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COD4 dev blown away by PC piracy
- Thread starter Luckyman
- Start date
No, it does not come from the world outside the most developed countries. Piracy is damned common in the 'developed world' too. And due to the price of internet connections and hardware in undeveloped countries it's not very common there. Really, there are no excuses. The fundamental problem is that piracy is socially acceptable and the risk of legal consequences is minimal.ninjaurbano said:
A Black Falcon
Member
When I hear these reports I think a few things...
1) How many of those people are from countries where legit games are virtually impossible to find?
2) How many of those people who do live in markets where the game is available would actually have bought it if there was no pirated version available for download?
Yes, there is a lot of PC game piracy. But how many of the people downloading them are doing that in lieu of buying games -- that is, how many people are downloading games they actually would have paid for if they couldn't have found free online? I'd bet that it's much, much less than a lot of people think... oh, I'm sure that plenty of people do do that. But compared to the numbers downloading? I'd be surprised if even a majority of the people downloading the games would ever have paid for them, pirated version availability or no, and it's probably a lot less than that.
Still...
This is a good point, even if it's a low percentage that's still a lot of units. The problem can be solved, though, by using CD keys and being vigilant in checking for copied keys and banning those people from the online service, as Blizzard does. Single-player only games... yeah, those are trouble. Not sure if much can be done there. Even so though, I think that those first two points explain most of the piracy... most of the downloaders aren't people who actually could have or wanted to buy the game.
1) How many of those people are from countries where legit games are virtually impossible to find?
2) How many of those people who do live in markets where the game is available would actually have bought it if there was no pirated version available for download?
Yes, there is a lot of PC game piracy. But how many of the people downloading them are doing that in lieu of buying games -- that is, how many people are downloading games they actually would have paid for if they couldn't have found free online? I'd bet that it's much, much less than a lot of people think... oh, I'm sure that plenty of people do do that. But compared to the numbers downloading? I'd be surprised if even a majority of the people downloading the games would ever have paid for them, pirated version availability or no, and it's probably a lot less than that.
Still...
Sho_Nuff82 said:
This is a good point, even if it's a low percentage that's still a lot of units. The problem can be solved, though, by using CD keys and being vigilant in checking for copied keys and banning those people from the online service, as Blizzard does. Single-player only games... yeah, those are trouble. Not sure if much can be done there. Even so though, I think that those first two points explain most of the piracy... most of the downloaders aren't people who actually could have or wanted to buy the game.
A Black Falcon said:
In my city in Bosnia, (5th largest), there are at least 5-6 shops selling original games that nobody buys (almost), and there is also internet distributer who fedex's latest releases same day as you order it.
If thats in Bosnia, I really dont see that there are many countries out there that you cant buy original games... Problem is convincing general public that they should spent 75 Euro instead of 2.5 Euro.
Also, with these latest games, most people playing online are in Western countries (better internet connectivity, more powerful PC's that can play games)...
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
oo Kosma oo said:
just like how we thought UT3 would sell more than 100k?
Orellio said:
I'd replace the RAM in the future by 3GB 800mhz, also this price includes Vista, which I don't have. Wouldn't the Quad scale better in future games, or is that unfounded reasoning?
davepoobond said:just like how we thought UT3 would sell more than 100k?
:lol
But that's the US! I know it's anecdotal but where I work on the weekends we have gone through several shippings of COD4 and it's still selling, while UT3 is still on it's first. Number 1 sold article on the PC games front is still the WoW timecard though.
I bought the game on Steam. More than like 2 months after release, there are still plenty of issues even getting the Steam version of the game to DL and install properly. That, combined with it being 9 gigs, makes me wonder whether double dipping and going for the PC version was even worth the dough.
Death_Born
Banned
As the games get bigger, piracy will get lower, until the internet gets faster.
Also, PC is the most versatile gaming platform. Who's to say that those "pirateers" would have actually bought the game anyway?
Also, PC is the most versatile gaming platform. Who's to say that those "pirateers" would have actually bought the game anyway?
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
the pc version runs like crap on my pc even at the lowest settings
sigh
sigh
oo Kosma oo said:
The quad will of course be better in the future, but games aren't CPU bottlenecked these days, so IMO the price you could save by getting a C2D now will last you more than long enough to wait for quads to come down in price. Buy a nice P35 chipset mobo with a c2d now, replace with a quad a year and a half from now. And if you want to future proof even more, I am positive that there are P35 boards that have both DDR2 and DDR3 slots. Right now though, DDR3 is too expensive.
And also, as much as I hate to finally admit it, after spending a couple of months with my personal copy, Vista is totally not worth the performance hit it brings to games. Then again I'm using Ultimate, maybe it isn't as bad with Home Basic, but in any case I would stick with XP for the foreseeable future.
Thing is I've never build a PC before, sure I can change RAM and the GFX card and all but to build a PC myself and install the OS too? Hmm.
About the Vista/XP thing, I'd rather keep XP too for now, but Dell ships that Quad baby with Vista on it.
I've scourged the internet for good hardware prices and I don't even come close to building this setup under that price (including Vista). Where are you guys finding these prices?
The Q6600 alone costs 216 euro. The you have the 8800GT, another 206 euro. That's 420 euro already, and you still need Vista, Ram, HDD, Casing+Power Supply etc.
About the Vista/XP thing, I'd rather keep XP too for now, but Dell ships that Quad baby with Vista on it.
Sanjay said:
I've scourged the internet for good hardware prices and I don't even come close to building this setup under that price (including Vista). Where are you guys finding these prices?
