Pirates scoff at games dev sim's in-game piracy lesson
Dev seeds cracked version of 'Game Dev Tycoon', watches as Pirates run rampant
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Australian games developer Greenheart Games has released a cracked version of its own product – a games business simulation called “Game Dev Tycoon” – as an experiment in education of pirates and their reaction to a game that tells them their software-pinching ways are evil.
The startup outfit detailed its exploits here, explaining that “When we released our very first game … We released a cracked version of the game ourselves, minutes after opening our Store.”
That cracked version was “uploaded … to the number one torrent sharing site” where friends of the developer seeded it.
It's been in demand ever since.
But Greenheart seeded the cracked version of the game with anti-piracy messages, such as that depicted on the screen below.
An anti-piracy message baked into the game "Game Dev Tycoon"
Once players see that screen it becomes nigh-on impossible to succeed in the games development caper, with profits proving elusive even as user numbers soar. Just as happens in the real world.
Greenheart also points out, quite politely, that not paying for the game means it is unlikely the developers will bother to develop other games in future. The company even posted the following appeal in the company's forums:
“We’re just a start-up and really need your support. The game is only 7.99USD, DRM free, you get the installer for all three platforms, you can install it on up to three computers for personal use and we will give you a Steam key when and if the game is on Steam … so please obtain a legal copy and make us happy.”
Sadly, these entreaties have fallen on deaf ears: just 214 people have paid for the game, while over 3,000 are happily running the cracked version, even though the latter group can't be having much fun due to the effects of all that in-game piracy.
Greenheart's Patrick Klug now feels releasing executable games is a bad idea.
“Fact is that any game can be cracked, so all you do is spend time on something that in the end just annoys your real customers while only slightly delaying the inevitable,” he writes of DRM. “The only way to protect yourself is to create an online game. I guess that’s why so many studios focus on these types of games and it’s probably a driving force to eradicate traditional single player games.
You can buy the game here. ®
COMMENTS
Highly Rated
I'm not a fan of Game Dev Tycoon
I'm more partial to "Call Centre Mania" or even "Eastern European Hotel Contract Cleaner For Below Minimum Wage Tycoon"
"over 3,000 are happily running the cracked version"?
Do you mean that 3000 people have downloaded the .exe, or 3000 people are actively playing the game?
Also; maybe they only sold 214 copies because the game is shit? I've not played it, but it's a distinct possibility...
"an experiment in education of pirates"
And he's whinging because it failed ?
Well duh.
Here's a counterpoint : it's called Minecraft. That game is all over the place. The graphics are horrible, blocky abominations. The principle is, as far as I can tell, just digging and building stuff. The maker of the game has declared to never, ever include any sort of DRM or protection in it. Minecraft can be bought for 20 bucks, or torrented six ways to Sunday.
The guy (oh, yeah, forgot to add : the ONE guy) who made Minecraft is a millionaire. Hundreds of thousands of people have shelled out for his game. He's so rich he sold his game to a company because he (probably) got tired of the concept of working.
So how does that situate your product ? Firmly in the pile of shit, I'd say. A good game sells, with or without protection.
So go take your righteousness and sit on it. Prick.
Re: gamers and pirates
Yes, and home taping was going to kill the music industry...
