can't really produce the manuals and stuff that comes with it now (if it's a good game).

What makes me shake my head is when people pirate a game and then log on to the software's Tech Support and ask for help. Can we say "Loooooooserrrrr".

I don't know about public domain. I have to say I use it in for MAME (which I presume brought this up, along with B&W) but right now, I just can't afford or find those good 'ol 80's arcade games

 

[Ed Sullivan]

Originally posted by Spiderman
What makes me shake my head is when people pirate a game and then log on to the software's Tech Support and ask for help. Can we say "Loooooooserrrrr".

Oh God, I deal with them all the time.

"How do I fix X?? I'm running [an old version]."
"Upgrade"
"But I don't wanna upgrade!"
"Then you can't fix it."
"Oh, ok"

Never hear from them again and they never upgrade.
*sigh...*

 

[TeamRegime.com]

Im in the graphics biz where typically a software package costs between 300-700 USD...and you generally need about 4 primary applications. So your looking at 2000.00 JUST for software...it's a matter of economics...you do what you can to make ends meet.

For Games however, I usually BUY my own and only dupe for back up purposes..I also SHARE my games with close friends, knowing thier NOT going to make dupes and sell em illegally. Thank God for DEMOS otherwise it would be a crap shoot when buying a 30-50 Game and your NOT allowed to exchange it.

So this is my answer- the others were pretty much the same Poll answer..none were focused on non moral situations...but I suppose it would be the "To each his own."

Nicholas Knight
www.teamregime.com

 

[Zadok001]

I have several 'hacked' games on my hard-disk. Most of them are God-Awful. The ones that are truly great, I buy. If the game isn't worth spending twenty minutes on, there's no way I'm wasting $50 on it. But if it absolutely rules (ala Diablo II, Black and White, and Freespace I and II), I go out and purchase the thing at first opportunity.

Illegal, yes - But I pay if the game is worth it. Problem is, most of the games on my disk get played once, and set aside, because they are BAD games.

 

[Mundungu]

If a game is really great, I'll buy it even if I played a pirate version first (which happens like almost never, 'cause I dont know anybody here).

The perfect example was System Shock, which I bought AFTER playing the game.

Without the money, the companies wouldn't bring out good stuff.

Its the same reason why I buy my Magic Boxes at 100 USD from the local shop. I WANT the local shop to survive and am ready to ditch 30 USD to help them be there for the Tuesday night magic and stuff.

Still though, I thinkt that software prices are REALLY to high. I mean 50 USD is a lot of money.
If games were in the 20 USD range I'd buy many more - which I do partially with second hand games ...

 

[Chaos Turtle]

Sad for me, I have s shelf full of crappy game that I paid for.

I pretty much accept that it happens, and liken it to the mp3/Napster revolution. It's a flat-out result of people feeling like they're being ripped-off by the industry, both in pricing as well as by the way it seems to have become commonplace to release software riddled with glaring program bugs. (Or, to re-phrase choice #1, "Those prices account for the piracy!")

The only thing that irks me though is that most of the people who do it whitewash it and get squeamish when you tell them they are stealing. I mean, to each his own, but don't be a hypocrite about it. And if you ever get busted, no whining.

 

[EricBess]

As a programmer, I write software for network marketing companies. I've written other things on the side for fun, but this is what I get paid for. When I quote a price to a client, I often get, "Why is it so much?"

Of course, my minimum charge is several thousand dollars. What they don't seem to understand sometimes is that every time I pick up a new project, it is custom coding that only they will be using. I write the commission piece that is different for every company. They are used to paying a certain amount (usually higher than what I charge) for a piece of software that everyone gets the same version. It's tough to set expectations in that environment.

Anyway, that's a bit off topic, but there is a point. I think in general that people don't really understand just how much work goes into programming.

Don't get me wrong, software houses probably make decent money. However, that money needs to compensate for a lot of programming hours, testing hours, support hours, and (here's one that is always too large) administrator hours. Plus, there are a lot of other, behind the scene expenses. Oh, and then they have to compensate for the fact that last month, they put out a real dud that only sold 50 copies...

 

[Almindhra]

I agree with Eric...They do put in a lot of time to produce one game...I mean, why do you think it takes so long for a game to come out onto the market?...

Ok, ok, for my Comp Sci class we had to get a business and a product and do a webpage, presentation, and Ghantt chart for it...Now for me to start up my PC game business (so dauthily named 'Raging Dusk Entertainment') it took almost 8 months from scratch...And I know its even more than that for real companies...So I give them some credit...

I was willing to pay 50-whatever buckaroos for D2...I knew it was going to be a great game...So I commend them with their hard work by buying their game full price...

Now for software...I do not have 150+ to shell out for some pretty software...Right now on my comp I have Dreamweaver, Flash, and Norton Utilities...I feel kind of guilty about it, but I don't have that kind of money and downloading them is so much easier than going to the store and buying it......