What is the best way to approach a friend who pirates games?

I have a friend that does this. I recommended him to make an Steam account and told him once "dude, that game is made by an small indie studio and it's not that expensive. Drop 10€ and get it if you like it".

But just once. If he continues pirating games, it's not my business. If you feel uncomfortable because whatever when he talks about paying games, talk with him and ask him to not talk about that anymore.

In the end both are grown ups and each one does what he thinks it's right.
 
Just let him know you think it's a pretty shitty thing to do and let him make his own decisions. If he keeps bringing it up, keep telling him you think it's shitty.
 
Hire a bunch of male strippers to dress up as FBI agents and arrange for them to arrive one night at his place when you guys are just chillin. Have them yell FBI! Seem like you are mildly surprised and be like "Not yet!". Open the door and have the strippers barge in and surround your friend. They should tell them that he is being arrested for the felony of pirating video games. Locate the leader, the guy you will pay to have a special role as your "Uncle" in this. Have an argument prepared about how you have been secretly trying to protect your friend, but your uncle has to come crack down. Extend it to that you convince your uncle to give him one last chance, but if he pirates even so much as an iPhone game, his ass is going straight to Guantanamo Bay. The strippers should now leave and your friend will never pirate again!
 
All these "none of your business" posts make it sound like the dude is cheating on his wife or selling hard drugs. You guys realize it's his good friend right? There's nothing wrong with just saying "Hey bro, the bragging about pirating thing is kind of off putting to me...." and then explaining your thoughts.

I seriously don't see how that should damage your guys' relationship, friends should be able to just fucking talk to each other openly. It's your friend and you know him OP, your call. But it really can't hurt just to bring it up, or at least tell him to stop bragging about it.

If I had a friend who complained about the most ridiculous bullshit they would definitely not be worth my time.

You don't talk about torrenting games, you should be talking about the games.
 
Dont listen to anyone saying you need to say something, he will just think you're a giant douche.

What you need to do (and this is straying into douche territory) is find out who his ISP is, write him a letter from them, stick the logo on it saying they have tracked illegal activity on his line and if he continues he may be liable to jail time. If that fails phone his ISPs tech support and give them dogs abuse after telling them his phone number and they'll cut him off.

Or y'know intervention blah blah blah.

Edit or do what surface of me says, sounds way more fun.
 
I've only gotten so far as to making them feel genuinely bad about it, but then he started buying more games.

Magics words were: "That's stealing. You're a thief."

Works nicely.
 
"Hey man, pirating games I see."

"Yup."

"Alright, sweet. I'm gonna go."

"Cool, sounds good."

"OK, later."
 
I've only gotten so far as to making them feel genuinely bad about it, but then he started buying more games.

Magics words were: "That's stealing. You're a thief."

Works nicely.

Do you tell your parents/children/friends they're thieves when they listen to a song on YouTube?
 
Secretly upload a virus on his machine. When he ask you for help or the topic comes up, ask him if he pirated games, and when he say yes, say "ah...", and then tell him about piracy and how virus-free, safe and convenient Steam is.

I have no solution for the inevitable Origin and Uplay- "WTF is this?? I didn't have to deal with this shit when I pirated!!" .. That'll be a tough one to get around..


First part was a joke btw..
 
I've only gotten so far as to making them feel genuinely bad about it, but then he started buying more games.

Magics words were: "That's stealing. You're a thief."

Works nicely.

If you listen to music on YouTube, you're a thief. Enjoy prison you criminal.
 
sorry but I didn't say OP is moralfag don't I? I just say don't be. He's asking for opinion and I gave him one.

Anyway, english isn't my native so I mod find that offensive, feel free to take it down. I just edited my post.

You're probably going to be banned for that, but I'll explain the reason why - you're using "fag" as a pejorative. It's not about calling someone directly a fag, it's about the implication that being a fag is a bad thing in the first place.

Really, it's just a slur that is ugly. It's a lot like the term "nigger-rigging." It's an ugly term with ugly connotations that you may have missed, especially if you're not a native speaker.
 
Do you tell your parents/children/friends they're thieves when they listen to a song on YouTube?

Whoa there, apples and oranges.

Are you serious ?

Accessing a world known public website to listen to a song is not the same as acquiring a pirated copy, installing it and playing it to completion.

Record companies themselves put the songs up, youtube ad money goes to VEVO and in turn to the record company.
 
