Report Solution to piracy?

Poll started by feillyne with 3,257 votes and 150 comments. Browse the poll archive.

 2%

(60 votes)DRM!

 1%

(25 votes)Platform-protection (releasing games on platforms least pirated, PS3 for example)

 5%

(174 votes)All games made free to play, only premium content paid

 12%

(396 votes)More demos, betas and exclusive content

 6%

(195 votes)All games made legally free

 10%

(320 votes)Good games are rarely pirated

 4%

(123 votes)Government's crackdowns on torrent and warez sites/servers

 3%

(88 votes)Anti-piracy campaigns and education

 33%

(1089 votes)Cheaper games

 19%

(630 votes)Solution? What solution? There's no solution!

 5%

(157 votes)Other solution(s)...

Post comment Comments  (0 - 50 of 150)
MrElusive603
MrElusive603

DRM encourages piracy by making it harder for legitimate customers to play their games.

Do you see pirates whining about how Ubisoft requires them to have a constant internet connection? About how you only have 3 install limit? About how StarForce/SecuROM has installed hidden spyware on your machine just to check you've got the disc in the drive and "phone home" to their servers?

To fix this, they need to make games cheaper and also get rid of this DRM ********. Until then, people are always going to pirate. Believe it or not but the price tag does make a quite a difference. You're less likely to pirate a game if it's dirt cheap, but why buy it if you have to put up with DRM?

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SIGILL
SIGILL

Yeah I always get angry if my new, bought, game doesn't work as it should because of annoying DRM while all the pirates 1) Were playing before the release date and 2) Don't have any DRM troubles.

I voted for "What solution?", because there always will be people that are just going to take whatever they want. People with who(m?) The Moral (derp) is less strong. Not judging anyone, just stating a fact.

Also, Feillyne, you know polls/threads about piracy usually result in angry people, right?

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Kedgeree
Kedgeree

In all honesty, as Metalspy said, no matter what the price is, some people will just pirate it regardless.
One helluva example would be the Humble Indie Bundle, you paid whatever you wished to pay to recieve the games. Yet people still pirated it.

One source: Joystiq.com

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Icedecknight
Icedecknight

Um, the price does matter. Look at steam, I bet with all the deals going on they cut piracy down by at least a 1/5 with their users. It's only when the person cannot possibly afford the game, or does not have a credit card for online purchases. Hell who wouldn't want to buy Mass Effect 2 or Crysis 2 for 10 bucks.

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Kedgeree
Kedgeree

While a cheaper price can indeed infuence a person to buy instead of pirate. There is still people who would pirate the product even if it was £1 or less. Hence my reference to the Humble Indue Bundle.

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Jeffman12
Jeffman12

At first I thought makingg games cheaper, and then I realized, there's no way around piracy, in some form or another. Making all games free and requiring money for 'premium content' only really works with online games, there'd be a limited tolerance for that in single player settings.
As you said, DRM just ****** people off. But there's still the fact that people will steal these products regardless of price or product quality. Piracy isn't as big a threat to developers as they make it out to be, but alarmism is their attempt at cutting down on it regardless. Sure, lost revenue isn't something to be taken lightly, but developers spend too much time on that instead of trying to make their games up to snuff if they really care about it THAT much. For clarification, I chose 'No Solution'

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Sanguinius
Sanguinius

As i said in the previous poll, games are really expensive. Developers release unfinished games for 50+ euros, after that they release countless "updates" that actually don't fix what needs to be fixed. And after that they release pointless DLC for half the price of the entire game. All i can say is that they are greedy bastards. If they lower the price from lets say 50 to 25 euros, they would earn more money because more people would actually buy the game, that way we are all happy, devs and us customers. So as long as they stay 50+ euros i wont stop pirating. Btw to all those clueless morons saying pirating hurt the developers, that's a total ********. Pirating is same as if i bought the game, installed it and then passed that same game around 4-5 friends so they can also play. I can do whatever the **** i want with the game i bought, and no one can say otherwise. I can burn, break, bury, give to friends, share on the internet...basically anything. Warning Warning: Karma rape imminent :)

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BunnyJen
BunnyJen

Ahem...correction....PUBLISHERS are greedy (if you think anyone is greedy) NOT devs :P

And you're wrong. Pirating DOES affect the developers, you're the clueless one on that front clearly. ;)

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attackmike
attackmike

I really do not see how pirating a game, which is basically sending copied files to another pc is a lost sale. The one pirating obviously had no intention of buying the game in the first place plus a pirated game is merely data its not hardware. plus anticipating revenue is alike to counting your chickens before they hatch.

I personally believe that pirates can not be stopped unless some extreme actions are taken. Though reducing prices can help.

And why is it that when almost every game released it automatically cost 60$+?

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BunnyJen
BunnyJen

The one pirating didn't have any intention no....but what about the thousands of other people that then download it as it's offered up for free. A percentage of them would probably still buy the game. They must have SOME interest in the game in the first place to look into it and download it for free....meaning if pirating didn't exist in the world, they would still have looked into it and some of them might have bought it.

