Instead of a lengthy and angry reply, I'll say this: you're wrong.

Dude, that was the philosophical equivalent of mad science ;P !
On a more serious note, as most unified systems that control too much - it's probably too utopist.
Curiously enough - it sounds like a step in an anti-cyberpunk direction; Instead of a future where people are governed by corporations (a vision that isn't as far-fetched as it sounds), it would be a worldwide federation, with this "entertainment tax" covering one facet...

But if you take take a few steps further, you might as well tax EVERYTHING this way, escalating taxes to 100% of people's income, thus making money obsolete... and we do end up in a centrally planned communist utopia. People get everything they want but fulfill their part of the social contract by giving stuff in return...
Yup. All it needed was a tiny step further.

Of course - it could be a democratic utopia, where people would vote what content should be produced... but some of the same people would have to be the ones to produce it.

I have to say, I think the stealing from co-workers and children example is a bad one - if I found a co-workers pen (even a $5 one) I'd give it to reception to find whose it is. If a kid gave me some money I'd give it back to them later (and if it was my niece/nephew/son/daughter I'd probably add a bit ;) )

The swapping floppies was a better example - sure, when I was a kid and had the amiga I did that. Doesn't mean it was right. Not that I'm making moral judgements on anyone who still does it - right or wrong can be a grey area.

I think most of us on GOG are here because we're willing to pay for games (if not then why not just go somewhere else?)

edited for getting the tags wrong [...]
and again - I must need more caffeine

Y'arghhh?!?
Agreed 100% matey.

Now I admit that I've pirated before, but I no longer do that.

But because you are a sociopath and a thief, does not make that true of everyone else. As others have said, stealing from kids and coworkers makes you pretty fucking pathetic, and a sad excuse for a human being.

Edit: Hmm, or more likely you're just trolling, since I find it hard to believe anyone is that dumb for real. Not the stealing from kids part, but the bragging about it and assuming that everyone does that.

He was making examples, not saying stuff he did personally.....and again he is showing how hypocritical alot of people against piracy are. As many have ripped TV shows/books/music at some point then have the gall to point the finger at current pirates which is sad.

P.S. He didn't say he stole from kids, he was making a hypothetical example of things some may do that would make them also pirates if they did it.

=============
Edit to all in general: I find it sad when someone points out how hypocritical it can be to label people as pirates after doing similar things themselves over the years or even currently, and others belittle him/her for it & try to deflect.

Preferably, I want my games made by professionals who are employed full time for that one purpose, and are given completely free hands to make whatever they think would be cool, without any interference whatsoever by corporate suits who wouldn't know a fantastic game if it jumped up and headbutted them, and without any market analysts, focus groups or other corporate crap anywhere in the process.

Can I have that? No, but it's a beautiful thought, nonetheless.

:slowclap:

For the second time: even if one DID commit an error in the past, how does that have any bearing on whether or not the act is wrong? If a murderer tells me that what he did was wrong I would say, "Yes, it was." not, "you can't stay that!"

I didn't say it wasn't illegal, just that it's a bit hypocritical for one to do something then stop and point fingers at those who do the same.

So you want people to develop games with no concern for whether or not other want them? How does that make any sense? You want a bunch of guys working 80 hour weeks, without considering their audience?

Let me ask you something: would YOU do that? Would you invest years of work into something hoping that it would pay off, without checking to see whether it will?

That would be like buying a house without getting it inspected....

He wants others to make games by gamers for gamers without all that advert/marketing/exec bonus/etc money thrown in as part of the budget, games made for cheap, and the money going to the devs.

Also sometimes you take risks. It is not a law in this country that everything has to succeed or made to by the people/consumers. If it fails you try again or get a different job.

By definition, that is NOT hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is a conflict between thought and action. It is not a conflict between present thought and past action.
....that can be done. Who is stopping it?

It is if you did something similar(tv show doanloads, etc) and thought it ok then went and pointed fingers at others who did other things like game piracy/etc.

And by not pirating anymore period but pointing fingers at other pirates it's not hypocritical but it does make one look smug.
Try getting funding together for an indie game of a larger than indie game size on your own and tell me how it turns out. Some manage to do it but not everyone. Plus the big companies block out some of the smaller devs with bigger advert budgets.

Well, now we're talking about two different things. The previous one I already covered, but let's look at your new claim.

Developing ANY game is a risk, period. It doesn't matter if you have market analysts or not. Anything is a risk. So the question is: do you want to minimize your risks?

The answer is obviously.. yes... of course you do.

Get back to me when you are jobless, without any kind of income and devoting full time work to a project. At that point, we'll see if you want to know whether or not the project will pay off.

My entire problem with this is that you seem to be asking for others to behave in a way that you yourself probably wouldn't.

Not really....it's just sometimes you have to take a risk. Analysis doesn't always reflect the risk fully or properly and even with it you're still taking a gamble. So why not put the money into making the game better and get volunteers to do your testing/analysis work for you?

And as I said, if you fail you have options.....try again or get a different job. I may sound heartless but it's hard enough supporting myself. I could care less about most other people when I have myself to worry about.

Also another case, but sometimes people actually do do things for free you know.......even when they have little income to speak of.