UK trade group says piracy not a big issue
UK games trade group TIGA has polled its members on attitudes to piracy - and the results are surprising.
According to GamesIndustry.biz, 90 percent of TIGA members in the UK recognised piracy as a growing problem, but only 10 percent said that it was significant threat to the continued vitality of the industry.
Even more shocking was the fact that a 60 percent majority of the UK games industry does not believe piracy is something that represents a serious problem for developers and publishers.
Confronting the controversial issue of whether the games industry should seek government support and intervention in attacking pirates directly, the results came out as a tie - 50/50.
The results don't seem to be a one off either and match up nicely with a similar report in September.
"Developers are not complacent in dealing with this problem and are mostly seeking to find solutions for themselves rather than simply relying on the government to solve the problem of piracy." said TIGA CEO Richard Wilson.
Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplyThey're seeing the figures and associating a monetary figure to it.
If they want people to buy their games, then make better games and price them better (I'm looking at you MW2).
If piracy was impossible, I'd still bet that sales figures would remain similar to what they currently are now.
Money is not that elastic...
If the market isn't there to sell a million or two copies of a product, triple-A or not, then you're simply not going to sell a million or two copies. It would be interesting to know what impact piracy genuinely has on sales of such products, but I won't hold my breath for any honest assessment.
i say something like this.
piracy makes some games popular than ever..
then sequel to that game may be known by so many. and they will look forward for its appearance .
so it will be a most anticipated game for so many ppl..so sales also rise.
consider a cod game like modern warfare .how much pirated copies r there for cod game?
i say millions.
so it is well known game.so sequel to that will also be sold because of the pirated original ..fist game they get a pirated copy..second game they might get a legal copy..that also can happen....
On the other hand, piracy is used too often as a scapegoat for poor sales by publishers (and occasionally developers). It is good that TIGA is speaking out against this poor excuse. Developers, should stop complaining and make better games, rather than wasting their time complaining about pirates.
I'm sure we could stick the queens head on some large rubber bands.
People who pirated the first game will likely pirate the second game too. And hardly any pirate will buy a legal copy once they have a pirated one, to think they will is naive.
Agreed.
people who pirate everything probably wouldn't buy anyways.. think that's what they are realizing
Unfortunatly, It wasn't... So I have to steal it.
I think Steam's data regarding numbers of copies sold during their discount periods goes to show, if developers want to stunt piracy, price your games better, and make better games. Then.... Utilize platforms like steam.
i will probably download MW2, but i know im never going to buy that. their attitude to the pc version made that decision for me a while back.
Cool, just as well that it's not theft then isn't it?
Although I do download software (Not just games), it is on a "trial" basis. If the software has a *fully functional* time demo, then I get that. If it doesn't, I get a Pirated version. In *all* cases, if the software has been of use to me (Or I like the game), then I buy it. If not, It doesn't stay installed. I have no time or inclination to keep half-baked software on my PC, let alone pay for it.
Recent purchases influenced by Pirated software include CS4 (Yes, I paid full retail, albeit at the upgrae price, as I owned CS2 beforehand, and That was bought off the back of a pirated version too). Gameswise, I don't play much, but Bejewled for the missus, a few of the NFS series for me. All "trialled" with Pirated downloads. As a rough estimate, in the last 5 years (The time I have had access to a connection that actually let's me download anything), I would say that I have shelled out about 5K that I would NOT have parted with otherwise).
So, anyone saying that people who download pirated software don't buy it afterwards, can GTFO and stop using Carte Blanche statements. I know a lot of friends that work this way too.
Yes, it is that simple.
totaly agree! im the same but not really with the games! more software sides of things! if i like it i will then buy it if not then it goes! as you have said its as simple as that!
I try all sorts of shitty games that would cost full retail, most I play for under 30 minutes, and I'm glad I didn't pay for them. I also spend at least £2-300 a year on games and game related stuff (pc upgrades, dlc, console accessories).