POLL: Cracked games or Paid games?

[Fungie]

Personally - a balance of both :> but seriously as a Mac user, do u have more cracked games than paid games on ur comp?

+++ And why is it that suddenly out of nowhere cracked games/apps users are frowned upon? It's not like economically we are all doing so well

 

[Sijmen]

I pay for all of my software, games, music, movies and books. If it's not worth the money it's probably not worth the time either.

 

[brad.c]

Paid.

And why is it that suddenly out of nowhere cracked games/apps users are frowned upon? It's not like economically we are all doing so well

Which is why some of my apps/hardware doesn't get upgraded as quickly.

 

[iPhoneNYC]

I think the great part about the app store is that the apps are generally quite inexpensive and there is a huge selection. For free to a couple of bucks one can try something out. It's these couple of bucks that keep people/companies working on new stuff or upgrading the original. so I gladly pay.

 

[andalusia]

uhh generally my programs are cracked, but I don't have anyway of paying for programs without my parents paypal or bank accounts, and they would be pretty annoyed everytime I came asking for their accounts just for programs which costs >£10. Game-wise, they're all cracked too. Uh... I guess I'm just a bad person

 

[velocityg4]

I pay for all of my games. Then I run the available cracks on them so I don't have to stick the discs in the DVD drive, nor have an internet connection running to play a single player game. Once the games are installed I like to pack the boxes out of the way.

+++ And why is it that suddenly out of nowhere cracked games/apps users are frowned upon? It's not like economically we are all doing so well

There are freeware apps as alternative to the commercial ones like open office and gimp. There are also freeware games so your economic status is not really an excuse. You could also buy 5+ year old games that run for $10 or less. I just bought the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time trilogy for $20 for my PC and it is great fun.

Anyways if ones economic status is not so great then the computer they could afford should only be able to run 5+ year old games and older professional programs.

 

[Fungie]

Anyways if ones economic status is not so great then the computer they could afford should only be able to run 5+ year old games and older professional programs.

ah it's not an excuse of course but back 2 years ago cracked games/apps and music videos flooded the internet - now it's like a forbidden subject

uhh generally my programs are cracked, but I don't have anyway of paying for programs without my parents paypal or bank accounts, and they would be pretty annoyed everytime I came asking for their accounts just for programs which costs >£10. Game-wise, they're all cracked too. Uh... I guess I'm just a bad person

I have nearly the same prob. I live in both UK + SEA and all apps that I have in the UK that goes online won't play in Asia, can't even get access to apps online/offline from here payments aren't accepted so I don't feel bad for using cracked apps ^^

 

[0098386]

Paid. I have about 55 games on Steam, 15 DS, 13 PSP, 20 Wii, 40 Xbox 360, 25 GBA, 25 GB. And whole load of boxed PC games (not downloads like Steam).

+++ And why is it that suddenly out of nowhere cracked games/apps users are frowned upon? It's not like economically we are all doing so well

Because developers need money too?
I don't look at games as something I'm entitled to. They're something I buy when I have the money so I only buy games I know I'm going to like.

 

[Fungie]

Because developers need money too?
I don't look at games as something I'm entitled to. They're something I buy when I have the money so I only buy games I know I'm going to like.

I buy them when I like them - but imo demos are rip offs, lots of full game only adds very little from the demo and since renting from blockbuster is outta the question for mac games there's little options left but to play the cracked apps and buy once u see an app u like - not a win win situation?

 

[Eraserhead]

And why is it that suddenly out of nowhere cracked games/apps users are frowned upon? It's not like economically we are all doing so well

Because software developers aren't doing any better than anyone else either . Its especially bad if you are using cracked software from smaller software houses (i.e. not MS, Apple, Adobe) and unlike music you can't even go to live concerts to "pay back" the creators.

 

[0098386]

I buy them when I like them - but imo demos are rip offs, lots of full game only adds very little from the demo and since renting from blockbuster is outta the question for mac games there's little options left but to play the cracked apps and buy once u see an app u like - not a win win situation?

Nope, demo's contain only a small portion of the finished game. Go onto Xbox Live, Steam, Bigdownload.com or check out any demo ever.

