Something that seems to be working out really cool is that when PC Developers make online specific games they make it also extremely hard to find a Key that will allow them to play online. I've had friends that would pirate PC games and because they can't find a keygen that works actually buy the game or a new key just to play the game online. This actually boosts sales, because if they got a taste of the single player and liked it, but want more with online then they are going to have to either go through hell to get it working or just buy the game. The only way I've seen people actually get passed these without paying was making websites that listed private servers where people who pirated the game can play, but that is in the minority of games. Not only that, you won't be able to play with anybody who has a legit version of the game unless they join the private server which usually requires a patch that would make it hard for them to play on regular servers. So basically it gets all screwed up and people end up actually buying the game. That is a nice way to combat piracy with online focused games like CoD4 or LFD. You basically screen out everything in steps.
So in that way people actually do buy the games after pirating them because if they want full content they have to. And if not it at least minimizes the people who will actual pirate the game.
Now for something completely unrelated.
Some of you guys are taking this WAY to serious. I'm going to assume that none of you know each other on a personal note, and that you are far from knowing anybodies situation. It isn't as easy as it is wrong it's right. In actuality it is a very subjective thing, and everybody doesn't share the same opinion on the matter. For example, I'm against piracy, but that doesn't mean that I never tried out an Emulator for games that are almost impossible to find. By that I mean games that aren't sold new anymore and are so old that when you do find them they cost hundreds of dollars. The most I will spend on a game is bordering $100 and that is what I spent on the first two persona's. If it is over that then I will just play the game on the emulator. While I think it is fine playing games that are hard to find or hard to buy, I don't really care for piracy of games that are being sold new today. Others may feel that all types of piracy is bad and disagree with me. Then there are those that feel that piracy is only right if you can't afford it. Those that feel that it doesn't matter what the situation as long as it is free they will get it because they don't want to spend the money on it. There is even degrees of how much people think it is bad. I may think that being a thief is much worse than being somebody who goes against a copyright, but somebody else might think they are equal. The list goes on. Like I said it isn't as easy as Pro-Piracy vs Anti-Piracy. So some people need to stop trying to force their ideals, morals, and opinions on others. It isn't my business what anybody on these internet forums do. My opinion about them might change, but that is just it, my opinion nothing else. I have no right to tell them what is right or wrong. Now if it was somebody I new personally in real life then I will probably do something to let them know that I disapprove of it, but who am I to tell a complete stranger on and Video Game forum what is right or wrong, or what they should do and what they shouldn't.
Btw piracy laws are pretty much only enforced on people who sell pirated games and modded consoles. It is extremely rare for others to get in trouble for it, and while it is illegal, it is a law that is almost as meaningless as the ones you hear about no being able to do something on a Sunday, or something like that made hundreds of years ago. That is why there are so many differing opinions compared to something like murder where pretty much everybody is in the same boat. I bet you if laws and general opinions about murder weren't enforced/taught there would be a lot more people that would actually do it, and even quite a bit more who actual thought it was a good thing to do.
