Video Game Piracy

[New Age Retro Hippie]

I couldn't really care less. A lot of people do a lot worse than pirating a game.

How so? Can you please explain further?

The people who rip and distribute games, of course.

And murder, too.

Mmm-mmm murder.

[POWRDUPshawn]

I don't think so. I guess it could be if you don't like it enough to purchase afterwards, but maybe companies should make better games and throw their demos onto the Nintendo channel. I think it's completely acceptable for demo purposes, but you shouldn't keep the ROM's after you try it.

[WiiFan2012]

In my opinion, I believe that ROMs are OK to download if the downloader owns the original. [Like I do, as well with the original system] Its basically a backup copy that the downloader cannot make, due to the fact that there is hardware required to rip the ROM.

I'm also talking about the older games, like from N64, which today, are hard to find in decent condition, as well with the systems. I have only downloaded two games, Super Mario 64, and Mario Kart 64. Super Mario 64 for the custom levels, and Mario Kart 64 for model extraction. [hint: MKWii Custom courses]

However, if the downloader goes and downloads games s/he does not own, then that the downloader has become a pirate. [hint: pirate means: stealing what you don't own]

Anyway, this is my stance on ROMs.

[mariomaniac45213]

I still think it's bad you should just buy a second copy or download it legally (you know the VC.) if you want a back up copy. But do what you want not my life.

[Devil_Rising]

My take is this.

It's perfectly okay, as long as it's old consoles. Yeah, technically if a game is available on VC, maybe you should download it on that. But I really don't see anything wrong with downloading old console or arcade games, especially rare ones.

The only time I have a problem, is when people are downloading NEW games on current systems. THAT'S piracy.

[Ezekiel Rage]

frankly. the hunt for piracy is low and it should stay low.

i mean, publishers tell you that they lose millions because people steal the games they want, but who tells them that the people would actually buy them if they couldnt steal them? back in the day when i wanted a game but couldnt affod it i borrowed it from a friend and that was that. i went to school. we allt raded games. nobody cared. so from all the pirates in the world, the publishers loose a few bucks and thats it.

as an indie developer myself, i can tell you that indies are the real casualities from pirates, sicne we dont sell millions of games. we sell a few hundret, maybe a thousand, depends on your contract and thats it.

if publishers like activision woudl spend less on anti piracy stuff that can be cracked anyway and invest more dolalrs and time into their games they would actually produce games worth buying.

i dont care if people steal my games. for the sake of it, if you can find my game anywhere go and steal it. i dont care a bit. worst thing that happens is that you might enjoy it. but if you do, please tell me you enjoyed it^^

[60fps]

I pirate movies , music and to a smaller extend games. I buy a lot also. I don’t consider anything morally wrong with pirating.

Anybody knows the online service GGPO. I always found that interesting. GGPO is a “zero latency” service that allows you to play – mostly – fighting games. It supports Capcom’s CPS1 CPS2 CPS3 roms as well as Neo-Geo roms. Basically it has all the big Capcom fighters up to Third Strike.

So… what does Capcom do??!





It buys a licence for the technology behind it. Currently Capcom only uses the GGPO code in the new Final Fight but this makes you kinda wonder how much these companies care.


But this thread is about modded consoles and flash cards… got non of that. Although I’m still looking for a GBA flash cart and had a modded psx once.

[AndyTheZombie]

Nay!! I hate when people steal!! and I hate hate hate when people use those R4DS things for their DS if you don't have the money to buy the game then you shouldn't be playing it in the first place!! But Nintendo really doesn't have to worry about piracy for the Wii cause they have those update things for new games. But that is just my opinion and I'm sticking with it. I pay for my games, movies and music I don't need to steal if I'm curious about anything I'll just blind buy it or if it''s getting Good reviews I'll buy it simple as that.

[SEGAsbest]

Nay!! I hate when people steal!! and I hate hate hate when people use those R4DS things for their DS if you don't have the money to buy the game then you shouldn't be playing it in the first place!! But Nintendo really doesn't have to worry about piracy for the Wii cause they have those update things for new games. But that is just my opinion and I'm sticking with it. I pay for my games, movies and music I don't need to steal if I'm curious about anything I'll just blind buy it or if it''s getting Good reviews I'll buy it simple as that.

First, Wii piracy is terrible. Secondly, Not everybody has the money to "blind buy" things. Finally, I don't really have qualms with piracy under certain conditions, but the argument that if you don't have the money to play a game == you shouldn't be playing it comes across as a somewhat "elitist" argument.

This isn't a soup kitchen, it's a multi-billion dollar corporation and I am not gonna spend time worrying about some CEO having trouble affording his 2nd private airplane.

In my specific instance I do not pirate, and I do not advocate it. I will however if the industry continues down the path of digital distribution. I will not pay to have a corporation tell me how to use what I own.

