It isn't, actually.
DRM free games get distributed the same was as cracked games. This is a unique backdoor abuse method that isn't used anywhere else, really.
DRM doesn't save games from being pirated. Even online-only games get pirated.
Education and engaging your customers stops piracy.
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Exactly. Rather go support CD Projekt Red, who are almost the only ones who still publish DRM free AAA-titles and support their products for a long long time and really try to reward their customers for buying their games instead of punish them like the fucking big publishers (EA, Actizzard, Ubisoft) with their rootkit and espionage DRM and cut out DLC which gets the real price for games to over $100 these days.
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What you are proposing as B is an abuse, though. Still, they might be quite happy to get a new GOG customer that potentially is going to buy some stuff from there. But they probably wouldn't be entirely happy with you passing around a DRM free copy. This is just same as pirating.
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Thats really not in the spirit of what the backup is for... you could do the same thing with every game on GoG.com... since they're DRM-free you could just distribute copies to your friends. GoG is hoping that people will show their appreciation for DRM-free materials by NOT stealing them in that way.
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... what an insult! How about you support the awesome developers or just been a pirate of a game, one of the very few which the developers don't even bother add copy protection (because it's just that great, people actually buy it), don't half fast it...
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Pretty cool, now I got both Witcher games on Steam AND GOG I guess
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it's a strange thing, though, isn't it? on one hand, it's wrong for me to copy a DVD and give it to a friend. But at the same time, it's perfectly fine to give the DVD to someone who then gives it to someone and so on until it's been watched by whomever wanted to. But why is that? If i own a game, it's wrong for me to make a backup -and- let a friend borrow it..but it's not wrong for him to have the game through me, despite him not paying for it..Another example is, say, programs. It's perfectly wrong to download them, but if i buy a key for something that i can install on a USB stick and use that program at people's houses for what the program was intended to, it's okay..but, wait, what? They didn't pay for it..but -someone- did, and that's what matters. Or at least that's how i see it. Granted, i've no idea -why- it's okay for you to use something on everyone, but it's not okay for everyone to have access to that something whenever they want..even if the only thing they'd have to do otherwise is come to your house and ask for it.. >_>
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+1000 sir, I don't see it as pirating as I'm not uploading the file to a site for EVERYONE to download the game, at most I'd give it to 2 or 3 friends who want the game
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I just don't see sharing a DRM-free copy of a game with a couple of friends as piracy, are you telling me that back in the day when you were a kid and had physical pc games without keys, you never installed them on a friend's pc? Or vice versa? Because that's exactly what this is.
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are you telling me that back in the day when you were a kid and had physical pc games without keys, you never installed them on a friend's pc? Or vice versa? Because that's exactly what this is.
That's still piracy! DRM-free isn't the same as shareware or freeware. You're still supposed to pay for the game!
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sigh So you have never, and will never, pirate ANYTHING in your life? No music, movies, games etc? You can honestly say that you've not once done anything similar to this? I still don't see this as piracy though but I'll just accept the fact that by most it is seen as such.
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I'm not pretending, I do see downloading music/movies as piracy and even games, but when I legally own a game, and MIGHT share it with a few friends, that's a might, not even a definite event, I really don't see it as piracy, nor do I see the game sharing I mentioned doing as a kid as piracy. But that's just my opinion, there's no correct answer to this.
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nor do I see the game sharing I mentioned doing as a kid as piracy. But that's just my opinion, there's no correct answer to this
There IS a correct answer to the "game sharing" as a kid. That was piracy. Loaning an xbox game to a friend is ok. Copying that disc and you both having the game is piracy. Those aren't grey areas.
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Wasn't copying discs, I'd just take my copy with me when I went to their house, and installed it on their pc. And it was one of those games that didn't require a disc to play everytime nor did it have a key.
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Exactly....how is this even an argument ? Some people lack common sense....
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My God you're stubborn, fine, you win this argument if that's what you wanted to hear. I still disagree however, but am no longer willing to argue.
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There is no right or wrong, there is only the perception of it in the individual's eyes. Nothing's criminal or deviant until judged & labelled so by someone with status. All that said, I do not illegally download games myself, at all.
