Oh, internet!
So many posts on message boards I frequent were requesting a dump of Etrian Odyssey that I felt I should speak out. Etrian Odyssey is the kind of niche game that NEEDS the support of those interested in it if it ever hopes to make a profit or impact. And I let them know that, that if they enjoy it is their duty to BUY it and support it.
I got called a fag.
I hope that says more about people who frequent certain message boards than it does about gamers in general. I mean, obviously the majority of gamers aren't pirates. I'd bet most people wouldn't know how to even begin going about pirating, which is a good thing.
But what does it mean when arguably the most dedicated group of people in gaming refuse to provide monetary support to projects that, arguably, need it most?
I suppose I'm not much better. I wait til a game gets as cheap as possible before I buy it, usually, so it isn't like that really contributes to the sales numbers.
5 comments:
This is pretty funny. I just downloaded this game today for use on my NDS Flash Cart after reading a good review from 1up.
I was wary of joining forums for a while pretty much for that reason. I still wouldn't join most.
Buying used games is not the same as pirating, obviously, though it doesn't support anything beyond EB and your wallet.
The internet has bred a sense of entitlement in a lot of people because they can get so much for so little. However, I know I am a better/more experienced gamer for having bought cheap, used games and pirating old ROMs. Chances are, those people on that board would not be the type of people who "should" support Atlus games if not for piracy.
Besides, they haven't died out yet. If anything, there has been revival of smaller, niche titles with the success of the DS, PS2, Gametap and XBLA.
Yesterday, I refused to buy an interesting philosophy book because it did not cite its sources. Ripping off Voltaire is definitely uncool.
I think our generation needs to learn to make statements about integrity and value with purchases. How does it make sense to mock EA for the games it chooses to produce when the popularity of pirating robs them of valuable market data?
Everyone hates Valve's Steam software. At least Valve knows who likes what product, and what they should develop more of. If you don't like Steam, stop pirating games.
I think it was Warren Spector who said that when shopping his new game, publishers were telling him review scores are inversely proportional to sales. Whether this is because more informed people buy used or there just is no real market for quality is not certain. What is known is that people make Madden one of the best selling games every year. Crappy Spongebob platformers sell tons due to licenses. I'm not sure which direction to take this argument, so I'll let you do the rest.
"Crappy Spongebob Platformers"? I will destroy you, DKaufman! Those games are a classic of a forgotten genre, and according the the extremely brilliant McDougall Theory of Gaming, the Spongebob games are accountable for the resurgent gaming sales.
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