Game Piracy
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:16 pm
This is a topic which will probably be debated forever, but it would be interesting to hear the opinions of my fellow Radio Sega comrades!
No judgements here: what are your views on piracy? Is it harming our beloved industry, is it not as bad as some people make out? Have you ever pirated anything or are you really ethical about stuff like that? DISCUSS!
On my game design Uni course, game piracy is an issue we've obviously talked about at length and also written an essay on. This is some evidence to suggest that piracy isn't quite as bad as it's made out to be, or doesn't have quite as bad of an effect, in some cases it 'may' be beneficial. I could probably dig up some references from my old essay. Seems that some companies view second hand gaming as a bigger problem.
When I was a teenager, I pirated some games. Specifically, I pirated Dreamcast games because I was a useless idiot with hardly any money and there was always a bloke down the market selling DC games for a couple of quid. Even better, he was selling imports which didn't even arrive over here until months later. This was how I was able to experience so many DC games as early as I could. I still remember how happy I felt to be able to play the Japanese version of PSO as soon as it came out.
But of course, the Dreamcast died a screaming, painful death and the guilt ate away at me. Ever since then I have personally refused to pirate games. Sega are obviously my favourite company and I was hurting them by effectively stealing. Although, you could argue if I had no money, I would never have played them and become such a supporter in the first place.
Having started my games degree, I've learnt of how much effort actually goes into the development of a game, and thus have more respect for those within the industry. I find it interesting when those on my course pirate games. It feels like they're harming the very industry they want to enter, and it's not like the UK games industry is doing brilliantly right now.
What about you guys?
No judgements here: what are your views on piracy? Is it harming our beloved industry, is it not as bad as some people make out? Have you ever pirated anything or are you really ethical about stuff like that? DISCUSS!
On my game design Uni course, game piracy is an issue we've obviously talked about at length and also written an essay on. This is some evidence to suggest that piracy isn't quite as bad as it's made out to be, or doesn't have quite as bad of an effect, in some cases it 'may' be beneficial. I could probably dig up some references from my old essay. Seems that some companies view second hand gaming as a bigger problem.
When I was a teenager, I pirated some games. Specifically, I pirated Dreamcast games because I was a useless idiot with hardly any money and there was always a bloke down the market selling DC games for a couple of quid. Even better, he was selling imports which didn't even arrive over here until months later. This was how I was able to experience so many DC games as early as I could. I still remember how happy I felt to be able to play the Japanese version of PSO as soon as it came out.
But of course, the Dreamcast died a screaming, painful death and the guilt ate away at me. Ever since then I have personally refused to pirate games. Sega are obviously my favourite company and I was hurting them by effectively stealing. Although, you could argue if I had no money, I would never have played them and become such a supporter in the first place.
Having started my games degree, I've learnt of how much effort actually goes into the development of a game, and thus have more respect for those within the industry. I find it interesting when those on my course pirate games. It feels like they're harming the very industry they want to enter, and it's not like the UK games industry is doing brilliantly right now.
What about you guys?