experiences with piracy?

Discussion in 'Public Game Developers Forum' started by martinpi, Jun 26, 2009.

  1. I was thinking that you could have the high score server as an in app purchase.

    Then you can validate each valid UDID with apple, and not return high scores unless their UDID is approved.

    Seems like it might be a lot of work for little return though.
     
  2. ddn

    ddn Well-Known Member

    Jun 19, 2009
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    Programmer by day but at night also programmer.
    Look behind u!
    I dont think you know the UUIDs of your purchasers, as far as I know. Either way it's not worth it to combat piracy on the iPhone, that's really a job for Apple. If it becomes a big enough problem Apple will need to address it (using custom hardware, online validation, better encryption schemes, etc..). This is simialr to the console manafactuers and piracy on their systems.

    -ddn
     
  3. You don't know the UDID of people who buy your apps, but in app purchases have an api to check a UDID with Apple to see if they have purchased the in app content.
     
  4. martinpi

    martinpi Well-Known Member

    Mar 10, 2009
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    founder, director & game designer at studio radiol
    when it comes to music market data shows that those who own the most amount of illegal music are also the best customers. i'm quite sure the same is true for films. and i'm absolutely positive that PC gaming wouldn't have taken off without people swapping floppy discs in the first place.

    i think the best solution is to provide superior service to legitimate customers - like steam does it - and require _some_ authentication in order to use these services (because they incur running costs). that way pirates just play demo versions of your game. it would turn piracy into marketing.

    btw: there's a problem with the stealing-piracy analogy: if you steal something the former owner doesn't own it anymore. with software it's just a copy.
     
  5. wildex999

    wildex999 Member

    Apr 12, 2009
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    Student
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    How about putting in ads if the app/game find out it's a pirate copy? Maybe hide the detection until a day or two after release to let the pirate copy spread a bit.
    Most pirates just want to test the game, and they shouldn't complain if they get a small ad at the main screen if they are sincere about just testing before buying.
    For those who just don't want/can't buy the app for some reason, they will eventually pay of at least a bit of the app by getting an add each day they turn on the app/game.

    Imagine, 1000 people donwload and try the game, but doesn't like it, and delete it after one try. There you might get a tiny bit of money.
    Now, maybe 10 of these like the game, and go buy it... good for you.
    and then we got the rest, those who download it, like it and just keep playing it on and off. Those last people, while not paying back the full app price, will eventually generate a bit of money from the ads, thus making the hit from piracy a bit softer.

    And if they take out the ad... well, then we will know what the pirates realy are... pirates.

    Well, just my view ;)
     
  6. CDubby94

    CDubby94 Well-Known Member

    Mar 31, 2009
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    Betty White
    Yeah but what company would want to be affiliated with cracked apps by putting their ad in one?
     
  7. coolman

    coolman Well-Known Member

    I'm doing exactly this. :)
     
  8. 93i

    93i Active Member

    #28 93i, Jul 1, 2009
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2009
    i also detected one of my games on warez sites, but my opinion is: that guys that get pirate copies of your game would not have bought it anyway. i am so pissed by companies that annoy paying customers with copy protection, minutes of non skipable legal text on dvd's and online activation - even short commercials about piracy. just realize: they would not have bought it anyway, so why annoy your paying customers?
     
  9. mofard

    mofard Well-Known Member

    Jun 10, 2009
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    I really doubt it, there will always be pirates stealing devs work and distributing it to the world, and potentially losing thousands of customers
     
  10. exosyphen

    exosyphen Well-Known Member

    Hi everyone,

    I am developing PC games for a long while now.
    Every now and then, I get a bunch of traffic from some torrent site when they post a cracked version. Almost everytime after that, I notice a nice increase in sales volume. So I don't complain that much.

    Look at the iPhone piracy from a different perspective.
    It's not that easy to locate and install pirated copies.

    Personally, my time is worth much more than $1 so I rather buy the game then spend a few hours locating and installing a pirated copy.
     
  11. Shokz

    Shokz Well-Known Member

    May 8, 2009
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    Physicist. No, not really, but maybe one day, i'm
    England. It's a sucky place.
    93i's correct - well, at least with me he is - i only download (PC) games i have absolutely no intention of paying for, that i really don't think would be my type, i think *well, it might turn out that i actually enjoy the game* and it plays out one of two ways;

    1) *no, i was right, it's terrible, glad i didn't buy that rubbish*

    2) *hey, it's actually really good, i'll pick that up* (I know it sounds stupid but i've done it with things like Prey - if they're worth the money i would have had to pay for them, then i'll purchase them, especially if there's worthwhile online play in the equation)
     
  12. s0mah

    s0mah Well-Known Member

    Dec 25, 2008
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    failing PHY tests
    little town of bethlehem
    lol

    Funny how dev's with complete shit apps rail the loudest against piracy.

    How many of you would be willing to offer a full and complete refund to those dissatisfied with an inferior product?

    Its just 99 pennies right?
     
  13. Yagami_Light

    Yagami_Light Well-Known Member

    Feb 20, 2009
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    Finally, someone understands!!! Pirates are going to steal no matter what! Why annoy your paying customers with annoying DRM software?

    I've actually been tempted to pirate games because of DRM software. When I heard about Spore's DRM garbage, I seriously considered illegally downloading it instead, to avoid the hassle.
     

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