Video Game Piracy: The widening problem and how to stop it

[NoQuarter]

People are just gonna pirate, it's that simple( I buy my games)!The market is shifting and maybe non-ip is the way to go.The big companies will just have to change how they do business.

[JDvorak]

I think the whole concept of using serial #'s to unlock full versions of the games or other programs is stupid. The serial #'s are too easy to get. Keygens are available everywhere. A whole new form of copy protection has to be made. But then again it can get cracked too. Homebrew on the DSI anyone?

[Auriman1]

Freebies and novelty items definitely make me more likely to buy something, as it feels like I'm getting more value. Something as simple as a poster-sized overworld map or an instruction book full of custom artwork is appreciated. On a related note, I finally stopped subscribing to Nintendo Power recently since they stopped having the fan art section a while ago, and even more importantly, their subscription gifts significantly dropped in quality (All they have is Player's Guides now, you used to be able to get T-shirts, game soundtracks, and sometimes an exclusive game or demo such as LoZ: Collector's Edition).

As far as security measures go, what if, instead of using serial numbers, drm, or limiting the number of times something can be installed, they set a span of time between installations? Something like giving each copy of a program a unique identifier, and then using it to track the dates of installations through a server. Then, after an installation was executed, that same installer cannot be used again for a week to a month. It's a more fair policy than only letting someone install their product a specific number of times, and it would be a great deal more secure than a serial number. There'd need to be a little more behind-the-scenes security than that, obviously, but you get the gist of it.

[JDvorak]

Freebies and novelty items definitely make me more likely to buy something, as it feels like I'm getting more value. Something as simple as a poster-sized overworld map or an instruction book full of custom artwork is appreciated. On a related note, I finally stopped subscribing to Nintendo Power recently since they stopped having the fan art section a while ago, and even more importantly, their subscription gifts significantly dropped in quality (All they have is Player's Guides now, you used to be able to get T-shirts, game soundtracks, and sometimes an exclusive game or demo such as LoZ: Collector's Edition).

As far as security measures go, what if, instead of using serial numbers, drm, or limiting the number of times something can be installed, they set a span of time between installations? Something like giving each copy of a program a unique identifier, and then using it to track the dates of installations through a server. Then, after an installation was executed, that same installer cannot be used again for a week to a month. It's a more fair policy than only letting someone install their product a specific number of times, and it would be a great deal more secure than a serial number. There'd need to be a little more behind-the-scenes security than that, obviously, but you get the gist of it.

Yea that's true that limiting the time between installs might be an answer. But consider this even on trial versions of software where they quit in 15 days or a month you can keep them going with changing the registry on the pc or installing them to a different user account etc. without even cracking the software to a full version or using a pirated serial #. The same could be said if a program installs and then won't allow a reinstall for a period of time. There has to be a better way of doing this if they want to stop piracy all together. That being said and has been said before even with piracy the industry is growing in leaps and bounds. Like I have said people will be more apt to buy games if they don't keep putting out bad games. Don't get me started on how many platform games based on movies are out there when an adventure game of the same movie would be a better sell. Heck why don't they include the movie with the game making it a great package. I would love to get a game on say PSP and the MP4 movie is included with the game as a bonus. I mean a lot of games cost $30 and up so combine the movie with the game for $10 more in a deluxe package and it would sell. Besides with all the crackdowns going on by movie, music, and game companies it would be my luck I would be caught pirating and get fined at the very least or goto jail.