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Okay so, what is the actual purpose of DRM-free games AT ALL, if they're just intended to be yours, they might as well have DRM, pc gaming might as well be restricted to Steam then. The way I see it, and thought others see it too, is that a DRM-free game is yours to install on as many pc's as you want. But then again, I'm no moral entrepreneur to be deciding what's right and wrong. So please, enlighten me, what is the ACTUAL purpose of DRM-free games?
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You've GOTTA be trolling me now. DRM-free simply means the game you PURCHASED doesn't bother the user with CD checks, install limits, online activation, or any of that stuff. It allows you to install, trusting that you legally purchased the game and it's not going to hassle you. It's done as a convenience to the consumer.
It is NOT intended for you to give the game to other people. Those types of games are called "shareware", and is something different.
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Steam doesn't have CD checks, install limits etc. Only difference is that your games are on Steam, therefore DRM-free games might as well not exist. Because it seems they have the same purpose as games with DRM with the exact same freedoms really.
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Doesn't Steam have like an offline mode in which you can just play your games though? In the end even GOG games require the internet to download so their purpose is kinda useless imo. Ohwell, I just hope I didn't make enemies with you or Hillary Clinton over this little argument lol, it would suck to have enemies within a community.
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Doesn't Steam have like an offline mode in which you can just play your games though?
Yes, although it's reported to have many problems. I've never used it so I can't say. But even offline, you still have to run the Steam client to run the game, giving you an extra step and less system resources.
In the end even GOG games require the internet to download so their purpose is kinda useless imo
That's why they refer to it as a backup copy. If you lose access to Steam for whatever reason (non-internet connection related), you can still get the game there and play it. Plus the bonus content.
No hard feelings at all.
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"Typically, the license states that you can install the original copy of software you bought on one computer and that you can make a backup copy in case the original is lost or damaged."
You're the stubborn one here. Pirate if you want, don't sugar coat it...so annoying. That copy on GoG is for YOU, not to give away unless stated by the game creator, did they say its a free copy to gift? If not you're 100% Wrong.
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Okay I see, this comes under "softlifting" so technically it is piracy. This is all I needed to see I guess, not just accusations.
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For starters, physical media and digital media are different. But we can compare. If you buy a DVD, you have a license to that movie. If you gift it to your friend, you're basically passing the license to him.
With digital downloads, you have a license to that piece of software. If you install that software on multiple different people's machine, now multiple people CONCURRENTLY have that license. You duplicated that license, and that's not ok.
So when your friend activates the key on GOG, two people are both concurrently claiming that ONE license.
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But isn't it the same thing as, say, me having two computers in the same household and installing it on them? Or is it somehow different because they're my own? Does that mean if, say, i leave some games installed on my computer and sell it to a pawn shop, and then later on go download the games again, it's illegal? It seems like sort of a grey area more than anything, so maybe I'm making a bad example with that question.. The real question i want to know though is if i buy a license to something, isn't it mine? Or am i merely renting it from someone? If that's the case, something seems pretty wrong here. >.> And if it's mine, why can i not use it elsewhere or share it with a friend? I guess i don't understand why it's wrong, I'll admit. I mean, if he comes over to my house and plays the game, that's fine right? And it's fine if i was to go out of my way and let him borrow my computer or something, right? Or is that not okay as well? (seriously asking Dx ) If it is, why is it so different that he owns it as well? If it's not, well, isn't it just down to morals at that point? I mean, nobody can monitor that you've given your computer to a friend for a few days and nobody is going to break down your door because you did so..so what's to stop you if it -is- wrong somehow? ._.
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If you don't understand it from my last post, I don't think I'll get through to you.
But isn't it the same thing as, say, me having two computers in the same household and installing it on them? Or is it somehow different because they're my own?
It's different because they're your own computers that you use.
Does that mean if, say, i leave some games installed on my computer and sell it to a pawn shop, and then later on go download the games again, it's illegal?
I would think that scenario would be breaking the license agreement.
The real question i want to know though is if i buy a license to something, isn't it mine? And if it's mine, why can i not use it elsewhere or share it with a friend?
