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Pirating and Christian Games – Mack

Mack Administrator Posts: 2779 From: Registered: 01-20-2001	I've recently done an area on Christian Coders Network entitled; "Pirating and Christian Games, an old threat to a new industry" feel free to check it out here: http://www.christiancoders.com/cgi-bin/articles/show_article.pl?f=mack09042004133211.html and discuss it here! ------------------ It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing. http://www.twoguyssoftware.ca
HeardTheWord Member Posts: 224 From: Des Moines, IA Registered: 08-16-2004	Unfortunatly if someone really wants to pirate your game then they will. In some respects you should be glad that people want your game bad enough to pirate it. If they didn't want to then your game probably wasn't worth it. So congrats for making a good game! I don't know if you did this but here is an idea for people that want to hack demos. Put in #ifdef FINAL_BUILD for the parts that you want to keep out of the demo then put an #endif at the end of that section of code. I am pretty sure that this will tell the compiler not to put that in the executable. You would have to define FINAL_BUILD elsewhere when you want to create the final product. [This message has been edited by HeardTheWord (edited September 04, 2004).]
PastorRob Member Posts: 22 From: New Glasgow Registered: 09-02-2004	When it comes to creating online games, its quite easy to create a game that isnt Pirate-able. I am creating FountainStone Online, (by the way, hey Mack, this is Rob , I use to work on the Journey, I still have that source code and everything just the PC is busted havent fixed it yet, got a new one lol) When it comes to creating online games, give out the entire client, all features, but lock most of them unless their accounts are a certain access level. Example right now, a "freeman" can't access the Guild menu, Their buttons exist on their game, but when they press it, it connects to server, checks their account access level, and if its less than 50 then its the feature is disabled. Though this only works for online games, its a tip for anyone out there making Online games thanks Guys! -Rob roalja777@hotmail.com
PastorRob Member Posts: 22 From: New Glasgow Registered: 09-02-2004	Though I agree, we should band together and take the pirates down, God wants these games to reach people, but God also uses the money from these games to further his kingdom. There are ups and downs to it, but its a big load of stress to have your software pirated. The money is needed, and im not ashamed to talk about God and money heh, It all belongs to God. Its a fact Jesus spoke more about money than he did anything else. So why shouldnt we want money for christian games It goes back to God anyways -Rob
Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001	that is SHOCKING that a christian would do that against you. i would say that you do need to confront christian pirates of commercial gain, but i wouldn't bother about non-commerical pirates, that happens and always will happen, for every company a percentage of copies out there are going to be pirated. but definately go after these proclaiming christians, however i wouldn't rush to go and Sue them right away, but rather follow the way Jesus said to deal with a brother who sinned against him, first confront him, then with a couple of witnesses, and then contact his pastors etc quote: matthew 18 If your brother sins against you,[2] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'[3] 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. so if there isn't repentance after all that, treat him like an IRS employee - sue the pants off him (just kidding). But definately persue it, but rather be prayerful about it, not out to get him because of your feeling of being wronged (or your need of the money.. you have to ask God wether you should even sue him after all that or just accept that you are wronged. quote: When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? 2Don't you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide these little things among yourselves? 3Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth. 4If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5I am saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? 6But instead, one Christian[1] sues another--right in front of unbelievers! 7To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers and sisters and if you end up deciding to sue (which i personally hope you don't), be fair, don't be like the world who sues rediculously to get as much as they can, just sue for the amount (or estimated amount) or money that he made pirating your games + court case.. but also be aware.. if you use pirated software in any part of the development of your game (which alot of low budget developers do, i mean 3dsmax is expensive), then DO NOT GO AFTER THIS GUY AT ANY COST, for you are judged by the matter that you judge others. love, Karl ------------------ Karl /GODCENTRIC Visionary Media the creative submitted to the divine. Husband of my amazing wife Aleshia Klumsy@xtra.co.nz
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002	it's a christian store? where is there honor? ------------------ Soterion Studios
Mack Administrator Posts: 2779 From: Registered: 01-20-2001	Right now weren't not planning on suing, we just want them to take the game off thier site and stop distributing it. Plain and simple. ------------------ It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing. http://www.twoguyssoftware.ca
Mack Administrator Posts: 2779 From: Registered: 01-20-2001	For anyone interested I've been asked various questions regarding this on different forums, here are the links; CCGR: http://www.ccgr.org/link.asp?TOPIC_ID=641 Christian Coders: http://www.christiancoders.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/postdisplay.cgi?forum=Forum7&topic=000014 Christian Gaming: http://www.christiangaming.com/CGForum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=625 ------------------ It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing. http://www.twoguyssoftware.ca
en972 Member Posts: 562 From: NOT TELLING! Registered: 08-27-2004	who on earth whould pirate a christian game? I mean, sure, EW is an awsome game, but still.... ------------------ Hard work often pays off in time, but lazieness always pays off now.
