Quake 4 Dowloaded Almost 1 000 000 Times

[Fleagle]

Just to annoy everyone even more I thought I'd point out that the new version of the GBA emulator is now available for download onto your psp and Advance Wars runs almost perfectly.

*RUNS*

[Fry Crayola]

but I bet you count MAME roms as evil piratey things too.

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In my case, no. Depending on the game. It's a complex area, but there's a world of difference between a game no longer in production that is incredibly difficult to get hold of, and one that's sitting on the shelf of HMV in nice cellophane wrap only 200 yards away.

feel free to adjust distance accordingly

I do agree (begrudgingly) with downloading as a tester if no demo is forthcoming. We need more demos based on the release builds, not beta code that bears no resemblance.

[Wickedkitten]

Just to annoy everyone even more I thought I'd point out that the new version of the GBA emulator is now available for download onto your psp and Advance Wars runs almost perfectly.

*RUNS*

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not as impressive as the ds emulator

[Fry Crayola]

As opposed to the companies that have stiffed me out of tons of cash over the years by releasing buggy and unfinished work and expecting me to pay through the nose for it? Who's the bigger leach?

You stitch me up and I'll stitch you up.

But you target ALL PC companies. You download EVERYTHING. You still haven't answered - what's your reasoning behind downloading a game from Publisher A, because Publisher B's game wasn't up to scratch?

A lot of the time the games do turn out to be worthless which is fine when I'm now getting them for free.  

Do you pay for the worthwhile ones from a company who haven't "stiffed" you?

I freely admit that I download cd's and dvd's because I can. I always hated the way they were so obviously overpriced but even if they're reduced I'll still pirate them. Saying that though my collection consists of over 400 'real' dvd's and around 40 copies.

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Ah, the old "I buy loads of legit ones!". Almost as tired as the "I'm not racist, my friends are black!" line.

[Fry Crayola]

Downloading a game that you'd never pay money for is like borrowing a game from your friend.

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and copying it onto your hard drive, giving him back the original so you can both have a copy and use whenever you want, even simultaneously.

[Wickedkitten]

and copying it onto your hard drive, giving him back the original so you can both have a copy and use whenever you want, even simultaneously.

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like having a mate copy a cassette tape for you

[Fleagle]

But you target ALL PC companies. You download EVERYTHING. You still haven't answered - what's your reasoning behind downloading a game from Publisher A, because Publisher B's game wasn't up to scratch?

Simply because I can't be arsed to sort out the wheat from the chaff and I don't see why I should. You think it's wrong but I just don't care anymore as the pc gaming scene has let me down so many times in the past that I just cannot conjure up any sympathy for it anymore.

Do you pay for the worthwhile ones from a company who haven't "stiffed" you?

I've already stated that if I found a game that I loved and I knew that it was finished and bug free then I would happily pay for it.

Ah, the old "I buy loads of legit ones!". Almost as tired as the "I'm not racist, my friends are black!" line.

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Well now your just assuming things about me in the same way that people accused me of when I said that I thought that there were many people in this thread that were perhaps telling a few porkies.

Would it make you feel any better if I took a pic of my film shelves just to prove it?

[nevsan]

Soooo.. when X360 has downloadable demos (like it has been stated - in the Marketplace section of the new LIVE) of up-coming games you will all use these demos to judge your opinion on whether you will purchase the final build or.. will you just pirate them still?

[dumpster]

As an ex manager of Game, I'd personally much rather someone downloaded a game off the internet, played it for a bit, and wiped it off, than come in and bought it, played it for 10 days then brought it back with a made up excuse.

If you want games for free, there are loads of ways you can do it. Game's 10 day return policy, Blockbuster rental, and preowned, all of which make no money for the developers. If you want to listen to an album or play a game to pass an afternoon, then piracy, along with all the above, is a good way to do it.

I've spent more on DVDs, music and games this year than I ever have in my life. I'd never have heard of Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle, Lost, Battlestar Galactica etc if they were not being so widely discussed online. My music downloads work in tandem with the 50 music channels on TV and the radio in telling me what is available. When something comes along that I like, I go and buy it. Curious about Rachel Steven's (probably terrible) album? Get it off the net, have a listen, learn that all her songs are the same, as expected, chuckle, wipe it off. Never would have bought her album in a million years, but would happily stand at a HMV listening post. What's the difference?

Downloading off the internet is not theft - HMV lose money if I steal from the shop, the kid in the street can't get home if I nick his bike. If I want a go on his bike, and magically produce a duplicate, the kid couldn't care less. When I, individually download something from the internet, it affects absolutely no-one, unless I don't buy something I intended to as a result.