The Q6600 alone costs 216 euro. The you have the 8800GT, another 206 euro. That's 420 euro already, and you still need Vista, Ram, HDD, Casing+Power Supply etc.
MickeyKnox
Member
As I see it, IW and Activision owe me $25 for going halvsies on their shit game.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131823 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116755 - OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130454 - 500GB SATAII Hard Drive 16MB
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135258 - 8800GT 512MB
oh did not know that that price included Vista, Case and a PSU, with that in mind sounds good but just make sure you get a good psu, Corsair psu recommended.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116755 - OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130454 - 500GB SATAII Hard Drive 16MB
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135258 - 8800GT 512MB
oh did not know that that price included Vista, Case and a PSU, with that in mind sounds good but just make sure you get a good psu, Corsair psu recommended.
oo Kosma oo said:
It's really not so hard to build your own computer compared to even a few years ago. In my experience, the LGA775 socket type for CPU's decreases a lot of incompatibility problems in general compared to older types (478 (487? bah) comes to mind..) but just to get you off on a good start, I would go with..
One of the following C2D's depending on price/performace ~$200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Subcategory=343&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=
Gigabyte P35 DS3L $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
EVGA 8800GT SC'ed $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130319
Kingston 2GB DDR2 1066 $90 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134218
Works out to about 450 euro, and I rounded up on the C2D, the E6750 can be had for 190, the E6550 for even less. For further savings, the Abit P35 board is $10 cheaper than the Gigabyte, and DDR2 800 in lieu of 1066 would save you another $25-50.. There are always corners that can be cut lol, but what I linked to above is really solid stuff. In any case you're looking at roughly 2/3 what you would be paying for the pre-built quad core system.
Edit: And I haven't looked at Ebay, but I'd be willing to bet there's a few people selling off their slightly used 8800GTXs in favor of the new GT if you wanted to go that route..
Nuclear Muffin
Banned
lockii said:
Talk to your publisher or fuck off, random IW developer.
I hope that is in $AU!!!
Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of COD4 PC players are using pirated copies, 70% minimum I reckon.
g23 said:
Every steam game has been pirated; not sure what point you are trying to make?
As for mmos, there are ways to hack them as well. Account theft, sharing accounts with your friends, botting in game currency and profiting/breaking even, etc. Every system can be hacked; it all comes down to electronic ethics and awareness.
my god, no wonder CoD4 got pirated by so many people if the game has such a weak anti-piracy protection system. I don't pirate at all, but the pirate community especially jumps on games with a "dumb" CD key/serial number method that isn't required for online.
I wonder if Blizzard makes money from battle.net, because that (and other centralized authentication servers that simply provide lobbies/matchmaking for free) is the best method for a PC company to prevent piracy for multiplayer.
I wonder if Blizzard makes money from battle.net, because that (and other centralized authentication servers that simply provide lobbies/matchmaking for free) is the best method for a PC company to prevent piracy for multiplayer.
Shpeshal Nick
aka Collingwood
Netrunner2k2 said:
Depedns on where you're from.
I hear piracy isn't all that bad in the US. Asia-Pacific region is basically the hub. Be it PC, or console. If it plays games, it is or will be hacked.
It's pretty damn rampant in Australia. Across all platforms. Although MS is keeping it in check on the 360 with all the bannings. I know people who had their 360s flashed, and after one banning couldn't be bothered so they just buy legit games now.
I now know a guy who bought my brothers Wii and has a handful of burnt games because he doesn't like the Wii enough to pay for games.
Warm Machine
Member
Shpeshal Ed said:
He likes the games enough to play them though.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
Used games generate revenue for the stores that sell them, which encourage stores to buy and market those games heavily. When was the last time someone at EB asked you to pre-order a PC game?sp0rsk said:
Piracy also devalues PC games because people don't think they are worth that much if you can get them for free. They mark up used games so much there isn't really a big difference in the eyes of the consumer.
DontStopTheTatakai
Banned
The developer is "blown away" by PC piracy? Really? Tell me he's not that naive.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
"Talk to your publisher or fuck off, random IW developer."
Was that a glitch or? I never saw it that expensive on steam.
Was that a glitch or? I never saw it that expensive on steam.
Night_Trekker
Member
Dunlop said:
Right, because there's no middle ground.
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
I stopped pirating PC games about 6 months ago. Its really bad for the PC gaming industry. If I can't pay for it, I don't play it. Recently I bought Crysis, The Orange Box, and The Witcher.
Night_Trekker said:
I don't think there is, that week it took people to crack the game definately raked in more sales from people dying to play the game.
In it's current form, stealing a game is a simple as entering it's name in a BitTorrent engine and people who are not sure just need to read the readme.txt.
AdmiralViscen
Banned
spwolf said:didnt you hear? digital distribution is way to go
I'm surprised they didn't cancel the 360 version due to disc limitations TBH.
DontStopTheTatakai said:
The title of the thread is misleading, he said that he's blown away by the number of players playing illegally, ie. the ratio of players pirating.
A musician can release a CD and expect some level of piracy, but if those levels get really high (say, 9:1 ratio of people who stole it, compared to those who bought it), they could be surprised.
If he told me that 60% of people playing online, pirated it...I'd be surprised...wouldn't you? I wonder how people would define the "normal" or "expected" number. Personally I'd figure maybe 1/3rd max.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
Dunlop said:
call of duty 4 is a meaty installation on the PC as it is. more than 7 gb, for sure.
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