Hard times: PC game piracy in US estimated at 75-80%

[FOL]

I stronlgy disagree with this, as copyright is what keeps everything in line for people who make these games (for a living, you know familes and stuff) for your pleasure. trust me, If you personally created a unique game for 3 years as your lifeblood and living you would like copyright and IP to protect the investment you made in your work.

What incentive do game programmers have to make games for people? Money. What incentive to artists have to make music? Money. Just because people want to make money for their work does'nt mean copyrighting their work is a hinderance.

The only hinderance is on you the consumer, because you can't afford to purchase every game.

Now here is where I think the fair line should be drawn. Computer games, console games, games period should not be $50.00.
A new game should be around $15.00, that way NO ONE can complain about being priced out. A new CD? $5.00 each, no matter what. If corporations were'nt so greedy in their practices consumers would have a much better view of the IP laws as they would deem the prices they are paying as "fair and deserving", not $17.99 for a cd that came out 10 years ago.

Yeh what he said, .

I remember having an argument with a SONY rep, on the price of PS1 games, and his reply was "The prices are as they are because of piracy", stupid lame reply. It is odd logic though, they up the price to offset the piracy they might have.

I think the thing that annoys me most is people who say they cant afford games, but they can afford the console, its like "HELLO, ANYBODY HOME".

Games, CD's etc etc. will always be the same prices and nothing will change, this is why I will never buy a PS3 or XBOX360 (well wont buy XBOX as its only a PC in disguise) games. Who in there right mind would pay over £35 for a game.

*Wonders off to fire up his Amiga 1200, with hundreds of games. Which are better than tat put out today, .*

[Aryn]

I personally do not believe that piracy is the main cause of the lack in game sales for PCs. Almost every person I deal with has told me they own a game system and do not really desire to purchase new PC games and then upgrade their computers just to be able to play them. As for console game sales, the same people who complain about how much piracy is hurting the video game industry are (in most cases) acquiring record profits. And considering how crappy a lot of the games are these days (not all, of course, there are still some that are quite innovative and fun) and the fact that good reviews (and bad ones) can be purchased one can not blame the average gamer for downloading a game before deciding whether or not to pay a particular company for their creations.

[R4mbo]

Hard times? Oh cmon, Most people (I guess 90%) which use illegal backups dont have the money to buy originals. So there isnt really a damage, since they copy the games, not stealing them.

[LazerTag]

Hard times? Oh cmon, Most people (I guess 90%) which use illegal backups dont have the money to buy originals. So there isnt really a damage, since they copy the games, not stealing them.

It's still stealing no matter how you try to disguise it.

[R4mbo]

Its no disguise, cmon, think about it, you just say so because of some laws. But if you dont have the money, and wouldnt buy the game anyway, nobody is making losses. Its just my opinion independet from any laws. And I'm just writing this because I cant see that stupid "Oh my god, we're making milliards of $ losses because of piracy" whining anymore.

[Sketchy]

Y'know i've noticed a lot of ppl using the 'price of games' excuse. If you cant afford a game don't simply pirate it, just wait. I'm sure that your internal organs will not explode just because you can't buy that 'awesome game that was released 2day'.

I really wanted C&C 3 on the 360 (also coz i dont wanna upgrade my pc....pointless) but i couldn't afford it. I waited and bought it just a month ago.

[phsychokill]

you claim about the people using the price of game argument but how many times have people payed between £40-£50 only to find out that the game is terrible or onl;y lasts a few hours. If gaming firms were more open about what actualy was in a game and let people try them on something more than a demo that just shows the best bits people would be able to make a decission easier.

I recently bought the lost video game yest it was only £18 but it only take 5 hours to finnish and was nothing like the tv show as all the voice acting was rubbish and done by random people. this is the problem with gaming you end up buying a game that the firms lists loads of features for then you get the game and realise half the stuff they said isnt there. yes you could go off gamer reviews but alot of them are biast because of people who dislike certain firms or platforms.

[R4mbo]

hehe, but dont get me wrong, If I like a game and think its worth to buy, I buy it. But with my income that only fits to those really good games... Metal Gear, Zelda, Mario and stuff...

[JKKDARK]

Its no disguise, cmon, think about it, you just say so because of some laws. But if you dont have the money, and wouldnt buy the game anyway, nobody is making losses. Its just my opinion independet from any laws. And I'm just writing this because I cant see that stupid "Oh my god, we're making milliards of $ losses because of piracy" whining anymore.

You forgot something important: The companies lose money when they develop the game. And to get the money back and more money to pay the salary to the workers, they need to sell their product.

[phsychokill]

You forgot something important: The companies lose money when they develop the game. And to get the money back and more money to pay the salary to the workers, they need to sell their product.

you also forgot to add production of some of the bigger games actualy costs more than making a movie.