 |
| |
|
|
Ralf
|
 |
Sweden
Mar 2000
time: 06:15
|
|
Most of us have occasionally bought full-price games on impulse, just to realise the mistake afterwards. I have at least 2-3 relatively fresh games on my harddisk, that I only have played a few couple of sessions. Now, what about Civ-3?
Well, a few "fans", after waiting 5 long years, now angrily declares that if way are forced to wait yet another few short couple of months after the SP-release, in order to get their hands on the MP-feature, then they had it!!!
They threaten to pirate-copy the SP-game (because they refuse to pay for a "truncated" game) - then they probably follow that up by pirated expansion-pack/MP bundle as well (because they refuse to "pay twice").
See the loopholed logic? I think thats pretty pathetic arguing. 
As I see it: No other strategy-game have made such an long-lasting impact on me, as Civ-1 & 2 have. I think I have bought at least 3 legal Civ-1 copies alone (first to Amiga, then to Mac, and finally to PC), and at least 3 legal Civ-2 copies (first the original release, then an expansion-pack and after selling it all, I bought the Ultimate classic collection bundle again, 2-3 years later).
I have enjoyed other games, yes. But Civ is special (although I admit; the old Civ-versions have now been played-to-death, beyond recovery).
Most core-fans have also contributed hundreds, yes thousands of replies (with fun overshadowing the work) in this and other forums. Now, near "the end of the tunnel" - shall we reward it all by rambling about cheapskate pirate-copies of Civilization III? The updated version of a game, once rewarded "Best game of all times"?
I dont thinks so!  I have spent too many hours thinking around and about this damn game-update. It certainly wouldnt feel right at all. I will buy fully legal copies of Civ-3 and its expected expansion-pack also. Being cautious and reading the reviews first, is one thing. But If you want to play it - play it legaly.
Last edited by Ralf on 12-09-2001 at 02:19
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
tniem
|
|
Hope College
Apr 2000
time: 00:15
|
|
How about the rules of fair use and evaluation purposes?
I believe it is legal to download a full game and play it for up to 24 hours as evaluation. Without a demo it might be important for people in the community to give it a try.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Deity Dude
|
|
Westland, Michigan
Aug 2000
time: 00:15
|
|
"ANYONE who deliberately choses to play a pirated copy of a game, rather than actually purchase it, is a common thief "
Agreed. But, would you agree with the following statement:
"ANYONE who takes money under false pretenses is a common thief"
If so, then Firaxis is a common thief. I have no interest in playing SP. I read articles talking about how MP was going to be an integral part of the new game. Based on this info, I pre-bought 2 copies of the game and had them next-day air shipped to myself and a friend as a present. Total cost - over $120.00.
I will feel totally cheated if this rumor is true. Someone made a comment about a Corvette. Well I just paid for a Corvette and got a Chevette.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
d_dudy
|
|
if they'd give us a demo they'd have a lot less to worry about from pirating
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Deity Dude
|
|
Westland, Michigan
Aug 2000
time: 00:15
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Bay Skipjack
If I were you I'd be pissed too, but nobody ever promised that MP would be included, |
If "being an integral part of the game" = "not included" you and i speak a different language
|
|
| |
|
|
|
yin26
|
 |
This space reserved for Darkstar.
Apr 1999
time: 14:15
|
|
First: I want Firaxis to make lots of money so they continue to evolve as a company.
Second: I also want Firaxis to take the fan's position seriously and deliver on promises or clarify previous statements (or especially LACK of statements).
If the second item is not handled properly, I think the first will suffer. There are many ways besides a free download that Firaxis can see problems with its profit margins:
1) Bad PR, which only fuels people's worries and helps to spread bad word-of-mouth;
2) Bad press...the 'official' bad word-of-mouth (wait till reviewers latch onto stuff like no demo, only 8 playable civs at once, no public beta even though one was hoped for, and, possibly, no MP out of the box, etc.);
3) 1+2 = People borrowing the game from a friend first to try it;
4) 1+2 = People deciding to wait and NOT buy the game on release day;
5) 1+2 = People deciding to try a warez d/l first to see if they like it;
6) 1+2 = People deciding to try a warez d/l knowing they'll never buy the game no matter what.
Frankly, the #6 are punks. I think we all agree. If you d/l the game and end up liking it, then you must by all means go to the store and buy it!
However, #3-5 represent, in my opinion, the real enemy for Firaxis. In general, I think people are good and law-abiding. But when given enough reasons to doubt, be it through bad word-of-mouth, bad press, previous bad experience with this market, etc., people will naturally be cautious.
And it is that caution that will hurt Firaxis many times more than a group of lamers who would never pay for the game anyway.
And it is that caution that Firaxis SHOULD have been trying to overcome these many months with much much better PR.
