Open question to scene game piraters

Ambassador (5684)

26-05-2017, 06:06

So, I've found out that there are WhatsApp and Facebook groups where one guy will buy a (recent!) scene game, dump it and share it to the rest of the group. Some of these involve games I worked on.

This is not to start drama or anything, but I would genuinely like to know how those people feel about themselves. Does it make them feel proud? Does it feel like an accomplishment? Do they enjoy shitting all over other people's hard work?
Well, I can tell about at least one accomplishment: the Kai Magazine game that's in development now will probably be the last MSX game I'll ever make music for. So that's an accomplishment right there. I'm not saying my music was any good to begin with (it has a lot of flaws), but as people seem to think it's nothing at all, and not worth anything, you can apparently easily do without.

Congratulations, and pat yourself on the back and treat yourself to a nice beer for this achievement.

The question remains: does it feel nice to be killing the MSX scene? It must be, or else you wouldn't be doing it.

And for those who think I'm making drama or exaggerating: try to imagine making a lot of free stuff, and still having your not-free stuff disrespected and disregarded just like that. It's a big slap in the face, and really hurtful and insulting. So thanks again.

بواسطة ericb59

Paragon (1126)

26-05-2017, 07:07

Its the same story again and again John...
We have to do with this reality.

بواسطة JohnHassink

Ambassador (5684)

26-05-2017, 07:13

True, it's probably unavoidable. But the thing I'd like to know is: do they think what we create sucks anyway, or is it more like some "I'm entitled to get everything for free because my parents didn't properly raise me" thing?

بواسطة ARTRAG

Enlighted (6980)

26-05-2017, 07:39

Which games are being pirated ?

بواسطة JohnHassink

Ambassador (5684)

26-05-2017, 07:54

As far as my 'intel' goes, mostly everything from Kai Magazine, but also Tina's Adventure Island (yes, already), and God knows what else. Even if it wouldn't be games I worked on, it's the mentality that sucks.
I mean, we all pirated games in the '80s and '90s. I've never owned an original Space Manbow or Ys III, but I enjoyed the hell out of pirated copies of that games. But in those days, there was a certain respect for scene products, which seems to be lacking now.
On the other hand, maybe I'm just a hypocrite and this is my punishment.

بواسطة ARTRAG

Enlighted (6980)

26-05-2017, 08:45

Well, Kai Magazine's games have a few "haters" here around, so it is not a surprise if someone does not show that respect you say...

بواسطة JohnHassink

Ambassador (5684)

26-05-2017, 09:04

But Imanok, though?

بواسطة ericb59

Paragon (1126)

26-05-2017, 10:07

Kai is selling digital copies. In my mind it's something like " giving the hammer to be beaten with it".

In this world, you cannot thing all people will respect all your work. This is a sad reality ... Live with that dude !

بواسطة wolf_

Ambassador_ (10135)

26-05-2017, 10:15

The only way to deal with it is an expensive one, which I've mentioned before: make it a cartridge and include a special chip which isn't (to be) emulated, and which is essential for the game to run. To prevent the SCC-'inserting after the beep' thing, each game should come with its own concept.

بواسطة Hrothgar

Champion (479)

26-05-2017, 10:41

ericb59 wrote:

Kai is selling digital copies. In my mind it's something like "giving the hammer to be beaten with it".

I've asked it again, and I'd truly like to get an honest answer this time.

Why do you think this is true? It doesn't seem so difficult to dump a physical cartridge and then start distributing the roms, otherwise I wouldn't have had Konami copies in the '80s to begin with, so I don't understand what difference this would make. And the statement shows a lot of disrespect to people who mostly enjoy simply playing MSX productions, instead of collecting physical goodies and putting them on shelves to look at. Something with babies and bathwater, where a crumbling MSX world is concerned.

Also the comment to use unemulatable chips shows this disrespect. While I can understand the urge to make copying as difficult as possible, it is a spit in the face to all those who prefer legal versions but don't need physical cartridges (or even can't use them anymore due to no longer having a working MSX but only using emulators). Making legal ROMs impossible to get may just be another justification for some to download a cracked version.

And so the vicious circle of mutual despise goes on...

بواسطة JohnHassink

Ambassador (5684)

26-05-2017, 11:06

Hrothgar, with all due respect, is it possible that you're reading too much of an aggressive stance into ericb59 and wolf_'s posts?
I'm pretty sure they didn't mean any disrespect to how people like to enjoy games.

The circle can be easily broken, I think:
Either us, creators of content don't care anymore and give up eventually, or certain elements within a scene are forced to grow up and grow a spine.