I just thought I'd propose this poll because I've found myself donating some money recently for free indie games that I ended up loving online. At the same time getting pretty frustrated and avoiding some retail games for trying to screw cash out of me (I won't buy fifa 11, and I didn't pay for the mw2 map pack). It's idealistic I know, but I wonder if cheaper games would really equal less piracy/more new games sales.
I'd love to say, "Oh, definitely", but I'd likely do it only once or twice in my life. These things cost money for a reason, and that's because they're entertainment and not essential (as much as it pains me to say). I'll pay for games as long as they cost money, but if they legitimately became "free" (AKA never), you can bet that'd be the end of me spending money on them.
Yeah, I would. But then I'm also the type that'll donate to webcomics I enjoy to help support the artists. I like new models, but for something as high cost as video games, it's not much of a way to sustain a business, I'm afraid.
No, if all games were free I wouldn't feel a need to donate to the publishers. All these game makers must be making a living somehow so why do I need to give them more money? This question isn't like anime-fansubs or independently developed works of love. The premise is all games are free, so I assume that means everything from two guys in their garage to Modern Warfare 2.
When was the last time you donated to your local library?
@Jasonofindy: Never outside of local taxes. And that's the point, while you might donate to your local library, most people don't. It's not the same in people's minds as the United Way or American Red Cross. Most of us take these things for granted and don't write a check to fund these projects. I wouldn't if every game was free just as I don't give to my library or local PBS TV/radio station.
I'm quite happy paying for my games normally, i can't see the situation you've come up with really being more convinient for anyone. But hypothetically of course i would. Games cost money to make.
probably not, i doubt many people would. You don't see loads of people donating to websites they really like, and it's essientially the same thing. And for websites, you have some kind of interaction with the owner, so you're more likely to donate.
I don't know if I would get it for free and then go back and donate, but if it was like those deals where you set your own price for the game before downloading, I probably set a reasonable price for the download (assuming I was interesting in the game and reasonably sure of what I was getting myself in to).
Someone else said it. I'd like to think I would, but actually doing probably wouldn't happen. Also, like someone else-else said, if all games are free (from one-man Indy games to companies like Bungie, IW, etc), they apparently have enough money from another source to spend time making games.
The whole "they get paid by my contribution and it helps them to keep making games" thing goes right out the window if it all becomes free suddenly.
Yep. Usually games I complete at least once are games worth paying for. I find myself forcing myself through some games lately because I actually paid for them, if games were free, I'd have no problem quitting it and not pay a cent, and I'd be less grumpy, and I could actually pay more for developers and games I liked, such an ideal world for me, especially if you have no rental services in your area, and some games don't offer you a demo (Assassin's creed).
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