When someone pirates a piece of software, often he will get an exact copy of the original software (sometimes lacking features eg multiplayer or anti piracy "bugs"). For us gamers who buy original software, we get a feelgood feeling, software that (should) works and some additional value added features. But otherwise it's practically the same thing. A lot of people have a problem getting beyond that.

Sure it's technically illegal and morally wrong - that doesn't change the fact that the illegality is badly enforced and people don't have a moral problem in doing so (and by morality i mean the fact that a pirated videogame vendor does not illicit the same emotional and moral response as say a brothel.)

Does this forum have a responsibility as a community? Yeah, i would say it does but i don't think that should involve judging people who have not joined the ranks of the "ori" gaming community. As a forum mod, apart from enforcing the forum rules, you should encourage people to support the people that created these games - as you mention.

It's about education not persecution.

Putting the moral culpability entirely on the buyer is wrong because there are too many other factors that contribute to the rampant piracy in our country.

I was a pirate, but now I buy all my games original. For games that I deem not worth buying, I don't even bother thinking of pirating it at all as I do not have the luxury of time to play that many games anyway.

For games that I used to pirate, I try to find ways to buy them from legal sources like GOG.com and Steam as a means of paying back what was due from me many years ago.

I'm now more selective when it comes to buying any games. Example, Modern Warfare 2; I neither buy it nor pirate that game as because IMO, it was NOT worth the money. I rather allocate my internet bandwith to download games from Steam.

I have to respectfully disagree. I think the buyers are just as responsible for it as the organisations that print DVD's. Your idea about education holds merit, but not in this forum. How many of those that use these forums are really not educated about original software? While I can't say for sure, I think a large portion of people are aware of their options(of purchasing software).

Persecution is just as effective. Take a look at Singapore

Education is helpful if society is not aware of IP and original software, which again you might be right about Malaysians in general, but I suspect is not the case with this forums visitors(mostly).

Hey I'm doing my part. Most threads that ask where to get pirated version, I always show them the way to Steam and Malaysian game retailers. And I think this community as a whole has done it's part in promoting gaming. For that everyone here has to be proud for they are way more effective than the government.

PS : Sure some people may go overboard with things, just PM me when they do

^Paragon

^Renegade

Too much Mass Effect 1&2 for you.

It's always good to have a mid-afternoon debate with the mods on this forum on a slow work day.

You are right that in the sense that the buyers are just as responsible for piracy as the organisations that print (the fake) dvds. But there are so many other factors to consider apart from the buyer + seller dynamic that i personally feel that it's wrong to criminalise the buyer. I still stand by my believe that the distribution chains in Malaysia are inherently flawed - investors need to feel a lot more confident in the protection they can get from the government before they start investing or else gaming will forever remain niche in this country.

Yeah there are quite a number people who should know better posting on this forum but (judging from a lot of posts that i see) i suspect that there are quite a lot of teens posting here who are supplied with illicit games by their parents.

You probably don't get this a lot but good job on this forum. (although i would say that you put up with a lot more crap compared to davidgary on who rules the apple sub-forums with an iron fist )

@Juzjoe your post made me do a rofl irl.

Dude, Napoleon Total War Imperial Edition USD49.99 on steam and RM 219 at retail. You think there is a distribution issue? Yeah. I'm not an economic expert, so I can't really comment about the supply chain etc. All I can do is just do my part to encourage others to move to original games and software etc.

I admit it's a difficult thing to balance. On one hand, piracy is not cool and not welcomed here, I think we have to a certain degree managed to do that. But on the other hand the more vociferous of this community could discourage those pirates that potentially could switch, completely away from this community, which doesn't help the cause too. I see that.

BTW I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a flawed distribution chain? I do remember things were worse many years back. Expect now in the case of certain publishers(like SEGA and Activision).

I think he means that there is a dearth of retail stores for original games around Malaysia.

But I have to agree that the attitudes of some of the more pro-ori gamers in this forum is bordering on downright hostile as just about any question about technical problems or anything that is even slightly pro-piracy is met with insane amounts of hyperbolic responses about the evils of piracy.

I myself used to be like that about half a decade ago and somewhere along the way (Possibly old age, or I just became jaded) I realized that riding that high horse wasn't worth it at all.

Thus, I busy myself with just going for "awareness" in the hopes of guilt tripping the pirates into changing their ways, or at the very least feel guilty about what they're doing.

In spite of what I just said, I do actually like the atmosphere here now that is very warm and friendly (Most of the times at least) towards being original gamers here coz rewind 5 years back and it was a very different story.

Thus I can continue my tirade towards being the most tangential mod ever by asking all sorts of rubbish questions with only the remotest relation to gaming.

... Man I wish that my ME 2 CE came with a t-shirt or a mug. That would've made it GREAT! But nooo... not even a poster.

This post has been edited by H@H@: Feb 24 2010, 05:42 PM

Yeah one of the problems is that there are no retail outlets for more casual users. Especially outside of metro areas. Apart from steam, which does not benefit the gaming industry locally, there are very few outlets for (mostly western) developers to reach consumers.

@ H@H@ comic book...

I am damn scared of buying CEs of any games out there these days.

Empire Total War CE => Extra units which can be purchase later.

Half Life 2 CE => One DVD and one T-shirt

Civilization 3 LE => Came in a steel box

Etc.

Odd, I got a poster. It's on my wall right now.

Dragon Age was awesome though. T-shirt, poster, a unique box (ugly though... personal opinion), map, etc.

i got a poster too... now where did I put that thing.

I have to be 100% agree with you H@H@.

9 out of 10 question about game's technical problem in GH went into chaotic pirate's curse.
(Maybe some rules can be enforced here)

I'm more to invite/encourage people to purchase ori for the sake of Co-op/Multiplayer.
That's why we need friends.

Once I participated in GOG Sales and Steam Sales, I stop pirating entirely.

Just hoping Malaysia would have more retail sales.

Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. In fact, most retailers run out of stuck pretty quickly for good and well received games.

Hmm interesting topic, but Im not in the league. I dont buy pirate or original software. I use rap*dsha*e.. but I do buy original Mac OS X installation dvd coz it beautiful plus cheap

That's PIRATING

he said he dun buy pirate.
he did not mention he will not download.

Quite a weird setup you have there.

Combining a 2900XT GPU with a i7 920.

MEANS PIRATE LA. ADOIII...

heheh i did not say that he is not a pirate.