General Discussion

We were going through doing some testing of some systems this weekend, it was a fairly laid back event.  Hadn't given it much thought to be honest, because it was mostly a last minute decision to compile the game and just run through a bunch of things to see how they were coming out, if they needed tweaking or changes, etc etc.

One of the people on the team had a friend show up during the time we were testing.  Since I try to be fairly laid back, I just let the guy hang out, and even try out the game.  After about 30 minutes he stopped playing and started asking when they could go... I thought I'd take the opportunity to see what an outsider thought of what we had accomplished so far:

"It sucked."

As much as I expected a rather meek response like that, it still kinda hurts to have somebody say it to your face.  I managed a smirk and asked why he believed that.

He went into a myriad of reasons including that the graphics were not on par with Crysis or BioShock (completely different gametypes) and there was nothing to do in game except for move around and shoot a few things here or there.  I told him the game wasn't even in testing yet, we were just trying out some of the finished systems... that's when he whipped out the all famous Friend/Acquantence/RandomPerson question:

"Can I be in Beta?"

I don't have Beta plans drawn up to be honest, I figured I could do it when we got closer to the actual testing phase... my big rule, to date, is to tell anybody who asks "We'll see." and leave it at that... gives me more options further down the line.

It was at this point in the conversation that brings me to the topic of my post:

"That's ok, I'll just torrent it when you release."

I tend to be a fairly calm person for the most part.  I try to keep my cool under most circumstances and just walk away... I'm against Piracy, but I truly believe in Brad Wardell's (StarDock) stance on Copy Protection.

...Those words, said directly to my face, in such a calm and truthful manner...

What I saw, was somebody sitting in MY studio, drinking the soda I stock with my own money, where his friend worked... tell me he was going to steal from me...

Reflecting on the issue, I could've handled it better... and I'm sure I'll apologize to a few people Tuesday.

The problem was he no longer looked like a friend... he looked more akin to a pickpocket or gypsy, a thief.  Somebody who was going to tell me he was going to steal from me, when, and how.  That the quality of what I was doing was unimportant as the fact that he could obtain it for free...

I knew people would pirate my game.  It happens, I know.  I'm not ignorant to it happening regardless of what I do to stop it... and that ,eventually, no amount of copy protection will keep somebody from figuring out a way around it.

But it flashes into my head the hundreds of hours spent pining over a whiteboard with markers figuring out systems, the hundreds of hours debating how best to do something, the nights and weekends doing paperwork to keep the business running, the anguish spent on details upon details...

For about an hour I was in such a blind rage that I couldn't fathom continuing working... at all.  I was ready to close up shop completely actually.

I'm a veteran, so I decided to take the weekend to cool off.  Gave everybody the weekend off, 3 days, enjoy it.

On the way out one of the team walked up to me and said:

"Remember that article on PC Piracy you made us read?  Well he was never a customer to begin with."

PS:
On a completely unrelated note, during the writing of this post I learned I have a "H" key where the "L" should be.

Well, from the moment that he said, "it sucked", you knew what type of creature you were dealing with, the leech. I was surprised when he wanted to be in the beta, but this is the type of person you do not want in the beta.

Beta testing is not for everyone, it is really about working, not about playing. People seem to think that beta is a test of whether they want to buy/steal the game, it's not. It's about noting all the little details and whether they are correct for release. You have to avoid both fanbois and haters and get those rare individuals that are impartial to your product, and willing to work at it to be helpful.

As to game piracy, again, no surprise here. You are dealing with the leech. Anything and everything is morally acceptable as long as it satisfies his desires. Of course, had he left your place only to find somebody had stolen his car, his computer, his wallet, or his job, he would be indigant. Intellectually, he will never see the inconsistency. That is because he is the most important person in the world, the world revolves around the leech.

Hopefully, it will never breed.......

It's amazing how little respect some scum have, I mean fair enough he was going to pirate the game, but to actually say it to your face, what an arrogant prick.

I know my reaction wouldn't of been pleasant.

Although perhaps not a paragon of virtue, I make it a habit of buying games and giving people their due.

Kudos to you for remaining calm. Really, that must really have pissed you off. I would have probably punched the guy in the face for being such a jackass. One thing is downloading it illegal, but he is also saying it to your face. Pure bullshit.

And about that article, yep, he is totally correct. I knew Stardock makes some quality games without all that bullshit, so without even trying a demo I bought Sins of a Solar Empire.

I would have drown him in battery acid (most effective way to git rid of a body) but I commend you on remaining calm in the winds of adversity!

The problem here I think is that he was too used to the anonymity of the internet where actions and words bring very little if no consequence.  Long gone are the days where people think about what they say before they say it because they know that if they said something along the lines "I'm gonna steal from you" they'll have their own teeth fed to them.

Personally I would have probably slugged him right int he jaw.  There really is no reason to act like that and almost no excuse for me to hold back.  Technically I'd be protecting my own interests.

wow you have patience, i give you alot of respect for that.  Some people out there would punch the guy in the stomach to make him throw up the soda you bought, threw him out, and then proceded to fire the man who he was friends with.

BTW good luck with the project.

Good on you for maintain a calm attitude to such a person. Piracy is a problem in today worlds people don't think downloading illegally through torrents off the internet is bad, yet it has the same ethics as going into game and pinching a game off the shelf. Its shop lifiting and you'd be thrown in jail but on the internet only Riaa (the evil guys of the internet) protect their interests.

Such people however should keep their mouths shut I don't imagine he has lots of friends if he goes blabbing like that to everyone I certainly would not want him near myself. It shows a true sense of immaturity when all a person says is "ït sucks" instead of bringing up why he thinks this way.