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nezumi
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2 months ago
in Bank of America’s “Borrower’s Protection Plan” is a Scam on The Technology Liberation Front
I've been bent over the barrel by Chase and I'm expecting the same from BoA. This sort of thing is precisely why I've given up on banks and go for credit unions. USAA and NFCU are both fantastic. Enroll your wife in the military if you have to, it'll be worth it.
4 months ago
in Craig’s List Sued for Prostitution on The Technology Liberation Front
I'd agree with the basis of your post - if Craigslist didn't so ruthlessly and effectively stamp out all ads for the sale of firearms and components. They've clearly proven they CAN reasonably police their ads for certain things, because they currently do so. I don't know how they can have their cake and eat it too.
12 months ago
in The Technology Liberation Front » Archive » PC Game Software Sales Actually Growing on The Technology Liberation Front
I think you're precisely right. Don't cry because PC games are moving into the 21st century. If you're having a tough time measuring the success of video games themselves, check out the sale of computer hardware such as high-end video cards (which is more likely to be bought retail and are ultimately fairly specialized in use), another booming industry.
As for piracy? The PC Game industry has been struggling with this since the 80s. Their solution? Well for one, don't piss off the consumer. Back in the early 90s they basically had an ad campaign saying 'hey, if you rip off our games, we'll stop making them' and, for the most part, it seemed to work. Kids liked the games, but felt they had a responsibility to fork over the cash. Tie that in with how PC games began considering how to better protect their software without creating security holes on the consumers' computers, and you have a winning strategy. Civ IV, which was a hugely expensive and hugely anticipated game with little internet play still broke records on sales through a mix of simple piracy protections and just the expectation that people will be honest.
Contrast this with the RIAA - they openly admit their artists get around 5-10% per sale, they dug their heels in trying to resist technology and then made their product a pain to use, plus they sued little old ladies. The result? People actively take PRIDE in ripping off the RIAA. iTunes is a huge blessing to the RIAA, and it took them a year to realize it, but they're still swimming upstream.
No, the video game industry is doing well. As was pointed out, MMORPGs are breaking records all over the place. Games like GTA IV (which is also PC, and based off of a PC-only line) are also breaking records for sales, and both customers and producers are happy.
As for piracy? The PC Game industry has been struggling with this since the 80s. Their solution? Well for one, don't piss off the consumer. Back in the early 90s they basically had an ad campaign saying 'hey, if you rip off our games, we'll stop making them' and, for the most part, it seemed to work. Kids liked the games, but felt they had a responsibility to fork over the cash. Tie that in with how PC games began considering how to better protect their software without creating security holes on the consumers' computers, and you have a winning strategy. Civ IV, which was a hugely expensive and hugely anticipated game with little internet play still broke records on sales through a mix of simple piracy protections and just the expectation that people will be honest.
Contrast this with the RIAA - they openly admit their artists get around 5-10% per sale, they dug their heels in trying to resist technology and then made their product a pain to use, plus they sued little old ladies. The result? People actively take PRIDE in ripping off the RIAA. iTunes is a huge blessing to the RIAA, and it took them a year to realize it, but they're still swimming upstream.
No, the video game industry is doing well. As was pointed out, MMORPGs are breaking records all over the place. Games like GTA IV (which is also PC, and based off of a PC-only line) are also breaking records for sales, and both customers and producers are happy.