The broadband gives you unlimited access to everything for free - until you look closely. DVDs with no extras, Games with movie files ripped out and no online facilities, music without the box and nice presentation, the latest movies filmed from camcorders in cinemas. Anyone who uses the internet to save money on their shopping is a fool. Anyone who uses it as an interactive shop window is probably on this forum, whether honestly or in denial.

I think I'll dig out my old "Preowned is worse than piracy" thread, just to see if I think it's all still relevant.

[Fleagle]

Soooo.. when X360 has downloadable demos (like it has been stated - in the Marketplace section of the new LIVE) of up-coming games you will all use these demos to judge your opinion on whether you will purchase the final build or.. will you just pirate them still?

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If it was me I'd use them to judge the worth of the games and purchase the ones that were good.

...and then download all the rest.

[SomeNaiveChump]

As an ex manager of Game, I'd personally much rather someone downloaded a game off the internet, played it for a bit, and wiped it off, than come in and bought it, played it for 10 days then brought it back with a made up excuse.

If you want games for free, there are loads of ways you can do it.  Game's 10 day return policy, Blockbuster rental, and preowned, all of which make no money for the developers.  If you want to listen to an album or play a game to pass an afternoon, then piracy, along with all the above, is a good way to do it. 

I've spent more on DVDs, music and games this year than I ever have in my life. I'd never have heard of Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle, Lost, Battlestar Galactica etc if they were not being so widely discussed online. My music downloads work in tandem with the 50 music channels on TV and the radio in telling me what is available.  When something comes along that I like, I go and buy it.  Curious about Rachel Steven's (probably terrible) album?  Get it off the net, have a listen, learn that all her songs are the same, as expected, chuckle, wipe it off.  Never would have bought her album in a million years, but would happily stand at a HMV listening post.  What's the difference?

Downloading off the internet is not theft - HMV lose money if I steal from the shop, the kid in the street can't get home if I nick his bike.  If I want a go on his bike, and magically produce a duplicate, the kid couldn't care less.  When I, individually download something from the internet, it affects absolutely no-one, unless I don't buy something I intended to as a result.

The broadband gives you unlimited access to everything for free - until you look closely.  DVDs with no extras, Games with movie files ripped out and no online facilities, music without the box and nice presentation, the latest movies filmed from camcorders in cinemas.  Anyone who uses the internet to save money on their shopping is a fool.  Anyone who uses it as an interactive shop window is probably on this forum, whether honestly or in denial.

I think I'll dig out my old "Preowned is worse than piracy" thread, just to see if I think it's all still relevant.

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fabulous post.

[Fry Crayola]

Simply because I can't be arsed to sort out the wheat from the chaff and I don't see why I should. You think it's wrong but I just don't care anymore as the pc gaming scene has let me down so many times in the past that I just cannot conjure up any sympathy for it anymore.

Well, at least you're an honest cunt. You won't be stabbing me in the back or anything.

I've already stated that if I found a game that I loved and I knew that it was finished and bug free then I would happily pay for it.

Did you? And does it actually matter if the game has a bug if you love it? Really, you're just scraping the barrel with this one. If you love the game, it's worth the money, even if it crashes when you press fifteen keys at once whilst playing the ukelele into the microphone.

Well now your just assuming things about me in the same way that people accused me of when I said that I thought that there were many people in this thread that were perhaps telling a few porkies.

Would it make you feel any better if I took a pic of my film shelves just to prove it?

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I'm not saying you're a liar. I believe you. I'm just saying that because you've got tons of legal stuff doesn't make it ok that you have pirated stuff as well. They don't cancel each other out.

[Fry Crayola]

like having a mate copy a cassette tape for you

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Yep. Neither are right.

[therearerules]

Downloading off the internet is not theft - HMV lose money if I steal from the shop, the kid in the street can't get home if I nick his bike.  If I want a go on his bike, and magically produce a duplicate, the kid couldn't care less.

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I'm pretty sure the bke manufacturers would be pretty pissed off though.

[Fry Crayola]

If it was me I'd use them to judge the worth of the games and purchase the ones that were good.

...and then download all the rest.

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Why do you want the ones that aren't good? I can appreciate that in this case it makes not a jot of a difference, but why?

I think cat faeces are not good. So I don't get them. Why get a bad game? Why waste your time?

