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Valve on Piracy

WORFWORF The Burninator
in Zocalo v2.0
[URL="http://techdirt.com/articles/20090219/1124433835.shtml"]Link[/URL]

About time someone figures it out.

Worf

Comments

  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Yep, I agree. I think it's a generation thing that keeps this kind of wisdom from sinking in the business' collective mind. The current generation of customers doesn't care about the medium the content is stored on. It's all about service, speed, flexibility and cost.

    Those who "pirate" games, still need to buy the hardware and pay their monthly bills... so it's definitely not about money.

    Those who bypass DRM and other malware to play their purchased games don't care about copy protection, they just want to play their games the way they want to.

    Is that so hard to understand?

    On the other hand, in many places the customer's not King anymore, and that's a true shame. The store owners will suffer, they will learn and then they will change, eventually.

    Another point for evolution. :D
  • sinclairsinclair Ranger
    Even though the obvious has been spotted, do you really think that something will happen for the prices?

    I think not...
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    It all depends on how it's going to evolve. Some companies (that can afford to) experiment to find out what works best. I usually don't buy games at full price or that exceed £18.00. Especially since they still require patching on release day. So even without any new business model, I do not go for whatever is in place now. I can wait, entertainment is still just a hobby, not something I must have to survive. I could also just read a book instead and have some fun that way.
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    [QUOTE=Stingray;179870]I could also just read a book instead and have some fun that way.[/QUOTE]

    Heresy!!
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    I know, it's not going to happen. :D
  • wiseguywiseguy Playa
    [QUOTE=Stingray;179870]I could also just read a book instead and have some fun that way.[/QUOTE]

    as a librarian i support that statement :p

    i don't mind paying 50$ for a game that is good and has plenty of content in it to enjoy (eg. Fallout 3, The Witcher). sadly far too many game companies like to blow half their money on ad campaigns and then cut content

    on the other hand you have the smaller programmers and studios who do exceptionally well by pricing their stuff at 'normal' levels and by providing refreshing gameplay and solid support (sins of a solar empire, mount & blade)
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I live 5 minutes' walk from a book shop and 45 minutes' train ride from the nearest shop that sells English games. You can guess which one I visit more often...
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Since you like trains so much, I don't think this is as obvious as you make it sound. :D
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    I was just thinking that :)

    Worf
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I don't [url=http://www.killbots.net/gallery/trains]like trains [i]that[/i] much[/url]...
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    Yes you do.

    About time somone in the industry realised that
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    Why should they realise how much Biggles likes trains? I thought that was not the issue here..?
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    I think it's probably safer for everyone if they know how much Biggles likes trains.....that way they can avoid engaging him in conversation about them :p
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    I recall buying SimCity 2000 around 1997,maybe 1998 at $60. Adjusting for inflation that is roughly $80 USD if bought today. If memory serves all mainstream games were around $50-60 on release back then. Accounting for inflation the price of games have been dropping.
  • Space GhostSpace Ghost Elite Ranger
    Indeed. 8-bit Nintendo games were $50 20 years ago. By that standard, I don't think $60 games are outrageous today.
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    [QUOTE=Space Ghost;179957] I don't think $60 games are outrageous today.[/QUOTE]

    Except, a student could probably live off that kind of money for 3 or 4 weeks just on junk food alone. :D

    If you only buy a handful of games a year, that's not a problem, but it is if you are an avid gamer who runs through a game over the time span of a weekend or so.
  • sinclairsinclair Ranger
    Well, 60$ is 60€ according to steam, so simple mathematics is not an option..

    Actually, they're having some sort of discount weekend at Steam right now, and the price for "World of Goo" or something is 5€. Then I remembered this 5$ is 5€ thing and decided not to buy, though seconds before I was almost certain to buy it. So basically, even though they are on the right tracks they keep doing all the wrong things.

    What is wrong with these people?
  • StingrayStingray Elite Ranger
    Just wait until the US$ is worth more than the Euro. :D
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