Features - QOTW: Where do you buy your games?

[Brewster0101]

Instead I download them off pirate sites..

?

[Output]

Online, I can't even remember the last time I bought a game offline.

For console games, usually something such as Amazon or Play. For PC games, it is usually via Steam sales and/or the many Humble Bundle (and Humble Bundle-type) sales.

[MiniMelchett]

Simple, from the cheapest place i find.

[Infinite]

For PS3 I just find the cheapest online, mainly Amazon, Play, TheHut, etc

For PC I get everything on Steam, except for EA games that I get on ThePirateBay.

[watercooled]

I only buy PS3 / XBOX games. I DO NOT buy PC games as they can't be sold on due to activation limits, account limits, installation limits, CD key reusability, etc. Instead I download them off pirate sites. If such crap restrictions weren't in place , I would defo buy PC games as my HD6850 is just sitting around doing nothing now.

Terrible excuse, you are part of the reason DRM exists (not to mention SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, etc). People would pirate with or without DRM, DRM exists SOLELY because of PIRACY, people getting something for free while other people do the decent thing and PAY FOR IT is selfish. If you don't like it, don't get it. Or if it is truly because of DRM (doubtful), do what lots of people with that argument do, buy the game then use a cracked version to avoid the DRM nonsense.

[Noxvayl]

Terrible excuse, you are part of the reason DRM exists. People would pirate with or without DRM, DRM exists SOLELY because of PIRACY, people getting something for free while other people do the decent thing and PAY FOR IT is selfish. If you don't like it, don't get it. Or if it is truly because of DRM (doubtful), do what lots of people with that argument do, buy the game then use a cracked version to avoid the DRM nonsense.

Thought I'd correct you here, DRM exists because of an over reaction by publishers.

Another thing to note is if some pirated copies of a game are taken by legitimate customers and more pirated copies are taken by people that couldn't play the game otherwise how many pirated games can count towards lost revenue? It seems to me that the piracy problem is exaggerated if it is to be taken seriously at all.

There are a growing number of developers and publishers that have recognised that if they make a worth while game that their fans will support them but if they cram DRM rubbish into games that they'll fail to convince pirates to buy their games while driving away fans at the same time.

The whole thing stinks of isolated thinking and telling people who pirate games that they are(or are part of) the problem does nothing to help the situation. It won't convince them to part with their money for a piece of software more restricted than a jail cell.

This is an example of a proper study done to investigate piracy and take all aspects of it into account: http://torrentfreak.com/swiss-govt-d...-legal-111202/

This just illustrates how exaggerated piracy is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZadCj8O1-0

Apologies for the ramble but I get annoyed when people proclaim pirates to be the problem. You are normally quite sensible with your opinions but I fear you have fallen hook line and sinker for some seriously biased information.

[OilSheikh]

Terrible excuse, you are part of the reason DRM exists (not to mention SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, etc). People would pirate with or without DRM, DRM exists SOLELY because of PIRACY, people getting something for free while other people do the decent thing and PAY FOR IT is selfish. If you don't like it, don't get it. Or if it is truly because of DRM (doubtful), do what lots of people with that argument do, buy the game then use a cracked version to avoid the DRM nonsense.

Let's have an example.

Let's take a multiplatform game.. hmm.. Assassins Creed Revelations Std. edition
PS3 / XBOX NEW £18
PC NEW £13

Now, let's head to eBay and look at completed listings and see what the avg selling price is.
PS3 / XBOX 654 results USED £15
PC 4 results! Only 1 sold recently USED £7.50

:: Drumroll :: PC games can't be sold when you buy them. Btw, with the PC version, the CD key is tied to a Ubi account and you will need to give it away when you sell the game.

Now, I want to feel and be wowed by the graphics quality on PC but I can't justify buying the game and then not being able to sell it once I am done with it.

[watercooled]

Thought I'd correct you here, DRM exists because of an over reaction by publishers.

It's a reaction to piracy nonetheless.

Another thing to note is if some pirated copies of a game are taken by legitimate customers and more pirated copies are taken by people that couldn't play the game otherwise how many pirated games can count towards lost revenue? It seems to me that the piracy problem is exaggerated if it is to be taken seriously at all.

I don't deny that some of the downloads are by legit buyers, but as for people Dling it claiming 'no lost profit' is rubbish - it's still incredibly selfish, people taking something for free when everyone else has to pay for them. Without paying customers, the game would not exist. If piracy was made legal, except for a few loyal fans, who would pay for a game when they know they are completely allowed to get it for nothing? Even if the law doesn't punish many people now, it at least makes them stop and think about it in terms of ethics.

There are a growing number of developers and publishers that have recognised that if they make a worth while game that their fans will support them but if they cram DRM rubbish into games that they'll fail to convince pirates to buy their games while driving away fans at the same time.

The whole thing stinks of isolated thinking and telling people who pirate games that they are(or are part of) the problem does nothing to help the situation. It won't convince them to part with their money for a piece of software more restricted than a jail cell.