That single license is yours, yes. The license is meant for one person to use. No, no one is going to be breaking down your door if you let your friend borrow your computer.
If it is, why is it so different that he owns it as well?
He doesn't own it. He duplicated a license. He didn't pay for it. It's stealing.
In this age of great Steam sales and competition rising up to beat them (Amazon, GMG), there's no reason not to just buy games you want, legitimately and cheaply. The developers of The Witcher series are one of the good-guy developers that are really on the side of the gamers and do us right in the way of DRM (or lack thereof). To steal from them is doing the gaming community as a whole a huge disservice.
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This thread has a heat rating of 8/10. "Not cool".
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Nice, I already activated my GOG copy of Witcher 1 last night. All I need is the second one (and a decent computer), and I can begin to get pumped about Witcher 3!
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I bought mine on the steam sale in 2012 and had a CD key. So it's really weird ;o
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+bobofatt
I bought The Witcher on Steam in 2010. I have a CD key. And it allows me to redeem it on GOG (which I did).
[edit] after seeing your reply, all I have to say is... I dunno. [/edit]
[edit2] glad that's solved! :) [/edit]
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That's really weird. I have both games on steam and they have their CD key
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Not cool. CD Projekt Red is actually one of the good guys. They don't look to screw over the consumer with DRM or cut content out of games to charge for DLC. By taking advantage of their generosity and policies, all you're doing is encouraging companies like EA and Ubisoft to continue their practices.
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Are you aware that CD project red randomly sued people for allegedly pirating the game, without any kind of evidence?
On top of that, they didn't only claim missed income over the (allegedly) pirated games, they sued each person for 911 euros.
So i.m.o. calling they're just another company looking to make as much money as possible.
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Are you aware CD project red doesn't even protect their software with security crap, they are one of the few companies that doesn't hurt the buyers trying to stop it. However, releasing Torrents of the game is going a bit far. Torrents are well known to be tracked by ISPs and IP Addresses - and they used that against the uploaders for a very small amount.
Quote:
"We will never approve of it, since it doesn't only affect us but has a negative impact on the whole game industry," the statement continues. "We've seen some of the concern online about our efforts to thwart piracy, and we can assure you that we only take legal actions against users who we are 100 percent sure have downloaded our game illegally."
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Here in the Netherlands we have a saying: Wij van WC eend adviseren ..
It means that companies will tell you anything to sell you something, in this case they tell you not to worry since they're making sure that only the right people are getting sued, but isn't that the only acceptable answer they can give?
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We advice toilet duck?
Well, maybe they are ensuring now by collecting the pirate's product keys on a website (they will freely sign up to and tick a box to say they are), storing into a database and then linking back to the users of that product key? As well as a confession from people on a SteamGifts forum, lololololololol!!!
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+1. I remember reading about that incident. The eventual response from the company was that they would stop suing people as an act of good will towards their fans (who were protesting a lot). So I look at them not as "one of the good guys", but as people willing to compromise their ideals in order to get sales. Their view of piracy is just as screwed up as most other companies'.
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How come that's exploiting the system? It's supposed to work that way
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It's better to don't see lots of witcher "fake" giveaways.
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I have made a copy this morning but I'm not sure what to do with it.I think I'll keep it because I have the retail version, so if anything happens I can still get the game online.
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I usually respect the rules, but anyway, what else can I do with it?Trading?I won't if you want to ask.
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Hmm.. Maybe it's Paradox I've heard who does that. "Register your game with them and get a Steam key." Honestly, that's only fair. Game developers get unlimited Steam keys for free (for their own games). If you purchase the game, it'd be nice to have it on all modes available to you.
Note: Of course, people will always exploit anything they're able to. No sense in arguing one way or the other on that topic.
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Link Go there and you can either A. get a free copy for yourself, which includes a manual to the game, game guide, soundtrack and much more or B. Copy the steam key from your copy you won, give it to a friend and they too can have The Witcher/Witcher 2. With all the giveaways for it floating around, i'm surprised nobody (or maybe i just missed it) mentioned this. Remember, you cannot give away a GOG copy on here, so don't try it.
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