Comments on: How Badly Do You Want It? http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/ One geeks thoughts on the geekeries of the world. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:32:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mister Blithe http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41191 Mister Blithe Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:07:41 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41191 Your analogy of the infinite apples is insipid because it assumes it didn't cost anything to create those apples in the first place. If I have infinite apples but it cost me $1000 to produce that first apple that I could then copy, am I still a bad person who hates joy and freedom if I charge people for the apples? Remember too, if I have to spend my own money to create these apples, that means I have to also have a regular day job, which means I have less time to create other replicable fruits. I remember listening to your podcast episode about buying anime not being an act of charity or some such, where you guys said something about how you won't buy anime simply to support the people who make it. This is ironic, because what you are essentially saying here is that all acts of content creation should become acts of charity on the part of the creators; I pay money to produce a song or a videogame or whatever, and then I give it away for free because to do otherwise would be to hate joy. Your analogy of the infinite apples is insipid because it assumes it didn’t cost anything to create those apples in the first place. If I have infinite apples but it cost me $1000 to produce that first apple that I could then copy, am I still a bad person who hates joy and freedom if I charge people for the apples? Remember too, if I have to spend my own money to create these apples, that means I have to also have a regular day job, which means I have less time to create other replicable fruits.

I remember listening to your podcast episode about buying anime not being an act of charity or some such, where you guys said something about how you won’t buy anime simply to support the people who make it. This is ironic, because what you are essentially saying here is that all acts of content creation should become acts of charity on the part of the creators; I pay money to produce a song or a videogame or whatever, and then I give it away for free because to do otherwise would be to hate joy.

]]> By: Brian Anson http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41146 Brian Anson Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:47:10 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41146 You talk about "what is right and good." What is "right and good" is not taking something that doesn't belong to you. I agree with what Commo is saying. A video game is not essential to life. Its not even essential for happiness. Just because you don't have the money for it doesn't mean that its right for you to go and take it. Your argument is about digital distribution, but you could apply your logic to anything. I could walk into Best Buy, see a game there and say, "I don't have the money to try this game, so I'm just going to take." Why do you think that one is wrong and not the other? Again, games publishers need to make money if they're going to stay in business. They don't have "infinite apples." There is a limit to their resources, and if those run out then their won't be any more games. Is it really better for a game to come out, and then there can't be any more games after that? And they should make money. They should be paid for their work. Answer this question honestly, how would you feel if you had to work and then not get paid for it? I'm guessing that you're going to have a negative resonse to that, so why would you do it to someone else? You talk about “what is right and good.” What is “right and good” is not taking something that doesn’t belong to you. I agree with what Commo is saying. A video game is not essential to life. Its not even essential for happiness. Just because you don’t have the money for it doesn’t mean that its right for you to go and take it. Your argument is about digital distribution, but you could apply your logic to anything. I could walk into Best Buy, see a game there and say, “I don’t have the money to try this game, so I’m just going to take.” Why do you think that one is wrong and not the other? Again, games publishers need to make money if they’re going to stay in business. They don’t have “infinite apples.” There is a limit to their resources, and if those run out then their won’t be any more games. Is it really better for a game to come out, and then there can’t be any more games after that? And they should make money. They should be paid for their work. Answer this question honestly, how would you feel if you had to work and then not get paid for it? I’m guessing that you’re going to have a negative resonse to that, so why would you do it to someone else?

]]> By: Commo http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41030 Commo Fri, 01 May 2009 04:01:00 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41030 I agree with some of your points, but I won't go as far as to say that anti-piracy people are wrong. The makers of World of Goo are independents, who made the game with their money and time. If they want to make another game, they need to be compensated for World of Goo before that can happen. A 90% piracy rate is bad, because it means less money for them to use towards their next game. I'm not totally inclined to believe that all of that 90% would not have paid for the game if there was no piracy. If even 20% of them would have considered buying the game if there were no means to get it for free, then I think that is enough of a reason to eliminate the piracy. Especially if it means more funds going to their next game. As far as the pirates who would not have paid for it anyway, effectively "freeloaders", who cares about them? If they didn't care enough to pay for it, what makes them entitled to consume the product? A videogame or movie is not an apple, it is not going to affect their life in any way. If it would affect their life, well maybe they should consider paying. I'm sure the World of Goo makers don't give a shit about the freeloaders, they care about the people who may have paid if not given the alternative. Those are the people they are going to need if they want to make another game. Considering that World of Goo was a pretty good game, I think helping the designers gain the fund to make their next game is a more important than allowing a bunch of college kids get their next free fix. I agree with some of your points, but I won’t go as far as to say that anti-piracy people are wrong. The makers of World of Goo are independents, who made the game with their money and time. If they want to make another game, they need to be compensated for World of Goo before that can happen. A 90% piracy rate is bad, because it means less money for them to use towards their next game. I’m not totally inclined to believe that all of that 90% would not have paid for the game if there was no piracy. If even 20% of them would have considered buying the game if there were no means to get it for free, then I think that is enough of a reason to eliminate the piracy. Especially if it means more funds going to their next game.
As far as the pirates who would not have paid for it anyway, effectively “freeloaders”, who cares about them? If they didn’t care enough to pay for it, what makes them entitled to consume the product? A videogame or movie is not an apple, it is not going to affect their life in any way. If it would affect their life, well maybe they should consider paying. I’m sure the World of Goo makers don’t give a shit about the freeloaders, they care about the people who may have paid if not given the alternative. Those are the people they are going to need if they want to make another game. Considering that World of Goo was a pretty good game, I think helping the designers gain the fund to make their next game is a more important than allowing a bunch of college kids get their next free fix.

