Deus Ex Leak Ends in Lawsuit

[nyysjan]

So what this is saying is that people actually like to play the game a bit before they slap down a nonrefundable 60 dollars for it? That's just crazy! If only there were a way for developers to put out a small demonstration of the game early, maybe like the first stage or first 15 minutes, and let people grab that off XBL or PSN or Steam or where ever a bit before the game is released. I know it sounds crazy but it just might work I'm thinking.

See, the problem with your idea is that only good games would gain sales, while bad games would plumet, and so either they only give good games demos (and non demoed games will loose sales), or give all games demos (and bad games will again loose sales).
And as most games made are somewhere between horrible to non descript, they would just end up loosing more money than they make either way.

Ofcourse no hard data on this exists so i'm just making a conspiracy theories, but as only few games actually give demos out anymore, i think there might be something to it.

 

[Speakercone]

Square Enix stated that it had suffered damages in excess of $5,000 thanks to lost sales, and was seeking an unspecified sum in restitution.

Answer:

A: earlier specification they have no clue who did this outside of an online pseudonym, but launching a lawsuit anyway.

B: Sueing for "lost sales" for a game that isnt even released, and knowing how many people will not purchase because of the leak before its even went on sale.

C: Expending court time and resources for litigation trying to make ... only 5 grand (which would be less than the cost of one atty). Or using US pricing... the equvilent of 83 copies.

D: This is just another example of how out of touch with reality SE has gotten so All of the above.

Question: Which statement most accurately reflects the sheer unadulterated stupidity of these actions by Square enix?

Theft is theft buddy. Impersonating someone else probably constitutes fraud as well in some instances as well. It's not about money it's about bring to justice those individuals who perpetrated the act.

If you were working on an indie game and someone hacked your computer and stole the alpha and released it before you were able to put it on xbl arcade or whatever would you be pissed?

The answer is yes.

People in this thread seriously need to get some perspective.

Theft is indeed theft, and impersonating a journalist is indeed fraud, and these are both unpleasant things to be on the receiving end of. But in answer to your demand for perspective, allow me to offer the following:

The litigants have no idea who perpetrated the incident in question. They also have no way of ascertaining this fact, so have opted to sue what amounts to "some dude on the internet". Furthermore, they have sued for "lost sales" whereas the incident appears just as likely to increase sales due to increased brand awareness among the target audience of the product. As such, it isn't even clear that any harm has come of the action.

Let's leave that aside for a moment though and consider the strange implication here:
If they somehow find the guy who leaked the pre-release code, and he is convicted, then Square Enix could end up being liable for benefitting from a criminal act if it can be demonstrated that they ended up gaining sales from the action of said dude on the internet.
That would be pretty odd eh

 

[Jacksaw Jack]

Heh, wonder if SE going to get hacked now. lol

 

[yndsu]

Yeah. I have the leaked version of the game. And before playing it i was very sceptical about the game. But the leaked version is really great and i had a lot of fun playing it.

And am considering of getting the Augmented Edition as well.
So this "leak" was actually very positive for them.

 

[nyttyn]

Most of you are missing the point. Their game was pirated, they have every right to sue. Piracy is still piracy, and this was also a case of stolen identity to get said stolen goods. Double whammy.

Bleh, I don't like that philosophy. "Why did you murder Hitler? Murder is murder!"

1. Irrelevant. Murder and theft are in different classes.
2. There is no legitimate reason for this crime. It's not like they stole nukes from terrorists and gave them to a responsible third party. They straight up stole someone's property and reproduced it without their permission solely for personal gain.
3. It's not a philosophy. It's the law.

 

[Littlee300]

Most of you are missing the point. Their game was pirated, they have every right to sue. Piracy is still piracy, and this was also a case of stolen identity to get said stolen goods. Double whammy.

Bleh, I don't like that philosophy. "Why did you murder Hitler? Murder is murder!"

1. Irrelevant. Murder and theft are in different classes.
2. There is no legitimate reason for this crime. It's not like they stole nukes from terrorists and gave them to a responsible third party. They straight up stole someone's property and reproduced it without their permission solely for personal gain.
3. It's not a philosophy. It's the law.

1. No it is not , it is the same principle.
2. Personal gain? I guess demos are personal gain too. If I wanted to pirate this game I'd wait for the full version. This would only attract the curious which will preordr the game if it is good. If I had a company and had unlimited free samples I wouldn't care if someone distributed them.
3. lol k.
Edit 2: This type of situation just benefits good and enjoyable games. Which I approve of. The less bad games bought the more good games bought.

 

[nyttyn]

-Snip-

Sir, please. Take a minute to understand exactly what you're trying to say here. You are claiming that not only is murdering just as bad as theft due to principle, you also claim that this is fine because "Trololo if I like this thing I stole, i'll buy it. We should be allowed to steal things before we buy them AND THEN DECIDE IF WE WANT TO PAY FROM THERE! HURR!" If you truly believe that you shouldn't be forced to drop 60 bucks for a game without trying it first, there are services that can accommodate you, friends could lend you their copy, or, and stick with me here because this is a extreme idea; Don't buy games without demos. Write in letters vocalizing the lost sales due to their being no demo. I know that it will take actual patience and effort on your part, but try it.

P.S. "Unlimited free samples?" Piracy is not unlimited free samples. I don't even need to explain why, and if you cannot understand why piracy is not "unlimited free samples," then why are you attempting to demand clemency for pirates?

 

[Littlee300]

-Snip-

Sir, please. Take a minute to understand exactly what you're trying to say here. You are claiming that not only is murdering just as bad as theft due to principle, you also claim that this is fine because "Trololo if I like this thing I stole, i'll buy it. We should be allowed to steal things before we buy them AND THEN DECIDE IF WE WANT TO PAY FROM THERE! HURR!" If you truly believe that you shouldn't be forced to drop 60 bucks for a game without trying it first, there are services that can accommodate you, friends could lend you their copy, or, and stick with me here because this is a extreme idea; Don't buy games without demos. Write in letters vocalizing the lost sales due to their being no demo. I know that it will take actual patience and effort on your part, but try it.

P.S. "Unlimited free samples?" Piracy is not unlimited free samples. I don't even need to explain why, and if you cannot understand why piracy is not "unlimited free samples," then why are you attempting to demand clemency for pirates?

I never said that murder is just as bad as theft you just made that up. They didn't steal the game. It isn't the full version of the game, huge difference, you are just being silly and making stuff up. This will not stop pirating either.The full version is still going to come out on pirate bay. After all, people will want the full version of the game if it is good. At this point the 'Pirate' had the choice of stealing or buying the game a choice he had BEFORE the leak. Again, in the end this will only effect bad games since people also pirate if they don't know if a game is good or not and don't want to risk giving money way.