View Full Version : pirated MTW: beware
solypsist
08-27-2002, 00:20
For the record, I purchased my copy and have my Best Buy receipt.
But the streets of New York are full of sidewalk vendors hawking copies of MW, so let me take this opportunity to discourage any of you from buying it. You don't know what you're getting; you could be installing anything from a lowgrade virus to seriously potent trojan-horses. One look at the CD should be warning enough:
http://solypsist.homestead.com/files/mtwarez.jpg
[This message has been edited by solypsist (edited 08-26-2002).]
Schultzy
08-27-2002, 02:14
LOL
Aggh, how agonising is that scan of the M:TW CD!?
It's almost like looking at one behind an In case of Emergency: Break Glass here! case.
Just 4 more days. Must breath! lol http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
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"Jetzt ist der Winter unserer Rabattpreiszelten."
CaPeFeAr
08-27-2002, 07:49
true... and so far ive only heard rumors of a keygen... not proof.... chances are you will be stuck with single player version only.. btw... mtw was aviliable for full download before it was released.. but it was from a preproduction rip.. those cd's are probably from the same rip....full of bugs... i agree with soly... spend the 40 bucks and lets make sure the next total war series is even better!
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Nobunaga0611
08-27-2002, 08:11
Yup it was released by 'Fairlight' on the 21st. They're a pretty big group, so I'm not suprised. I wish no one would pirate this game, its plenty worth buying just for multiplayer, not to mention CA deserves all the revenue they're missing from pirating...although I don't think it'd be a lot more because people who pirate it might not buy it...but thats another discussion.
http://www.isonews.com/release.php3?releaseid=59372
oZoNeLaYeR
08-27-2002, 08:22
Grrr, i want MTW now. at least the cover looks cool.
The pirates can't spell! That can't be a scan of the real thing surely? Medeival?
lol smith
CaPeFeAr
08-27-2002, 12:41
got to looking at the pic a little closer... soly you are a genious http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif
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LOL ok you shouldnt bother trying to download or buy a burned copy, but lets be serious. People are not going to distribute the burned CD and images with viruses on them, and even if they did, you could always scan it.
There are many arguments to make as to why a person should not partake in copied software, but the virus threat just isnt one of them. Sounds like misinformation.
People who pirate the game will be able to try it for free. If they enjoy the game and crave more they will inevitably seek to partake in multiplayer. Because of this you might get a number of people purchasing the game who never would have otherwise!
I think when you subtract all the lost sales from the sales generated because of the advertising value and accessibility of the pirated version, the result will be more total sales for MTW.
PLUS! It will generate more fans of the total war series, who might buy future total war games if a pirated version isn't readily available.
solypsist
08-27-2002, 19:38
hmmmm.....well, hypotheticaly, I coulkd be the guy burning MTW CDs with trojan-horse programs on them and then fencing them to vendors. I got all the tools: the game to rip the installation screens from, the actual game CDs to get the CD-labels from, and the know-how to put nasty little progs on them for people to install. And I know I'm not the first guy to think of this.
But I'm not doing any of that, just spending my time playing MTW.
I hope it's got viruses on it. People warezing this game deserve to have their systems hosed by the program they install.
GAH!
Pirated CDs should include a little extra program to automatically submit their name to GWIS and the Rage Hall of Sin.
GAH!
At least we'd know who they are...
GAH!
LOL. Time to take a walk to check this out...
Papewaio
08-28-2002, 17:47
Quote Originally posted by Kalt:
I think when you subtract all the lost sales from the sales generated because of the advertising value and accessibility of the pirated version, the result will be more total sales for MTW.
PLUS! It will generate more fans of the total war series, who might buy future total war games if a pirated version isn't readily available.[/QUOTE]
Are you related to the speech makers for the War on Iraq?
Because that is some twisted logic. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/confused.gif
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Honest officer I did not steal the car from the dealership I was test driving it. If I ever was to go into a drag race I would buy the car and so would my mates. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif
@ Papewaio
I wonder why this thread is still open, since the info on pirated copies is more then in my thread. I´m sorry i missed the piracy statements in the forum rules but thats no reason to get offending. But as a tooth fairy you might help me out by sending me a german copy?
Papewaio
08-28-2002, 18:30
Because there is a difference between warning against piracy and participating in piracy.
As a moderator I am honour bound to enforce the rules. Also as a moderator I am selected because I have the intelligence and integrity to know when those rules need to be slavishly applied and when they can be relaxed.
I like to think of this as a place where any Total War fan can post of any nationality and any age. That is why we try and minimise (not eliminate) profanity, keep people on topic and not at each others throats etc.
We also try and blend the best of the samurai and chivalric ideals.
We are here for the legit fans. To do what is best in their interests.
Pirated copies are not in the best interests of the fans. They steal money from the developers and hence diminsh the chances of maintaining the team which looks after the paying fans. These developers are nice guys (not demi-gods) who I assume have lives like the rest of us and need an income to pursue that. So if we want patches, expansions, TW3 etc we should be willing to pay a reasonable price for the game. We should also be expected to defend our interests in maintaining that game.
For those who play MP they are the most effected by diminished market returns as that is the first area that gets culled off in a effort to minimise bottom line expenses. If you don't believe me look at how well EA has looked after the server.
