DryvBy
Member
Context: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/ubiso...imes-before-you-dont-actually-own-your-games/
WARNING: THIS IS NOT A THREAD TO PROMOTE PIRACY. THIS IS NOT TO DISCUSS HOW TO GET PIRATED GAMES OR ANYTHING.
This isn't a new discussion. We've heard for years that buying digital games is basically like buying an NFT: you own a license to access the thing you paid money for. If you want to backup a copy of your game, too bad, it's not really your game. You have limited permission to use your game, meaning that if they wanted to strip you of the game, that's what you signed up for. I haven't touched a pirated copy of a video game since the very early 2000s and I buy a lot of games. But I also don't feel like piracy is the exact same as stealing since you can't own anything either. In fact, I find the fact I can buy something and they can strip me of it more inline with stealing than piracy. Piracy can lead to sells, and often did for me. But stripping people of a game they paid for, or access to it? That's horribly more immoral imo.
When I was first gaming in the early 90s, if you would have told all the people buying software that they didn't actually own anything but a limited license that can be revoked at any moment, gaming specifically would have collapsed. Now too many people have just accepted it.
I also have a huge issue that they sell us ports of games (and movies). If I buy a license for a multiplatform game, say Metal Gear Solid, then why do I need to buy it per platform? Why don't I own the license to play the game anywhere I want?
I have the same beef with digital movies. If I buy a license for a movie, what does that have to do with format? If I own a license for a movie, why do I need to pay for a 4K upgrade? I own the license for the movie, give me the upgrade for free since I don't own the movie but a license to watch a movie.
What's your thoughts on this GAF?
WARNING: THIS IS NOT A THREAD TO PROMOTE PIRACY. THIS IS NOT TO DISCUSS HOW TO GET PIRATED GAMES OR ANYTHING.
This isn't a new discussion. We've heard for years that buying digital games is basically like buying an NFT: you own a license to access the thing you paid money for. If you want to backup a copy of your game, too bad, it's not really your game. You have limited permission to use your game, meaning that if they wanted to strip you of the game, that's what you signed up for. I haven't touched a pirated copy of a video game since the very early 2000s and I buy a lot of games. But I also don't feel like piracy is the exact same as stealing since you can't own anything either. In fact, I find the fact I can buy something and they can strip me of it more inline with stealing than piracy. Piracy can lead to sells, and often did for me. But stripping people of a game they paid for, or access to it? That's horribly more immoral imo.
When I was first gaming in the early 90s, if you would have told all the people buying software that they didn't actually own anything but a limited license that can be revoked at any moment, gaming specifically would have collapsed. Now too many people have just accepted it.
I also have a huge issue that they sell us ports of games (and movies). If I buy a license for a multiplatform game, say Metal Gear Solid, then why do I need to buy it per platform? Why don't I own the license to play the game anywhere I want?
I have the same beef with digital movies. If I buy a license for a movie, what does that have to do with format? If I own a license for a movie, why do I need to pay for a 4K upgrade? I own the license for the movie, give me the upgrade for free since I don't own the movie but a license to watch a movie.
What's your thoughts on this GAF?