As I told earier, I used to be quite a leecher, getting stuff from friends and stuff. Not anymore, but that is partially becouse what I wanted to leech is leeched already :D

Like my WinXP, my accesory programs, and some games. WinXP+OfficeXP costs ca. 2/3 of the avereage montly salary here(nearly $550). Who the hell would buy it? That's right, nobody. Just the companies that BSA watches closely, but not the regular people. Here in Hungary, BSA use to raid bigger companies and schools and check for program licenses and illegal stuff. IF they find anything, they sue. The thing is, they are not interested in anybody else. This is good for us, small time PC users.

If you like to put it this way, I've "normalized" over $25000 worth software since I have a PC, including OSs, games, music and misc. stuff.
BUT more than 60% of it DOESN'T EVEN WORTH A TRY. <_<

Why buy a game that you don't know how you like? Maybe it'll be a great game, maybe crap. Personally, I'm very selective about games. I only enjoy very little part of them. If I would bought all the games I played ever since, I would've wasted over $10000 for nothing. :huh:
And there is no "Money-back guarantee" for PC games <_<
This goes for music and the rest of the programs.

The pirate industry is built upon just this. People don't like to blind-buy stuff. Even if the program is from a famous company and it is advertised like hell, that even can be crap. Like Warcraft 3.
If you like the demo/trial of a game/program, that doesn't mean you'll like in the long run too.

I don't feel I hurt anybody, when I get programs for free. That's only fair. If I like a program or game after a long use/play, I used to go and buy them. Like Star Craft. I played with it for a looong time, and It is the greatest RTS of all times. I went to the store and bough it, for Battle.net access and the cool jewelcase, poster and manual :D BUT I still play with the pirated version, I don't want to damage the CD :D

All in all, I think people should decide wich company they support. If you like a game or program then buy it! It is only fair! If you don't like it, than delete it and forget it. Companies that hand out crap, don't deserve to be supported <_< (This little message is in EVERY .NFO attached to pirtated stuff, just check it out! "If you like this game, buy it! They deserve your support!")

Last software I bought was a collection of games (which included UFO, Starlord, Gunship 2000, Humans, Master of Orion, Frontier, Lamborghini, etc - there were 28/29) that Microprose made... 10 years ago? I don't buy games, DVD's, or any kind of software (Windows, Office, Photoshop, etc). Just no money avaliable for that, and even if I had, I wouldn't buy, it's a waste of money, I need it more than the programmers/artists/actors :D

One exception: Nirvana Unplugged DVD

I also don't buy music cd's. I can get everything for free, if a band wants my money they can simply visit my town and I'll gladly buy a ticket (with the money I save on everything mentioned above) to see it if I liked them in the first place.

As a musician myself, I find it abusive that so much money is involved in albums, that should be made strictly for publicity, when the money should lie in the concerts. Lazy people, with no love for real live music, that's what they are. Unfortunately, right now it's the total opposite, so I probably won't get anywhere with my career (unless I'm completely taken off of the band's management :whistle: )

[offtopic]Playback bands/singers should all die[/offtopic]

That's right!

Music should be free. I get only free music. I won't buy any album, becouse I rarely like all the songs on an album. I'm a so called musician myself, so if I'll ever release my music to the public, that should be free. Only the CD/DVD would cost the material price. If somebody wants to listen to my music, free to do it. If somebody wants it on an album, go and buy it. I don't play lyris music, so noo need for live performance :D

And you are right. Playbac bands should die. Painfully.

That's really the opposite actually. If there was no pirating then the big companies would charge more and more until they find the "market high" which is about the same as today with piracy, only with higher prices.

That's a simple application of asking and demands...

I don't buy pirate stuff even if I didn't think it was a risky thing to do in some places, If I see a program that is for sale that I want I save up and buy it I never hear a song usually that I like so much that I need to download it, as the radio plays the same 10 songs so many times that you end up hating them.

I am one of these wierd people that will buy something from the manufacturer even if its pretty old and will pay for it. I admit that their is alot of games out there that I want and I can't afford them all. But I wouldn't steal any of them, because the key word is Want.

I want alot of stuff, I want all the games I can play- I want a brand new car-, I want a 3 story house with a huge swimming pool. But I am not willing to steal to get it, I know that not everyone can afford these games and might feel inclined to resort to piracy to get it.

I basically would only steal if it was life or death, even from a Corporation. After all if none of these guys can make money for what they legally own and sell, who is going to want to make new products eventually.

As to Abandonware games, I would buy the game if it was available from the stores or the makers and save up and pay for it if it meant that much to me to get. I don't do the ebay thing if I can get it from Abandonia or some other reputable site because 1) the original maker doesn't profit from me doing that either and 2) usually I am paying full price or more for something thats been used and have no assurance that the game will be in good shape when it arrives.
I prefer to buy 2 copies of things I collect, one to play and one to keep in its original box and shelf it for display. (I have a game museum so to speak)

Same here ^

I don't even know where to find Pirated stuff If I wanted to, having never been interested.

Case in point, I had my eye on sid mieres' pirates since it came out, but the price is just not dropping. So I found a copy of it for free, I loved it, so I deleted it and now I'm going out to buy it next payday. I'm sick and tired of shelling out my hard earned cash for bug ridden, un-imaginative rehashed games. I have no qualms about trying out software for free, but If I find it valuable I usually go out and buy it.

I think companies like "Sold out" has found a good balance. I have no problem whatsoever with paying ?5 for a game. ?45 on the other hand... *shudders*.

@Doc Adrian

I see your point. But don't match stealing with getting something for free. If you BUY pirated stuff, that is crime. Against yourself and the community. If you BUY pirated stuff, you support crime. I emphasize BUY, becouse it's not equal to getting stuff for FREE.

If you download something for free, you are not doing any bad to anybody. It is only like an extended trial period. :D If you don't like what you downloaded, it wouldn't worth the money in the first place. If you would've bought that crap, you would just support crap, and that's bad for ALL OF US, becouse there will be more crap if you support it, and less quality stuff.
BUT if you like what you got for free, go and buy it! I MEAN IT! Support the companies that release quality products, therefore cut out the crap releaseing companies! It makes sense doesn't it? ^_^

It is not stealing! You DESERVE the opportunity to test what you are buying, in it's full extent. Not a limited trial copy or a demo with the cool stuff cut out. Usually 15 or 30 days(the average trial times) are not enough to properly test a program.

For games, it is only fair to play it as long as you like and THEN buy it, to recieve technical support, updates, internet multiplayer ability, the jewel case, manuals...etc. If it IS a great game, buy it! You OWE the companies made this great game, becouse they actually care about their product and the community playing it.
If the game was a crap(even if the demo was good), just delete it and forget it. Companies that release sh*tty games deserve to die. They put all the glimmer and cool stuff in the demo(what you will mostly like), and the full version is a junk or boring after the first two missions. <_<

You said the keyword is WANT. Now then, if you WANT to try a game you wanted to see a long time, then GET IT for free if you can(dont BUY it from a pirate, that's bad!), and try it out to see if you really like it or not. If the game is a junk you won't WANT it anymore ;)
But if the game is good, then buy it and you are doing good for yourself AND the economy :D

@Evad

Finally! A mindful buyer :ok: Keep it up and soon, no crap will exist in the software market :D

Play

I also see your point good friend :) I was thinking of the guys selling blackmarket disks a few blocks away from where I live. They make alot of burned copies and sell them at the street, and they get arrested, and someone else take's their place. Please forgive my general comment that doesn't apply for you trying the free programs :)