Re: PC Games Sales - Has it really been that bad?
This might sound controversial, but it's a completely different view on the matter...
Piracy is a problem of all times and it will be a problem of all times. The problem is that the game industry, or even software industry, as a whole is only increasing the problem. Every single "protection" method puts the burden on those who really purchase the software and the burden is getting bigger every year.
From the constant nagging "do you really have a valid copy? Let's do another check" all the way to spyware like methods of installing as a Ring-0 kernel mode driver disabling all kinds of stuff that people might actually need.
Those who run the pirated copies do not experience that crap and simply laugh at those who have bought the software and have to go through all the hassle. And then the industry is surprised that people stop buying and start copying...
I also believe the industry likes to exaggerate the piracy problem. After all, it's the easiest victim when sales have fallen. I can find plenty of reasons: games are no longer exclusive to the PC, you need new hardware at an ever increasing pace, more mediocre games, life has become more expensive and games are luxury products,...
I'm quite sure consoles will go the same route as publishers seem to think it's less of a problem there. The more they go for the easy console money, the higher the chance of piracy becoming a real problem there too. And then we're back at a levelled playing field...
|