[Serious] Is Pirating dying?

[Jon Snow Shoveler]

I'm talking specifically regarding game and movie torrents, but not newest movies. Those seem to have no issue with getting uploaded. To be honest, I can understand why some of the older or more obscure movie torrents die out, so let's instead focus on games. I'd still like to know if you have any info regarding movies.

Almost every game I try to pirate these days are all in Russian. Why is that? Did most of the other release groups die out or get arrested or move on with their lives?

Another problem I noticed is that there's barely any support for most games now, as in consistent updates as the game gets fixes. You'd be lucky to find day one release and maybe some updates here and there.

It also feels like it's getting harder and harder to install and use pirated games now. Most games I want to try out I go to pirate it and I read the comments and I nope the fuck out and just drop the money on it instead.
I remember back in around '06 a game came out and the retail version was unplayable and broken, while the pirated version was actually hot fixed by the release group and ended up being better than the retail release. As in those who bought it from the store couldn't play it but those who pirated it were having fun.

I'm pretty sure I'm not imagining these things. Can somebody please explain to me the state of pirating these days? Is it all going underground?

Please don't respond with such things as calling me a retard. I've thought this through a lot before posting. It's not just some stupid poll on a whim or click bait type deal.

Also I'd just like to say that I have absolutely no issue with buying a game. I do it all the time. The only problem is that you can't blindly trust game developers/publishers by just buying into their product and demos are almost non-existent these days. I really enjoy the option to pirate before supporting the creators to know if I'm giving my money to those who deserve it. I try very hard to be a conscious consumer in all aspects of my life.

[᠎]

Dying? No. Changing? Yes.

I don't have any recent studies to hand but every study I have ever read, both pro and anti piracy funded, as well as attempts at neutral reporting, has shown that numbers of files being shared, and filesharers, increase relentlessly. In spite of all the high profile site closures and blockades. That is as you would expect, given that the 'net literate population of the world, and average bandwidths, and usage of VPN's, are increasing.

But that doesn't mean that everything is being shared in the same proportions as always. Copy protection mechanisms evolve, and take longer to crack. But business models evolve, so that games and apps are freely available up front (with "in app" purchases coming later if and only if people want them. If people are now playing, for free, games that they would previously have had to pirate to play for free, does that mean app/game piracy is "dying"? Or does it mean that piracy won? It depends on how you want to spin it.

There are far more series packs, especially of classic TV series available now than ever before. Again, that is to be expected as TV companies mine their vaults for Blue Ray releases, and those releases end up being shared by people who are now in a position to actually download them. "Binge watching" is a thing now; it didn't really exist half a decade ago.

If people download less cams now, because they're too busy watching the entire remastered Star Trek franchise, does that mean cam piracy has been stamped out? Or that it has just, for the most part, died out because peoples tastes have improved (and been sated elsewhere)? Again, it depends on how you want to spin it.

[Jon Snow Shoveler]

Yeah I totally see what you mean about changing. I kinda felt like I'm seeing the answer to my question in the form of mostly online only games. As you stated, internet access and bandwidth is becoming ever so common that games can force online only and never have to worry about losing out on business due to customers not possessing the technology to access it. Such as Diablo 3. I feel many games are going for those online only "launcher" DRMs, even if you aren't playing with other people. Just look at how many companies have put out their own all-in-one client for managing and purchasing your games. Steam may have had a lot to do with others realizing this is a good model.

I also see people buying heavily into terrible game models, such as the whole early access bandwagon. Perhaps most consumers aren't thrifty with games anymore?

TV shows, such as The Rifleman, are indeed coming out of the vault more often lately. With the world moving to an almost purely digital format. I know I had waited a long time to get my hands on The Rifleman and I dropped a couple hundred dollars as soon as they started putting out DVD seasons. In some ways, I wish I could rip these and put them up as torrents, but at the same time I recognize that Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions is a very small time operation at this point as most of their business died off around 50 or so years ago and that they took a huge risk in releasing these episodes. Which they never were required to do so. It could have just died in the vault. Anyways, I'm getting off topic.

Ok, so I guess my most important question in all of this is why is almost every game release now in Russian? It's actually been really frustrating and has driven me to give up on bothering with pirated games for the most part, despite how much they have helped me make good and solid choices in my purchases.

Thanks also for the great response. It's made me feel a bit better having finally been able to discuss this with somebody, because it's been on my mind a lot lately.

[AncientRome]

I don't particularly see a slow down in pirating games. There are some that are so riddled with DRM that it isn't worth the time to crack it, or some games require monthly subscriptions.
I think The Elder Scrolls Online was one recent example.

As for things mainly being Russian, I haven't seen much in that regard on private indexes. There might be a timezone related solution to the question.

Sadly, I suspect most downloaders simply want the content, not to just try before they buy.

It's refreshing to see sites like GOG release games old and new without most of the original DRM. Some people actually do want to buy the games they enjoyed and I'm glad to see that there is a big community supporting the developers of the products they do like.

[᠎]

There have been a lot of people whining in torrent comments over the past six months or so about Russian games (and French movies). [I'm not saying you are whining, I'm pointing out that others are noticing what you have noticed.]

Cracking (and ripping/encoding) like everything else, ebbs and flows. It's not a game most people stay in for more than a few years. And (cracking in particular) is a specialist activity--it's not something just anyone can do.  So it only takes a relatively small decline in the number of active native English speakers engaged, and/or a relatively small increase in the number of native Russian speakers, for it to appear as if a sea change has occurred. Especially where you add in network effects--the first upload of a new game/app/movie usually snags the lions share of attention.

