No one's saying this is effective as a DRM strategy, especially since pirates can easily release a cracked clean copy of the game (and probably have, by this point). It's simply a funny little action that results in some free publicity, as well as possibly making a pirate or two think a little about their actions.
Are you trying to argue that 'gun violence' doesn't exist, or that it's not a 'problem?' I get and agree with the idea that banning violent video games won't solve the issue, but there's obviously an issue.
If you think The Pirate Bay is more user friendly than HBO Go or Netflix, you're crazy. Not to mention the fact that The Pirate Bay offers downloads, not streams. Many people use things like Roku boxes, which don't have a dedicated hard drive to store media.
The fact of the matter is that HBO Go fits all those promises they made. The problem is that the thing they actually ended up offering is not HBO Go, which is not available without a cable subscription.
Bullshit. Your actions certainly contributed to the ending -- the entire game was essentially a denouement, and it played out VERY differently depending on your choices in previous games. Just because the last 5 minutes weren't changed doesn't mean it was false advertisement. And being disappointed in a game's execution is far different than a game that out and out lies about quantifiable features (and 'your actions contribute to the ending' is not very quantifiable, which is why the whole ME3 argument is so heated).
Promising multiplayer and delivering a single player game, for instance, would be a quantifiable false advertisement and grounds for a refund. Or in this case, promising multiple maps with large areas and delivering a single small one.
I'm about halfway through, and I'm really not a fan. Far too absurdly bohemian and utopian even when it's trying not to be (of course you can find gourmet meals dumpster diving; isn't everyone else soooooo stupid for paying for food?). But have fun, y'all.
Obviously the decision regarding the "original" photos is silly. But I'm not a fan of your dismissive attitude about the whole affair, particularly the legal actions taken. No one has the right to film me in my private, intimate space and then publish those pictures. That's a huge invasion of privacy, both legally and morally, and it's not a matter of being uncomfortable with nudity or anything other commenters have implied. Somehow, I doubt y'all would be so nonchalant if you found a camera that had been placed in your bathroom (or your child's bathroom) by a repair tech or something.
I normally like your reporting, even if I sometime disagree with your conclusions. But define your damn acronyms. I had to jump to other publications to find out what the hell was going on, and ... isn't that sort of the opposite of what most journalists are going for?
EFF (I know that one, but still), TPP, USTR, SOPA, ACTA, DMCA (the linked article defines that one, imagine that). FFS, IDK WTF.
Fair enough, but you realize the market has spoken pretty vocally that $10 is an acceptable price for a new book by a big-name author.
Also, I'm not sure why you think $10 is unacceptable for a text file with a thumbnail, but it's acceptable for a paper book. There's not really much more inherently valuable with a paper book. It costs less than $2 to print a hardcover book (printed in bulk, of course). So it's equally valid to say "I refuse to pay $10 for ink on wood pulp."
This story makes me laugh all around, mainly because the legislation is stupid, but Savarin is also a dick and I'm glad to see a tax-avoidance scheme backfire.
Almost all the authors I know abhor DRM just as much as readers; the few who don't are a vocal minority. Hell, I went to a writer's conference a few weeks ago and DRM came up. I squirmed as I prepared for the writers on the panel and in the audience to scream about piracy. I was happily surprised that, instead, they spent the whole time screaming about the counterproductive nature of DRM.
Man, the Internet is sure falling over itself to make sure rape doesn't get prosecuted! Yay rape culture! Sure, he raped a couple of women. But it wasn't like it was "rape-rape", and come on, isn't his dedication to FREEEEEEDOM more important?
It varies widely. Suffice it to say that a bestseller in trade publishing would probably need to sell closer to 10,000 (or even 100,000, in some cases) copies a month for the first few months, rather than 1,000.
Also, if you're putting King and Patterson and Rowling at the high end, which they certainly are, you should also consider that these indie eBook authors are still outliers. The vast majority of self-published books sell fewer than 50 copies.
It's depressingly difficult to be a successful author regardless of the path you choose. The difficulty of finding a publisher has simply been supplanted by the difficulty of finding an audience.
Re: Re: Re: Still broken
No one's saying this is effective as a DRM strategy, especially since pirates can easily release a cracked clean copy of the game (and probably have, by this point). It's simply a funny little action that results in some free publicity, as well as possibly making a pirate or two think a little about their actions.
Re: Re: But wait there's more...
"they couldnt really stop anyone from putting a redhead on the cover"
Seriously, that would be like ... I don't know, banning the phrase 'space marine.' Just ludicrous to even think about!
What's with the weird quotation marks?
Are you trying to argue that 'gun violence' doesn't exist, or that it's not a 'problem?' I get and agree with the idea that banning violent video games won't solve the issue, but there's obviously an issue.