]]> By: Sail http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41025 Sail Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:58:39 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41025 Scott, you are the master of the analogy. Scott, you are the master of the analogy.

]]> By: Railith http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41024 Railith Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:37:51 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41024 I think the biggest issue with digital piracy is that people are still struggling to figure out exactly what their content is worth. A 90% piracy rate is a pricing problem and not a business problem. I think the biggest issue with digital piracy is that people are still struggling to figure out exactly what their content is worth. A 90% piracy rate is a pricing problem and not a business problem.

]]> By: Michael http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41023 Michael Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:09:03 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41023 Like most people of my generation, I did the whole piracy thing for awhile, but I've done it less and less lately. There are various reasons for this, one being the fact that more companies are allowing me to access the content in the way that I want, and also that I am in a better position to pay for what I want. I have also learned to accept the things that I cannot have in a world of limited resources. Of course there are only artificial limits on digital goods. What this argument ultimately comes down to is whether or not people are creating these things as a means of supporting themselves. If making a game is your only source of income, you want as many people to pay for it as possible. A pirated copy is a sale that you will must likely never have and it can not even really be considered marketing for the fact that most people who pirate usually continue to do so. So what we end up with are people who did something as a labor of love, but who will not be able to do so again. It comes down to how much did your apples cost you. As much as it is romanticized, the word piracy has a negative connotation. Sorry this has been sorta rambling, but I'm really tired and have to get ready for work, plus I was watching Gabe draw the latest comic on ustream. Feel free to pick out all of my weak points and I will hopefully be able to come back with a better argument. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all that is promised, everything else is up to the individual. Peace and congrats on the job get. Like most people of my generation, I did the whole piracy thing for awhile, but I’ve done it less and less lately. There are various reasons for this, one being the fact that more companies are allowing me to access the content in the way that I want, and also that I am in a better position to pay for what I want. I have also learned to accept the things that I cannot have in a world of limited resources. Of course there are only artificial limits on digital goods. What this argument ultimately comes down to is whether or not people are creating these things as a means of supporting themselves. If making a game is your only source of income, you want as many people to pay for it as possible. A pirated copy is a sale that you will must likely never have and it can not even really be considered marketing for the fact that most people who pirate usually continue to do so. So what we end up with are people who did something as a labor of love, but who will not be able to do so again. It comes down to how much did your apples cost you. As much as it is romanticized, the word piracy has a negative connotation. Sorry this has been sorta rambling, but I’m really tired and have to get ready for work, plus I was watching Gabe draw the latest comic on ustream. Feel free to pick out all of my weak points and I will hopefully be able to come back with a better argument. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all that is promised, everything else is up to the individual. Peace and congrats on the job get.

]]> By: Mike Schneider http://www.apreche.net/how-badly-do-you-want-it/comment-page-1/#comment-41021 Mike Schneider Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:39:57 +0000 http://www.apreche.net/?p=1063#comment-41021 Scott, do you think piracy should be legalized? Or do you think we should leave it the way it is now, but have the MAFIAA (www.mafiaa.org) stop trying to sue people? I agree with everything you've said here 100%, but I don't quite see what action, if any, you suggest we or our government take to change anything. Scott, do you think piracy should be legalized? Or do you think we should leave it the way it is now, but have the MAFIAA (www.mafiaa.org) stop trying to sue people? I agree with everything you’ve said here 100%, but I don’t quite see what action, if any, you suggest we or our government take to change anything.

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