Capcom Confirms: If ESA Is For SOPA, Then So Is Capcom
from the well,-at-least-it's-honest dept
While EA refuses to take an official position on SOPA, pro or con, it appears that some others in the industry are willing to put their name out there as a supporter. We've discussed how the ESA -- the trade group for the industry -- is a supporter, but most individual companies have been hesitant to stake out an official position. However, Digital Trends has the story that Capcom has officially signed on as a supporter of SOPA, by deferring any thinking on the matter to the ESA:In an email with Digital Trends, a spokeswoman for Capcom said only that "The ESA represents us on these matters."This seems... dangerous. While it's good to have a trade group who can support you and help educate both you and politicians to issues related to regulation and policy, it's pretty dangerous to completely outsource your views on controversial political issues to third parties, and let them "represent you" on matters that can drive how consumers view your entire company.
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Filed Under: copyright, pipa, protect ip, sopa
Companies: capcom, esa
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The question is; is it as bad and nefarious as the Street Fighter credit card?
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I think the last Capcom game I bought was for the Sega Genesis, and the last Capcom game I played was for the Nintendo 64.
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They can't see what you play. Can they?
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hehehe!
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I got pretty mad at them when they released Super Street Fighter IV. I had bought the original Street Fighter IV just to see them release the same game with extra characters and a few nice new super moves for the same damned price? Not only I pirated Super Street Fighter IV (yeah, I stole, right... fuck you) but I'll also restrain from buying Capcom titles in the future. Assholes. Their support on SOPA is just another reason to give them a big fat middle finger.
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Oh, I've bought Assassin's Creed II for PC but after the DRM managed to irritate me enough I downloaded the Xbox360 version for free. I suppose you still think I stole it and that I'm an asshat, whatever it means, for getting the same game with no DRMm right?
Troll harder.
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Every time you pirate a game(isn't that what SOPA is for?), which I'll admit I have done several times, they are not gaining money. Or perhaps they are losing it. If people would see past the world of their computer screens that are in front of their faces, they'd realize, pirates drain these companies of their money, which they happen to need to expand and make games.
Do you really think that they are small companies that have only a few employees?
No, you are wrong in most cases. A single video game developer team can have over one hundred people. That is excluding the legal officials which could be somewhat fewer or more, and general office workers which could have three to four times as much people. You are essentially stealing from several hundred people.
If they don't make money the Company and possibly the industry will shrivel up and die, (metaphorically of course) and what you started to take from and giving nothing back will cease to exist. There won't be any more games from them, and you will all have to find something else to complain about.
Factual: The issue of pirating has essentially nothing to do with freedom of speech, if one actually knows what freedom of speech is. The issue more or less is unauthorized copyright distribution,a form of copyright infringement which is a criminal act.
If you boycott their games, like some have suggested, do you really think they will even notice?
By the way, Ninja, what was preventing you from asking the company for help on a forum or something for your DRM issue?
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That may be the line of reasoning being fed to the media, however - I doubt many people who actually give it some thought believe it. If it were not for all the copyright infringement supposedly going on there would some other excuse for the wholesale censorship of the internet. Given recent world events which showcased many a draconian government response, how could anyone not suspect such nefarious activity? Seriously, are you that sheltered and unaware of your surroundings?
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The battle cry above is insinuating that SOPA has the power to go back in time and somehow stop ninja from pirating in the first place.
For a pro-SOPA type response the AC should have said something along the lines of:
Or something like that.
SOPA's existence in it's current form has no impact whatsoever on what ninja has done, is doing and will do in the future.
For the record I think it's a shit bill, but being from the UK I cannot influence either way and have more than enough to worry about with our government trying to control what we can and can't see online (or make the internet "safe" , if you're that gullible)
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"...being from the UK..."
Ah, OK, I see.
No, they aren't redundant; they're the same thing. It's an American legislative quirk where the two houses of Congress put together different versions of the same bill that they want to become law. In their current form, no, they aren't enforcible because they aren't laws, but they DO threaten to affect what Ninja can do in the future.
What the AC above said was Ninja is why SOPA exists, and he's (probably) correct to some extent. If not for pirates, it could be argued that SOPA wouldn't exist (I'm not sure I believe that, but...).
Regardless, I agree -- being from the UK, you have a lot more problems to worry about domestically.
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Which is to say, they might not call it SOPA, but a bill trying to censor the Internet would still exist. That's what I believe, any ways.
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I'm somewhat active in the SOPA discussions because, like it or not, the US still have some influence and I personally don't want them to set a dangerous example of censorship. China and the likes are already mocking the US because of these bills.
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You just aren't thinking creatively. If you visit any .com website, or other domain that the US has it's fingers on, SOPA will affect you. Once that genie is out of the bottle, it's not hard at all to see its powers abused to shut down sites that have little or nothing to do with copyright and piracy. That's one of the major concerns we have, the legitimate expression will be stifled because someone doesn't like it and SOPA gives them the tools to quash it.
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It was my poor redaction but I really meant in the short term. In the long run this sets a precedent nobody wants and there are plenty of asshole politicians that would be itching to censor everything with the label of combating child porn and online piracy. Unfortunately many of them only show their true colors when in power.
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As it is, it sounds like he would have had to pay full price for what amounts to an incremental upgrade. I would have been pissed, too.
To you, this is about following the letter of some rule of law with no consideration for Capcom's business practices, or how they treat their customers, or any rights (legal or ethical) the customers might have. Very dogmatic. To me, this is about marketing and customer support. Treat your customers as merely an unlimited source of revenue that only needs to be tapped, and in the long run you'll lose them, one way or another. Treat them like people, look to their needs, engage them instead of treating them like cattle to be slaughtered, and they'll support you to the ends of the Earth.