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Sanguinius
Sanguinius

I see you have a reading problem mate. I know publishers are greedy but the main problem are Developers. They are the one "Making" the game, right ???

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BunnyJen
BunnyJen

I have no problem reading at all mate. ;) You are correct, developers make the game, but they do not control the prices. Publishers and other none devs sort that out. The developers simply create the game (unless it's a small studio/indie company that might be different).

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Sanguinius
Sanguinius

Yes but the thing is "developers" do not make the game that is worth 50-60 euros. That's the main problem.

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BunnyJen
BunnyJen

And you know why that is? Because people moan if games don't come out fast. Look at Half Life ep 3....so many people complain just because Valve take their time. But if they released junk they would moan too. Publishers and retail set the prices and the deadlines for the games....the developers just make it, they ahve very tight strict deadlines to meet. If you want to complain about that then you wanna be complaining to publishing and retail I'm afraid....not the devs.

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shroomman
shroomman

Yea DRM is a problem
for example there are some old games with starforce copy protection (BK2 for example) I had great problems with it on my new laptop, as that "starforce" copy protection does not seem to be compatible with vista or win7.
So to play game on win 7 I was forced to get cracked game exe.
Thow I had been running game on winxp without any problems.
So in some cases it actually IS easier to have pirated version as official version. (In that case price is no issue, as its a older game and can be purchased for 5 EURO at some retailers)
Too needing to have internet to play your (singelplayer) game just sucks, same as needing to register to setam or other sh*t.
Its good to have steam as retailer, but beeing forced to register there just to play a game you bought in a shop?????

After all if they want to play multiplayer most people actually buy the game, so maybe put (good) MP part in every game and all should be ok!
And above all DON'T release games before they are ready. Not that you need to wait for first patch untill you can actually play your expencive game.

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masternerdguy
masternerdguy

DRM sucks.

More demos would be nice.

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Tanshaydar
Tanshaydar

Cheaper games are not only/enough solution, but we need tech demos to see game 'actually works' on our system.
Most of the AAA games are simply consolized and developers don't even properly test them on PC. So, why should I pay a game which I'm not even sure my system would handle?
I'm a student and I can't spend 50 bucks to every game released, only if they deserve it with content (F: NV).

DRM, crackdowns on warez... These are the things only make games more expensive than they already are. You can't stop piracy, you have to show a better alternative.

Don't -> DRM, region protection, no demo, consolize, too much ad with crappy content (DNF), expensive.
Do -> No DRM, no region protection, demo, system friendly, good content, cheaper.

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Landon1121
Landon1121

THERE IS NO SOLUTION MWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA

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Kamikazi[Uk]
Kamikazi[Uk]

Personally for me i think it's just making games cheaper. If you look at steam for example it's almost stopped piracy now because who wants to pirate a game and go through all the trouble, when they can get it on steam deal for very cheap.

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Jokerme
Jokerme

-Make games cheaper (even best games don't worth more then $30, most games should be between $19-$26 range)

-Demos are a must and betas are good.

Do these and you'll make piracy a small problem rather than a huge one. Piracy can't be stopped though.

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MisterPennyPacker
MisterPennyPacker

If companies offer more betas and content pre-release more people will buy it if the game is good enough and they have a beta, although, this is only my opinion, try before ya buy.

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InStars
InStars

All games made free to play, only premium content paid.

Many people pirate games only to try them out. A good example of this model is Trackmania and LOTRO, you can play the game for free, but you have to pay for premium content.

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PapaEcoMyk
PapaEcoMyk

I wonder what excuse would use EA if the where no piracy for dont bring bot suport for Battlefield 3?

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Kasumi Krystal
Kasumi Krystal

There is only one reason we are ripping out games.
The reason is cause they are too expensive , and the count of money to give is simply too far over the top to give for just that one experience we need.

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aidas2
aidas2

The problem lies not in the people that pirate, but in the developers of the game. If they can't create a game worth spending money, rip off people every year *cough*IW*cough* or cost twice more than they are worth, then it's a problem on devs end and they don't deserve the money.

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stocko2k
stocko2k

digital distribution is the only way to slow piracy, i dont think we can ever stop it.

steam/desura/psn/xbl all have the capacity to be the sole way to buy games but unfortunately the worlds not ready to let go of physical media

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Graykin
Graykin

Yeah, but the problem with many digital distribution services like Steam is that you don't actually OWN the game, you merely own the right to play them. You can only play them if Steam lets you, which shouldn't be a problem most of the time, but it has caused problems for me when out of range of an internet connection. Plus, if you do anything to **** the system off, POOF, you just lost your account and all of the games you spent hard money on to NOT own.

Not all DD is like that, thankfully, but I'd take a physical copy over DD anyday anyway.

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BunnyJen
BunnyJen

It's a tough one. I think more/substancial demos and content would be a good start. Also cracking down on people pirating stuff. I'm not sure making games cheaper is an option for all developers sadly. So many games companies have gone under in the UK recently....devs are struggling for money as it is without making the games cheaper.