And if all these pirates decided they liked my games then I'd be a millionaire by now but instead I'm struggling to make ends meet.

 

[Rodus]

Both, cracked and paid but if it's a game I really like and will play more then once then chances are I'll buy it e.g. I downloaded Dawn of War, played it for a day and the next day ordered the complete boxset.

 

[John Jacob]

Only paid games on my computer. I am a software developer by profession, and I believe cracking games would be stealing my brother and sister software developers out of their livelihood. However,

• I also have free games. If a software developer chooses to release their software for free, I see nothing wrong in downloading and using it. And I would consider making a donation if I like and use their software a lot. Which reminds me, I should make donations for both Quinn and Pac the Man X.
• When I buy software, I buy it from the cheapest possible source (Amazon.com). I prefer to get the best deal possible.

 

[Zion21]

Only paid games on my computer. I am a software developer by profession, and I believe cracking games would be stealing my brother and sister software developers out of their livelihood. However,

• I also have free games. If a software developer chooses to release their software for free, I see nothing wrong in downloading and using it. And I would consider making a donation if I like and use their software a lot. Which reminds me, I should make donations for both Quinn and Pac the Man X.
• When I buy software, I buy it from the cheapest possible source (Amazon.com). I prefer to get the best deal possible.

Same, why pay more for software when its all the same. Thats why i usually stick with amazon too.

 

[Hellhammer]

I always buy my games, because I'm a console games (PS3 FTW).

For software, I download the trial from company's site and then insert the serial which I found from net. No possibility of trojans in my method

 

[Signal-11]

Pirated =/= Cracked

Every one of my games has been paid for. Just counting the ones I have immediate access to, that's over a 100 games between just my Steam account, PSP, DS and Mac.

Except for the games on my Steam account, every PC/Mac game is cracked. Copy protection and media checks are completely asinine. You mean if I left the CD/DVD at home back in the states, I can't play this game at all? WTF? I bought your game, why are you punishing me with this crap?

Every PSP and DS game, on my HD. I copy onto memory sticks to play. All paid for, but by broad definition, all "cracked." I don't get to go home for 6-9 months at a time. I'm not carrying 20-30 UMDs and 20-30 carts with me.

Cracking and hacking is not pirating.

 

[Airforcekid]

The only time I used cracks is if theres no demo and not a good review etc if I like it I wind up buying it since cracks always lockup etc not worth it!

 

[0098386]

Every one of my games has been paid for. Just counting the ones I have immediate access to, that's over a 100 games between just my Steam account, PSP, DS and Mac.

Except for the games on my Steam account, every PC/Mac game is cracked. Copy protection and media checks are completely asinine. You mean if I left the CD/DVD at home back in the states, I can't play this game at all? WTF? I bought your game, why are you punishing me with this crap?

Every PSP and DS game, on my HD. I copy onto memory sticks to play. All paid for, but by broad definition, all "cracked." I don't get to go home for 6-9 months at a time. I'm not carrying 20-30 UMDs and 20-30 carts with me.

Cracking and hacking is not pirating.

That's okay in a way (especially for the PSP since games load faster and use less battery life), but the problem is where a few of us will be using hacked firmwares and backup devices (which are illegal themselves, btw) there are thousands that are using them to avoid paying developers for their efforts.
Although as a traveler myself I've never been in a situation where a collection of postage sized DS games or a minidisc sized PSP games has been a problem.

 

[King Mook Mook]

Only paid games on my computer. I am a software developer by profession, and I believe cracking games would be stealing my brother and sister software developers out of their livelihood. However,

• I also have free games. If a software developer chooses to release their software for free, I see nothing wrong in downloading and using it. And I would consider making a donation if I like and use their software a lot. Which reminds me, I should make donations for both Quinn and Pac the Man X.
• When I buy software, I buy it from the cheapest possible source (Amazon.com). I prefer to get the best deal possible.

Same here (not so much the developing part), but it's really annoying (I live in Australia) how Amazon never ship here to Australia. It is also annoying how all of the retailers here in Australia over price the games and apps!

 

[Eraserhead]

or software, I download the trial from company's site and then insert the serial which I found from net. No possibility of trojans in my method

But then you are actually stealing it, as you are costing them money to distribute it to you.