[dumpster]

The bike manufacturer has every right to be pissed off if I needed a bike and duplicated one instead of buying one. If I just fancied a go on a bike, to see what it's like, they are asking too much for me to go out and buy one, to use once.

Like I said, piracy replacing purchase is a bad thing. I just think the people who replace purchasing with pirating are a tiny, tiny fraction of the Million people quoted in the thread title.

[MK-1601]

Simply because I can't be arsed to sort out the wheat from the chaff and I don't see why I should. You think it's wrong but I just don't care anymore as the pc gaming scene has let me down so many times in the past that I just cannot conjure up any sympathy for it anymore.

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And yet you can still be arsed to pirate PC games. Funny that.

[Sng]

To be honest if I could download Xbox games legally then I'd probably do it that way. If they were cheaper than boxed retail versions anyway. It's a lot less hassle downloading a game in a couple of hours than waiting 2-3 days if you buy online or heaven forbid, go to somewhere like GAME and actually give them money.

The only reason I own HL2 with every expansion, etc is because it was pretty cheap and I like the way Steam operates. I even bought RDFU.

It's about time some big publishers look at the possibilities of things like Steam and produce something similar to that/ Softwrap.

[BeeJay]

I just think the people who replace purchasing with pirating are a tiny, tiny fraction of the Million people quoted in the thread title.

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That's very naive.

In summary, I don't think that justifying piracy with the 'demo' arguement is justified. It is a problem in the industry and demos should be more readily available. However, I don't think that pirates would stop pirating if demos became freely available.

I also believe that 95% of people that have downloaded Quake 4 will not buy a legitimate copy.

If you choose to pirate games then fine, that's your choice and your risk. If we all had the same attitude as you then there wouldn't be a game industry like we know it.

I buy my games to keep your hard drives full and make sure that I will enjoy playing good games in future.

I still believe you are scum and shouldn't be encouraged on this forum.

[BeeJay]

It's about time some big publishers look at the possibilities of things like Steam and produce something similar to that/ Softwrap.

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It is, the games industry has got to adapt to come up with a solution.

[SomeNaiveChump]

I also believe that 95% of people that have downloaded Quake 4 will not buy a legitimate copy.

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and that 94% wouldn't have bought one anyway...?

not that I condone piracy to Soong levels, but 'scum' is very, very harsh and should be reserved for abusive chavs, negligent parents and, er, Soong?

[christaylor]

play.com have the RRP up at £49.99.

Is that correct?!

[BoggyB]

The only reason I own HL2 with every expansion, etc is because it was pretty cheap and I like the way Steam operates. I even bought RDFU.

It's about time some big publishers look at the possibilities of things like Steam and produce something similar to that/ Softwrap.

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Absolutely. If Steam has managed one things its to show me that I actually prefer downloading games (legally) instead of buying a boxed copy. I don't have to take up more room with useless plastic cases and horrifyingly lazy manuals. The occasional limited edition uber fancy tin box set would still be welcome though.

[Sng]

and that 94% wouldn't have bought one anyway...?

not that I condone piracy to Soong levels, but 'scum' is very, very harsh and should be reserved for abusive chavs, negligent parents and, er, Soong?

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The Warriors

Stubbs the shitty Zombie

FIFA 06

SSX On Tour

FM06

Battlefield 2 Modern Combat

Black & White 2

I think that's all the games I've downloaded in the last week or so.

Would I have bought all them if I couldn't pirate them? No fucking way, THEY'RE ALL SHIT! Except FM06 which I might buy for online play. Maybe BF2 MC if Live play is decent.

[hub2]

It's good to get this debate out of our system every few months isn't it?

[BeeJay]

The Warriors

Stubbs the shitty Zombie

FIFA 06

SSX On Tour

FM06

Battlefield 2 Modern Combat

Black & White 2

I think that's all the games I've downloaded in the last week or so.

Would I have bought all them if I couldn't pirate them? No fucking way, THEY'RE ALL SHIT! Except FM06 which I might buy for online play. Maybe BF2 MC if Live play is decent.

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Why the hell did you download those games if you wouldn't be prepared to pay for them?

Just because you can?

[213]

Blame this forum for all the pirate talk. If yod@ didn't have a thread advertising modded Xboxes pinned here then I probably wouldn't be pirating Xbox games right now. This place has promoted it massively.

Hands up who DOESN'T have a modded Xbox here? Everyone I know has and downloads games just as much as me.

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I've got one and no downloaded games, not worth the effort, might as well buy them used for a fiver.

