Piracy: Would this work?

Teki187 · 22 May 2009 at 22:52

To the people who pirate games, have done or thinking of doing, would being able to buy the game direct from the developers via digital download make you more or less likely to pirate a game?

What i'm trying to figure out is, if people are more likely to support a developer via buying directly from them, helping them profit more from there game, rather then large publishers taking a cut.

Kenai · 22 May 2009 at 22:55

Would still depend on the game and the price.

I'm of the opinion most games are overpriced and I just don't buy games until they go sub £20 at least. I buy from Steam a fair bit as the deals are often good. Other than that, unless it was significantly cheaper it wouldn't provide any extra incentive over and above ordering from the usual online retailers.

BlackDragon · 22 May 2009 at 22:55

I don't pirate, but buying directly from a developer wouldn't be the best solution.

What you want is a centralised store where all developers publish their games, without DRM, and at a reasonable price. Something like Steam I guess, but with games being cheaper.

*Chris · 22 May 2009 at 22:56

Doesn't make a difference.

I wouldn't buy games that I'd pirate.

apeZ · 22 May 2009 at 22:56

If it has DRM: more likely.

If it doesn't have DRM and it is priced reasonably: less likely.

snowdog · 22 May 2009 at 22:58

apeZ said:
If it has DRM: more likely.

If it doesn't have DRM and it is priced reasonably: less likely.

Amnesia · 22 May 2009 at 23:13

wouldnt make a difference to me

Streeteh · 22 May 2009 at 23:16

If people want something for free they will take it.

As i always say in these threads, developers just need to deliver a really top notch online experience that is protected by a CD key. If there's something good that a user is missing out on due to not being able to play online they will buy it. I would be willing to bet 90% of game piraters have Half life 2 and Battlefield 2 in their legit collection.

Tefal · 22 May 2009 at 23:37

less likley. i buy from people like steam, impulse and Introversion software cause it's quick and easy. no need to wait for the post or go out and buy it. if they have a good on-line distribution system it usually gets bought rather than pirated.

Tefal · 22 May 2009 at 23:38

Streeteh said:
If people want something for free they will take it.

As i always say in these threads, developers just need to deliver a really top notch online experience that is protected by a CD key. If there's something good that a user is missing out on due to not being able to play online they will buy it. I would be willing to bet 90% of game piraters have Half life 2 and Battlefield 2 in their legit collection.

except of course people play on cracked/private servers.

Streeteh · 22 May 2009 at 23:40

Tefal said:
except of course people play on cracked/private servers.

True, but i bet it still does far more to combat piracy than any other measure. As i said, 90% of game piraters will own it, the other 10% play on their lonely hacked servers

Duran · 22 May 2009 at 23:48

Games are indeed overpriced especially in digital distribution platforms. For example Demigod is available through impulse which means they get 100% of the profits but its still £25 which is overpriced for a pc game especially when you consider the cuts on other costs.

Dont get me wrong I love digital distribution as much as most pc gamers but they really really need to sort out the prices.

snowdog · 23 May 2009 at 01:45

Streeteh said:
True, but i bet it still does far more to combat piracy than any other measure. As i said, 90% of game piraters will own it, the other 10% play on their lonely hacked servers

I am living proof, just see my steam account, I actually buy good games and when they're priced well ( weekend deals

). I also have BF2 on my (small) stack of retail games ( can post a pic incase you don't believe me

)

.
Otherwise I'm a big pirate.

But what teki says also works for me, I didn't start buying from steam because of the good mp features, I could have just as well not bought portal, hl2 games, audiosurf, geometry wars, bioshock, bullet candy, commander keen, etcetc and still not notice any disadvantage by sticking to my downloaded versions.

I started buying again for convenience, I HATE, ABSOLUTELY HATE cd's and dvd's. I hate DRM. I'm sick of game setups and typing/pasting cd keys/serials all the time. Steam is simple and efficient, all my games in 1 place, I click download and play something else in the meantime while my game is made ready to play.

If games would be more decently priced, I'd be buying 1 or 2 new games every week ( now about 1 game per 2-3 weeks depending on what weekends deals come by but I got drawn in the cod:waw deal and universe at war deal recently). Digital downloads + far more decent price ( eg. eliminate retail profit/costs, transportation costs, retail box/ booky/ art/dvd costs, publisher costs) would easily mean I'd buy much more, provided there is no such thing as an activation limit, some kind of check before playing, annoying protection drivers ( starforce :mad:

) ( and of course, if it's a good game) etc...

soundb0y · 23 May 2009 at 05:18

I only tend to buy games nowadays if they have good online play. Single player gaming only seems to hold my attention span for about 20 minutes nowadays

Kenai · 23 May 2009 at 08:45

snowdog said:
I hate DRM.

Steam is simple and efficient,

It'd probably be worth clarifying what DRM you hate, seeing as Steam is DRM. It just isn't horribly crippling and nasty like install limits and such.

Steam is an example of DRM done well which is both a good and bad thing. The good part is obvious enough, it manages to please both parties and rarely for DRM manages to work. The bad part is sooner or later more 3rd parties will cotton on to this and some will be too greedy to just use Steam and we could end up with a minefield of cheap broken Steam rip offs littering our PCs.

Schizo · 23 May 2009 at 08:58

soundb0y said:
I only tend to buy games nowadays if they have good online play. Single player gaming only seems to hold my attention span for about 20 minutes nowadays

same here.

i used to pirate but the company's get my money now.

i have spent quite a bit on steam lately and on disc's.

used to be a silly person but come to my sense's and buy any game i want now.

and to be really honest with you lot.....it does feel a lot better buying a game then having a pirate copy.

will not pirate ever again.

the company's deserve the money !

Caustic · 23 May 2009 at 09:01

The key for me is price. Steam is WAY over priced. Lets take my current favourite PC game, Dawn of War 2. Its £35 on steam, always has been since launch. It was £25 online at launch. It dropped to £20 in GAME a month or so ago, and is now £18. Sure there might be some bargains, but at launch, steam games are higher than the high street! Similar story with Empire: Total War.

I love the idea of buying a game at a decent price and knowing that a good chunk of the money actually made it to the people who made the game. I like buying games through Impulse for example, does everything steam does, only better value. Shame the selection of games isn't as good.

Metalface Mark · 23 May 2009 at 09:24

Id prefer every game to have a steam code, dawn of war was great, bought it for £14 2 weeks after launch and its sitting on steam now, happy as can be.

Yamahahahahaha · 23 May 2009 at 09:39

I just wait until the games I want are under £20.

Usually under £15 within a fortnight.

nintenjo · 23 May 2009 at 10:40

I would much rather buy a product direct from the developer.. but it still depends on the title and how much there asking. I buy a lot of valve software off steam for this reason, but that is because i know there a great developer who make quality titles..

I personally think steam is a bit to expensive for other titles.. and i cant use steam for Xbox titles.. I prefer downloading titles tho as i hate putting disc's in so could work