Modern Warfare 2: Cyber Pirate

http://venturebeat.com/2009/11/06/how-investigators-tracked-down-a-modern-warfare-2-cyber-thief/

This goes to show you how big of an impact games have on the general public. Not like this has never happened before, but I still find it appalling.

People spend countless hours, and lots of money to make a game they enjoy, and they want people to enjoy. But there has to be a line drawn somewhere. Thing's like this shouldn't be happening. I mean, I love playing games as much as the next person, but to sell fake and pirated games to people? And the people actually will but it?

And for people to actually go through all of this, and risk possible fines/jail time all for what? A video game? Cmon', wait the few months until it comes out, it's not hard, patience is a virtue.

I will agree sometimes the games can be overpriced, which is debatable. They have to make a profit somehow, but how much profit do they truly need? And sometimes the game developers don't listen to the customers, which I agree, should be there #1 concern, but do two wrongs make a right?

Just wanted to share this story I found, I found it interesting.

Something to think about the next time you go pick up a new game, to realize just how big of an impact they have on peoples lives.

-End Rant-

 

Well, this just goes to show you too that these publishers are full of crap when they always blame PC game pirating for loss in sales. It's just as prevalant with consoles, namely X360.

I don't feel bad for Activision or the pirate at all. Activision gets what they deserve and so does the pirate.

 

Activision/IW asked for MW2 to be pirated and I'm glad it's happening.

I'm talking about the PC version.

 

No dedicated servers = That's what they get.

 

They ruined a amazing series with a bunch of idiotic moves.

CoD4 had amazing communities, many people into certain mods, competitive, or just normal gameplay.

 

A the hell men

But still shows that when people try to steal and upload games and in america, thats what happens most of the time(to the uploaders not the downloaders )

That's why you pirate in Sweden

 

Wonder if this might be the next spore

 

So you're supporting software piracy. How very patriotic of you.

 

No the problem here is not that he pirated the game. He was tried to sell pirated copies which is a big no no. And that's what he got busted for. What a .

 

Eh this is so common in asia that its rare to find games that are legit easily... All the 360s sold are already modded as well as the wii's. Only ps3s are actually legit and untainted.

I do think that IW is letting down their pc fans by crippling the pc version to make it more of a console port instead of its own like MW1 was on the pc.

 

What's patriotism got to do with any of this? Patriotism means different things to different people so shove off buddy.

Here are the facts: IW crippled the PC version of MW2 by essentially making it a console port, they neglected to provide us with a demo, and they failed to answer to our concerns about IW.net and other things. IW deserves anything and everything bad that comes their way.

 

I honestly feel that they did all this as a bait to lure PC gamers to pirate the game even more than usual and so they have the excuse to stop developing PC games for good. They want to abandon the PC altogether, and they just needed the excuse that so many people pirated the game, despite them gimping the game so much.

 

agreed indeed..

 

It's surprising to me to see how people dog on Activision so much. It's their damn product, they can do with it as they please. Obviously they think what they are doing is a good choice. If it fails, I'm sure they'll try to fix whatever issues arise. I think dedicated servers are a good idea, just as much as the next guy, but they chose to do what they wanted to because it's their game.

So seriously, they deserve the piracy? Some people need to get that bug outta their butt...

 

Without the PC, Call of Duty would not have been what it is today. They might be a business but they should strive to meet their customers demands and at least respect the community who made them what they are today. A business is a business and it is their product, but they cannot just blatantly disregard the consumer and not expect retribution.

 

While I also don't like how they are doing to the PC version, I am in 100% disagreement that they deserve piracy. No game ever does. Developers also have families to feed.

 

They do deserve it. The developers deserve no money for their crap game. They are a bunch of idiots thinking they knew best for the PC community.

Honestly, would it have been so hard to allow dedicated servers and at least 12v12 matches?

 

Well they dont really deserve to be pirated even though a lot of people are going to pirate the game. Maybe that will make Activision/IW realized that they made a mistake by not allowing Dedicated servers in MW2 and add them later

But is it too hard to have dedicated servers in MW2 and a 64 player multiplayer same as the first game. But they decided to take the cash route since PC version is exactly like the PS3/XBOX360 version and its no point of buying it IMO

 

FAIL. dude as a company they should hear their customers out and as PC GAMERS on the PC PLATFORM they are very vocal and very loud, since people dont just play games, they mod games, build systems, understand computers and everything, UNFORTUNATELY PC GAMERS arent as dumb because they know their platforms inside out.

Also thats just BAD BUSINESS not listening to customers and then selling it for a high price.