I have friends who do it, but its none of my business really. My friendship is more important to me than cutting ties over something like this. Whenever they bring it up, which is not often, I just ignore it.
 
bunch of my friends torrent all the time, and the worst thing about it is they make fun of people who actually pay for the games by saying only a sucker who pay for PC games, in the end they get extremely mad because of exclusives in consoles

These type of people frustrate me the most, they are plague in this industry
 
Whoa there, apples and oranges.

Are you serious ?

Accessing a world known public website to listen to a song is not the same as acquiring a pirated copy, installing it and playing it to completion.

Record companies themselves put the songs up, youtube ad money goes to VEVO and in turn to the record company.

All those people with AdBlock Plus are criminals then. You should check the receipts and e-mail them a strong worded letter about their high crimes.
 
You're probably going to be banned for that, but I'll explain the reason why - you're using "fag" as a pejorative. It's not about calling someone directly a fag, it's about the implication that being a fag is a bad thing in the first place.

Really, it's just a slur that is ugly. It's a lot like the term "nigger-rigging." It's an ugly term with ugly connotations that you may have missed, especially if you're not a native speaker.

I apologize because english isn't my native. Just hope I don't get banned for my stupid comment.
 
With all due respect OP you probably have done the same thing in your life with movies, music, shows and even the picture in your avatar. Have you ever recorded something from TV and ever got the copyright holders permission to do so?
 
All those people with AdBlock Plus are criminals then. You should check the receipts and e-mail those people a strong worded letter about their high crimes.

However you bend it, remains stealing. Installing adblock is done by the user.

Last time I checked, there's no "CapcomVevo" where you can play Street Fighter 4 with ads every 3 matches.
 
All those people with AdBlock Plus are criminals then. You should check the receipts and e-mail them a strong worded letter about their high crimes.

Your comparing downloading a game with adblock plus? And just because people use adblockplus does not somehow make it acceptable to pirate games as well.

If you can afford a PC that can run most games, you should be able to afford to pay for them as well.
 
Whilst I don't agree with torrenting games in the first place, torrenting indie games is just cruel.

Tell him to stop being a dirty little thief.
 
Ask him to play one of his pirated games with you that utilizes Steamworks.

"... Oh wait, you have the pirated version and can't do that, nevermind..."
 
However you bend it, remains stealing. Installing adblock is done by the user.

Last time I checked, there's no "CapcomVevo" where you can play Street Fighter 4 with ads every 3 matches.

Did Mikami or Bethesda give you their permission to use The Evil Within™ logo in your avatar? I think you better pay for that.
 
Your comparing downloading a game with adblock plus? And just because people use adblockplus does not somehow make it acceptable to pirate games as well.

If you can afford a PC that can run most games, you should be able to afford to pay for them as well.

It is the appropriate time of year for straw men I suppose.
 
There's nothing you can say. Even a 99 cent humble bundle won't convince some people to buy. I used to pirate games, the main reason I don't now is because steam makes everything so convenient. Fast downloads and auto updates, etc. If something is too expensive I'll wait for a sale. If I want something bad enough I'll pay full price. Most games have some online element now and days anyway and you get locked out of that as well. Paying just makes sense to me.
 
Did Mikami or Bethesda give you their permission to use The Evil Within™ logo in your avatar? I think you better pay for that.

Hahaha.

OK, you're a very thick one. Attacking the avatar. It seemed that way.

A logo is not something that is sold to generate revenue.
Putting that logo in my avatar is actually a form of marketing that spreads awareness about a product, resulting in a potentially non-significant increase in sales.


Given you're a fervent defender of the thing, I'd bet hard cash that a quick search on your hard-drive would give hilarious results.
 
Ask him if he also pirates porn, now that's an industry at risk!

I wonder how many hardliners in here have pirated porn, music, or television.

Given you're a fervent defender of the thing, I'd bet hard cash that a quick search on your hard-drive would give hilarious results.

If you have something to accuse me of (without evidence), accuse me. Don't be spineless now.
 
He's bragging because he wants to hear your opinion. Tell him, OP.
 
Hahaha.

OK, you're a very thick one. Attacking the avatar. It seemed that way.

A logo is not something that is sold to generate revenue.
Putting that logo in my avatar is actually a form of marketing that spreads awareness about a product, resulting in a potentially non-significant increase in sales.


Given you're a fervent defender of the thing, I'd bet hard cash that a quick search on your hard-drive would give hilarious results.

Piracy also is a form of marketing.
 
Whatever you do don't show him uPlay that shit will just make him pirate even more.


Also let him be. You're just mad that he thought of a better method to get games than you have.
 
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