Warez

[Looney1a]

I want to know, who here uses warez. I for one do not, I know you can *never* be caught, but i just think it isn't right. So let's have it, who is for and against warez. This is a subject my friend and I have been debating on for a while.

To warez, or not to warez, that, is the question! (did I get that right?)

Looney

 

[Need4Speed]

I'm not going to vote on this, because I don't agree with the poll title "Is it right to use warez, rather than buying the game?"

Of course it is not right...but is it also right to charge $60.00 per game in some cases? How about $200.00 for an OS?

I know this is going to turn into "the chicken or the egg" thing since people will argue tha the reason software is so expensice is because of piracy...and I'd rather not get into that.

With that, I've used it....do I think its right? No. Does that make me a hypocrit? more than likely, but that's life

 

[Anubis]

this will be locked

 

[Need4Speed]

I don't see why this would get locked. It's a legitimate question after all.

 

[JackBurton]

but is it also right to charge $60.00 per game in some cases? How about $200.00 for an OS?

Just because you think they charge too much doesn't mean you HAVE to buy it.

 

[Need4Speed]

youre right, which is why i didnt want to get into this debate...its definately a catch22. It's not as black and white as some people make it out to be. Yes warez is stealing...it's not 'right'...but what we have to keep in mind is this:

most people that warez wouldn't buy the software in the first place...thus, it's not money lost, becuase the money would never have been there in the first place. There is a huge difference between the casual copier and the what goes on in Asia. That's where all the money is lost, mass copying and distribution of software. In many cases to legit businesses.

Joe Average doesn't even measure on that scale. I could care less if someone copies the latest game "xxx" that is their business. What eats me, is the "holier than thou" attitude of so many people. I would find it hard to believe that those people have never done something slightly illegal. And why are they on this personal crusade?

If we lived our lives according to their creedo, wouldn't overclocking be illegal too? You are stealing MHZ that you didn't actually pay for?

 

[Looney1a]

Need4Speed has a good point, Joe Average does not make a difference. But what if every Joe Average out there got their software illeagly, then what would happen? Although this is unlikely, when is enough ... enough?

"Of course it is not right...but is it also right to charge $60.00 per game in some cases? How about $200.00 for an OS?" You have a good point, so then this makes me think, which is the lesser of the two evils, paying heaps of money or stealing it? So this brings me back to my first statement - is it right to use warez, rather than buying the game?

Looney

 

[Sunner]

Joe Average doesn't even measure on that scale. I could care less if someone copies the latest game "xxx" that is their business. What eats me, is the "holier than thou" attitude of so many people. I would find it hard to believe that those people have never done something slightly illegal. And why are they on this personal crusade?

I definately agree on that point.

I don't buy much software, but that's mostly cause most productivity software I use, I use on Linux, and Linux software tends to be free.

Games...there are so few good games coming out these days that I typically buy the few games I like, so I'd say Im pretty honest in this respect, but the "holier than thou" attitude is definately annoying.
I suppose the people that keeps throwing it around never drive too fast or walk across red lights either

 

[Nothinman]

most people that warez wouldn't buy the software in the first place...

With a lot of software that's true, I know I would never buy LightWave but it was sure interesting to play with, but with games it's another story. Sure noone is going to buy every game that's released that they think would be cool, but if there was no way to pirate the game at all I bet a large number of them would buy atleast 1/3 of them, maybe even 1/2.

You have a good point, so then this makes me think, which is the lesser of the two evils, paying heaps of money or stealing it?

How do you decide if it's really 'heaps of money'. You have no idea how much work it takes to make a complete game or OS.

 

[Need4Speed]

With a lot of software that's true, I know I would never buy LightWave but it was sure interesting to play with, but with games it's another story. Sure noone is going to buy every game that's released that they think would be cool, but if there was no way to pirate the game at all I bet a large number of them would buy atleast 1/3 of them, maybe even 1/2.

I'd agree with that 100%. The other problem I see is this, and again it's a grey area catch22...

Let's say I buy a game, but then one of two things can happen:
1. I hate the game: Now am stuck with it since too many stores no longer take back open box software in order to cut down on the copy and return trick
2. I meet the system requirements, but lets say my sound card bombs out everytime I launch the game. Again I'm stuck with it for the same reason as number 1.

Both reasons are valid in my book for returning a game. I know I know...I can get store credit in most places, but let's face it...how often do I buy something at CrapUSA that I can use the credit towards. Now I have 60.00 tied up in store credit that could take me months to use up and/or until another game comes out that I like. Not a viable solution in my book.

Thus, I often use the demo or a warez copy of a game to decide whether I will buy it or not. Yes, I'm sure that's an excuse used to justify warez quite often, but for some peeps its actually the truth.

Bottom line, there is no way I see to avoid these kind of situations...not until software is hack proof (which it never will) AND I have the option to return it if not up to my liking. That way I would not feel locked into my purchse...but the software companies can be assured that i didnt copy it. Too much of a perfect world scenario

 

[Nothinman]

Let's say I buy a game, but then one of two things can happen:
1. I hate the game: Now am stuck with it since too many stores no longer take back open box software in order to cut down on the copy and return trick
2. I meet the system requirements, but lets say my sound card bombs out everytime I launch the game. Again I'm stuck with it for the same reason as number 1.

What was the last game that didn't have a demo available somewhere? Technical problems like the 2nd should be resolved by contacting technical support, you purchased the game so you're more than entitled to whine and b!tch if it doesn't work as advertised.

Bottom line, there is no way I see to avoid these kind of situations...not until software is hack proof (which it never will) AND I have the option to return it if not up to my liking

I agree there should be some form of return policy for cash, but it's difficult to justify when it's so easy to buy/burn/return or even just buy it, beat it in 2 days and return it.

