Open Letter to Steam and Firaxis Games

[Ming]

You have a choice to buy the game or not... If you don't want steam, don't buy the game. Frankly, it's silly listening to third party complaints considering most people have a ton of third party software already on their machines, some of which they have added and some that comes with their computer.

They are simply protecting their product from theft, a REAL issue. So just deal with it or don't buy the game.

[Zoetstofzoetje]

Ming, that's plain nonsense. There's no practical piracy protection in place due to the use of Steam. Those who want to 'illegally' obtain and use software will always be able to do so.

Instead, I'm convinced that Steam is used as a platform to be more able to seduce players to purchase future expansions.

In other words, legitimate users are punished, and the piracy argument is a false flag used to obtain further profits.

[Ming]

Zoet... that is plain nonesense... Steam DOES offer protection against piracy. Granted, NO SYSTEM will stop piracy, but Steam does limit it. And again, legitimate users are NOT punished, unless you want to act like a child because of Steam. You get a lot of extra features, MP, auto updates, a community. That's NOT punishment. So there are ads for other games... BUMMER. Here, you watch TV and get you get commercials... DEAL WITH IT.

PUNISHMENT... only to childish whiners.

[MontyMustDie]

When I was a kid, I liked playing games, but I had no money. So I took the hassle of getting a hacked copy.

Some of these games I liked a lot. So now, when I am older, and have a regular income, I can't be arsed to get a hack, but I go to the shop with my trusty credit card and buy these games in their newer installments. Because that's less hassle.

However, if the amount of hassle in buying a game increases - say, with the introduction of intrusion, surveillance and near-pointless third-party software - I would think that regular Joe computer users like me would start looking into a more hassle free solution.

In which the industry's prophecy of one copy = one lost sale may become self-fullfilling (unlike one copy today = five sales tomorrow - which I think may be the case, based on my experiences).

[Ming]

Gee... using Steam is such a hassle that it turns you into a THIEF. What a loser.

[MontyMustDie]

This "piracy is theft" rhetoric is turning very, very, very old indeed.

Dig this:

The electronic communication of ideas, be they music, books, movies, theater plays, home videos or indeed computer game designs, have greatly enhanced the possibility of swift and easy transfer of said ideas - to such an extent that earlier business models based on profit maximization through physically impeding the transfer of ideas are obsolete, and, where they are being attempted re-instated, are swiflty rendered redundant by new technology.

The answer to this is not new physical barriers or lumpy gravy resource stealing third party software - it is better business models.

Groovy, baby!

[Zoetstofzoetje]

Ming, explain to me exactly how Steam prevents piracy. Or limits. Or evens just hinders.

[Jaybe]

Ming, explain to me exactly how Steam prevents piracy. Or limits. Or evens just hinders.

An example of what I've seen of the issue, from a thread either here or CFC:
A person borrows a friend's civ5 disc, takes it home and installs it on his computer. He can't play the game because his friend's game is tied to his account. Without his friend's account & password, the game won't play for him.

(BTW, I'm not Ming)

[Zoetstofzoetje]

Jaybe, that only creates a new type of 'piracy' - account sharing. If the friend in your example was willing to borrow out the disc, why wouldn't s/he give the password?

Steam actually makes this easier than usual, as you don't need the actual disc - just the account details.

It would be a hell of a fuss for no good reason though. Civ5 being an AA-title, it's been cracked and posted all across teh intern3tz. They even distribute the patches as part of the deal. So why bother with account sharing if you can download?

Myself, I can't be bothered with that nonsense - I paid 29.95 pounds, and beyond the fact that I think Firaxis deserves money for their product, I just can't be bothered with the fuss of downloading pirated software.

My point is that there is no actual insurmountable barrier to prevent piracy. It's a minor hindrance at best. On the flip side, it becomes a major nuisance to the people who *do* pay (us).

I think that Sid Meier and consorts don't actually believe they can stop piracy. They're smart enough for that. Also, I would bet you a large amount of money that they used to do so themselves when they were young.

What's going on here has nothing to do with piracy prevention. It's about distribution, and having a permanent linkage to the customers. Repeat sales (*eugh* DLC *eugh*) anyone?

[Nikolai]

Ming, explain to me exactly how Steam prevents piracy. Or limits. Or evens just hinders.

The worst kind of piracy for a dev/publisher, is pre-release availability. Steam prevented that for Civ5. This alone is enough for Steam to be worth it.

[Ming]

It's a minor hindrance at best. On the flip side, it becomes a major nuisance to the people who *do* pay (us).

Major nuisance...



My favorite was when somebody claimed that they had to press too many buttons to get to the game... what a bunch of whiners. And then the morons that claim that Steam will drive them to steal the game... they are still thiefs pure and simple.

I just can't be bothered with the fuss of downloading pirated software

I guess it's sooooooo minor that you can't be bothered with it...

[Ming]

This "piracy is theft" rhetoric is turning very, very, very old indeed.

Maybe someday, when you create something and want a profit from it, but people just steal it, you will feel differently.
But since you are only on the "taking" end and not the "creating" end, it's no surprise that you feel it's ok to rip people off.

[MontyMustDie]

Ming, given the rate at which you misrepresent the views of others to make them fit in your own (outdated) argument, I think you're losing this discussion and losing it fast.

Maybe someday, when you create something and want a profit from it, but people just steal it, you will feel differently.