Agreed, Businesses need to listen to customers, how can a business survive without giving what customers want

ALOT are going to pirate the game regardless. xbox 360 consoles are pirated, wii games are pirated, MW2 will be over pirated because of all the fail they did for MW2. im willing to bet even those who havent pirated before WILL pirate out of spite...

they arent getting my hard earned 60$

no its not. MW2 wants to move out to PCs. its really IW fault and activision for letting do whatever since they had such success before.

Well not anymore. for ever 1 console version sold there will probably be 20PC/console pirated because people are angry. lol

 

Damn!!! Although I am happy with this because they only used to curse and take off the features from PC but now, consoles tooo...
So, they might release PC and Consoles together as a lesson from this.

 

Well EA got the message with Spore.

 

poor guy.....

 

I just wonder how many of you preaching on your pedestal about the wrongness of piracy have ever downloaded a pirated song before. I support piracy when I prefer to download a song for free from a big band or musician like Metallica who do not need any more money then the obsene amount they are already getting, but will buy a CD from a local or small band who actually need the money. In game piracy I support it when a game has limited team chat, limited player size, and no dedicated servers, but I will happily pay even $60 for a game that has given it's consumer base basic freedoms any gamer should enjoy.

 

Pirating is bad and hurts the industry, etc., but I find it very difficult to feel sorry for Activision/Blizzard. It's rather like complaining that they lost 50 cents out of the coke machine.

Activision/Blizzard? They don't *deserve* it per se, but if you are waiting for people to give three cheers to them for stopping "the evil pirates" out to castrate their merciless drive to destroy PC gaming and to nickel and dime customers...keep waiting. They brought this on themselves big time.

 

So what if they "aren't listening to the customer?"

That is their choice. If it's bad business, they'll figure it out. I don't think they are trying to take advantage, or screw people. I believe that they think this will work. If it doesn't, then MW3 or whatever, will probably go back to whatever did work.

Read this quick blurb.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/activision-modern-warfare-pc,9017.html

"But we're not overly concerned about it." See? It's their choice to do what they think is best. So if they lose money? So be it. But I don't blame them for trying something.

 

Amen to that!

 

What is your point? Sure, it's their choice -- there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop them from deliberately eliminating almost every positive aspect from playing their game on the PC rather than the consoles. However, I don't see why this precludes me from having a hearty laugh at their expense (as I just did right now ) when their precious console versions are also pirated. It's always nice when people who aren't very nice at all find themselves on the wrong side of irony.

 

I'm laughing heartily along with you. I used to love Blizzard, but in the last year and a half, they have lost themselves with their Activision merger. They have the potential to make great games, but it comes down to the question of "At what price?" The price was that they lose the part of their audience that was devoted because they made great games, and they gain another 50 cents out of the coke machine.

 

Who are you talking about with reference to "the evil pirates"?
Do you think that 18 yrs old boy hacked activision or got informers inside to provide him the xbox 360 version of MW2? They just caught someone who has nothing to do with the leak. Its the person who work for activision or is somehow related with it that he/she got the game and leaked it.

 

Condoning illegal activity?

p.s. i put my pre-order in today... wahoo.

 

I agree with USA patriot...IW should get a kick in their butt...

 

Bottom line though, I don't think pirating is right, for any reason. Just becuse you don't agree with the company doesn't mean you can steal it. If you disagree, don't buy it, but don't steal it! That's like saying you don't agree with paying $1000 more for the updated stereo in your new car so you just steal one from the dealership. It's illegal and stupid in either case. While I know casual piracy exists, it's awful when it's mass distributed even worse, sold.

 

@usapatriot: You should definitely take some lessons on rhetoric from nobodyshero. I don't necessarily agree with what he is saying, but she (don't know gender, so going for political correctness) is making making a hell of a lot more sense than you.

If a developer makes a game that you don't support, JUST DON'T BUY IT! This whole "if you don't give me what I want you're gonna pay" mentality is absolutely ridiculous. You sound more like thugs than unhappy consumers.

I can't speak for IW/Activision, but I'd personally be more willing to negotiate with a community that stays calm, collected, and simply refuses to buy the game than one set on "retribution." If anything, mass pirating is just going to push the franchise, as well as other franchises, further and further away from the PC.

I think if developers really want to suppress pirating, cracking down on law enforcement is a better tactic than gimping games. I'd be much less tempted to steal music, games, etc. (I'm no saying I do) if I knew there was a legitimate chance of being caught and fined thousands of dollars.

It's funny, I'm not happy with the changes IW/Activision has made with MW2 or their probable reasons for doing it, but it makes me far more angry seeing how everyone else is reacting to it. IT'S JUST A GAME!

