The Nintendo DS is expected to be one of the best-selling items once again this Christmas, and SMH has reported that Nintendo Australia has issued cease-and-desist letters to suspected pirates and that an Australian Federal Police taskforce has been engaged.
Nintendo Australia's director of marketing Greg Arthurton said that the company was taking steps to protect its intellectual property and copyright from being infringed. Letters have been sent to backyard operators in Australia who are selling equipment allowing users to play pirated games.
The AFP taskforce is monitoring online sales and obtaining IP addresses of those selling illegal consumer electronic gear, and it's also investigating sale of pirated items on eBay.
The solution might lie in lowering the prices of Nintendo DS games, cyber safety commentator Tom Wood suggested. "Although there is no excuse for pirating, it may help bring down the rate of pirating, as the prices are pretty excessive and indeed would be out of reach for many parents."
Australia's followed the global trend of opting for the use of R4 chips and illegally downloaded DS games, and mother of three Yvonne Wallbank said that the "horrendous" cost of games was driving many parents to piracy.
"I can understand why parents use the pirated games," Wallbank said. "But as the owners of a small computer-related business I don't believe in cheating people of their rightful income."
The Interactive Entertainment Association's chief executive Ron Curry said that piracy is becoming more common for all products and expressed his belief that it's not related to price.
"This is not a price-related debate," he said. "This is about the future protection of overall intellectual rights."
Nintendo Australia also told SMH that the company predicts Nintendo DS sales of 750,000 by the end of the year - it's unclear what this is representative of, as lifetime sales of all DS hardware was at more than one million as of January this year.
NEWS
Nintendo and Australian Federal Police hunt DS pirates
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 02:31 pm by Will 
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COMMENTS (38)
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 03:45 pm by Raven 
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Ron Curry  "This is not a price-related debate," he said. "This is about the future protection of overall intellectual rights." |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 03:54 pm by azsxdc 
Gee, this makes me feel bad...
If they brought down prices it would definitely be more incentive for people to buy games in my opinion.
If they brought down prices it would definitely be more incentive for people to buy games in my opinion.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 04:17 pm by misteromar
I can just see the Australian Federal Police kicking down doors and taking away 8 year olds at gunpoint for pirating ds games.
My motto is, if the game is not worth my money, its not worth my time playing. But yeah DS games should at least half the price they are now in Aussie shops, but people that pirate would do so no matter what they cost.
My motto is, if the game is not worth my money, its not worth my time playing. But yeah DS games should at least half the price they are now in Aussie shops, but people that pirate would do so no matter what they cost.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 04:51 pm by Infernal Monkey
Quote:
| "This is not a price-related debate," he said. "This is about the future protection of overall intellectual rights." |
$70 for a DS game is ABSURD. There are 360 games that cost that much or less (such as the upcoming Banjo). And I'm prreeetty sure the likes of Imagine Babyz Dirty Nappiez didn't cost anywhere near the same amount to develop. Keep in mind that a lot of parents shop at EB, where they'll be paying full price for all these Christmas/Birthday/Whatever presents. Yeah, they could go save a bundle anywhere else, but these games shouldn't be $70 in the first place (hell, Atari goes even further by charging $80 for some DS games).
I don't support vidya game piracy myself, but I can completely understand why it's so rampant in Australia. Our market is a joke. When the Aussie dollar was sitting at 90 US cents for months on end, you could import two American games for the same price as one game here.
Yeah, there'll be people who will pirate no matter what, but to say price has nothing to do with it is mind boggling.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 05:19 pm by Boo!
Agreed, retailing handheld titles for $70 is just asking for your games to be pirated.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 05:29 pm by LuiGar333
Quote:
| "This is not a price-related debate," he said. "This is about the future protection of overall intellectual rights." |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 05:56 pm by Dark Moogle
Funny thing is while the prices weren't adjusted for our US$0.96 exchange rate, I wouldn't put it past publishers to jack up prices now and blame the economy for it. Screw Konami and their $80 Castlevania price tags!