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ice_trey
ice_trey

"DRM encourages piracy by making it harder for legitimate customers to play their games.

Do you see pirates whining about how Ubisoft requires them to have a constant internet connection? About how you only have 3 install limit? About how StarForce/SecuROM has installed hidden spyware on your machine just to check you've got the disc in the drive and "phone home" to their servers?

To fix this, they need to make games cheaper and also get rid of this DRM ********. Until then, people are always going to pirate. Believe it or not but the price tag does make a quite a difference. You're less likely to pirate a game if it's dirt cheap, but why buy it if you have to put up with DRM?"
Nuff said

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GamesAreFunOk
GamesAreFunOk

Why are you copy/pasting the top comment, wtf? seriously?

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shroomman
shroomman

sometimes a "quote" is needed to indicate, the stuff you want to say to it.
its a diffrence to quote or to copy/paste.
But not evan the former german defence-secretary seemed to have know the diffrence and had to step back.... leading to another copyright dession!

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Kasabian
Kasabian

The price of games is getting ridiculous in the 1980's games cost no more than 3-5 pounds. Today to buy the Skyrim limited edition would cost 130 pounds, that is a massive increase in such a small span of time.

People are more likely to buy a game when it is reasonably priced, especially these days when a game is not even guaranteed to work correctly upon purchase.

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BunnyJen
BunnyJen

Kasabian what you're not taking into account here is the expansion of dev studios. Back in the 80's it was tiny dev teams. These days studios have to employ hundreds of developers. That's why they must cost more. Games take longer to make and have more workforce behind them it's a natural progression for them to become more expensive.

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Fagu_Aegeis
Fagu_Aegeis

And not guaranteed to be the stuff they are selling you, leaving you with less money and a ****** game.

High prices, less quality...

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romanius24
romanius24

my solution is: quality...simple.i pirate games but i also bought Bad company 2 because of its quality and also will buy minecraft for the same reason,BF3,RO2 etc..quality sells imo

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INtense! Staff
INtense!

Multiplayer... constant patching and updates for legitimate customers

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x3nu
x3nu

My thought too. Make it not worth pirating.

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claytonian
claytonian

PS3 is a less pirated platform? Coulda fooled me and my 600 gigs of PS3 games.

If a game is coming out that looks somewhat decent, I'm not going to gamble $30+ on it. I'm going to try it before I buy it. No one makes demos any more. Apparently it costs them less to try and fight all of the pirates than give players who may have actually purchased the games a chance to try them out. Makes sense to me.

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Flash112
Flash112

Its funny how absolutely nobody chose DRM! xD

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x3nu
x3nu

Hmm, 4 people want DRM... either they're trolls, or controll freaks.

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TheNodCommander
TheNodCommander

What Notch said.

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Flash112
Flash112

And what did he say? :/

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Kasabian
Kasabian

You could have just Googled Notch and DRM to get that information Flash 112, but regardless here are the highlights.

"Protip: if you pirate Ubisoft games instead of buying them, they will work fine if your internet connection goes down."

"That said, piracy DOES hurt the developers. My point was that a DRM scheme that ENCOURAGES piracy is insane,"

"I personally stopped pirating games many years ago, so now I just avoid playing some games."

“Piracy is not theft,” “If you steal a car, the original is lost. If you copy a game, there are simply more of them in the world.”

“There is no such thing as a ‘lost sale’. Is a bad review a lost sale? What about a missed ship date?”

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TheNodCommander
TheNodCommander

Pretty much. Link: Notch.tumblr.com

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WSBK
WSBK

Cheaper games is a more logical solution. In my case, the majority of the games that i have, are bought in special campaign or magazines (BGamer is the one i like most, also until now the only surviver on the market) the rest are games that i liked and bought them anyway even in their fresh time and those are rare, the reason is simple the cost is to great to buy a game that in long term has no benefit, and on the economical crises that we are living now is even more of a reason to the "Why?".

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JoshZemlinsky
JoshZemlinsky

Im kinda lost on this one, i have no idea what could be done tho :/
i guess cheaper games could work lol! But i dont recall any games ever being below the 50 Euro mark. So is it about time that the price is lowered?
I have no idea, i rarely buy new games because games get worse and worse lol. The two games i've spent money on this year was World Of Tanks, and Red Orchestra 2.

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AJ_Quick
AJ_Quick

(buried)

DRM, obviously!

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cW#Ravenblood

Well, I would make it cheaper :D
I payed around 50 bucks for MW2 and it was for me around 4 hours of campaign and some stupid dlcs where released.

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C&C-Pickled
C&C-Pickled

Dude I payed $150 for MW2, The prices here are beyond retarded.

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Flash112
Flash112

If you payed so much for such a game, then i must say that you are beyond retarded , no offence xD

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Kyou.
Kyou.

that was the normal price for the game in nz...at time of release

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Flash112
Flash112

thats just terrible! The most expensive game i have seen are PS3 games about 100$ at the time of release... but salaries in LV are way lower as well.. V_V

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