This War of Mine Dev Responds to Pirates with Free Copies of Game

[Signa]

So you're prefer to be wrong in an echo chamber than figure out how to be right?

You're assuming that he's wrong and you're right. Not necessarily the case.

He's wrong for acting like this is a bad thing. That's wrong enough. He's taking a win-win situation and saying that one side isn't winning enough because reasons. You seem to be pretty close to his camp, given that you seem to think those steps are as easy said as done. Hell, why spend any of your free time gaming? You could be looking for more jobs and making more money so that you'll never have to think about piracy again!

Look, you're all glossing over the important points here: Whether you are able to afford the game is irrelevant. The pirates decided that either they are too poor to purchase this game at all, or they didn't budget wisely, and piracy gets them what they were wanting, even if they are short of funds. This measure by 11-bit makes sure that those people who do have the funds now know where to allocate their next batch. 11-bit wins, the pirates won, and anyone else left isn't worth the time considering. The ONLY thing I'm left wondering is if those keys went to people that actually should have had them. I think it would be shitty if either you or I ended up with them because we would have bought it.

 

[wass12]

Reading these posts, I didn't see anyone bringing up an important aspect of the situation: 11 Bit is a Polish game studio. Now, you must know that gaming culture in the former Soviet bloc is deeply rooted in piracy. Back in the era of casettes and floppy disks, the poor economic state and lack of official distributors meant that most people had access to games only through semi-legal or illegal channels. I wouldn't be surprised if the developers at 11 Bit had firsthand experience on what makes someone turn to piracy, and in that light, being non-hostile towards pirates would not be a coldly calculated PR-trick, but simply avoiding hypocrisy.
This is, of course, pure conjecture on my part.

 

[Something Amyss]

It is an unconventionally constructive attitude. I like these guys.

Perhaps "certain" devs could get over Piracy and just accept it as a fact of life instead of crowbarring in DRM everywhere.

Ah, who are you kidding? They'll probably just lock it down so tight only three people can play at a time.

 

[Something Amyss]

Reading these posts, I didn't see anyone bringing up an important aspect of the situation: 11 Bit is a Polish game studio.

This was raised on the first page and fairly early in it.

 

[wass12]

Reading these posts, I didn't see anyone bringing up an important aspect of the situation: 11 Bit is a Polish game studio.

This was raised on the first page and fairly early in it.

Re-reading the first page, I finally noticed Skeleon's post that speculates on the same issue. My apologies for not being observant enough.

 

[Dagda Mor]

So you're prefer to be wrong in an echo chamber than figure out how to be right?

You're assuming that he's wrong and you're right. Not necessarily the case.

He's wrong for acting like this is a bad thing. That's wrong enough. He's taking a win-win situation and saying that one side isn't winning enough because reasons. You seem to be pretty close to his camp, given that you seem to think those steps are as easy said as done. Hell, why spend any of your free time gaming? You could be looking for more jobs and making more money so that you'll never have to think about piracy again!

Look, you're all glossing over the important points here: Whether you are able to afford the game is irrelevant. The pirates decided that either they are too poor to purchase this game at all, or they didn't budget wisely, and piracy gets them what they were wanting, even if they are short of funds. This measure by 11-bit makes sure that those people who do have the funds now know where to allocate their next batch. 11-bit wins, the pirates won, and anyone else left isn't worth the time considering. The ONLY thing I'm left wondering is if those keys went to people that actually should have had them. I think it would be shitty if either you or I ended up with them because we would have bought it.

Quit with the 'us vs. them' shit. And with the strawman shit, too. When I want something, I get the money to buy it. When I don't want something, I do nothing. And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job. If you're just a kid and you don't have a job, mow some lawns or walk some dogs. Open a lemonade stand if you have to. It's really that simple. Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

Also, I said that piracy has no justification, not that the dev made the wrong move. In the post right before the one you quoted, I specifically said that I supported the dev's handling of the situation.

 

[Signa]

So you're prefer to be wrong in an echo chamber than figure out how to be right?

You're assuming that he's wrong and you're right. Not necessarily the case.

He's wrong for acting like this is a bad thing. That's wrong enough. He's taking a win-win situation and saying that one side isn't winning enough because reasons. You seem to be pretty close to his camp, given that you seem to think those steps are as easy said as done. Hell, why spend any of your free time gaming? You could be looking for more jobs and making more money so that you'll never have to think about piracy again!

