Please do NOT pirate Civ3!

[Imran Siddiqui]

To put things into perspective, I ask you this: Why does it cost me only about 25 dollars CDN to buy a multi-millioin dollar Hollywood movie on DVD, and 80 dollars CDN to buy a computer game? If you say it's because of the lack of audience for computer games, well then, are you trying to attract more players by selling at extremely high prices?

Recuping costs. Most movies sell much more quantities than Most computer games (Diablo and The Sims are different entirely). To get back that money, the price has to be higher than purchasing a movie.

And Provost, how is copyright law a law to protect the rich? Or is any law you don't like to follow something to protect the rich

[monkspider]

Pembleton makes an awesome point, there is really no point to pirating games once you are out of college. The time and trouble it would take to find a buggy pirated version on the net is probably more costly to you than just going to the local EB and shelling out $40.00. I can certainly sympathize with a poor High school or college student pirating the occasional game or two.

[Kaak]

pirating XPs

don't go supporting micro$hit though, pirate XP just like meeeee....

Ummm....really reeally bad idea. All the XP programs have a call home feature in them. If you pirate, they will know

[Sharpe]

I have to admit that I pirated some games when I was in university (including civilization 1), but I am now firmly against piracy. Besides, you can always wait a little while for the game to get into the bargain bin.

As for my penance for civ 1, I think my buying of Conflicts in Civ and Fantastic Worlds expansion packs (and every civ game since), only to have those promptly included in MGE made up for my earlier piracy - still really ticked off at Microprose for that though.

[Inverse Icarus]

long live freeciv 3.

[Inverse Icarus]

Re: pirating XPs

Originally posted by Kaak


Ummm....really reeally bad idea. All the XP programs have a call home feature in them. If you pirate, they will know

nope nope nope.

hacked, cracked, and defused baby.

devilsown

[PGM]

Re: pirating XPs

Originally posted by Kaak
Ummm....really reeally bad idea. All the XP programs have a call home feature in them. If you pirate, they will know

Oh will they?

[EyesOfNight]

I have bought civ 1, civ2, SMAC, and Civ2 MGE. Why am I going to download civ3? I don't have the money to buy a half done game only to have to buy the other half in a few months. I got raped a couple of times now by Sid Leiers half done games which he then conveniently releases the other half later on. Not this time.

[FuFu15]

we'll compromise. i'll d/l the iso, and when multi comes out ill buy it.

[FuFu15]

btw kaak, you're a ****ing idiot. that is all.

[Moral Hazard]

I agree w/ Wiglaf that the topic really doesn't go anywhere.

A good question however is what should game companies do about it. Several options.

A. Follow the Quake III method, where you can't play online w/o a unique key.

B. Require registration of the game after XX days. Either via phone or internet. With a key being created via an algorithm based on the serial number of the game.

C. Added goodies for registered users. Only accesiable thru thier account.

D. A call home feature. (Invasion of Privacy?)

E. Encrypt the data raising the bar to casual copying.

Personally I never understood why game companies don't attempt to raise the bar against piracy more. Personally I like a mix of B and C.

Added: Of course all of these solutions only raise the bar; they don't eliminate the problem completely.

[yin26]

I have also suggested in another thread that people here should report to Firaxis and Infogrames warez sites hosting Civ3. As for this discussion "not going anywhere," I think that some good discussion has come out of it here and previously.

As for why I pick this time and method to raise the issue again, I have my reasons.

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by Executor
How many of the people here actually bought their copy of Windows or Office? Just wondering.

Hush! Not so loud, please. BSA migth hear.

But I don't have to fear, because in public my M$ softwares
are legal.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Executor
How many of the people here actually bought their copy of Windows or Office? Just wondering.

I must admit. You've caught me red handed with this one... and I won't shed a single tear for Microsoft either.

[yin26]

My copy came when I purchased a new system. And I see no reason to upgrade to WinXP now that I have 98 running smoothly. And, no, I would never use a pirated copy of XP.

Microsoft just won't get me to 'upgrade' until they give me a compelling reason. Same with computer games. Civ3 hasn't presented me enough compelling reasons to buy it yet. But that does not give me free reign to d/l it.