I would argue that most developers businesses tank because developers typically have no idea how to properly run a business and can’t stay on budget, or they make terrible games.

Why would you have to B&E just to drive a Ferrari? That is flawed logic. Just walk in the dealership in an Izod, Sperrys, and knock-off sunglasses and ask to test drive one. Better yet, rent one from one of those luxury rental places. It’s almost like trying something before you buy it, which we are unable to do with…

While it’s been proven short term, it hasn’t really been proven long term. The Witness testimonial completely fails to take into account people who could very well buy it later.

Keep in mind, I don’t pirate; I don’t have a pony in this race.

“What’s more absurd is your assumption this applies to ALL pirates”

There is a reason where I find piracy acceptable. Regionally locked games. I’m all for paying for your entertainment, but when the entertainment is actively kept from you via regional restrictions, there is nothing else you can do. They wouldnt have bought the game, because they werent allowed too. So that is a pretty…

Name checks out.

My studies in college on this topic showed that the largest correlation between pirating was 18 to 20-something late high school and college students. It was also vastly higher in poorer regions/countries than well-off one’s (higher per capita income) which saw a steep decline in the pirating of software.

Ironically, your handle is pretty apt right here. Comparing tangible items that have a component cost associated with their physical existence (e.g., a car) with intangible items that can be replicated/reproduced for no cost (e.g., software) is creating a false equivalency. As many people have pointed out before, if…

“I would love a Ferrari, but you don’t see me busting down a show room window GTA style and taking one for a joyride.”

What if you could make a copy of the Ferrari for free?

I don’t endorse piracy, but your example isn’t exactly analogous to software piracy.

The concept of a piracy rate being “crippling” depends on the absurd assumption that piracy inherently translates to a lost sale.

Most pirates either pirate a game before they decide to buy it or not, or they pirate every game under the sun, and were never going to buy the game anyway.