That's not what I said and I think you well know so.
I said that people who want to live from making ideas have to find better ways to do it. People copying computer games is just what happens when people find it easier to transmit that particular idea in that way rather than the way the idea designer (or rather, the profiteer - not neccessarily the same) wants them to.

But since you are only on the "taking" end and not the "creating" end, it's no surprise that you feel it's ok to rip people off.

Where do you find a moral judgement in my submitted comments? I'm surprised you have, because I haven't included any. Gee, if I wasn't such a meek and forthcoming soul now just before christmas, I'd say you'd just invented it in there for benefit of your own argument.
I'm not saying what's wrong or right, I'm just describing the likely course of events if it is more hassle to copy than to buy - for instance through the inclusion of third party software.
Steam is not a very intelligent way of transmitting ideas (and transmit a fair bit of stuff that people don't want in the process). So, it'll rub people the wrong way and de-easify the transmission of the game in a profit-making manner - just the opposite of what the profiteer (in this instance, Firaxis) wants.

Now, unless you can come up with a better and more coherent argument than shouting "thief thief thief" while holding for your ears and closing your eyes, I'm claiming victory in this particular debate.

[fed1943]

Some days ago I was in the multiplayer lounge to play MP; I was asked if my version was legit or not; I answered yes and got the answer it crashes too much; another answered I have pirated and they started their game...
There was an old saying in my place: "it is fear who keeps the fields".
How many of these thieves have been fined or are in jail?

[Ming]

Ming, given the rate at which you misrepresent the views of others to make them fit in your own (outdated) argument, I think you're losing this discussion and losing it fast.

No misrepresentation at all... you are the one that said "When I was a kid, I liked playing games, but I had no money. So I took the hassle of getting a hacked copy." In other words, you stole the games because you couldn't buy them. Not having money is no excuse for stealing computer games. The fact that you started buying games later doesn't change the fact that you stole them before.

That's not what I said and I think you well know so.

Yes it is... you said:

However, if the amount of hassle in buying a game increases - say, with the introduction of intrusion, surveillance and near-pointless third-party software - I would think that regular Joe computer users LIKE ME would start looking into a more hassle free solution.

First... a still don't understand the "hassle" argument. You go online, buy the game, and you download it. When the game gets updated, your version gets updated, no hassle (I do wish they gave you the option to delay the update so you could finish any game you were playing and not worry about not being able to play it any more, but that's a different discussion) THERE IS NO HASSLE in "buying" the game.

Second...
You say "introduction of intrusion, surveillance and near-pointless third-party software "... I just laugh. What operating system do you use for your computer?
If you use microsoft products, you already have surveillance and intrusion. Heck, most computer manufacturers include it as well... so I have to laugh when you use the term "introduction"... Most people have third party software already on their computer... and many don't even know it

Third... If you don't want to add Steam to your computer, that's fine... don't buy the game. But just because you and other "average joe computer users" (and I would argue that the average computer user doesn't give a damn, and that your point of view isn't shared by the average joe) thinks Steam is a hassle, that doesn't give you the RIGHT to steal the game to avoid the hassle. It's still theft, no matter how you want to position it.

I said that people who want to live from making ideas have to find better ways to do it. People copying computer games is just what happens when people find it easier to transmit that particular idea in that way rather than the way the idea designer (or rather, the profiteer - not neccessarily the same) wants them to.

It's NOT about easy... It's about theft and people not wanting to pay for something. It's NOT that hard to BUY the game. It's just as hard to go out and find an illegal version of the game...

Where do you find a moral judgement in my submitted comments? I'm surprised you have, because I haven't included any.

Then you should reread what you have posted... your point of view is clear, and amounts to theft.

Gee, if I wasn't such a meek and forthcoming soul now just before christmas, I'd say you'd just invented it in there for benefit of your own argument.
I'm not saying what's wrong or right, I'm just describing the likely course of events if it is more hassle to copy than to buy - for instance through the inclusion of third party software.

You have stated that you have stolen games in the past... and implied that you might do so again because of the "hassle" or third party software.

Steam is not a very intelligent way of transmitting ideas (and transmit a fair bit of stuff that people don't want in the process).

I can understand that YOU PERSONALLY might not like the "fair bit of stuff", but some people like it. Some people like the automatic updates... some people like the opportunity to get games on special offers... some people like the community aspect of Steam... But for you to state that it's not an "intelligent" way to transmit the idea is simply not correct. Steam offers a lot of advantages to the user and seller...

So, it'll rub people the wrong way and de-easify the transmission of the game in a profit-making manner - just the opposite of what the profiteer (in this instance, Firaxis) wants.

It may rub "some" people the wrong way... but stop with the hassle/easy crap.
The process of buying Civ V at Steam was far easier than going out to the store and buying Civ IV, and then having to keep the CD in my computer so that I could play the game. I was thrilled when the expansion pacs were available for sale online. Buying online is easy and hassle free. You and others may not like Steam (personally, I prefer D2D) but it's NOT HARD or much of a hassle.

Now, unless you can come up with a better and more coherent argument than shouting "thief thief thief" while holding for your ears and closing your eyes, I'm claiming victory in this particular debate.

Yep... claim victory by claiming that it is SOOOOOOOOO hard to buy the game at Steam, and how since it's so hard, people like you will look for free ways to get the game... That's no victory... just poor excuses to justify theft.

I'm not arguing that companies don't need to reconsider their business models... but they have to reconsider their business models because of THEFT.. from people who steal their products.