Quote:
Originally Posted by Namekuseijin
How many kind enough souls would pay for them after stealing them?
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Actually, I suspect that many people who buy video games now use this purchase model, at least on the PC.
Since most games don't release representative demos, many users torrent to test the single-player experience. They watch for a while, and see whether the devs and publishers update their software to fix bugs and listen to the customers, and then buy the software legitimately ( yes, that they've "already stolen" ) to support the developers who are working in the right way to further an industry they are passionate about.
Most torrent releases for video games include in their documentation sincere encouragements to buy the game if you like it.
This model is more appropriate for e-books than MP3s for two reasons. Firstly, the music industry has been generally unpopular since the coke-fuelled exec life-styles of the eighties and because of the perception that the industry will do anything to cling on to its outdated sales model, to the detriment of customers. Secondly, if you read a good book, like the gamer who cares enough to find out a bit about the team who designed their game, the passionate reader feels a real link to the author who provided them with enjoyment.
With bookstores looking like they may become rather more thin on the ground in the near future, perhaps this is going to be the one way left to truly browse a book before you buy.