 

i agree with ht. i am absolutely pissed off at activision as a whole, not only for this game but for most of thier franchises. do i want to play mw2? hell yeah, but im not going to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a watered down game, nor am i going to pirate it. imma wait till it hits a fair price ($20?)

 

I couldn't have said it better. People taking every opportunity to scream bloody murder because IW didn't give them exactly what they wanted is the epitome of immaturity.

 

Dont you see the larger picture here? This about more then just a game, this is becoming a mass movement for developers and executives to test the boundaries of a gamer's limits in how far they can go to increase profit margins. If MW2 succeeds, you can sure bet the movement to clamp down and restrict old traditions will gain even more momentum. You guys can sit here and say "Oh, this isnt so bad" or "This one thing won't ruin the game" but if these companies see they can stuff more and more restrictions down your throats to turn a profit, they will continue to go farther and farther until they find a breaking point. What we are doing isn't whining, its standing up and educating those around us to what we rightly deserve for $60. Of course, games by in large have become more dumbed down, with more and more restrictions on how they are played and it will continue to happen no matter what, which is why I may end up casting aside the gamer part of my life completely away. But hey that may not be such a bad thing, I won't be blowing 2k+ on laptops and spending 2 hours a day with digital friends and do it with my real ones instead

 

I won't be giving any of my money to IW and Activision. Take that however you wanna take it.

 

lol am I nobodyshero? good one.

p.s I am a "he"
thnx.

 

Yes, I think there's been enough discussion of what *could* happen in the future. I think most of us are not up in arms over this because what *could* happen is not the same thing as what *will* happen, and also it's just video games were dealing with here. It's not like the President just declared martial law and disbanded congress.

My life doesn't revolve around video games and dedicated gaming servers, and I'm sure there are plenty of people on the forum who are similar to myself in that respect.

 

Videogames are a HUGE part of my life and I would prefer to keep it that way. THEREFORE, I think I have the right to go up in arms over IW's BLATANT disregard for PC gamers.

It's nice that your life doesn't revolve around videogames, MINE does.

 

is it immature to ask a car dealership to include wheelz with a purchase of a car!? cause thats like asking IW to include dedicated servers. If thats immature then ... beep beep beep.

 

best post on the entire forum!! its just sad that so many members here can not understand this!! I pity them, I pity everyone who bought MW2 and payed $60 of their money and donated it to IW CEO, who rollz right now in a $600.000 car and laughs in the faces of all those stupid people that will buy this POS game.

EDIT:
I m kinna scared by that, but also having my own business I can understand why CEO's love stupid people!! stupid people = $$. They are easy to manipulate and easy to get $60 from for a POS game.

 

I'm with you there. They just string up whoever is unfortunate enough to get caught.

 

Im feeling sad for that boy. Im sure IW will sue him for millions of dollars.

 

I feel badly for him as well.

That's the bottom line right there. You buy the car, and then they don't give you a steering wheel.

The apologists that are calling everyone whiners probably wouldn't even play it to begin with, but the people that will are the ones that are angry.

 

I suspect jail time actually.

 

No million $$$$ = Big jail time!

 

Wherever this idea that the PC is not going to make them any money, and never does, it's quite false. In fact VERY false. The PC version of MW2 was on track to sell at least 2-3 mil. units in the first few months (even if piracy is rampant it would not have stopped this game from selling very very well on the PC), console versions may well topple this, but at $60, Activision will be making about 30-40% MORE money off of the PC version PER COPY due to the massive amount of royalties both sony and microsoft charge to release a game on their respective consoles. The pc platform has no royalties what so ever. This is why PC games have been sold 10$ less than the console versions, and they still make much more actual profit per copy on the PC versions than they do the console versions.

Even if significantly less copies are sold on the PC, they will still make a huge chunk of money off of the platform. Since their game engine was built on the PC, all of their assets for the PS3/360 versions are right there, and releasing any upcoming COD game for the PC would likely cost almost nothing extra.

Activision is a publicly traded company, they will do anything to keep the investors from pulling out of the company, and keep the company's value rising, for that they will likely never quit making PC versions, and they have no intent to drop the platform.

Also, as lokster was saying. It is absolutely true that the vast majority of PC gamers that would have bought this game are people who know their platform inside and out. The vast majority of console gamers typically know barely anything about theirs short of putting a disk in a tray and pressing that little lighted button on their controller.

 

Apparently now, some copies of the bonus DVD included with MW2 for the PC are broken...

BUMP FOR GREAT JUSTICE!

 

if people just learned to wait a few more days...