Every one of my games has been paid for. Just counting the ones I have immediate access to, that's over a 100 games between just my Steam account, PSP, DS and Mac.

Except for the games on my Steam account, every PC/Mac game is cracked. Copy protection and media checks are completely asinine. You mean if I left the CD/DVD at home back in the states, I can't play this game at all? WTF? I bought your game, why are you punishing me with this crap?

Every PSP and DS game, on my HD. I copy onto memory sticks to play. All paid for, but by broad definition, all "cracked." I don't get to go home for 6-9 months at a time. I'm not carrying 20-30 UMDs and 20-30 carts with me.

Cracking and hacking is not pirating.

I see your point, there is definitely a difference there. I was assuming by cracking the OP meant games that weren't paid for.

Same here (not so much the developing part), but it's really annoying (I live in Australia) how Amazon never ship here to Australia. It is also annoying how all of the retailers here in Australia over price the games and apps!

The same is true in the UK for software - especially Creative Suite . Though on the other hand books are cheaper in the UK than almost anywhere else.

 

[Signal-11]

That's okay in a way (especially for the PSP since games load faster and use less battery life), but the problem is where a few of us will be using hacked firmwares and backup devices (which are illegal themselves, btw) there are thousands that are using them to avoid paying developers for their efforts.

What would you argue is illegal? Under US doctrine, I would argue that everything I've done is clearly within fair use. The DRM breaking, you might have a case but no court in the world will convict me for what I've done.

Although as a traveler myself I've never been in a situation where a collection of postage sized DS games or a minidisc sized PSP games has been a problem.

I live out of a backpack and a duffel bag. Space is at a premium. Like I said, 6-9 months on average, but sometimes I'll think I'm going out for a couple weeks but it ends up being as long as a year or more before I see home. In that time, I'll have hit several countries and continents.

So yeah, 12 UMD in a tough case, that's a lot of space. Postage stamped sized carts? I've lost more than I can count.

I don't expect this to be the general case in terms of applicability but I also know that I'm not unique.

 

[Zortrium]

uhh generally my programs are cracked, but I don't have anyway of paying for programs without my parents paypal or bank accounts, and they would be pretty annoyed everytime I came asking for their accounts just for programs which costs >£10. Game-wise, they're all cracked too. Uh... I guess I'm just a bad person

Then get a job. If it's 'just for programs' that aren't important, then you don't need them. If they're important, then pay the developers for creating the software that you seem to feel you're entitled to (you're not).

My view on piracy is simple -- if it's worth the money, then pay for it. If it's not worth the money, then don't pay for it and don't use it -- I've seen lots of people that like the view that if it's too expensive and/or not worth the money, they just pirate it. This makes no sense at all if you employ a bit of elementary logic.

My one exception to this is regarding really old games that are no longer sold by the publisher. Usually the only way to get them is to either download or buy a used copy from someone who is more often then not trying to gouge people by charging 3x the original list price. No thanks -- software doesn't get more valuable simply because it's old or hard to find.

I also have no problem with breaking copy protection for games I already own. I almost always go looking for no-cd patches for my games, since (as several posters have already noted) always having to put in a disc for a game I legally paid for while pirates have a more convenient time of it is really irritating.

 

[MrBean]

The only time I get a cracked/hacked game is if there is no demo for it and I am not sure it will run on my system.

Like COD4, according to Aspyr I am under the min specs (which doesn't always mean anything) but there was no demo at all. So I DL the hacked version, installed it and noticed it runs damn nicely. So I went out that night and bought it at Best Buy.

 

[TJRiver]

I buy them when I like them - but imo demos are rip offs, lots of full game only adds very little from the demo and since renting from blockbuster is outta the question for mac games there's little options left but to play the cracked apps and buy once u see an app u like - not a win win situation?

BECAUSE IT IS STEALING, GENIUS. ASK MOMMY & DADDY ABOUT TAKING THINGS WITHOUT PAYING FOR THEM. Buying the game later on does not magically "cure" your initial theft of the program.

 

[Brad Oliver]

Like COD4, according to Aspyr I am under the min specs (which doesn't always mean anything) but there was no demo at all.

What are the specs of your Mac?