The Mailbag

Our mailbag feature returns with a new subject. We start the discussion and wait for your opinions. The subject is something that everyone knows about, a very important issue that affects the Gaming Industry - Piracy. What is it? Is it good? Is there any moral issue involved?

There are different types of piracy. However the one that interests us (most) is the one related to the ludic software also known as Gaming Industry. Piracy, in the terms we are trying to describe it, is the illicit copy of copyrighted software. Everyone is aware of these practices. The denominated "warez" websites keep growing, people keep making game copies to friends, and game developers are only getting poorer. That's because there's people getting money on their work. So, if game developers are getting poorer, it's harder to make a good game, and also the price has to go up cause developers need money to survive. This results in a quality decrease in games and also the final user will be affected by the higher prices. It's a vicious cycle.

People "burn" games cause they're too expensive; these illicit copies result in less profit for the developer, thus needing to increase the games price. Anyone to discuss the logic of this cycle? Pretty stupid, heh?! Well, I think so.

One thing is to make backups of software for security purposes, another thing is abusing. And worst, earn money with it. With someone else's hard work. CD-R and CD-RW drives have also their share of guilt. The more and more cheaper drives and virgin CD's almost encourage people to "burn". Almost anyone can make an illicit copy nowadays. It's almost like everything is sitting, just waiting for someone to copy, copy, copy…. and disrespect those that try to give us great and exciting games.

Everyone is losing here. I am losing. You are losing. The Gaming Industry is losing. WTF?!!

We have to think about the pleasure that we get when we finally purchase that game we where so anxiously expecting to come out. The beautiful game box, the game manual, the CD jewel case, the warranty, the perfection of owning the original. Original… now that's a beautiful word.

Share your opinion with us. I think some interesting points were made but there's yet a lot to discuss on this subject. I hope this mailbag can alert (once more - game developers and publishers often develop anti-piracy programs to alert people for this problem) gamers and others to the importance of this question.

Thundra
thundra@gamesurge.com

Send your views and opinions on Piracy through webmaster@gamesurge.com.

Other Mailbag editions can be found here.