D-SIPL Moderator Posts: 1345 From: Maesteg, Wales Registered: 07-21-2001	My site here in the UK is fully legal. And EW is our number 1 best seller! www.christiangames.co.uk That really saddens me to hear that news. It's has been really hard getting the store running here in the UK. I have put a lot of money into registring the company and getting a merchant account. The sole reason for me starting the site was 1. There is a need for christian games in the UK and there was nobody to fulfill that need. 2. Christian Game developers need places to LEGALLY sell their games in order to get revenue to survive and put back into making better games. The second has been the most important factor. Business was slow at first but now we are bringing in enough money to cover all the previous costs. It's been very rewarding to be able to help out people like Two Guys Software. We are now starting to Advertise christian games here in the UK so i will keep you posted on what happens. --D-SIPL ------------------ If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that suggests you tried
crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004	i just thought of something. i cant make games as of now, so ANYBODY that wants me 4 concept art, or advertising, tell me. sounds stupid, i know, but hear me out. I have NEVER seen a Christian Game advertised. I didnt even know they existed (except cheap unliscened snes ones) until I found this site. Give me info for the games, I'll draw stuff, make .bmps and and do the chain-mail thing, anything to get the word out. If more people knew the Christian Gaming industry existed, it would grow...not "just like that" of course, but an advertising "campaign" is feesible. Are there any legal issues for games that are copyrighted? ------------------ It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Abe Lincoln
crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004	i just thought of something. i cant make games as of now, so ANYBODY that wants me 4 concept art, or advertising, tell me. sounds stupid, i know, but hear me out. I have NEVER seen a Christian Game advertised. I didnt even know they existed (except cheap unliscened snes ones) until I found this site. Give me info for the games, I'll draw stuff, make .bmps and and do the chain-mail thing, anything to get the word out. If more people knew the Christian Gaming industry existed, it would grow...not "just like that" of course, but an advertising "campaign" is feesible. Are there any legal issues for games that are copyrighted? ------------------ It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Abe Lincoln
bennythebear Member Posts: 1225 From: kentucky,usa Registered: 12-13-2003	i don't think i've ever played a CHRISTian game. kind of funny/sad i know, anyone know where i could download a demo to try it out? ------------------ proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
HeardTheWord Member Posts: 224 From: Des Moines, IA Registered: 08-16-2004	I have only played the old NES biblical games. I have heard that there are some good Christian FPS games but have never tried them.
crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004	i played a demo of that 1 where your a disciple thing and u have cards. u see wat i maen though? only a few people have ever even heard of christian gaming, or even alternative gaming that isnt quite CHRISTian. ------------------ It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Abe Lincoln
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002	Victory and Hebron? played the demo for that game. got totally lost. lol. here's some demos of christian games: http://www.ccgr.org/dl_showall.asp?cat_id=32&parent_id=13&parent_name=Demos&sub_name=Christian I highly suggest Ominous Horizons, Eternal War, and Catechumen. ------------------ Soterion Studios
bennythebear Member Posts: 1225 From: kentucky,usa Registered: 12-13-2003	eternal war seems to get mentioned a lot. i think i'm going to try it out, or at least read about it(might not be my kind of game). my biggest fear is that i'm going to try playing a game that's suppose to be CHRISTian and it will remind of the phoney, nieve, "happy happy happy" , "i'm a good person and that makes me a CHRISTian" type of person and thing. i need real, i need blunt, i need honest. anywho...prob'ly going off in my own little world here so i'm going to try and shut up...or, umm...stop typing anyway. ------------------ proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002	haha. Eternal War is not like that. lol. why does it get mentioned alot? a) becuase it's a cool game, and b) Mack, Zookey and Gump here made it. ------------------ Soterion Studios
bennythebear Member Posts: 1225 From: kentucky,usa Registered: 12-13-2003	eternal war looked like it would be pretty good but i'm not into fps, or games where you have to figure puzzles out and find hidden doors and all that. i'm more of the rts, rpg kind of guy. i like using my mind to figure strategies out, not puzzles. the game HeardTheWord is working on and dreaming up sounds pretty cool. anywho, GOD bless. ------------------ proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
zookey Member Posts: 1902 From: Great Falls, Montana, USA Registered: 04-28-2002	quote: Originally posted by bennythebear: eternal war looked like it would be pretty good but i'm not into fps, or games where you have to figure puzzles out and find hidden doors and all that. i'm more of the rts, rpg kind of guy. then check out Bretheren Entertainment's Casting the Shadows---it is an up-and-coming christian final fantasy style rpg---I can't wait for it:-) ------------------ Ignorance is bad, if you have it you will not have a good time.
HeardTheWord Member Posts: 224 From: Des Moines, IA Registered: 08-16-2004	Check out this article on pirating. http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20011017/dodd_01.htm You have to login to Gamasutra. The registration is free.