If you've followed my posts for long enough you'll have seen my plentiful rants about DRM, but at least I'm not a hypocrite who complains about DRM in one breath, and then goes and pirates something, fuelling the publishers' arguments.

This is an example of a proper study done to investigate piracy and take all aspects of it into account: http://torrentfreak.com/swiss-govt-d...-legal-111202/

You're citing torrentfreak in a debate about piracy?

Apologies for the ramble but I get annoyed when people proclaim pirates to be the problem. You are normally quite sensible with your opinions but I fear you have fallen hook line and sinker for some seriously biased information.

Surely you'll forgive me for getting annoyed when I (along with others) have to work (pretty hard) to earn money to pay for games so they can be made in the first place, when people selfishly go and download it without paying a penny. Whether it's due to arrogance or after coming up with some lame justification, it's still selfish.

Let's have an example.

Let's take a multiplatform game.. hmm.. Assassins Creed Revelations Std. edition
PS3 / XBOX NEW £18
PC NEW £13

Now, let's head to eBay and look at completed listings and see what the avg selling price is.
PS3 / XBOX 654 results USED £15
PC 4 results! Only 1 sold recently USED £7.50

:: Drumroll :: PC games can't be sold when you buy them. Btw, with the PC version, the CD key is tied to a Ubi account and you will need to give it away when you sell the game.

Now, I want to feel and be wowed by the graphics quality on PC but I can't justify buying the game and then not being able to sell it once I am done with it.

Well don't play it then?

[Noxvayl]

@ watercooled

Selfishness might be deplorable morally but it's rewarded in our world; I would like for more people to understand that selfish behaviour is reinforced and thus inescapable because of this. That said it's just not worth the effort to get mad or even actively discourage piracy because even when a game can be owned for 1p people still pirate it. It's simply not going to go away.

I still think the prevailing view on piracy is heavily biased, though, and is in need of proper research. I found it interesting that you were happy to dismiss information that was contrary to your view just because it was torrentfreak reporting on it... maybe this would change your mind:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397173,00.asp
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...g-still-ok.ars
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6182/125/
http://boingboing.net/2011/12/03/swi...ownloadin.html
http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news...in-legal-48351

Either way the full picture is never one sided and I think piracy is a convenient excuse for the industry to use to try and maintain the status quo.

[aidanjt]

Terrible excuse, you are part of the reason DRM exists (not to mention SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, etc). People would pirate with or without DRM, DRM exists SOLELY because of PIRACY, people getting something for free while other people do the decent thing and PAY FOR IT is selfish. If you don't like it, don't get it. Or if it is truly because of DRM (doubtful), do what lots of people with that argument do, buy the game then use a cracked version to avoid the DRM nonsense.

DRM exists because publishers want control over the market. They don't care about piracy, that's just a convenient excuse. They only care about $$$, and getting more of it. Hence the current whining about the second hand market, even though it's a 100% legal market activity, they still want it stopped. Why? Because piracy is a piss in the bucket of an 'opportunity loss' compared to 2nd hand sales, and that's what they've been really gunning for all along. Or at least they see it as an opportunity loss, because they're business types who think in crystalballonomics.

Also, stealing the PC gamer's right to resale is no small thing. It's *their* property, and they're having their property rights usurped.

[KeyboardDemon]

For Software I would usually go to Steam, Amazon, Game and Play.com.

For Hardware (consoles/accessories etc...) I would look at Game stores, Game Online, Amazon, Game and Play.com.

[Jedibeeftrix]

Steam
GoG
HumbleIndieBundle

[vinnyT]

Amazon or Steam for me.

[Dareos]

I admire your honesty, or should that be dishonesty there Sheikh, but you might be breaking Hexus posting policy by stating that bud, might want to remove that part of the post (and if done so, can a mod edit this post if i dont see it?)

I personally dont pirate games, used to have stacks of c90 tapes full of speccy games mind you, but everything with me is above board, i can afford the games, i buy them, end of.

As to the original question, i tend to use hotukdeals to find the cheapest for new releases, Amazon, sendit, Zavvi, The Hut etc. I point blank refuse to use Play.com after absolutely shocking service from them.

Last time i was in Asda, i got Ninja Gaiden 3 (cheapest around, still a mistake) and Battlefield 3 (in 2 minds on this one, needs more play time) at 30 quid and 25 quid respectively.

I have used Game and Gamestation in the past, and if it wasnt for the locking of online content then I would probably be using them for 2nd hand stuff as never had a problem with them before.

[Lucio]

I'm pretty much Steam exclusively these days, gone are the days when I'd wander down to Game to browse their budget section for something to try.

[jimbouk]

I tried to buy second hand games for the PS3 (recently Assassin's Creed Brotherhood) from Game/Gamestation but the price was too high for the convenience of having it there and then. Ended up getting it on Play (trade). Last couple of PC games have been Steam.