That way I would not feel locked into my purchse

Funny how noone seems 'locked' into their purchase of Windows ;p

 

[CTho9305]

I'm not going to shell out $50-60 for a game that may be complete junk. There are three ways to get around this issue.
1. Play it on a friend's computer
2. "Try before you buy". But if you continue to use it, BUY! Yes, this is illegal.
3. Wait until it is cheap. Unfortunately, games aren't dropping in price as fast as they used to. But you can still find some pretty fun games at EB/mediaplay/best buy for $10-15

 

[Need4Speed]

agree there should be some form of return policy for cash, but it's difficult to justify when it's so easy to buy/burn/return or even just buy it, beat it in 2 days and return it.

which is why I mentioned that software needs to be for the most part 100% hackproof, or we wil be right back to where we started.


Youre right about the demos...most of the are available. I'm gonna reach on this one... But SOFII for example the demo was crippled in that Full Gore mode was not available...I said I was reaching

By no means am I a saint, nor am I a proponent of warez...I'm just man enough to say "YES! I have used warez, and I dont feel bad about it"

As for windows .... that's why I purchased it...of course I rarely use it because all my boxes run/dual boot linux.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

agree there should be some form of return policy for cash, but it's difficult to justify when it's so easy to buy/burn/return or even just buy it, beat it in 2 days and return it.

which is why I mentioned that software needs to be for the most part 100% hackproof, or we wil be right back to where we started.


Youre right about the demos...most of the are available. I'm gonna reach on this one... But SOFII for example the demo was crippled in that Full Gore mode was not available...I said I was reaching

By no means am I a saint, nor am I a proponent of warez...I'm just man enough to say "YES! I have used warez, and I dont feel bad about it"

As for windows .... that's why I purchased it...of course I rarely use it because all my boxes run/dual boot linux.

You want palladium? That's the only reasonable way we have to secure software for now. As long as the hardware is not secured, software CANNOT be made uncrackable. Even with palladium, odds are good that within a couple years most of its "security" will have been worked around.

 

[Need4Speed]

I never said I wanted it

 

[ElDonAntonio]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

You have a good point, so then this makes me think, which is the lesser of the two evils, paying heaps of money or stealing it?

How do you decide if it's really 'heaps of money'. You have no idea how much work it takes to make a complete game or OS.

In the case of Microsoft, I guess it would be safe to assume they manage to make a small profit...

 

[DaveSimmons]

If I don't like the price of a game, I wait until it drops to a price I'm willing to pay -- saying you steal becuase "60.00 is too much" isn't a good excuse since in a few months (sometimes weeks) it will be $40 and next year it will be $20.

If I'm not sure I'll like a game, I play the demo first, and wait for the reviews after it's released, to see if it's a dog like Heroes 4.

It's not too hard to be ethical in your game-playing if you don't delude yourself into thinking you "need" or have "a right" to play games the day they are released.

 

[Nothinman]

In the case of Microsoft, I guess it would be safe to assume they manage to make a small profit...

Of course they do, how else would they fund future projects. But they sell a lot of products, not just an OS. I.E. Windows (2000 Pro, Server, Adv Server, Datacenter Server and XP, Office Standard, Office Pro, Office Dev,, ISA Server, SQL, etc. So a little profit from each license can add up quite quickly.

 

[ElDonAntonio]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

In the case of Microsoft, I guess it would be safe to assume they manage to make a small profit...

Of course they do, how else would they fund future projects. But they sell a lot of products, not just an OS. I.E. Windows (2000 Pro, Server, Adv Server, Datacenter Server and XP, Office Standard, Office Pro, Office Dev,, ISA Server, SQL, etc. So a little profit from each license can add up quite quickly.

I meant I wouldn't feel bad at all installing Windows on 4 computers at home with only one license, or copying a Windows CD from a friend, considering the huge amounts of money MS makes and the monopoly they have on the industry. I would feel really bad though to download illegally a program some student made and asked 10$ to use it. In the middle, you have a lot of software companies, among which you're right that we can't assume they make "heaps of cash".

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

If I download a game instead of buying it first, I'll play it to see if I like it. No demo bullshiznit. If I don't like it, it gets uninstalled. If I do like it, I buy it.

nik

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

In the case of Microsoft, I guess it would be safe to assume they manage to make a small profit...

Of course they do, how else would they fund future projects. But they sell a lot of products, not just an OS. I.E. Windows (2000 Pro, Server, Adv Server, Datacenter Server and XP, Office Standard, Office Pro, Office Dev,, ISA Server, SQL, etc. So a little profit from each license can add up quite quickly.

Well, comething like 70% of MS's profits come from Office and Windows.

 

[Nothinman]

Well, comething like 70% of MS's profits come from Office and Windows.

I don't doubt it, but I would bet over 50% of that 70% comes from Office. There are a lot more pirated copies of Windows out there than there are Office.

 

[DimZiE]

even though pirated software is very cheap in my country (WinXP Pro is only 2$)

i still think that programmers should be compensated for all their hard work..
so i'll stick to licensed software...

 

[BFG10K]

I can't believe how many people voted for "yes". If one of you guys just purchased a car and someone stole it would you vote "yes" in a "is it OK to steal cars rather than buying them" poll?

Of course it is not right...but is it also right to charge $60.00 per game in some cases? How about $200.00 for an OS?

The developer owns the software so they have every right to charge whatever they want for it. You don't have a say in the matter (other than indirectly by not buying the software), nor do you have the right to download an illegal version.

 

[rh71]

Take this for example. UT2k3 can be had for less than $35 and anybody who liked it but warezing it is just simply a cheap bastard. I am buying it as soon as funds become available (closing on a house soon). Warezing in the meantime. I think the developers deserve every bit of their share of the $35. It is worth it, because it's not the full $50 price most other games are.