A CD key doesnt protect against piracy

[elkdanger]

What about if publishers were to follow the lead of the release of Radiohead's latest effort (whereby they wanted only a donation as opposed to fixing the price of their album), would people pay then and is it likely to help the piracy issue? With regards to the Radiohead album, many people whom I spoke to about would actually pay when it could be had legally for free, albeit they would pay less that what it was valued in the shops.

Of course, with games we're dealing with items of value greater than that of a CD, but if a publisher was to realise a highly anticipated game using this scheme, would you pay for it? If so, how much would you be prepared to pay?

Trent Reznor also released a collaboration album recently, where you could download a 128kpbs version for free, but pay $5 for a 320kpbs version. Could something similar be applied here to games?

All I'm saying is I think the industry needs to change the way it gets their product to us; other industries are trying new things, why can't they?

 

[Chronictank]

What about if publishers were to follow the lead of the release of Radiohead's latest effort (whereby they wanted only a donation as opposed to fixing the price of their album), would people pay then and is it likely to help the piracy issue? With regards to the Radiohead album, many people whom I spoke to about would actually pay when it could be had legally for free, albeit they would pay less that what it was valued in the shops.

Of course, with games we're dealing with items of value greater than that of a CD, but if a publisher was to realise a highly anticipated game using this scheme, would you pay for it? If so, how much would you be prepared to pay?

Trent Reznor also released a collaboration album recently, where you could download a 128kpbs version for free, but pay $5 for a 320kpbs version. Could something similar be applied here to games?

All I'm saying is I think the industry needs to change the way it gets their product to us; other industries are trying new things, why can't they?

what they could do is offer a "basic" game package (example less weapons, no online play etc etc) and then offer the premium one for a cost
A bit like hellgate:london where you pay for additional content

I dont think thats the way forward personally, i just think all this money is being wasted on developing anti-piracy technology when there is no point in it

 

[Zip]

What about if publishers were to follow the lead of the release of Radiohead's latest effort (whereby they wanted only a donation as opposed to fixing the price of their album), would people pay then and is it likely to help the piracy issue? With regards to the Radiohead album, many people whom I spoke to about would actually pay when it could be had legally for free, albeit they would pay less that what it was valued in the shops.

Of course, with games we're dealing with items of value greater than that of a CD, but if a publisher was to realise a highly anticipated game using this scheme, would you pay for it? If so, how much would you be prepared to pay?

I wouldnt be paying for it TBH

If they are giving it away then ill take it

 

[fini]

What about if publishers were to follow the lead of the release of Radiohead's latest effort (whereby they wanted only a donation as opposed to fixing the price of their album), would people pay then and is it likely to help the piracy issue?

Radiohead screwed over the fans with what they now freely admit was a publicity stunt. Added to that, the average spent on the album was something like £3 - which wouldn't actually make the album profitable unless sold in mass numbers.

 

[elkdanger]

Radiohead screwed over the fans with what they now freely admit was a publicity stunt. Added to that, the average spent on the album was something like £3 - which wouldn't actually make the album profitable unless sold in mass numbers.

I didn't realise they made such an admission. But you're right, at the end of the day it does come down to money so I guess that something like this couldn't work in the video games industry.

However, I think the point I was trying to get across was that maybe publishers need to try new things in order to combat piracy more effectively. Possibly using micro-transactions to get their money back? Also, if you can't beat them - let them have it. As a few other people have said here, stop wasting money on copy protection which clearly doesn't work and instead use the money to produce better quality games!

 

[silent]

You know what makes me mad - those people that continue to go on about prices and how if they were lower piracy wouldn't be as bad.
Will you please stop talking utter rubbish.

£35 or Free
£30 or Free
~~~~
£5 or Free

It doesn't matter how low you go people if given the option will always go for free.
If people stopped pirating software there is a chance we would see a drop in pricing because at the moment we pay for the pirates copy as well.
When a software house has spent many years developing software they need to make their investment back.

Of course those "cool" pirates and other software thieves don't see this.
As far as they are concerned they shouldn't have to pay.
However if a game takes on average a year to make, that is 12 months of coders, testers salary plus all of the other expenses involved with getting the game out there, marketing etc.
A game only has a limited shelf life so they have to make their money back or else it is simply not worth their time making the game in the first place.

Piracy will eventually kill of the games industry.
However pirates, like most other thieves care about themselves only so really don't care.

from personal experience, i will happily pay £10-15 for a new release game but usually tend to wait a month or 2 and then buy them in the 2 for 15 or 20deals. It's like DVD's, i used to 'acquire' pre-screeners of movies i liked the look of, then buy the 1 disc, then 2 disc and ltd edition 85 disc versions of the one film but now just wait 1-2 mths after release and there usally a fiver for the top 2 disc special ultimate edition. that i find is the same with games.

if games were under £10 (i know it costs sometimes millions to make them) i think more would buy as downloading and cracking some games is a pain and frequently doesn't work (allegidly) so u end up buying them anyway.

i vote for cheaper prices straight off, then a lot, not all, of the piracy MAY stop.

but then again i'm probably wrong anyway