If you ask me, people SHOULD be cautious and NOT spend full price on Civ3. That is a reasonable, legal way to send a message that: Hey, Firaxis...you'd better treat your fans better next time around.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
korn469
|
 |
Poetic Justic
Apr 1999
time: 00:15
|
|
I agree with you on this Ralf, someone mark this down
If you want to play civ3 then buy it, but if you aren't sure yet hold off on buying it!
It is possible (doubtful though) that Infogrames and Firaxis will release a demo for Civ3 after the game comes out, and time considerations are a little bit leess stringent. There will also be a number of reviews from both game sites and people on Apolyton. If I buy civ3 (i will unless i hear something else that is really bad...like no improvement to the nuke model at all) I will give it a brutally honest review. I won't pull any punches either way, and I will look at both its highpoints and its flaws then try to come to a honest conclusion for the player.
Wait till a patch or two comes out, and just see what the general attitude is. We all know that the first few weeks will be mostly hype, so give it a month if you aren't sure.
If on the other hand you are a multiplayer and this whole thing about MP turns out to be true, then don't buy the game till they release MP. This will hurt them in the short run, and they will think twice about releasing multiplayer late. If it turns out that you have to pay for MP later on, then be a man, suck it up and DON'T BUY THE GAME! There are a number of other strategy alternatives, both commercial and independent.
Empire Earth
Age of Mythology
WarCraft 3
EU2
MoO3
Star Wars Galaxies
Freeciv
Clash of Civilizations
Manifest Destiny
Those are just a few titles that you can spend your time and your money on. Support the developers that support the fans.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Skanky Burns
|
 |
Skanky Bastard Quartermaster
Aug 2001
time: 14:15
|
|
 Fill, very nice and sarcastic  Maybe Osweld will learn something from it - that stealing doesnt always involve physical things.
Osweld, what happens when someone 'steals' your credit card numbers?? Would that not be theft, because they didnt take your actual physical credit card?? Or when they used the numbers to buy stuff?? There wouldnt be any physical change to anything, you would still have your bank account... If your thinking "but thats different..." it isnt. By "stealing" intellectual property, you are reducing the original owners ability to make money from that idea.
And now for the warez topic:
People who download the game and never pay for it suck. Plain and simple. It just means that us honest people have to pay more, Firaxis has less money to fully develope their games, and everyone will whinge when some aspects like MP cant be developed on time. I do support d/l for evaluation purposes in the absence of a demo, provided the person then deletes it or buys the game.
If the game isnt available in Australia soon after initial release, i will also d/l it. Before you get upset with me though, ive already pre-ordered the game (LE, i like the tin). Essentially, ive payed for the lisence to play the game, so if i get it earlier than infogames can get it to me, it still doesnt affect anyone (except me).
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
isaac brock
|
 |
Amherstburg, Ontario
Aug 2001
time: 00:15
|
|
Money is not necessarily a physical object, especially with a credit card. When you have a bank account, you don't have a seperate vault for your own private money. The bank records that a certain amount belongs to you, but a trade can be made electronically, and you won't lose physical money if someone hacks into it and manages to steal 50 bucks.
Firaxis is losing money when you download warez. you are depriving them of the money they would get if you would actually buy the game. you don't see it that way, you feel that if you can get it free without shoplifting, its okay. Believe it or not, game designers do not recieve very much for their creations. Do you realize how many people are working on this that are expecting money? Do you realize how much goes to the producers, who have not created the game and are simply pimping firaxis for what their worth? Firaxis is NOT the enemy. I guarantee the limited edition is the idea of infogrames, not firaxis.
I suppose working on a game for two years straight is no reason for them to receive paycheques. Don't buy the game if you feel they must be punished. To say it is not worth money then downloading it and enjoying the single player and subsequently multiplayer is selfish, childish, and hypocritical. Anyone who downloads a warez version of civ 3 is without my respect.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Skanky Burns
|
|
Skanky Bastard Quartermaster
Aug 2001
time: 14:15
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Osweld
Money is a physical object though, if someone else spends it, you lose it. |
Money (in credit cards, bank accounts, etc) are just numbers in a banks mainframe somewhere. Hardly physical. 
And by stealing a game rather than paying for it, Firaxis loses money (or whoever produced the game).
The whole point of capitalism is that people reward others who do valuable things, by giving them money. You want some food, you pay a farmer for growing them. You want to be entertained, you pay a programmer for writing it. In both cases, you are paying the provider for their effort and knowledge.
The point we are trying to get across is that "intellectual" things are as valuable as (generally more valuable than...) "physical" objects that can be traded and stolen.
You are right though, there is a difference of opinion 
|
|
| |
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:15.
Apolyton Time is 00:15. |
top of page
|
| archivepost |
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
11-09-2001 00:54
It isn't an object, can't be held, essentially occupies no space, has no real mass.
, not just the software companies and their investors.
|