Piracy. No thanks!

Roleplaying and board games reviews, podcasts, videos and interviews

jolly_rogersBy Paco Garcia Jaen

Recently I almost got into a conversation about piracy with someone in Google+ who claimed several things I find totally idiotic:

  • Piracy is a great way of publicity.
  • People download illegal movies, music, etc. for many reasons and not because they save money or “because they can.”
  • I download so I can see the game and then decide if I want to buy it or not.
  • It should be legal to copy and distribute the books you buy.
  • Culture should be freely available.

There were more, but those were all the needed ones to get my blood boil. However there was one that truly got me angry. Angry enough that I left the conversation before I said something someone else might regret:

  • “As far as I’m concern the games industry can go bust and I wouldn’t care.”

I believe the gaming hobby has a healthy future ahead. Very healthy. And I believe that because I can see companies becoming more and more professional. And whether people like it or not, Kickstarter and crowd funding are helping a lot. Tons of people are learning what it takes to release a game and that even the launch of a PDF product is a costly affair, both in time, money and resources, not to mention the stress of having to deal with deadlines and feedback.

But we have assholes out there that don’t care. And they think it’s OK to download illegal copies of books.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are assholes in every hobby and every industry, so that’s not new. However that doesn’t mean they don’t damage the industry and the hobby. And it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t call them out for what they are: Parasites. Sucking and consuming from a hobby without giving anything in return.

And no, “great publicity” doesn’t cut it. The only publicity you generate when you promote something by means of piracy is that you’re a douchebag.

Admittedly I am somewhat biased because I know a lot of people in the gaming industry and some of those people I love very much, so I don’t want anyone to do anything that hurt them. Not everyone is as privileged as I am and we care less for things and people we don’t know enough about.

Which doesn’t justify the pirate behaviour.

I haven’t downloaded anything illegal for many, many years, but I have downloaded some stuff in the past. So I am no saint (as I doubt anyone out there can claim to be) but I try to be responsible.

Disagreeing with someone’s price is not “having no other choice” though. If you think a PDF is too highly priced at $20 then don’t buy it. Buy another game for the amount of money you want to spend, but don’t download it illegally.

When you do that, you’re just being petulant and puerile with an attitude of “I want it, I want it I want it and I’m gonna get it regardless.” You are a parasite. Get out of my hobby please.

Actually no… just get off my hobby. Scrap the please. You don’t deserve it.

Downloading the book before you buy to check it out is total crap. There are tons of people out there who write reviews and most publishers give away a chapter so you can take a look before you buy. Feeble, feeble and stupid excuse.

I tell you what. I am going to go to your home and help myself to your food in the fridge so then I can go and buy it in the supermarket if I like it. Yes, of course I’ll replenish your fridge. If I like what I eat and end up buying it, of course!

I agree that culture should be freely available. This is why you have libraries. When you go to the theatre to watch a Shakespeare play you’re not just watching the play he wrote, you’re also watching and paying for the production you can see.

You want free Shakespeare? The library has it. You want a free performance of a Shakespeare play? Do it yourself. Either that or pay the actors and actresses, producers, light technitians… They deserve to be paid for their job.

Just like the game author, designer, layout artist, editor, printers… See why the free culture bit is bullshit?

No? You can’t see it… ah… that’d be because you’re an idiot. Get off my hobby!

And then we have the assholes who simply don’t care.

I’m not going to try to convince them to change their minds. They’re way too stupid for that. And they’re worthless. Yes, sorry human. You’re worthless.

Because anyone who tells me “I don’t care about the livelihoods of the people who work in a whole industry” is a worthless human being.

Get off my planet. Seriously… this Earth would be a lot better off without you. And if you’re reading this and feeling the indignation, explain to me why I should feel differently about you than you feel about the people who write or create the game you enjoy.

No. Exactly. I don’t care if you go to hell either.

So go to hell, and pirate from there.

 

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