[amazingjanet]

Piracy only harms those who fail to adapt to new technology and changing markets. There is growing evidence that copyright and patents aren't generally needed, and there's a lacking in real evidence to show the opposite.

http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/i ... tfinal.htm

http://www.thepublicdomain.org/

I don't believe piracy is wrong at all.

[Little_Mac]

I don't like the idea of piracy and wish it didn't happen, but I can see why it does. Most gamers just do not have the money for all the products on the market and specifically since games are very expensive at $50, $60, and even over a hundred dollars for a game with a needed peripheral. I've been burned by so many bad games that were overhyped by journalists that it in turn made me subscribe to Gamefly for my gaming needs. I rent almost every hyped game and if I like it I buy it. It's like having a rich friend who just buys everything and lets you borrow it for a small price. The industry is getting so big and their expectations are getting ridiculous that I can see why people have resorted to piracy; and I find it funny how instead of realizing why gamers pirate, publishers are trying to figure out how to screw the customers instead of making them happy.

[Autosaver]

AmazingJanet - Nintendo losing 762 million due to Piracy is nothing wrong at all?

Also, the 24 hour rule is BS. I'm pretty sure ROM suppliers just say that so they don't get in trouble.

Code: Select all

Can I Download a Nintendo ROM from the Internet if I Already Own the Authentic Game?

There is a good deal of misinformation on the Internet regarding the backup/archival copy exception. It is not a "second copy" rule and is often mistakenly cited for the proposition that if you have one lawful copy of a copyrighted work, you are entitled to have a second copy of the copyrighted work even if that second copy is an infringing copy. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. [b]Therefore, whether you have an authentic game or not, or whether you have possession of a Nintendo ROM for a limited amount of time, i.e. 24 hours, it is illegal to download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet. [/b]

Such emulators have the potential to significantly damage a worldwide entertainment software industry which generates over $15 billion annually, and tens of thousands of jobs.

http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp#roms

[amazingjanet]

AmazingJanet - Nintendo losing 762 million due to Piracy is nothing wrong at all?

Until they can prove they lost 762 million, no, there is nothing wrong at all. I refer you back to link I posted:

http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/i ... tfinal.htm

It is common to argue that intellectual property in the form of copyright and patent is necessary for the innovation and creation of ideas and inventions such as machines, drugs, computer software, books, music, literature and movies. In fact intellectual property is a government grant of a costly and dangerous private monopoly over ideas. We show through theory and example that intellectual monopoly is not necessary for innovation and as a practical matter is damaging to growth, prosperity and liberty.

[slickandswift]

(Ok heres my second try, the first one didn't go through, crappy internet connection)

I think its ok to pirate older video games (NES, SNES, Genesis, ect) for one reason and one reason alone. We wouldn't criticise the pirating of older video games (and I guess music and movies as well but thats a different field of dicussion) if Nintendo had not decided to bring them back for re-sale all of a sudden.

Think about it, if the VC didn't exist, you'd be forced to buy these games from sites like Amazon and Ebay anyways, and then you aren't helping the company your helping whoever owned the game before you. Just like your not helping a company when you buy a used game from Gamestop (not as bad as pirating but you're only putting money in the pockets of the Gamestop CEOs)

To widen this spectrum a bit, no one would expect you to pay for a movie that was made in the 1950's. You can find older movies like this on youtube, and I don't think anyone considers that piracy since it already had its money making days.

(I do not support the pirating of new release games)

[thelonehuman]

Current consoles I'm against. However, if it's a game on an old system that you can't buy anywhere, then go for it.

[8 bit]

It basically depends on your context. If the laws of where you live make pirating illegal, it's a bad thing of course. If not, go ahead and do it if you want.

It comes down to the law... because how else would we determine if it's "moral" or not?

[WesFX]

Situational.
Old stuff that isn't being sold anymore; I'm fine with it. No form that you can buy it in will give money to the people that made that stuff.

Stuff that isn't being brought out to your region; I'm fine with it. I know it's not always realistic to get profit from the effort it takes to bring something to another region, but they shouldn't expect sales from importers.

All else; a disgusting perversion.

This applies to all media, for me. I almost never pirate, regardless.

[Devil_Rising]

Yup, old NES, SNES, GB, Arcade, PC, Genesis, etc. type games, are fine.

Pirating brand new stuff, however, is not.

[thresholdXCI]

Yeah, I'm fine with pirating games that are old and no longer on sale or games that haven't actually been released in my country*. For anything that actually is on sale officially then of course I'd always buy them if I wanted them. Borrowing/ lending games is fine in my opinion too, I don't have any problem with that. But generally, as much as getting stuff for free is nice it's not the way the world works.

That said, as much as I look down on piracy, the ridiculous degree to which individuals are punished if caught and prosecuted is downright disgusting. Then again, when has the justice system ever been just?

*This mainly applying to Doujinshi or Visual Novels that don't stand much of a chance ever being localised.