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 06:05 pm by Josem
cant stop piracy .. but lower prices will at least justify some people to buy
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 06:09 pm by Saq
Im strictly against piracy, i know i've done bits of it in the past on my computer for the nes and gb/gbc, but i was a stupid fool, and now instead i've bought the games that were on the emulators recently played list (since those were always my favourites to play anyway too) from ebay and used them on a regular gameboy c, and nes. i wont go back to piracy anytime soon, if ever, it isnt as fun to pirate, you miss out on looking at the box and actually holding the contents inside of it, i used to love weighty box's cos it always felt like there were lots of bonus's in there, like golden sun for example, came with a world map, yeah of course, you could go on google and print one out like a cheapy that you are, but its not the same quality, and to get the same quality as the official golden sun map included in the box simply isnt worth the cost of perfection. GG piracy you lose.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 06:13 pm by TSPhoenix
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Dimento Delight No matter how low the price for DS games go, untill they're free, people will still use R4's and pirated games. |
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Captain "I can understand why parents use the pirated games," Wallbank said. "But as the owners of a small computer-related business I don't believe in cheating people of their rightful income." |
111111111111
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 06:35 pm by Smoko
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq i know i've done bits of it in the past on my computer for the nes and gb/gbc, but i was a stupid fool, and now instead i've bought the games that were on the emulators recently played list (since those were always my favourites to play anyway too) from ebay and used them on a regular gameboy c, and nes. |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 06:51 pm by Saq
Actually thats where your fantasticly wrong Smoko, it gives the Game developer company a bad name. It also sets a bad example of its Publisher, where they're game's have an equal chance of being searched up and pirated because of the first game affected from pirating.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 07:07 pm by Smoko
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq Actually thats where your fantasticly wrong Smoko, it gives the Game developer company a bad name. It also sets a bad example of its Publisher, where they're game's have an equal chance of being searched up and pirated because of the first game affected from pirating. |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 07:12 pm by Saq
You dont read enough magazines in the new's about piracy, The developers name is always stated, as was EA's in an old issue of PCPowerplay, Now i dont buy EA's game's because they're pirated, but because i simply dont support EA because they buy out other game companies and it's utterly stupid! And when a game developer's name is in an article about being pirated, it's sure to get the messege out there to gamers that buy PCPowerplay.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 07:42 pm by k0r3
You got to love it when I can import a game from the overseas and with currency conversion and postage and handling it still turns out cheaper than going down to the local shop and buying it.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 07:50 pm by Smoko
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq You dont read enough magazines in the new's about piracy, The developers name is always stated, as was EA's in an old issue of PCPowerplay, Now i dont buy EA's game's because they're pirated, but because i simply dont support EA because they buy out other game companies and it's utterly stupid! And when a game developer's name is in an article about being pirated, it's sure to get the messege out there to gamers that buy PCPowerplay. |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 07:54 pm by Boggle
I see the point being made in the article, but companies would rather start shoveling money into getting rid of piracy than lowering their prices.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 07:55 pm by Saq
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq And when a game developer's name is in an article about being pirated, it's sure to get the messege out there to gamers that buy PCPowerplay. |
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Smoko Congratulations. You're now in the running for the stupidest user of the year award! With an entry this good you're pretty much guaranteed to win. |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 08:01 pm by Smoko
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq In short, there's my point. |
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq Who said i was entering? |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 08:40 pm by Saq
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Smoko In short, here's my point: You're really, really stupid. People don't go "Wow, people are pirating Dave's Dingo Adventure. Those guys that published it over at Super Steve's Fun House must really suck! I'll never touch something of theirs again!". Me. |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 09:33 pm by TryMe
Quote:
| Originally Posted by k0r3 You got to love it when I can import a game from the overseas and with currency conversion and postage and handling it still turns out cheaper than going down to the local shop and buying it. |
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 10:11 pm by Bjay
Damn they're quite serious aren't they...
It's not helping that there's a lot of shovelware being sold for ridiculous prices.
It's not helping that there's a lot of shovelware being sold for ridiculous prices.
Posted 26th of October, 2008 at 10:55 pm by Lvaneede
yes, they should lower the price. They are overpriced anyway.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 11:23 am by Gus the Crocodile
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq You dont read enough magazines in the new's about piracy, The developers name is always stated, as was EA's in an old issue of PCPowerplay, Now i dont buy EA's game's because they're pirated, but because i simply dont support EA because they buy out other game companies and it's utterly stupid! And when a game developer's name is in an article about being pirated, it's sure to get the messege out there to gamers that buy PCPowerplay. |
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 12:00 pm by JPW
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Gus the Crocodile Quote:
|
I was so hoping to win this year!!
Oh well maybe next year.
Let me just say something on this:
We all know the saying "Rules were made to be broken." That is exactly the case when it comes to pirates and hackers. I'm pretty sure they were people who felt that rules needed to be broken, the system was unjust. And I'm pretty sure everyone loves a challenge but for almost every person it's always a different challenge. Some involve breaking laws, others involve just working hard, whatever the case... as long as there is a way there's always going to be a will.
With the way the internet has changed life you can't expect to make a product and not see it got copied.
I also be kind of happy if something of mine got copied because it tells me that you guys wanted to play my game, so badly that you would do anything to play it. Even if it meant "breaking the law".