Arrrgghhhh... Remove that picture Pape, it burns my eyes... My eyes, my eyes, the goggles do nothing! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
It is a mockery of my waiting... Not only does it make it impossible to wait, it is also a FAKE!!! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif
I seriously hope that the people who have bought such a copy will go home and suddenly find out Medieval is spelled wrong... DOH!
Papewaio
08-28-2002, 19:09
Quote Originally posted by Kraxis:
Not only does it make it impossible to wait, it is also a FAKE!!! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif
[/QUOTE]
You know the formula by now.
If it ain't in the Babbiest Babe Thread and it is posted by Soly then the silicon graphics are fake.
If it is in the Babbiest Babe Thread then the graphics are real the silicon breasts are fake.
All girlfriends of Soly past, present and future are exceptions to these rules.
Just remember these rules are just like the rules of English spelling they are inconsistent.
---- EDIT----
Oops probably still has some spelling mistakes... not as bad as midnight. Thanks for the heads up.
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Pape you're a disgrace. - NinjaKilla
Pape has the right idea. - Sir Kuma of The Org
Papewaio is right on the money. - Nelson
True Pape, so very True. - Barocca
Pape has it right./ As usual. - Minamoto Yoritomo / Sjakihata Akechi
[This message has been edited by Papewaio (edited 08-28-2002).]
Gahh...
You keep going on about spelling! But very well, I will settle down pretend it is not there.
#1 Virtually everyone who downloads an ISO online and crack the CD protection would have never bought the game.
#2 Playing the game for free allows a player to "test drive" the game risk-free. Because the video game market has non-existant return policies in most cases, you would otherwise risk being stuck with a broken/unfinished game. This serves to significantly harm low-quality game sales while doing little harm to well-made games.
#3 Some of the people in example #1 who never would have bought the game, may nevertheless decide to buy it after playing the cracked version. Why? Because A: they now like the game B: cracked games do not include all the features (multiplayer).
#4 Downloading games takes alot of time an effort, you also must have high speed internet access and a large hard drive. On top of all of this you must possess a file-sharing program, know how to use it, and then take the time to look for the games. All of these factors guarantee that the vast majority of consumers will not bother with downloading ISOs/etc.
#5 You do not the publisher/developer 1 red cent unless you were going to buy the game and INSTEAD replaced that purchase with a cracked CD, and ended up never buying the game. Putting in online play, which will never be accessible to cracked games, essentially turns the cracked game into a very nice demo. If the game is good enough that a consumer wants the full game, they will buy it.
#6 Many people who download/crack games are young and/or cannot afford to comfortably purchase their games. When you take into account the difficulty of downloading & cracking games at times, it is pointless for someone with alot of money on hand to go through all that trouble.
#7 The end result is, with a cracked game in circulation, many more people will be playing the game, most of whom probably wouldnt have been willing to buy the game. After playing it, some of this group will change their minds, some wont. The loss in $$$ to the publisher must be weighed against the fact that many more people are playing and possibly enjoying a game which increases happiness in society: which is a fundamental goal of public policy.
""Honest officer I did not steal the car from the dealership I was test driving it. If I ever was to go into a drag race I would buy the car and so would my mates. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif ""
Your car test-drive analogy is flawed in many respects:
#1 That car cost money to make. By taking without paying for it, the company loses its investment.
#2 You have to physically steal the car, you do not steal the game by copying/cracking.
#3 If you did not plan on buying the game, the game dev/publisher loses _nothing_.
#4 A more apt analogy follows:
"Honest officer I did not steal the car from the dealership, I examined it and made an exact copy, which I built at my own expense in my garage. If I ever was to go into a drag race I would buy the car and so would my mates, because my inferior copy does not contain all the features of the original. Also, I want a warranty and support as well as updates when there are recalls issued. When there are vehicle updates and improvements I do not want to have to go back to my garage and remake a new copy each time. Not that any of this matters, officer, because violating the car makers intellectual property isn't something I can get arrested over: the only remedy is that the car company can sue me in court in order to recover damages. I do not know what damages they could get since I was not going to but this model car anyway, but yes I know there is a statutory penalty allowing them to sue me for $20,000 in any event, but I would like to see the jury that inflicts that kind of damage on me considering all I did was copy one little crappy car for my own use! Considering the risks of losing their case and costs of litigating it, the company will probably just bully me by having their lawyers make threatening calls/letters to my ISP and I to harass and/or scare me!"
Papewaio
08-29-2002, 08:50
Quote Originally posted by Kalt:
"... the company will probably just bully me by having their lawyers make threatening calls/letters to my ISP and I to harass and/or scare me!"[/QUOTE]
Worse they could make you an MS employee http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif
Papewaio
08-29-2002, 09:11
BTW since this is getting into the ethics of general piracy this is going to OT where it will probably be sunk like any pirate ship by Soly Purple Beard
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Pape you're a disgrace. - NinjaKilla
Pape has the right idea. - Sir Kuma of The Org
Papewaio is right on the money. - Nelson
True Pape, so very True. - Barocca
Pape has it right./ As usual. - Minamoto Yoritomo / Sjakihata Akechi
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