Does anyone here actually still pirate games?

[Mr Ono]

I will hold my hands up - in the past, especially the era of the original Playstation and, to some extent, the Dreamcast, PS2, XBox and the NDS, I did obtain the occassional silver/rom. Caveated by, although not an excuse, the fact that I spent humungous amounts on games importing etc.

These days, I obtain 100% of my games legitmately. Mostly on Steam. I guess the decent value from PC games (from release) and some bargains on older console stuff has helped. I think I try to obtain some of the AAA titles second hand now from here and other forums. For instance, Last of Us - ?18 and Wonderful 101 - ?25. I would struggle to want to pay ?40 for a game to be honest.

So, do you still do the old YAAAAARRRR or has your attitude changed too?

[Golgo]

Not since the old C64/Spec48 playground tape-swap and floppy disk 'pen pal' days of the 80s.

[charlesr]

I only grab copies of things I own on formats that still support it, e.g. Wii, DS, so that I can have all my stuff on one drive / card. Therefore can a) take all the games with me easily (DS) or b) browse all my games on one drive (Wii). If I sell something, I delete the copy too.

[losersclub]

It always baffles me how there is still people that still pirate the 360 etc. Games are that cheap in places like CEX I just don't see the point. I guess with some people, still want everything for "free" or refuse to actually buy games for their kids.

Last game I probably "pirated" was Policenauts when the translation patch was released a few years ago.

[ShadowDancer]

Just No! I love original games, whether its a 99p game or ?100+ I just love having the original copy.
That's just me though.

[Asura]

This is probably a bad place to ask this, as I think we all like video games to a point where I suspect we wouldn't want to pirate them.

As a kid, I had a few copied games, but I quickly stopped, because I always found that I lost interest in them. For some reason I place more value in the stuff I obtain legitimately. I also disliked the idea of taking money out of the pockets of content creators; goes the same for movies and stuff too.

I've only since resorted to piracy for stuff that I genuinely couldn't obtain. For example, "back in the day" I had a Game Boy Advance flashcart, but that was because the GBA was in a strange position where the shops only seemed to have official Nintendo titles and THQ's Scooby Doo and Spongebob games, and when shopping online I got a few copied carts in a row, and decided never to buy GBA games online again. That being said, I don't beat myself up over it as I did have a large library of genuine GBA games that were bought legitimately, so I did my part, I guess.

PC/console games are so cheap these days by comparison. I remember paying ?53 for Sonic 3, in 1994, which according to ThisIsMoney is ?90 or so in today's money - and some people have the gall to balk at the price of a ?2.99 iPhone game (the "why isn't it free?" brigade).

[Guts]

I don't pirate anything that's easily available legally, which is a lot these days with all the digital stores like Steam, GoG etc. I used to pirate some PC games and old console ROMs, but even then those were typically older games that were long out of print on dead platforms.

I do condone pirating games though, if there are not reasonable means to play them otherwise, like if it's some obscure collector's item that goes for a nutty price on Ebay. I don't feel bad about it because the original creators aren't seeing anything from the items anyway.

I did download Policenauts ROM for example, like losersclub, because that was the only way to play it in English.

[speedlolita]

I'll admit to pirating games still. I'm also buying games on a disgustingly frequent basis but it tends to be stuff I played via download already. No excuse but, hey.

I don't pirate anything modern though. The idea of a RGH 360 or 3.55 FW PS3 have no appeal to me, I don't pirate for DS either so it's kinda just PS2 rarities until I buy them along with Saturn and PS1 stuff, maybe some DC.

Games are so cheap now on modern tech that for the inconvenience of operating a modded unit I don't find is worth the hassle.

[Sketcz]

Once a game starts selling on the second hand market for more than the original RRP, then I pirate it, and I advocate that everyone else should too.

Panzer Dragoon Saga. Best game I've ever played. But don't pay more than ?49.99 for it.

[Neon Ignition]

Nah, the PS3 onwards seems to have mostly negated the ability but to be honest I don't miss the option. I find that once you can grab games that easily in bulk they seem to lose their value to you and I would never end up playing them. I find resale value a great motivater to finish the games I've bought

[DeathAdder]

I emulate quite a few earlier games, never really pirated games very much.

Occasionally I borrow and rip other people's DVDs, but usually I buy the TV and films I want.

Music on the other hand I never pay for.

[fishbowlhead]

When I got my ps1 chipped I received a few free copied games, but chucked them away. Only got it chipped for imports as I couldn't afford seperate consoles for each region. So I've never actually played copied games I'm pleased to say.

[Sketcz]

I find that once you can grab games that easily in bulk they seem to lose their value to you and I would never end up playing them.

I have this problem with GOG sales.

[shaffy_oppa]

Stopped a while ago. I had a copy of FFXII while I waited for my import copy to arrive, I had my 360 flashed so I could play Tekken 6 like 4 days before launch (got the game on PS3 two days before launch). When I did pirate games just started to pile up and I never played any more than 20-30 minutes. Soon after I just got a new 360 and started buying my games again. I did similar with my Wii and never touched it and got rid of the pirates and just own the op rainfall games and pz2 which I've also downloaded for play on emulation.

I find, like others, I tend to not value them and just don't play them, it really kills gaming and takes the fun out of it. I've never completed a pirate.

[speedlolita]

It's the same thing once you've bought too many games though.