A similar effect occurs with movies/tv shows--young and enthusiastic release groups can appear in countries where English is not the first language. They have the same right to share as everyone else but, where they didn't exist before and now do, it will appear that there has been a sudden and dramatic change when the reality is there hasn't been. It's simply that new uploaders have joined the party. And perhaps other uploaders, who have been there for a while, have tailed off.

No big deal. No big mystery. The amount of file sharing isn't dying, it's simply moving around.

tl;dr the recent Russian dominance won't last. [But that doesn't mean we will suddenly start seeing English releases dominate again. Look around for less wealthy countries with increasing numbers of young, educated people gaining widespread internet access to see where the next "boom" in active crackers will come from.]

[Jon Snow Shoveler]

Thanks guys, this is all great info to educate me. It's great to have solid perspective on how things are changing and you guys are certainly much more in the know than me. Thanks again for your time and responses.

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BTW I just wanted to add that I have no issue with Russians releasing games. I think the other people have the same problem as me when it comes down to it. Some of the launchers to install the game have no English option at all, so we end up installing blindly. The biggest concern here isn't even if the game installs correctly, it's the fact that I don't know what I'm agreeing to install. I have no clue if there's anything I don't want in it, like some adware or something.

It's just too dangerous to install things when you can't comprehend what you are agreeing to.

[᠎]

I agree, it is frustrating if you cannot understand the language something is uploaded in. You're sensible to wait.

But consider the wider picture--the uploader almost certainly doesn't understand English. Most uploaders don't go out of their way to make their torrents inaccessible; why would they? They upload what they have and what they know works.

If you can't download something it isn't the uploaders fault that you don't understand their language; and if they hadn't uploaded it then a) their countrymen wouldn't be able to get the files; b) you still wouldn't be able to get the files because obviously they haven't yet been uploaded by an English uploader or you wouldn't be there and, finally and most importantly c) a helpful bi-lingual downloader can explain what to do with a foreign language upload. But if the upload wasn't made in the first place, that wouldn't be possible.

Although it is not TPB policy, I'll admit I've banned people who have attacked uploaders for uploading "foreign" content when they've been too OTT about it. It is so unbelievably short-sighted that if they aren't actually anti-filesharing shills attempting to shut down the uploading of new content they really are too stupid to live.

[dolly_cat]

I agree, it is frustrating if you cannot understand the language something is uploaded in. You're sensible to wait.

But consider the wider picture--the uploader almost certainly doesn't understand English. Most uploaders don't go out of their way to make their torrents inaccessible; why would they? They upload what they have and what they know works.

If you can't download something it isn't the uploaders fault that you don't understand their language; and if they hadn't uploaded it then a) their countrymen wouldn't be able to get the files; b) you still wouldn't be able to get the files because obviously they haven't yet been uploaded by an English uploader or you wouldn't be there and, finally and most importantly c) a helpful bi-lingual downloader can explain what to do with a foreign language upload. But if the upload wasn't made in the first place, that wouldn't be possible.

Although it is not TPB policy, I'll admit I've banned people who have attacked uploaders for uploading "foreign" content when they've been too OTT about it. It is so unbelievably short-sighted that if they aren't actually anti-filesharing shills attempting to shut down the uploading of new content they really are too stupid to live.

Yeah... About the language... I think there should be like on KAT → Translators

[Jon Snow Shoveler]

I totally agree that we shouldn't restrict languages. I love that other languages exist. The only thing that makes me sad is that I don't have the capacity to learn them because English is actually a pretty crappy language. It's well known to be the hardest language to learn. Sometimes even after all my 30 years speaking/writing it I still get confused.

I think it's great that other countries are celebrating freedom too. Which is what pirating is all about in the end isn't it? Freedom of choice and consumer awareness? At least I feel it is. I pity the people who blindly buy movie tickets at the theaters. It's like they are being robbed at the door 95% of the time. I'd rather support those I know deserve it. This behavior of just buying into anything that is advertised is why some corporations are "too big to fail".

I can't be 100% sure, but it's likely this will be the last post I'll make here, as the topic has been covered in it's entirety. I just really wanted to reiterate that I'm not being angry at other country's releases, just frustrated (because then sometimes I have to blindly buy into something). Sorry to hear there are others who are being much more ignorant about it.

[RobertX]

Jon, I think your compassion on buyers are misplaced: people who blindly buy stuff have made a conscious decision to buy it.

Anyhow, your arguments are well-constructed, but you did leave out open source. If there is an inheritor of piracy in this race, it would be open source, unless you're just here to argue games. Since, in your topic, you said "pirating" alone, I would presume that you are also talking about other venues that piracy has been done on.

Although this thinking might be detrimental, I find nothing wrong with people wanting stuff for free. The Free Software (open source and free-of-charge) movement and the Creative Commons movement are making impressive inroads. Some people, not me necessarily, are ditching commercial products for stuff they can afford and without charge. And they like it.

I have total respect for you for daring to ask if what most of us love is dying. I just thought you need to adjust your thinking a little. Open source or free products are a source of this change.

I hope I didn't insult anyone.

EDIT: I hope you're not leaving soon; I, for one, would love to see you stay. If you are, you are welcome to.