here we go again

dont complain on cheap thing... if broken, can buy again...

Did you say nine thousand!?

Seriously now, I saw this coming a mile away. The partnership between the ESA and our government pretty much sealed the local piracy scene. Is this good or bad? I guess it depends on what "good" or "bad" means to different people. I'm done discussing whether piracy is considered a "necessary evil" or whether people who use pirated products are disrespectful of copyright laws. I can only hope that less piracy means more software sales, which might lead to lower prices because of the adjusted losses to piracy. I'm still waiting for the day when original software used to be cheap like in the late 80s to early 90s...

That's true especially for XBOX 360 games since they're dual layered, the time taken to download is simply not worth it and if bad luck, the iso might be corrupted and you'll waste all your time, effort and $$$ on your TNB bills, plus the tear and wear to your HDD.

It's nothing wrong for people to buy pirated games because we should suit our pocket, unless the original games are just 20% more expensive than a pirate copy, then that's a different story. After all my games are a mixture of originals and pirate ones whereas for my audio cds, they're 100% originals.

I don't think that game software or any software will going to be cheap in Malaysia. After all it is not local effort that dictate software pricing here. Like, for instance, software is developed locally so local company can price it base on how Malaysian can afford it. No matter how much piracy level goes down.

The only way to get good quality software at great price is by using (and supporting) free open source software (FOS).

Unfortunately FOS alternative is not so much viable in gaming. And to think that platform like Xbox 360 is a closed platform. No one in their right mind will do FOS on the box.

I was hoping that when the original Xbox goes down, microsoft will sort of open the system. Like allowing people to legally use the XDK and do open source stuff. But of course MS is too smart for that. Imagine how FOS gaming platform will be very disruptive to their business model.

Anyway how is this rambling have anything to do with software piracy. Simple. Because software price in Malaysia is overrated and not base on what majority of Malaysian can afford. Instead, it is more like what majority of those American can afford. So the piracy factor kicked in. Don't disillusion our self that price is high because of piracy.

Cross our finger so that some big company will develop an open source gaming platform. For instance Google is doing something in mobile phone space with Android. This is not gaming related. But it is a move in the right direction.

Cheers

^Was there any significant improvement in the sales of original vcd, dvd & music after the price adjustment? I only know the music scene is doing quite well because at the same time the authority is doing a splendid job but not so sure about the movie side.

PC games ori price also went down alot recently and there are some cases of games localization happening too, making it even cheaper. What's the cause of that is entirely up to people interpretation, but there is no denial legitimate consumer play a major role in it.

Some things are cheap in Malaysia whilst some are not, it's the same anywhere else.
Electronics are very affordable in Malaysia but for the same item in Europe you get crazy price tag especially entertainment hardware. In UK for instance, one might argue their standard of living is high and yes...alot of benefits but have you ever take into consideration that if you are not a student but a working adult you need to pay an average of £200 council tax per month? House rental £500-£800, add this & that. If your average salary is just £1k per month do you still think 40 quids for a game is affordable?

Malaysia government impose ridiculous high tax on our cars import but that doesn't stop Malaysian from getting luxurious car either.

In time, consumer will help shape the local game market but if there is no effort made by anyone then we will always stay the same, and pop up on 1up.com That's not something to be proud of...others need to view us as a feasible gaming market, not the other way round.

My point : We can't put the blame on any single party - authority, consumer, price & so on. Downloading warez isn't really the main concern of Malaysia market, our biggest problem now is that pirated goods shouldn't be easily accesible everyone. The saddest part is walking in Time Square and you see the clone shop of pirated games/dvd.
Not Cool...

This post has been edited by PrivateJohn: Nov 25 2007, 12:34 AM

My only gripe is why does some dvd movie sells at 69.90 with no special features of any kind while some can be sold at a mere 19.90 to 39.90? I usually buy the ones at the lower price but if the high priced gor nothing special that comes with it...I just opt for the pirates out of frustration of feeling cheated by their high price (the 69.90 ones).

I am not experty in this but if i am not mistaken some dvds are manufacture locally thus cheaper. As for music CD i am pretty sure most of it will label it "import" and it cost more, otherwise it will follow the standard rate..RM20-Rm40.

i think its those Asia Pacific thingy. The DVD wasn't manufacture here but was been brought in from the states. Those guys there tend to make the Asia Pacific DVD which they distribute here with no special features.

Thats why the price is high and there is no special features in it.

agreed, barely buy original, just os original, others nope..
but still if u got money go for ori!

hahaha...good one

Overall, its the lack of orignal software, games, movies, entertainments etc availability here that attract ppl to get "ahem" stuffs.

If in big complexes such as Midvalley,Gurney Plaza, Makhota Parade got a dedicated game shop, a movie shop that have sufficient / good stocks. I am sure I will be an at least half-regular customer. ( I am not rich, I don't even consider myself middle class)

Well what you can see in M'sia? Game shop? What game shop? Movie selling shop? S****y? come-on they sell stupid quality stuffs. Artist Gallery? The songs are Ok..the movies are still lackluster. Software shop? Harvey Norman is a good shop, but I don't see they have a lot of software around here compare to SG and Australia.

Correct me if I am wrong as I am struggling to get original stuffs too.

PS: I want to ask for the price of Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate here but seems that a lot of shop-keep don even know there is a 2007 Ultimate office.

it is a vicious cycle this, nobody wants to buy originals so no shopkeepers want to stock any. no stock how to buy?

BTW, most sotres do have a smidgen of original stuff nowadays (nothing near the level of EB etc), and if you ask, they can more often than not get you the real deal.

As for dedicated stores, there is one in KLCC, right next to the LRT exit, and one in Cineleisure.

sometimes,for some reason,they(the shop keepers) just dont want to get the original

one example;
there was a small shop in Atria(now gone bust,i think) where i bought MGS2 SOL ori from.

when Substance came out,i went back to see if the guy had it.

no luck.

so i asked if he could get the original for me,he rubbished it,and asked me "why you wanna buy original?"

I'm ashamed of it but i frequently ask myself that question also... sigh, hard to change ler...

anyways, summit continued selling their pirated games adi... looks like they wont stop.

if all the shops there close i die ler.. if i get RROD then dunno where to send adi since bought from there.

why ? u bought the pirated games is it ?

Yes.... Hence the need for a modded console?

Hah? Raided again? I knew one place in Summit that got raided and the following week open again. Maybe its them again haha.

i support originals which have strong online community in asia.well some of the games arent worth buying because there's not even an asian mp server to play the game online.

i do have some frens buy the ori after playing the pirated.. (they like Kingdom Heart too much)
1 of my fren ask his aunt to buy a ori from new zealand...rich fren
1 of my fren fans of FF so he ordered a limited edition PSP crisis core with the ori game in it
i a fan of something but when thinking of my wallet.. it saddens me
i also wan to buy ori but the matter is my money