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Quote of the day by Gabe Newell: "Piracy is not a pricing issue. It’s a service issue" — Sony just proved why digital storefronts are broken (www.windowscentral.com)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 23 points 2 months ago (6 children)

I think a thing this highlights is a moral line. With piracy now being easier and ubiquitous, and a clear alternative to orgs monopolizing and ignoring their user base. I think the one thing they are overlooking is the moment someone does it once. The moment they install something like stremio and realise how effortless it is the org has lost a user. Not even because of cost, but because they have taken advantage of the user...so its fair game to take advantage back.

I used to eat MacDonald's...usually took the kids say fortnightly, and one day i just didn't because it got crap and expensive. One you step over the line and they lose you, they lose you.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    I used to pirate, don't anymore.

    1. I was young, it was convenient, and satisfying. Eventually, I relented to the idea that I was doing it more for personal reward than for any kind of "fuck the establishment" message.
    2. I got a good-paying job, and felt the satisfaction of buying a good game on sale with my own money.
    3. I still maintain, as do most people, that tons of publishers are scummy and anti-consumer, but I also built more positivity towards developers that don't exhibit such behaviors.

    Even if Steam were to somehow go down for a month, by now I've learned about other storefronts and methods of purchase that provide a place to move to. There's a devoted centrism to the way people consume most media franchises that basically guarantees they can flip prices to infinity, control purchases, and never suffer consequences, and piracy absolutely feeds into that; helping them to paint themselves as victims to policymakers while they rake it in.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    The thing about piracy is that it's not a binary choice. Personally, I think there are times that it is unethical. But if you already paid for it, and then publisher takes away your right to consume it, then I have no ethical qualms with pirating that media. If the publisher puts an account-linking requirement or requires any sort of internet connection to play, or some sort of invasive DRM that impacts your ability to play or enjoy that media, or removes or paywalls features, etc., I have no problem with pirating that media. If the publisher no longer makes it available for purchase, whether at all, or simply in your region, I have no problem with pirating that media.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    Yeah, I have no issues with that as a solution to wholly broken purchases. I think those are incredibly rare though, even among digital games.

    I do think a lot of Denuvo’s opponents tend to exaggerate its effects on the game’s playability, when the findings regarding cracked copies have leaned different directions in performance depending on testing method. Most people can play Denuvo games no problem, even offline.

    Online requirements I certainly sympathize more with if it’s a game you like. I enjoy Hitman WoA, and wish other people would try it, but a fair few avoided it for the online requirement. I hope for legislation that ensures, someday when IOI is packing up its last employee and shutting off servers, they can also hand out the keys to an offline mode. But legislation like that (eg, SKG) doesn’t come about from pirating. It takes effort and vocalization.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago

    I do think a lot of Denuvo’s opponents tend to exaggerate its effects on the game’s playability

    They don't. There are in-depth analyses confirming it's effects published all over the web.

    Most people can play Denuvo games no problem, even offline

    I tried to play one last week (someone in my family purchased it) and it did not work offline. Very big problem, and not acceptable.

    if it’s a game you like

    Doesn't matter if you like it or not, it's never acceptable.

    someday when IOI is packing up its last employee and shutting off servers, they can also hand out the keys to an offline mode

    LOL sure they can, but they usually don't. There are decade-old games at this point with Denuvo still active .

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago*

    I was traveling across the us without a car about a year ago. Long story. Was stranded, pulling a long night til the next bus instead of sleeping rough. Only place to get fluids nearby was a McDonalds.

    It was painfully expensive, and genuinely felt like I was being fucked with and screwed over when I ordered. I just wanted a cup full of caffeinated sugar-water and someplace warm to sit. It sucked so fucking much. It was fucking unpleasant. Eventually I hydrated, pissed, and just left to wait outside for the last few hours.

    I looked through food. I couldn't justify paying those prices for that shit. It genuinely didn't seem like food prices. I couldn't. The next day I found a more reasonably priced 7/11.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago

    It's not only one user - people are talking and one guy finding out and learning about piracy can totally bring his friends to piracy, too. There is no downside to letting your friends stream from your jellyfin or to send that cracked copy to the guy from your soccer club

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