PC Piracy Charts

#41 @Michael: I have to disagree about there being no justifiable reason to download a torrent.

I mentioned above that I've downloaded cracked/modified versions of software that I've legally purchased, in order to get around onerous DRM restrictions (e.g., TSR software I don't want on my machine, CD emulation blocks, etc.) or stupid design flaws in the product. And I don't seed.

Let's not criminalize the technology: not everyone who downloads a torrent is a thief. (Only 98.5% of them are. And Nathan, I agree about those statistics!)

#42 As the Milgram experiment shows, 65% of the average human race would shock an innocent person to death simply because they were told to do so. Given that, can you guess what percentage would anonymously download a piece of software, screwing approximately 300 people out of 20cents apiece? This is why there is DRM.

#43 There's no question, DRM is needed, Jaimi. Anonymous theft is just too tempting in a morally bankrupt society.

I just wish retailers could find a better balance between protecting their product and crippling it.

Of course, we could alleviate the problem by instilling character in our kids and ourselves... but nah, that's too much work.

#44 Well, most people have locks on their doors, so my bet is that DRM is here to stay!
I'm also very happy that most of the time my car stays in place, and when I eventually release something digitally I too plan to check up on the clientelle... Morals are a double edged sword i guess ;-)

#45 DRM is in my opinion a very bad business model. It irritates the crap out of legitimate end users (see: spore, Grand theft Auto, etc), and obviously does nothing to stop piracy, in fact in Spores case i have seen that it encourages piracy.

In terms of business models, Blizzard and Valve (steam) definitely have the best piracy protection and business model: online games requiring a CD key, distributed online.

then again, no game manufacturer out there gets my money at the moment; i'd rather create my own game then play theirs. And when i make a good game people will want to support it.

Quote:
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IMHO.

When will "they" learn? Games should be FREE to the public. Allow the public to freely distribute your game using P2P and the internet! Instead of trying to figure out new security features, figure out a new business plan. You can not fight the tidal wave, you should learn the ride it instead, or you will drown.......
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so true, yet it still scares the crap out of people using old fashioned business models. like it or not, this is the future.

#46 Free distribution of video games is not a better business model, because there is no business involved.

- Company makes money from selling games
- Company takes some of the profit it and pours it into the hiring and upkeep cost for programmers, artists, writers, and producers

There are plenty of great free games available, but it's hard to find one that is polished and has lasting power. Not impossible, but damn hard.

Should this logic of free games apply to other forms of entertainment? Music? Movies? Books? Plays? Should the products of those industries be free to public entirely?

#47

Quote:Well, most people have locks on their doors, so my bet is that DRM is here to stay!
I'm also very happy that most of the time my car stays in place

You can't compare piracy with this. You list things the users are happy with. Even if it does cause problems occasionally as DRM certainly does (forgetting your keys, and your locks keep you out of your own house), these things are still worth it, they keep you (the user) from losing a product.

Piracy protection just prevents the company from losing sales on the product, and most of the time does nothing to help the buyer. If it could keep someone from breaking into your house and stealing your game, it would be like that. But it doesn't. It would be as if they installed additional locks on your car because some people steal them from dealerships.

#48 Why can't I?

My point is I have a lock on my door to signal i want to keep people from taking my property.
If someone wants to steal my things they have to make an illegal action to do so.
There are many kinds of DRM, but basicly telling people that copying and distributing your product is not ok is perfectly understandable. If DRM prevents people from playing games then the big softwarecompanies cut the branch they are sitting on. I believe this problem will solve itself when people wize up and stop buying them.
But nothing, not even bad DRM justifies stealing a game, - as well as an open door is not an invitation to clean out my house. -Think I'm comparing stealing to stealing...

#49 It's obvious there are two types of people here. Those who see no difference between stealing (transition of ownership of a tangible item) and unauthorized duplication (copying but not removing the ownership of the software from hit's owner) and those who think they are distinct concepts. It will be a debate for the ages with little but equal transition between the factions. Add it to the heap pile with abortion, gay marriage, and OJ's innocence ;p

#50 So you're saying DRM is a RELIGIOUS matter ? ;-)

#51 Well, that's fine if they want to put DRM on their game. But, seeing as almost 100% of the time, it does nothing to stop the people who pirate, but it harms your paying customers, I think it's clear whether you should or shouldn't add DRM to your games.


Me? I would have very small DRM. Maybe have something similiar to Tribes 2, where you had to make an account to play online, and that's linked to your CD-key. In that case, it doesn't really inconvenience your users at all.

Heck, I'd even encourage people to use it for LANs for free, that way it attracts more people to buying it so they can play it all the time.

#52 I'm not saying that piracy isn't stealing from the companies, it is. But I am saying that DRM, unlike locks on doors, cars, etc, does nothing to help the user, who are the people affected by DRM. In fact, it often causes complications with the game, while at the same time rarely ever preventing piracy.

It's like... like if the lock on your door slapped every 3rd person to walk through it, and for no apparent reason, barred you from entering your own house occasionally. But at the same time, had an easy-access button for any thief who felt like opening the door.

#53 Well if it's a big problem then people should collectively sue the companies... all in all it seems that the pirates and thieves are to blame for the current DRM problems. Come on people, educate the companies! Make complaints, tell them what sucks and what does not. -If they don't listen then stop buying and playing their crap games!

I never had any problems with legal software that a helpline couldn't fix or guide me trough. ;-)

#54 Saying the issues paying customers sometimes go through due to DRM is the fault of those who pirate the games is a huge cop out IMO. I call BS on that whole heartily.

Piracy is wrong, and there's no justification for it. But it's the companies fault for the current issues with DRM. Find a way to protect your product without hurting those who allow you to butter your bread. And while your at it.. how about shaving afew million off the CEO's and giving a portion to the grunts as well as lowering the price. It's getting ridiculous. I'm really tired of hearing those companies moaning "to many pirates cutting into whats ours.. I only made 6 million this year doing my job.. wheres the bread lines.." Kinda makes it difficult to empathize. whoa.. almost turned into a rant.

(not directed at anyone specifically)

#55 If anyone doubts DRM causes problems, check out this link regarding Starforce...

http://www.glop.org/starforce/

"For example, here's one of the common problems brought by Starforce: under Windows XP, if packets are lost during the reading or writing of a disk, XP interprets this as an error and steps the IDE speed down. Eventually it will revert to 16bit compatibility mode rendering a CD/DVD writer virtually unusable. In some circumstances certain drives cannot cope with this mode and it results in physical hardware failure (Most commonly in multiformat CD/DVD writer drives). A sure sign of this step down occurring is that the burn speeds will get slower and slower (no matter what speed you select to burn at). Starforce, on a regular basis, triggers this silent step down. Until it reaches the latter stages most people do not even realise it is happening."