http://www.positech.co.uk/talkingtopirates.html

I found this a bit interesting. I thought it be nice for us to actually hear what a conversation between a developer and a pirate (or the pirate community) would be like.

Discuss.

You know, its about time someone asks their "enemy" why they do what they do. Good for him.

I am a huge advocate of backing up hard copies of games. All my PS1 and PS2 as well as my PSP games are either backed up on disc or in the case of the PSP, on my PC. With the PS1 and PS2, its because I paid good money for them and don't want to have to do it again. Especially when, at this point in time, the dev won't see any money from it if I did repurchase it. With PSP, its portable and having the games on microsd is more portable than a bunch of UMD's. Granted that's not exactly piracy, but it is close.

On the PSP side, I admit to having played games I haven't purchased the UMD to, but they aren't even the games I play. I use it as a trial or demo more than anything. Like Avatar. I loved the movie and wanted to try the game. Played it for 2 hours and have since deleted it because I couldn't get a demo of it and it is really a sub-par game. The games I actually play on PSP might not be off the UMD, but they have a hardcopy on the shelf in my office.

Then, with older, outdated games, it is literally impossible to pay the developer. I would love to be able to pay for a PSP version of Arc the Lad Collection and see the money go to Working Designs, but as that is impossible in more ways than one, I made my own eboot. Although, seeing as I bought two copies on PS1 and the hardbound strategy guide, I don't feel too bad about that one at all.

It'd be nice if something actually came from this, besides this one guy's changes.

Well, as to date, he's the only 'developer' in exsistance that has actually looked for an answer and/or compromise. And he's a just a guy. I don't see why people are pirating from a guy who isn't making tons of money and still charges $60 for a game. Though, honestly, triple A developers don't care enough to do the work that this man did. I think they would have long ago if they did.

I think that people pirate for two reasons. Some haven't thought about it enough for them to realize that they themselves actually think it is wrong. I mean it doesn't really even seem wrong at first (I was this way) until you approach the subject fairly and maturely. The second reason that people pirate is they feel they are entitled to something. I am the first person to complain (AND LOUDLY!) that games should not cost $60 new. But rather then pirate them as the solution I do without them because I generally refuse to pay that price and I am not entitled to play them.

Easy answer, because I can.

Hi. We haven't seen you for a while, so it has to be said.



How dare you not be seen for a while!

that was an interesting read. a bit of insight into pirating.

Actually, I'm betting Cliffsky does quite well with his games (financially). He hangs out at another forum I go to. One of his games was mentioned on penny arcade, pretty big crowd. When you break down piracy, it does lead to obvious and/or off-the-wall conclusions.

I was thinking about old games today, and how i used to play them before I had the where with all to get the games/consoles to play them. It led me to come up with a little saying that, I admitt, sympathizes with the pirates, but speaks volumes:

"Because I was born a little to late/ This is why I emulate."