Is piracy a serious issue for game developers?

[The Persian]

It's easy to get a wide variety of D&D books and printed materials with programs available from your neighborhood Google engine, but the question arises, has this had a real impact on the profits or quality of materials produced for either Wizards or any other gaming companies?

 

[The Cardinal]

...now where's my asbestos robe?...

 

[The Persian]

...now where's my asbestos robe?...

I'm sorry, is that related to gaming, is it a term to alienate or degrade someone? If my question seemed odd or offense, my apologies, it was not meant to be so in any way. Nor was it to enlighten/inform anyone of these facts. I figured piracy was a widely known and large enough problem as it, and especially to the educated folks of this forum, that i wouldn't be rattling anyone's nerves by posting this.

 

[MonsterMash]

My feeling is not that great an impact with some sales lost but not many - generally people who download stuff either go one of two routes:
1. will not pay for material full stop so you would never get a sale to them

2. will buy some original materials using electronic copies as either samplers or supplemental versions where content can be cut and pasted into dm's notes

 

[Morrus]

I certainly can't see it affecting a larger print publisher like WotC to any noticeable degree. There's a strong case that it hurts the small PDF publishers, though - although many people will argue that it doesn't. It can't be definitively proved either way.

And now the moderation warning -- we all know how these piracy threads go, and we all know what each other is going to say (and who's going to say it). Because we're so used to them, I don't feel the need to give warnings. There will be zero tolerance in this thread for insults, snipes and the like.

 

[Morrus]

I'm sorry, is that related to gaming, is it a term to alienate or degrade someone? If my question seemed odd or offense, my apologies, it was not meant to be so in any way. Nor was it to enlighten/inform anyone of these facts. I figured piracy was a widely known and large enough problem as it, and especially to the educated folks of this forum, that i wouldn't be rattling anyone's nerves by posting this.

No, he's just alluding to the inevitable flame war that this topic will cause. It's one of those subjects that people get very impassioned about.

 

[hong]

To forestall the flames, I suggest we all speak like a pirate in piracy threads. What could be more appropriate? Yarrr!


Hong "not y4rrr!" Ooi

 

[The Persian]

I certainly can't see it affecting a larger print publisher like WotC to any noticeable degree. There's a strong case that it hurts the small PDF publishers, though - although many people will argue that it doesn't. It can't be definitively proved either way.

And now the moderation warning -- we all know how these piracy threads go, and we all know what each other is going to say (and who's going to say it). Because we're so used to them, I don't feel the need to give warnings. There will be zero tolerance in this thread for insults, snipes and the like.

I'm not sure how these piracy threads have fared in the past (new guy), perhaps you can tell me a sample of what has happened?

Most often, i've seen it as a case of "backups" as someone said, I would liken it to an "expanded SRD" if you will (albeit the point of the SRD is to emphasize quickness of reference) and although it still would be illegal to own a PDF of the PHB all the while owning the physical book, I personally don't have qualms as long as they alone have access to it.

 

[jaerdaph]

IAnd now the moderation warning -- we all know how these piracy threads go, and we all know what each other is going to say (and who's going to say it). Because we're so used to them, I don't feel the need to give warnings. There will be zero tolerance in this thread for insults, snipes and the like.

And with that said, do we *really* need another one?

If it's easier for people, I can just use the search function and cut and paste the usual suspects' standard responses if you like.

 

[Morrus]

And with that said, do we *really* need another one?

The people who have been involved in the past ones certainly don't need a new one. Some newer people and those that have somehow missed out on the piracy threads in the past may get some use out of one, though.

Although, it may well be easier just to link to the last few versions. There was one just about a week ago if I recall correctly?