It's not about prices, most games have a vertical depreciation so you could just buy used sub £20 within 3 weeks of the game coming out but people don't want to wait so they buy the cheapo pirate or file share it instead.

As for the poor student downloading pc games, how the fuck if your so poor can you afford a top pc?

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[dan_tm]

Subscription, like cable TV, is something that would work though, because it's got steady income attached. Play as much or as little as you want for 9.99 a month.

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I'd buy that for a dollar! (or £9.99 even)

if there is no victim, there is no crime. crimes have victims. a break and enter has a victim. a stabbing has a victim. downloading something you were never going to buy has NO VICTIM. hell, you may even end up buying it as you love it so much.

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Yeah, you keep thinking that, everything will be alright.

To be fair both me, Soong and a couple of others have been pretty upfront about that.

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To be fair that makes no difference. Openly admitting that you steal/theif (whatever) does not make it right.

[New York Mikey]

As an ex manager of Game, I'd personally much rather someone downloaded a game off the internet, played it for a bit, and wiped it off, than come in and bought it, played it for 10 days then brought it back with a made up excuse.

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It's understandable that you would think that, because it would have made your life easier as a manager of GAME.

If you want games for free, there are loads of ways you can do it.  Game's 10 day return policy, Blockbuster rental, and preowned, all of which make no money for the developers.  If you want to listen to an album or play a game to pass an afternoon, then piracy, along with all the above, is a good way to do it. 

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Everyone gets their cut of a blockbuster rental. And the retailer is the only one to benefit from preowned (preowned is a subject for another thread as you say).

The ten day policy is the closest equivalent to pirating a game, and meets the needs of many people who want to try before they buy. Why do people pirate a console game anyway if you can get a full, legit copy from GAME to try? Laziness when it comes to going to town and back? Or because you want the game without any kind of financial or time investment, however limited? Or just because have no compunction about downloading because you don't feel any moral responsibility for doing so and it can be done at the click of a button? I think for most people it's the latter.

I've spent more on DVDs, music and games this year than I ever have in my life. I'd never have heard of Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle, Lost, Battlestar Galactica etc if they were not being so widely discussed online. My music downloads work in tandem with the 50 music channels on TV and the radio in telling me what is available.  When something comes along that I like, I go and buy it.  Curious about Rachel Steven's (probably terrible) album?  Get it off the net, have a listen, learn that all her songs are the same, as expected, chuckle, wipe it off.  Never would have bought her album in a million years, but would happily stand at a HMV listening post.  What's the difference?

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Discussion of the latest albums etc online does not mean you have to torrent it, or give you the right to do so, precisely the opposite IMO, as people are giving their opinions on whether it's worth spending your money on thereby allowing you to make an informed choice with your money. Ditto TV and radio, which give you tasters of the whole song/album so that you can decide for yourself if you want to buy it. Heck, itunes lets you listen to a sample of every song so you can see if you like it.

What's the difference between all of these publicly available resources, versus downloading the full version yourself to try it? The first option is legal, while the second is not for a start.

But mainly - and this is the key point that the 'if I like it, I'll buy it' brigade like to gloss over - it is that the number of people who download it, like it, but never pay for it when they might have conceivably done so if they didn't have the option to pirate is substantial, and growing as broadband becomes more mainstream, and yarring becomes easier.

The broadband gives you unlimited access to everything for free - until you look closely.  DVDs with no extras, Games with movie files ripped out and no online facilities, music without the box and nice presentation, the latest movies filmed from camcorders in cinemas.  Anyone who uses the internet to save money on their shopping is a fool.  Anyone who uses it as an interactive shop window is probably on this forum, whether honestly or in denial.

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Agreed, this is often the key way companies are trying to distinguish official product from yarred versions. But even then, the key value of a game title is in the game itself. People can very easily live without the box and manual if they get it for free. The incremental cost for a box and manual is too high to make it a reasonable price for many. Are games too expensive? Again that's one for another thread.

[213]

The Warriors

Stubbs the shitty Zombie

FIFA 06

SSX On Tour

FM06

Battlefield 2 Modern Combat

Black & White 2

I think that's all the games I've downloaded in the last week or so.

Would I have bought all them if I couldn't pirate them? No fucking way, THEY'RE ALL SHIT! Except FM06 which I might buy for online play. Maybe BF2 MC if Live play is decent.

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But you could have either tried them in a shop or taken them back o na 10 dayer if you hated them.

PC Stuff I can understand, it's a fucking joke, I just don't bother (mind you if it's that bad why do any of you lot who are complaining about it) but console stuff is straight thievery end of story.

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