Look, you're all glossing over the important points here: Whether you are able to afford the game is irrelevant. The pirates decided that either they are too poor to purchase this game at all, or they didn't budget wisely, and piracy gets them what they were wanting, even if they are short of funds. This measure by 11-bit makes sure that those people who do have the funds now know where to allocate their next batch. 11-bit wins, the pirates won, and anyone else left isn't worth the time considering. The ONLY thing I'm left wondering is if those keys went to people that actually should have had them. I think it would be shitty if either you or I ended up with them because we would have bought it.

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime. It just isn't that simple no matter how much you say it is. If it WAS that simple, then piracy wouldn't be that big of a deal, because pirating a game isn't simple. As it is now, it's still more simple than what you suggest.

 

[odolwa]

The ONLY thing I'm left wondering is if those keys went to people that actually should have had them. I think it would be shitty if either you or I ended up with them because we would have bought it.

That's kind of my point, though. If I had been there when they handed the keys out, I'd honestly be asking them to reconsider and buy the game instead. If pirates are going to pirate, then they haven't changed anything on that front, so giving free games to folks who would have likely bought them anyway misses the point.

You say I'm wrong from a PR standpoint, regarding what they did, and I say that's fine but it's subjective because, as you acknowledge, the folks they gave those keys too were likely not pirates. Ultimately it's good PR, but it stems from a s**ty situation and I'm not wrong about that. Congratulate the team if you like, but don't forget to condemn the pirates. I've not seen many folks doing that, so far. Only the real fans are paying for the game. In any case, that's just my opinion.

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

It is an unconventionally constructive attitude. I like these guys.

Perhaps "certain" devs could get over Piracy and just accept it as a fact of life instead of crowbarring in DRM everywhere.

Ah, who are you kidding? They'll probably just lock it down so tight only three people can play at a time.

I'd like to believe that people can learn from their mistakes.

Or at the very least, that current games publishers and devs will get replaced by those who know that DRM has never worked in the history of anything in 'preventing' piracy without fucking over the buying consumer.

 

[Signa]

The ONLY thing I'm left wondering is if those keys went to people that actually should have had them. I think it would be shitty if either you or I ended up with them because we would have bought it.

Congratulate the team if you like, but don't forget to condemn the pirates. I've not seen many folks doing that, so far. Only the real fans are paying for the game. In any case, that's just my opinion.

I consider pirates and piracy something of a force of nature. They are going to be there whether you're yelling at them, beating them senseless or giving your shit out for free. I can't be bothered to get mad about them, and I feel like few others here are either. Keeping with the force of nature analogy, this measure is like knocking out windows before a hurricane. It sucks, but it's the best way to weather the storm.

Thank you for being more civil than I was. I was getting pretty frustrated with your interaction with Teoes, so I got a little curt.

 

[Something Amyss]

I never understood the "I don't have money" defense for piracy. If you have time to play games but not the money to buy them, get out of the house, make some money, and come back when you can purchase the game. This isn't like stealing groceries because you can't put food on the table, it's more like stealing jewelery because it looks shiny.

Still, good on the dev for taking advantage of the situation.

Yeah, while I won't knock the dev for giving out keys or not complaining about how PIRACY is KILLING them and THE INDUSTRY, I've never particularly got the "I can't afford it, so I'll download it anyway!" mentality. People toss around "entitlement" too much, but it really seems like (a false sense of) entitlement when you download something to which you are not, actually, entitled.

But hey, it's not my game, either.

 

[Dagda Mor]

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime.

I'm quite aware that can happen. You're supposed to get permission from your employer. If you can't, budget more effectively. If your budget is already perfectly optimized and you still can't afford the game, you have bigger issues to worry about than playing games--you need more income. Here's the most important thing:

Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

 

[Signa]

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime.

I'm quite aware that can happen. You're supposed to get permission from your employer. If you can't, budget more effectively. If your budget is already perfectly optimized and you still can't afford the game, you have bigger issues to worry about than playing games--you need more income. Here's the most important thing:

Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

That's assuming they even deserve to be paid. I don't know how you'd be able to say that with a straight face when discussing Grass Simulator or Air Control.

 

[Dagda Mor]

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime.

I'm quite aware that can happen. You're supposed to get permission from your employer. If you can't, budget more effectively. If your budget is already perfectly optimized and you still can't afford the game, you have bigger issues to worry about than playing games--you need more income. Here's the most important thing:

Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

That's assuming they even deserve to be paid. I don't know how you'd be able to say that with a straight face when discussing Grass Simulator or Air Control.

If you're willing to play them, you should be willing to pay for them.

 

[Signa]

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime.

I'm quite aware that can happen. You're supposed to get permission from your employer. If you can't, budget more effectively. If your budget is already perfectly optimized and you still can't afford the game, you have bigger issues to worry about than playing games--you need more income. Here's the most important thing:

Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

That's assuming they even deserve to be paid. I don't know how you'd be able to say that with a straight face when discussing Grass Simulator or Air Control.

