Illegal is illegal, and not legal!

[Bakunine]

And with that mentality is it any wonder why the Russian economy is a joke and is in shambles? If the general mood is to steal something instead of pay for it no wonder they are having such a hard time holding a stable economy.

FOr that matter, with the rest of the world apparently abdicating piracy on such a scale they only have themselves to blame with their own economic troubles. If people don't want to pay for something then they shouldn't ***** when they are out of work because people are stealing merchandise instead of buying it.

Buying and selling is what makes your economy work, not stealing.

Do you know what is the average salary in RUSSIA???

My guess goes for around one CIV III game per month more or less. (with less being more probable)

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by Solver

destroy the warez CD

Sure...

[Rosacrux]

Boys, boys, boys... piracy is a rather nasty habit but the software industry does benefit of it (limited).

Elaborating:

I got a pirated version of Civ. Bought Civ2. Bought CivToT. Bought SMAC. Shall buy Civ3 (fortunately a friend TBSer like me bought CtP and CtP2 and saved me the money, time and frustration - I never played those over 3 hours total).

I got a pirated version of HOMM. Bought HOMM2. Bougth HOMM3. Shall buy HOMM4.

I got a pirated version of MOO. Bought MOO2. Shall buy MOO3 Immediately after release (I shall preorder it in USA and pay for it double - what can I do? I love the new stuff they put in it )

OTOH, I bought Baldurs Gate, TOTSC expansion, BG2, TOB expansion.

Where does this gets us? If you like a game, you shall rush to buy it's offshot. It's so simple. I bought a RTS original without testing the series with a pirated version (namely the last C&C) and I cursed myself a dozen times for it - WHAT A WASTE OF GOOD MONEY!!!!

Of course, the above are correct when one condition is met: You can afford all those games.

If you are a teenager and rely on Dad's money... sorry, but only the kids of the fairly wealthy can afford 15-20 games per year with the outrageous prizes they got (about 40-50 Euros for a new game... tsk tsk tsk...).

I am independant financially for the last 15 years, so I could afford games from very early on. But I don't want to waste money on something I don't know if I like.

The risk factor should be minimized - and since shops in Greece don't have a trial period for software... piracy shall live on and on.

And the different release date issue is a BIG one. How do you expect people (especially youngsters, who are very "high school"ic anyway) to be patient for a couple of weeks more, when their overseas friends tell them "yeah, I got it, it's great, I play by the hours" etc?

I won't download it because I haven't got but little free time to play (so I really can spare those two weeks). But what about kids in high school age, with loads of free time?

Accept the reality.

And... I think Rasbelin's initial post is silly, immature and way off line - to put it frankly it's not his goddamn business to tell people what to do.

[Mannamagnus]

So many righteous people on this forum!

But I wonder how many of you have ever (or never) borrowed a cd/album from a friend or the library and taped it?
I doubt that any of you have never done it. Still it's exactly the same.

My point is you shouldn't lecture people for something you've done yourself frequently just because it concerns your favourite game.

On a more personal note: Firaxis and Infogrames will get my money anyway and you are in no position to judge me.

[Staszek]

Rosacrux: good for you that you bought all these games after having first pirated. I admit I had the same experience: to play all fancy games had to get a copy somewhere, when I started to earn some money I begun to spent them on girls ... oopps games of course.

Having said that, when my kid comes to me one day and aks for some money for Civ (put a number) or any other game, I will rather buy him a copy than encourage to get a pirate.

[Lee Johnson]

My point is you shouldn't lecture people for something you've done yourself frequently just because it concerns your favourite game.

On a more personal note: Firaxis and Infogrames will get my money anyway and you are in no position to judge me.

Boy, aren't we making unfounded assumptions here! You don't know anything about me or what I do on a day-to-day basis; if it makes you sleep better at night to assume that everybody's as ethically bankrupt as you are, more power to you.

I'm not trying to single out specific individuals. However, as long as people keep spouting ignorant twaddle in attempt to justify software piracy, I'm going to speak out against it. If some of them end up with a guilty conscience as a result, that's not my fault. They might be great guys in all other respects, but don't expect me to be impressed when they confess their unsavory activities in a public forum.

[Rosacrux]

how the heck did this appear here?

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by Faboba

Ras - **** off. No, no SERIOUSLY. Shut the hell up, we're adults and can do whatever we want. Unless you can think of a way to stop it.

Oh dear! Get mature, you behave like a child
that has suffered lobotomy. It's useless to pick
on me by saying that I couldn't do anything.
Faboba, I'd like to show you a certain finger.

[Mannamagnus]

If you've never copied an audio cd, which would surprise me, I apologise Lee. But I very much doubt if this can be said from the majority of people in this thread who are ranting against warez.

but don't expect me to be impressed when they confess their unsavory activities in a public forum.

What a petty, I was trying so hard to impress you but I've failed. Oh boy, how sad, never mind.

[Lee Johnson]

I got a pirated version of HOMM. Bought HOMM2. Bougth HOMM3. Shall buy HOMM4.

"Do you have a car? I'm coming over to take it. If I like it, I'll buy next year's model."

You just don't get it, do you?

[Mannamagnus]

"Do you have a car? I'm coming over to take it. If I like it, I'll buy next year's model."

Lousy analogy Lee. He's not taking anything away; worst case he's denying someone something. And he's not even doing that because he bought it anyway.

Maybe you should try again!

[Earthling7]

Seems that the bottom line is:
Americans condemn the rest for being childish and impatient.
The rest is frustrated that Infogrames has decided to discriminate against them.

Shall we ease a bit on the personal insults before someone closes the thread?

[Panzer]

Can someone please explain why oh why Infogames decided to delay the release in the rest of the world!

[KrazyHorse]

Firaxis is one of the companies that will actually get my money (got a copy of Civ I from a friend, bought Civ II, bought SMAC, will buy Civ 3), but perhaps some of you folks should re-examine the supposed immorality of copyright infringement. Right now, copyrights expire 75 years after the death of the author (90 in the case of corporate works). It didn't used to be that way. In Shakespeare's time, copyrighting was non-existent. In later times, copyrights lasted for only a few years. Just because an industry can manipulate politicians enough that they pass more and more stringent regulations doesn't mean that the things they outlaw have become immoral. Screw 'em. I have illegal copies of 50 songs and half a dozen games sitting on my HD right now. The crappy ones won't get my money. The good ones will.

And Lee: the last time I checked, stealing your car is illegal because you're left without a car, not because I get something for nothing.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Panzer
Can someone please explain why oh why Infogames decided to delay the release in the rest of the world!

Not delay. Probably shipping issues.