Posters Name: WaRMaN
Posters Email: warman@mwgl.org
Subject: Copying Games Legal?
News:
We have all, at one time or another, come in contact with a copied game. Well, copied games are illegal unless Trymedia Systems steps in with their "Secure Distribution Technology." This would allow owners of a game to make a copy and share with friends. Of course when the game is installed on a different system, then it will revert to a demo or limited feature game. Then the new user has the ability to register the game via phone or internet allowing them to have the full version. This helps the game industry by partaking in the best advertising in the world: "word of mouth".
A recent Trymedia Systems poll of 2,122 adults provided the following info:
Not only will users distribute the game they want to play with their friends and encourage them to register it, but it is also done at no expense to the industry since you are obviously supplying the CD and shipping. This also saves the industry by not printing boxes, inlays, instructions, and not providing jewel cases.15% of consumers admit to copying retail games in the past 6 months. 66% asserted their right to make backup copies of games. 64% said that illegal copying hurt game developers. Each admitted copier buys an average of 7 games per year and makes 17 copies. 35 copies are made per 100 units sold on average. The top three reasons why people make copies:
#1 Personal backup
#2 To share with friends
#3 To use them on multiple computers (such as desktop and laptop)The top reasons consumers share games are:
#1 To play multiplayer games with their friends
#2 Their friends asked them to
#3 They thought their friends would like the game
Consumers felt that their friends were honest people and that sharing could result in their friend buying his own copy about 50% of the time.