If you're willing to play them, you should be willing to pay for them.

That's a cop-out answer and you know it.

 

[Dagda Mor]

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime.

I'm quite aware that can happen. You're supposed to get permission from your employer. If you can't, budget more effectively. If your budget is already perfectly optimized and you still can't afford the game, you have bigger issues to worry about than playing games--you need more income. Here's the most important thing:

Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

That's assuming they even deserve to be paid. I don't know how you'd be able to say that with a straight face when discussing Grass Simulator or Air Control.

If you're willing to play them, you should be willing to pay for them.

That's a cop-out answer and you know it.

You're not even trying to have a discussion, are you? Fine. I'm done. You can tell yourself that you've won the argument.

 

[Signa]

And that IS as easily said as done--budget more effectively or work more hours at your job.

Aaaand I tuned out right about here. Dude, you have no clue. My brother almost got written up for clocking in 2 minutes early because his employer didn't want to pay him any overtime.

I'm quite aware that can happen. You're supposed to get permission from your employer. If you can't, budget more effectively. If your budget is already perfectly optimized and you still can't afford the game, you have bigger issues to worry about than playing games--you need more income. Here's the most important thing:

Satisfying your desire to play a game is simply not as important as paying the developer for its work, and you have no right to play a game unless you pay the owner whatever price it has decided to charge.

That's assuming they even deserve to be paid. I don't know how you'd be able to say that with a straight face when discussing Grass Simulator or Air Control.

If you're willing to play them, you should be willing to pay for them.

That's a cop-out answer and you know it.

You're not even trying to have a discussion, are you? Fine. I'm done. You can tell yourself that you've won the argument.

Puhleeese! You were done hours ago. This whole time you've been spewing idealism as if it is the only answer in your perfect little world. I'm sorry, but piracy wouldn't exist if this was your perfect world, because every game would be worth buying, and everyone would have money to buy them with!

 

[Teoes]

Well.. this game needed all of 5 seconds to sink its hooks into me. I'm just cursing the fact that in 2 nights' worth of scavenging I've still not managed to gather enough materials for an improved metal workshop.

buyitbuyitbuyitbuyit

 

[EyeReaper]

So you're prefer to be wrong in an echo chamber than figure out how to be right?

You're assuming that he's wrong and you're right. Not necessarily the case.

He's wrong for acting like this is a bad thing. That's wrong enough. He's taking a win-win situation and saying that one side isn't winning enough because reasons. You seem to be pretty close to his camp, given that you seem to think those steps are as easy said as done. Hell, why spend any of your free time gaming? You could be looking for more jobs and making more money so that you'll never have to think about piracy again!

Look, you're all glossing over the important points here: Whether you are able to afford the game is irrelevant. The pirates decided that either they are too poor to purchase this game at all, or they didn't budget wisely, and piracy gets them what they were wanting, even if they are short of funds. This measure by 11-bit makes sure that those people who do have the funds now know where to allocate their next batch. 11-bit wins, the pirates won, and anyone else left isn't worth the time considering. The ONLY thing I'm left wondering is if those keys went to people that actually should have had them. I think it would be shitty if either you or I ended up with them because we would have bought it.

I'm really not seeing the "win-win" scenario here. The pirates get 10 free copies of a game, the developers lose ten sales. I mean hell, this even goes against the "Pirating is good because if they like the game, they'll buy it" mentality, because why would anyone buy a game they now legally own anyways?

I consider pirates and piracy something of a force of nature. They are going to be there whether you're yelling at them, beating them senseless or giving your shit out for free. I can't be bothered to get mad about them, and I feel like few others here are either. Keeping with the force of nature analogy, this measure is like knocking out windows before a hurricane. It sucks, but it's the best way to weather the storm.

I'm sorry but this attitude is terrible. The internet is a writhing faceless mob, yes, but each human has emotions and some semblance of morality, the same can't be said for a hurricane. I'll agree that there's no way to really stop pirating outside of some big bad SOPA thing getting passed, but try replacing "Pirates and piracy" with word like Cyber-harassment or Death threat tweets. Just because the internet is a playground with no rules doesn't mean we should just shrug our shoulders and go "meh. Can't stop them, whatevs"

 

[CrystalShadow]

Well, that's a commendable attitude really...

What you have to remember is creators (even ones of commercial works) aren't always in it for money alone. No doubt they wish to be able to make a living from their work, but sometimes they also would like for people to be able to see and appreciate it. It can be more than just a product or a means to make money, after all...
An artist doesn't nessesarily create art because it will make them money...