I know pirating isn't fun for some either. But at the end of the day it costs less and that's something that we all want. Going with the risk takes great courage though.
EDIT: FIXED THE QUOTE LOL!
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 12:20 pm by Gus the Crocodile
Heh, that isn't the post I quoted. It would be nice if the quote function didn't ignore other quotes, so people didn't have to reassemble posts.
Anyway, I think it's a bit rich to say that "going with the risk takes great courage", isn't it? There's almost no risk whatsoever in digital piracy...unless you're talking about selling the products.
Anyway, I think it's a bit rich to say that "going with the risk takes great courage", isn't it? There's almost no risk whatsoever in digital piracy...unless you're talking about selling the products.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 03:19 pm by Red
Meh, while I agree DS game prices could definately stand to be cheaper.. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD SOMETHING, DON'T BUY IT.
It's that simple.
Alternatively, you could, oh I don't know.. Save up your little pennies in a jar until you have enough.
It's that simple.
Alternatively, you could, oh I don't know.. Save up your little pennies in a jar until you have enough.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 03:47 pm by Saq
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Smoko "Wow, people are pirating Dave's Dingo Adventure. Those guys that published it over at Super Steve's Fun House must really rock! I'll go pirate something of theirs again!". |
how i wanted my point to be in the first place, but your too dumb to realise and scrambled my words into your own little story.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 04:29 pm by Smoko
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Saq Right im using your post to make my point, here goes: Quote:
|
Saq, for the sake of us all, please stop replying.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 05:18 pm by lonestarr
i think wat ballSaq was trying to say is if i were to play a game like The world ends with you, then i found out it was made by square enix and then go and download their entire DS catalogue. i've been trying to think if this makes sense or not and came up with no conclusions. as for the whole piracy issue, if being a pirate is anything like being Cpt. Jack Sparrow then i want a part of it.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 06:02 pm by DarkBlade
Quote:
| Originally Posted by lonestarr i think wat ballSaq was trying to say is if i were to play a game like The world ends with you, then i found out it was made by square enix and then go and download their entire DS catalogue. i've been trying to think if this makes sense or not and came up with no conclusions. as for the whole piracy issue, if being a pirate is anything like being Cpt. Jack Sparrow then i want a part of it. |
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 06:52 pm by trinest
Until we are seeing higher quality games and more chance for 'demos' of games to see if they are worth buying (VC/Wiiware and even full release games). Price also another factor - I think we are still going to see lots of pirates/increasing priates. You are always going to get the ones which do it just because they can. But when there are factors which can be changed to make people who are forced to priate due to rediculous marketing/business stratagies then its only the companies fult.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 07:28 pm by Krysinello
I'm against piracy, like distrubutors of pirated games and such, but I am guilty for downloading games for my own personal pleasure, and well simply because, Wii for instance, I can barely justify $50 for most games out there, specially alot of DS titles which should really be $20-$40, prices are too high for me to afford, yet I want to play them, so I download them and just wait till I can find them for affordable prices most of the time(And yes I do buy them, Yoshi's Island is an example of one I downloaded and bought for cheap) and I'm planning to buy Batallion Wars 2 while its on special for $30.
I guess its a stupid reason really, but I dont give any money to piraters, and I'm not really taking anything, I wouldn't buy the game anyways so they're not making a sale.
I guess its a stupid reason really, but I dont give any money to piraters, and I'm not really taking anything, I wouldn't buy the game anyways so they're not making a sale.
Posted 27th of October, 2008 at 07:39 pm by nnytard
hmm since my ds flash cart died ages ago i haven't played my DS since. but my ds is also nearly dead anyway.
i'm generally more interested in collecting real things anyway, i have over 50 n64 and over 40 gamecube games, they're much nicer to look at than pirated discs... but then again i hardly paid retail price for any of them, money has a lot to do with what people will buy and what they will pirate.
most people i see on the trains and trams all have pirated nds games i notice.
but then again, it might get hard to pirate games soon when the internet filters come through.
i'm generally more interested in collecting real things anyway, i have over 50 n64 and over 40 gamecube games, they're much nicer to look at than pirated discs... but then again i hardly paid retail price for any of them, money has a lot to do with what people will buy and what they will pirate.
most people i see on the trains and trams all have pirated nds games i notice.
but then again, it might get hard to pirate games soon when the internet filters come through.
Posted 28th of October, 2008 at 08:05 pm by Jamage
Then stop ripping us Aussies off then you idiots. Was chatting to a mate in US on Xbox live and he couldnt beleive what we pay for games and that we dont even have an R18 rating its OUTRAGEOUS.
No matter how low the price for DS games go, untill they're free, people will still use R4's and pirated games.