Just so everyone knows, and because I've seen it being mentioned more and more in here - especially in relation to 3D programs - I don't tolerate software piracy, and I don't tolerate software piracy being spoken of. If you've done so, shame on you. Don't mention it. One mention, and you're on probation. Another, and then I'll be forced to have you banned, and I may also be to forced provide your information to the company whose software you've pirated. Zero-tolerance policy is IN EFFECT. Understand? Good. You may now return to your regularly-scheduled posting . -Nick "digisoap" Robalik Web, Print, Audio & Video Design, 2D & 3D Illustration and Animation, Game Design http://www.digital-soapbox.com nick@digital-soabox.com. [edited by - digisoap on August 10, 2003 7:41:53 PM]

Hmm, I really haven''t seen/heard anything about software piracy. And I wouldn''t really call the post I made in my topic much piracy...at least I didn''t think it was piracy until the people here told me that you couldn''t legally sell the Maya registration thing. Oh, PIRACY IS BAD. If you pirate software a movies, the people who make them lose money and can''t make them anymore so your just hurting yourself.


There''s no town drunk here, we all take turns.
Velocity Gaming Force

I think you need to stop power tripping, but that''s just a personal opinion after reading a few threads here. But again, I don''t really bother much with this forum so...

Int.

Well, I have seen a lot of newbies around with posts like the following:

"I want to learn to make games, but I don''t know much yet. I''ve got the newest versions of Maya, 3dsmax and Visual Studio, where to start?"


Is this cosiderd to be a piracy post?! I think so..


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Petter Nordlander

"There are only 10 kinds of people in the world. The who understand binary and those who don''t"

quote: Original post by PhiberOptic
Well, I have seen a lot of newbies around with posts like the following:

"I want to learn to make games, but I don''t know much yet. I''ve got the newest versions of Maya, 3dsmax and Visual Studio, where to start?"


Is this cosiderd to be a piracy post?! I think so..


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Petter Nordlander

"There are only 10 kinds of people in the world. The who understand binary and those who don''t"

I understand what you mean, and in general you are probably correct in thinking someone like this pirated software. However you must think of the people who may have licensed copies of the tools mentioned above. For instance the children of software developers may have all these tools and yet not know how to program. Also some university students may have these tools available to them. Just make sure you are not punishing someone who does not actually pirate software.
-Greg

Reverie Entertainment

quote: Original post by digisoap
I don''t tolerate software piracy being spoken of. If you''ve done so, shame on you. Don''t mention it. One mention, and you''re on probation. Another, and then I''ll be forced to ban you, and I may also be forced provide your information to the company whose software you''ve pirated.

Heh, come on! I can understand you are really pissed with people pirating software, but I think you''re going too far. Suppose I''ll mention that I''ve once stolen a car. Would you report me to the authorities just because I said that? (Maybe I didn''t even mean it)
Does it hurt you personally when someone says he has a pirated copy of 3dsMAX?
This is a forum for game developers, not for frustrated politicians. Don''t understand me wrong: I don''t rationalise the problem of software piracy. It exists, it''s not good, people doing so have to be punished, etc... but NOT here, NOT like that!
If a problem exists, a discussion is necessary. Zero tolerance doesn''t help. It hides the problem. It doesn''t solve it.
If a newbie says he has a pirated copy of MSVC, 3dsmax, ... and he wants to make a game. The right solution is NOT to ban him but to tell him that what he does is not right and tell him the possible alternatives so he can reach his goal without committing software piracy. That way "the noob" will thank you for helping him out. (unless he''s a total moron ) If you ban him, he''ll still use his pirated software, no matter what you''ve said him to do.
Conclusion: --vote for zero tolerance
++ vote for freedom of speech

*ahem*

Read the general FAQ that covers this entire board (all GDNet forums). Software piracy is explicity forbidden, as are any threads about "why software piracy isn''t so bad", etc. This is a board for software developers, many of whom make a living or will be making a living once they finish on the sale of software. If you want to be an idiot and promote or otherwise brag (and I consider any talk of what you pirate bragging) about software piracy, go to a more suitable board. If you don''t have the basic mental capacity to understand why talking about (your) software piracy is bad here then this board is obviously way too advanced for you. Otherwise if you are here, but do pirate software for whatever reason, have some common sense and keep it to yourself.

For stupidity similar to talking piracy on a developer board, watch as idiot mechanic brags about how he "test drove" a customers expensive performance car on an auto message board:

Mechanic''s post

Owners post

(This spawned a few hundred long threads on different auto message boards. Needless to say this guy was fired and will never be able to work in the auto industry again)

I don''t know if Michalsons post was meant as a reply to mine, but if so: Let me quote myself: "Don''t understand me wrong: I don''t rationalise the problem of software piracy. It exists, it''s not good, people doing so have to be punished"
Clear?

quote: Original post by Greg K
For instance the children of software developers may have all these tools and yet not know how to program.

If their parent is a game developer, why would they be asking for help here?

Anyway, I won''t support disciplinary action in the situation described by PhiberOptic (and I think that those people should be treated in the manner SwSh suggests), but I don''t think that''s the main issue here. The issue is people directly asking for pirated software, or how to obtain pirated software, in which case I agree with Nick completely.

"Suppose I''ll mention that I''ve once stolen a car. Would you report me to the authorities just because I said that?"

i suppose i wouldnt personally bother unless i knew you personally, but it begs the question, why would you ever mention stealing a car if you havent at least thought about it in the past? it should still raise the eyebrows of any mindful citizen.

"Does it hurt you personally when someone says he has a pirated copy of 3dsMAX?"

physically? no. The economy? well for one person , no, but when is it ever just one person? and ontop of that, when is it ever just one industry? pirates have been around alot longer than 3d packages, and theyll be around far longer than the death of 3d packages. Im sure Digisoap knows this, he just doesnt want you to say "yo i got craxked version of maya, how do i model" and give yourself away so easily.

""I want to learn to make games, but I don''t know much yet. I''ve got the newest versions of Maya, 3dsmax and Visual Studio, where to start?"

i feel the same way you do, i would interperit this as " i have illegal copies"... but dont they also make demo versions free to download from their site these days? (thanks to the numerous acts of piracy)

"I think you need to stop power tripping"

LOL, yeah... dont we all. hes only doin his job as moderator man.