Re: Re:
I would wager the number of people who can stream but not download vastly outnumber the people who can download but not stream.
Please
If you think The Pirate Bay is more user friendly than HBO Go or Netflix, you're crazy. Not to mention the fact that The Pirate Bay offers downloads, not streams. Many people use things like Roku boxes, which don't have a dedicated hard drive to store media.
The fact of the matter is that HBO Go fits all those promises they made. The problem is that the thing they actually ended up offering is not HBO Go, which is not available without a cable subscription.
Re: Re: Re:
Bullshit. Your actions certainly contributed to the ending -- the entire game was essentially a denouement, and it played out VERY differently depending on your choices in previous games. Just because the last 5 minutes weren't changed doesn't mean it was false advertisement. And being disappointed in a game's execution is far different than a game that out and out lies about quantifiable features (and 'your actions contribute to the ending' is not very quantifiable, which is why the whole ME3 argument is so heated).
Promising multiplayer and delivering a single player game, for instance, would be a quantifiable false advertisement and grounds for a refund. Or in this case, promising multiple maps with large areas and delivering a single small one.
Re: Question though...
Of course. Plenty of writers are members of multiple organizations, such as the Authors Guild, RWA, SFWA, HWA, etc.
Re: Re:
The mainstream gaming populace has been boycotting Sega for, oh, around 20 years now.
Eh
I'm about halfway through, and I'm really not a fan. Far too absurdly bohemian and utopian even when it's trying not to be (of course you can find gourmet meals dumpster diving; isn't everyone else soooooo stupid for paying for food?). But have fun, y'all.
Yup
Say goodbye to used games. RIP, Right of First Sale.
Damned insensitive
Obviously the decision regarding the "original" photos is silly. But I'm not a fan of your dismissive attitude about the whole affair, particularly the legal actions taken. No one has the right to film me in my private, intimate space and then publish those pictures. That's a huge invasion of privacy, both legally and morally, and it's not a matter of being uncomfortable with nudity or anything other commenters have implied. Somehow, I doubt y'all would be so nonchalant if you found a camera that had been placed in your bathroom (or your child's bathroom) by a repair tech or something.
Re: WTF?!
"Bimbo?" Fucking seriously? Can you criticize someone without using sexist terminology?
Dude...
I normally like your reporting, even if I sometime disagree with your conclusions. But define your damn acronyms. I had to jump to other publications to find out what the hell was going on, and ... isn't that sort of the opposite of what most journalists are going for?
EFF (I know that one, but still), TPP, USTR, SOPA, ACTA, DMCA (the linked article defines that one, imagine that). FFS, IDK WTF.
Re: $10 Text Files?
Fair enough, but you realize the market has spoken pretty vocally that $10 is an acceptable price for a new book by a big-name author.
Also, I'm not sure why you think $10 is unacceptable for a text file with a thumbnail, but it's acceptable for a paper book. There's not really much more inherently valuable with a paper book. It costs less than $2 to print a hardcover book (printed in bulk, of course). So it's equally valid to say "I refuse to pay $10 for ink on wood pulp."
(untitled comment)
This story makes me laugh all around, mainly because the legislation is stupid, but Savarin is also a dick and I'm glad to see a tax-avoidance scheme backfire.
Re:
Why is it that literally no one understands hyperbole?
Authors won't buy it
Almost all the authors I know abhor DRM just as much as readers; the few who don't are a vocal minority. Hell, I went to a writer's conference a few weeks ago and DRM came up. I squirmed as I prepared for the writers on the panel and in the audience to scream about piracy. I was happily surprised that, instead, they spent the whole time screaming about the counterproductive nature of DRM.
(untitled comment)
Man, the Internet is sure falling over itself to make sure rape doesn't get prosecuted! Yay rape culture! Sure, he raped a couple of women. But it wasn't like it was "rape-rape", and come on, isn't his dedication to FREEEEEEDOM more important?
Re: Re: Re: NY has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country.
I'd rather live in China than die in Aurora.
Also, lol if you think your goddamn hunting rifle is going to mean anything if the US military comes knocking at your door.
Re: Math
It varies widely. Suffice it to say that a bestseller in trade publishing would probably need to sell closer to 10,000 (or even 100,000, in some cases) copies a month for the first few months, rather than 1,000.
Also, if you're putting King and Patterson and Rowling at the high end, which they certainly are, you should also consider that these indie eBook authors are still outliers. The vast majority of self-published books sell fewer than 50 copies.
It's depressingly difficult to be a successful author regardless of the path you choose. The difficulty of finding a publisher has simply been supplanted by the difficulty of finding an audience.