this makes sense, but I think creating a game for cell phone takes much less time than for PC, cause they always come out too short

piegirl could you tell me which game you worked on so that we can take it off of this forum?

I think Microsoft can afford the piracy, what with Bill Gates being the richest man in the world. Using Linux isn't an option for a lot of people, since so much stuff doesn't run on it. Microsoft products become a kind of computer tax.
Pirating products from huge corporations doesn't seem very wrong to me, either. Does that make me a hypocrite?

I do agree, but you know what.
Companies like MS are continually increasing the prices of their software(i don't need Office, and so I am using free OpenOffice), like windows. What can we do? Suppose I need XP(say), but I don't have the funds for it. If it were the price near $50, we all would buy it. But, don't you think 150$ is too much. I don't know where you live, but let me tell you one thing. In India there is rampant software piracy all because of the very fact that people here just cannot afford the exponential costs. Now, you might say use linux. Unfortunately, people once accustomed to something cannot change to a new stuff. They all think, if we are getting a CD(pirated) for $2(conversion), why should we spend $150 on it. The same people, if they see something for around $10 at the max $50 also will not mind the cost difference.
In short, I am trying to tell that MS definitely need to be good, and not become bad after they realise that they are majority, ie what MS is currently doing.
I still stand by my word that I will not (repeat NOT) use pirated mobile games. But the Software companies must definitely reduce their prices.

The whole thing is a vicious cycle:
1. the software companies dont have money.
2. They increase price.
3. Customers are surprised, go Pirated.
4. thus, less sales for the company.
5. Go to step 1.

Wow, that's fantastic. It's great when people recognize that there's a difference between this and having a dodgy copy of Windows, or MAME running on your P.C. (though if you have MAME, be good and send the team a fiver!)

Thanks for opening my eyes. I will never NEVER ever download pirated mobile games again.
You have really enlightened me.

Thanks

That's fantastic. Us little guys have to support each other. The software piracy people (E.S.A. in the U.K.) don't give a monkeys about samll developers. Unless you're paying them a load of money, they won't do a thing about sites ripping off your software. So the big companies, like Digital Bridges, have the weight to do something about piracy, and yet again, it's the people at the bottom of the food chain, the small developers, who have to bend over and take it.
Many thanks again for your support.

Originally posted by piegirl
Now I don't imagine for a minute that this will make any difference to anyone, but I thought I may as well try. There's a big difference between pirating mobile phone games and pirating other software. The majority of mobile phone developers are really small teams of games enthusiasts working from home and making bugger all money. I'm part of a team that made one of the games available here, and all of the team are actually on income support, having to say that we're working less than 18 hours a week! The money takes about a year to come in from setting up a company to getting any money, and when it does come in, it's a trickle, not a flow. Mobile phone games aren't very expensive at the minute. If piracy takes off things are going to change. All the small companies that take their time on individual projects are going to go under. That's going to mean that you're not going to get loads of interesting games from people who did their time programming speccies and amigas. Some of the big mobile phone games producers write fantastic games, like Splinter Cell etc. but there's others that write one really ****ty engine and churn out a million ****ty games. We spent ages on our game trying to make it actually playable rather than just looking good on screenshots (not that it didn't). We do actually care about people who play our games. Please think of us!

I do belive u that because I am also a computer developer but not in mobile games but a Java developer for applications. I respect what u are trying 2 say and u did change my mind. I wont send any more games on this or any other forum.
If I will get some new games I'll have them for a personal collection or just 4 my friends.

greetings!

|WODAK|

Now I don't imagine for a minute that this will make any difference to anyone, but I thought I may as well try. There's a big difference between pirating mobile phone games and pirating other software. The majority of mobile phone developers are really small teams of games enthusiasts working from home and making bugger all money. I'm part of a team that made one of the games available here, and all of the team are actually on income support, having to say that we're working less than 18 hours a week! The money takes about a year to come in from setting up a company to getting any money, and when it does come in, it's a trickle, not a flow. Mobile phone games aren't very expensive at the minute. If piracy takes off things are going to change. All the small companies that take their time on individual projects are going to go under. That's going to mean that you're not going to get loads of interesting games from people who did their time programming speccies and amigas. Some of the big mobile phone games producers write fantastic games, like Splinter Cell etc. but there's others that write one really ****ty engine and churn out a million ****ty games. We spent ages on our game trying to make it actually playable rather than just looking good on screenshots (not that it didn't). We do actually care about people who play our games. Please think of us!