Morpheus and DnD
- Thread starter JacktheRabbit
- Start date
The digital revolution can't be stopped. The genie is out of the bag. A new business model needs to be developed that embraces this free flow of information. I think whoever finds out what it is will be able to stake a nice juicy claim in the new industry.
You can't stop piracy. If Disney buys out enough politicians to get protection into hardware someone will just crack it a week after it's out. I just think that it's a shame that the big dinosaur corporations are kicking and screaming about this. If they would just accept it and find the best way to deal with it a new industry could form and the smaller companies wouldn't have to be the real victims of this intermediary period.
It's a shame that companies are harmed by piracy. It would be better if they could figure out how to profit most from it instead. It'll just take someone to think outside of the box a bit. Whoever pulls it off will K.O. Ted Turner and all of the other media lobbyists.
I think that this is just the awkward adolescent phase of the information age. Things still need to be straightened out, but trying to stop it all in a Luddite fashion is hardly the best solution. It's kind of like cloning in that way. The Bush Administration is in denial and if they don't jump on the boat it's going to sail off to Europe.
You can't stop piracy. If Disney buys out enough politicians to get protection into hardware someone will just crack it a week after it's out. I just think that it's a shame that the big dinosaur corporations are kicking and screaming about this. If they would just accept it and find the best way to deal with it a new industry could form and the smaller companies wouldn't have to be the real victims of this intermediary period.
It's a shame that companies are harmed by piracy. It would be better if they could figure out how to profit most from it instead. It'll just take someone to think outside of the box a bit. Whoever pulls it off will K.O. Ted Turner and all of the other media lobbyists.
I think that this is just the awkward adolescent phase of the information age. Things still need to be straightened out, but trying to stop it all in a Luddite fashion is hardly the best solution. It's kind of like cloning in that way. The Bush Administration is in denial and if they don't jump on the boat it's going to sail off to Europe.
SSS-Druid
First Post
Corinth said:
I'm sorry; this is so much unmitigated crap.
I don't care how great a product I or any other company make, it will have no bearing on piracy. All it means is that there are cheese weasels out there getting even better products for free.
Claiming otherwise is an insult to the intelligences of everyone here, yourself included.
Let's not pretend that this is about some kind of grass-roots campaign to induce companies to produce better product, because it accomplishes the exact opposite. When you eat away at the profit margin of a small gaming company (and rest assured, there is no other kind), all you do is force even more cutbacks, which harms quality.
If you are going to engage in actions that overtly harm a company (call it theft, call it piracy, call it Central Caribbean Square Dancing for all I care), at least have the decency to admit that you are doing so, and don't pretend to be doing it out of any other motivation than the juvenile urge to get what you want when you want it at no personal cost to you, despite the people who have slaved over that product.
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Corinth, have you read any Scarred Lands stuff? They're good. Good enough that it's the first formal campaign setting I've ever chosen to run, and I'm picky. Reasonably priced, too.
Not good enough for you? How about Monte Cook's stuff? If Thoughts Could Kill is chock full of new psionics rules. The Book of Eldrich Might is a great piece of work, priced at a whole $5.
Your entire logic is specious. You seem to be under the impression that publishers should bundle some sort of secret decoder ring in with the product, so that it will get bought instead of illegally downloaded for free. Sorry, chief, that's not how things work. Other than making a product good, how else do you propose that publishers "find" such a reason? I'd be very interested to hear your opinion.
Zelda Themelin
First Post
I would never prefer getting some stupid pdf-version of book, that is available as real book. I would prefer to get rtf/txt or pictureless pdf-file of products I own, however, since I use computer a lot when playing rpg:s, and I alter modules a lot, and it would be easier to copy- paste parts I want to change for my game into module I am running. This is only reason why I'd want to have them in file format besides books. I don't own scanner, and copying books tends to ruin bindings. It's about more practical use for books I own.
Abode Acrobat is also most impractical program I commonly have to use for purpose of actually reading files. Pfd:s suck in that sense, now, printing just costs too much for me.
I really liked the way 'The Book of Eldrich Might' and other products by Malhavoc had practical .txt file besides that pdf. Unfortunaly when I got first BoEM, .txt file was not yet included, I only have horrible pdf. Don't get me wrong, I like to have pfd also. Its just terrible impractical when I am actually trying to read and not just browse.
Abode Acrobat is also most impractical program I commonly have to use for purpose of actually reading files. Pfd:s suck in that sense, now, printing just costs too much for me.
I really liked the way 'The Book of Eldrich Might' and other products by Malhavoc had practical .txt file besides that pdf. Unfortunaly when I got first BoEM, .txt file was not yet included, I only have horrible pdf. Don't get me wrong, I like to have pfd also. Its just terrible impractical when I am actually trying to read and not just browse.
Cergorach
The Laughing One
*gniffles* Now that is funny ;-)
SSS-Druid, Piratcate, i think that what Corinth was trying to say was not content based reasons, but rather presentation based reasons. Like hardcover, quality/glossy paper, and full collor interior.
Your printed out B/W copy (bound at kinko's) doesn't really compare well with the full color, HC PHB (or any other FC product)...
As for getting stuff for free, do you really think that all the L33t* snots out there that brag that they've got all this great gaming material for free and won't buy sh|te would buy your gaming products if they couldn't get a pirated copy of it? I don't think so! These people would rather sit on the floor at their gamestore and read said product there than ever buy it. It's frustrating that such idiots do aquire your products for free, but they wouldn't have paid for it anyway, thus what's the big problem?
I have some of the SSS products in digital format, but on the other hand i have each and every product made by SSS on my shelf, and another two copies in protective boxes awaiting sale. If i have the original books why bother with the pirated copies? First, sometimes the pirated copies are faster than my distributer (sometimes FAR faster, i still don't have any FFG products in stoch *grumble*), this keeps me excited about a product even if i get frustrated while waiting for the product to arrive. Second, I don't know about the rest of you, but i've got a LARGE gaming collection (so large even that i dread when i eventually have to move). Carrying around a small case with CDs around is infinately better for my back than taking all of my books with me. Especially now since i bought a laptop, it functions as my lookup library (i can search for particular subjects within a book or collection, this is very usefull while preparing an adventure).
You would be suprised how many people think like i do in the 'scan' scene. It is generally accepted that when you download, you either are to poor to buy it (or it's unavailable), allready have the product, want to see if you like the product (if not you don't use it) or will eventually buy the product. People understand that companies need to earn money if we want to see more good products, especially in the RPG market where every penny counts.
Using pirated is not acting within the law, but on the other hand no ONE can judge whether it's right or not. Only you can decide if it's right for you...
*L33t= the spelling for elite used by egocentric 16-year olds (and those who still act like they where 16).
ps. Keep up the good work SSS with your SL setting, it's excellent gaming material!
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I disagree, file sharing can be stopped. Filters can be installed on major hubs that will block the latest file sharing application. Major ISPs can filter out traffic from filesharing programs. Companies can be prosecuted that distribute, advertise on, and write the software. Also, guerrilla warefare can be employed to make file sharing more effort than its worth ( just utilize fake mp3s and pdfs ). Companies can publicise how this is illegal.
Only one of these avenues has been explored.
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