- December 31, 2011 6:22 pm
This isn’t a post promoting piracy or anything, just an informative post about the level of downloaded games on these here interwebs. And with how that level of thefts of a game, it can still top the charts and set records for sales. TorrentFreak has posted it’s annual list of top 10 most pirated games on the internet and some expected results made the list.
Crysis 2 topped the PC download list with almost 4 millions downloads. Gears of War 3 took the 360 list, which beat out Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. With MW3 hitting $1 billion in sales in just 16 days, it’s surprising that it was still downloaded over 800k times. Super Mario Galaxy 2 topped the Wii charts for the second year in a row. Do these results surprise any of you out there?
I know people pirate games because they probably can’t afford to buy them. That is why my cabinet isn’t as stocked as I’d like it, because of the price. So these people do like that game they downloaded, just couldn’t afford it. But then that game they just downloaded hits $1 billion in a hair over 2 weeks, and the developers sit and cry that they are losing money about the piracy.
It’s a double edged sword. I agree that these hard working developers need compensation for their work. I appreciate every minute they put into giving me hours and hours of entertainment. But the level of talk about loss in sales when they are sitting in a ivory tower is a laughing matter. I don’t support piracy, that isn’t what this is about. But I know how hard it is to buy things that you really want, and I can see the levels of these numbers as high as they are.
Jump past the break to see the rest of results…
For several years Crysis has been a great indicator to overall gaming performance as to this day can push some PCs harder than they capable of going. So when the game developers behind Crysis, Crytek, unveiled Crysis 2 and it’s console port-like DX9 support, many cried fowl. Since Crysis 2′s release many weeks back, the initial fanfare has died down, though the criticisms still remain.
But that will soon change thanks to the often rumored DX11 pack that will bring many new, subtle UI tweaks to the game ultimately making it much, much prettier to look at. Everything from dirt, to shadows, to tessellation will now be enabled.
With that said, the image above is but one example of many compliments of NeoGAF. For the full gallery of GIFs, be sure to hit up NeoGAF’s original post which showcases 6 different environments with DX11 features enabled/disabled.
If you hold game demos near and dear to your heart, the tides are a changin’ in ways that just aren’t too friendly for consumers. First, a few weeks back EA announced that they were toying with the idea of charging $10-$15 for “premium demos”. Naturally, a fair share of gamers weren’t too pleased. But another developer has spoken out in favor of such things.
I’m just now working my way through Crysis: Warhead and let me tell you, it’s amazing. After seeing the screenshots of Crysis 2, I’m waiting on the edge of my seat literally. So it can be understood that when I say I’m upset and worried of Crysis 2′s future and story plot when it’s lead writer is facing 2 years in US Federal prison. No, Peter Watts didn’t get busted dealing, murdering, raping, or stealing. According to the stand up word of the US border patrol, Peter apparently went ape shit and attacked them. That was back in December. But now, a Michigan court found Peter guilty of assaulting US border patrol earning him that 2-year sentence highlighted above. It’s stupid really. He merely questioned why he was being searched at the border. For foreigners outside the country: merely questioning law enforcement is reason for a beating, peppery spraying, arrest, etc. So be forewarned, the US is not a friendly place.
I must say that yes, I believe the word of a video game developer more-so than the word of the US border patrol “untouchables” who claim that various illegal acts were committed by Peter. Police brutality in this day and age is unfortunately a common occurrence.
With all of that said, Peter again, was found guilty and now faces sentencing on April 26th. I can only hope that judge has a tad more common sense than the ones Peter has had to deal with so far.
So what does it mean for Crysis 2? I’m sure there’s more than one person working on the storyline. And, since this has been going on since December, I’m sure Peter has been working overtime drafting the storyline fully knowing things could end badly for him.
Whatever happens, I wish the best for Peter. Says a lot for the US’s image doesn’t it — the trigger happy, “shoot first ask questions later” country…
**Update: Thanks to “LKB” below for pointing out the actual “assault” charge was dropped for lack of evidence. Unfortunately, the reason Peter is still facing a 2-year jail sentence is because of “failing to obey a command fast enough”. What a crock of shit, huh?
For continuing updates from Peter himself, check out his site, Rifters.com.
1 Up
- February 9, 2010 12:48 am
Oh geeze, I know what is going on gadget/gamers wish lists this year — Crysis 2. Even though a good chunk of computers still can’t run the visually demanding and sensory pleasing game, one of the co-devleopers of Crysis (Crytek) aren’t sitting down, content with the still virtually unchallenged work.
Come this holiday season, Crysis will finally be unseated as “the” game to benchmark. It’s been a wonderful couple of years. Heck, besides being a great all around game to play and look at, the game became a standard. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard someone say “But can it run Cyrsis…?”. Such things only happen to the best of the breed.
A new revelation this holiday season for round 2 is that for the first time, console players will be able to get in on the action. After being a PC exclusive for the last couple of years, it will be interesting to see how Crysis does jumping across to different platforms and user markets. And of course, I can’t wait to see the downright beautiful graphics ‘splayed across my screen. See you on Xbox Live this Christmas…
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