Besides which, calling it "stealing" is an argument by emotive language.
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I think we need an irony tag to be introduced when the sarc one is implemented - it would save the AC's confusion, though I suppose would be less entertaining for the rest of us.
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lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
Could Capcom have released everything they did on SSF4 as DLC and then repackaged the new copies as SF4 as to not alienate their loyal customers? Of course they could. But this is the same company that decided that 1 game save allowed on a game, which can never be deleted after that, is a good idea.
They're an awful company whose good games have been few and far between for the past several years. Jumping on this bandwagon should shock nobody, as the obvious conclusion for them to draw is that piracy is the reason they aren't a top dog like they were in the late 80's and early 90's, not the fact that the industry caught up to them and in many areas, passed them.
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Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
And that's why I only bought 1 version and pirated the others. On the cartridge - is that the right word in English? - versions I used to buy bootleg stuff that cost only 20% of the original if not less. I wouldn't do that today, I'd just download them. I advise ppl not to buy physical pirated goods because there's when the money goes to the wrong place and profit is being made directly from the work of others. No, I don't agree with that, not in this day and age.
I'm not surprised. But you see, just because you regularly see murder cases on the TV you don't stop being shocked. Just because Capcom has some history on being asses doesn't mean I don't get angry when they don't even try to conceal the fact that they are asses. Don't get me wrong, they did release many good games, some of them I bought, others I couldn't and now there isn't any way to buy. But there's a time in our lives when we say enough is enough.
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Really? How do you do that? All other products allow returns, except media. Any wonder people pirate? Now with the move to digital distribution, we can't even sell a game if it sucks.
Ever bought an album due to the single and found it was terrible? People like you eat that sh!t sandwich and grin. People like us do something.
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Anyways, it's not impossible to decide after the fact the buy the best one. Do your research, see which version has the features/characters/whatever that you want, then buy it. No need for returns.
Or, if you're like me, don't buy any of it. I'm sure SF is a great series, but if you buy anything from them after they pull these stunts (SF4, SF4 Turbo, Super SF4, Super SF4 Turbo, etc), then you're just sending the message thatwhat they're doing is OK, and they should keep doing it.
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Indeed, considering their practices that might be the
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... might be one response but tell me, when some auto-maker releases a car, do you wait a few years and then buy the best version? No, you wait a few months, check the forums for reviews, check the conditions, the manufacturer credibility etc etc. That could be one good approach. But a few thousands will have bought and got angry with the bad product before me. Really, how are you gonna tell what is the best version without even trying? It's more complicated than that.
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If the auto-maker behaved like Capcom that would seem like a prudent thing to do. Or, better yet, buy from a competitor who won't jerk your chain.
It's more complicated than that.
Which is why I think it's a better idea to just not do business with them at all.
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Capcom, what happened?
Capcom used to be one of my absolute favorite companies. Not anymore, sadly. This is what happens to a company when they allow their corporate suits and stock-holders to take full control. Corporatism and creativity do not mesh.
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Boycott List
Is there anyone else I should add to the list (I already have the RIAA and MPAA)? Preferably with a reason and a link.
*It's a shame really. I was actually going to buy the Saints Row 3 DLC today and give Saints Row 1 and 2 another try.
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Re: Boycott List
http://judiciary.house.gov/issues/Rogue%20Websites/List%20of%20SOPA%20Supporters.pdf
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me != capcom_buyer;
/* ESA not a company I can't support */
}
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Take away our Freedom of Choice and we Americans will know what to do with you.
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Now they exist entirely on momentum.
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This is Ironic
http://www.facebook.com/capcomunity
Capcom are rightly giving him credit, but under SOPA, any site linking to pictures of his modded gun could be shut down.
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Capcom to me: "We don't want your money as long as those guys tell us we don't want it. Buy from a competitor with more intelligence/balls please"
Me: "OK, I will."
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Fandom is not only criminal felony, it supports terrorism. Fair Use is a infringement felon terrorist's own word to steal properties and bomb our buildings Occupy-style. We will also require State and Federal government to install wireless surveillance cameras in residential homes in America and we will watch you and be sure you do nothing creative, productive, and/or infringe others work. We will put your child, you, and your entire family in FEMA labor camps if we see one single drawing, one song, or one of anything you do in your house.
Our Motto is: Be a fan, become a terrorist, and toil and slave in FEMA camps.
So stay silent, don't do anything we don't like or you'll be labeled as a felon and a terrorist. No Job for Copyright felons who support terrorism.
Protect our Intellect Property, throw fan nerds and consumers who defy and falsely criticize our companies in FEMA camps.
Put those infringers to work in FEMA labor camps, 'cause their so called Lord and Savior won't be there to save them. As it says in Ten commandments, "Thou shall not steal".
Mwahahahaha!!!!!!
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Coordinated Christmas Boycott
Sure, buy what you want for yourself, but when shopping for gifts next year spend your money elsewhere.
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Why? Did Paul Christoforo started working for the Entertainment Software Association?
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In this case that would be a serious improvement.
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Look at the way that battles are fought in DC. Often times, the affiliation of the politico is more important than the actual issue.
Republicans who don't care about the deficit for 8 years of Bush suddenly care.
Democrats who railed against wars under Bush, are suddenly silent when Obama is president.
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capcom's fbook wall, in case anyone wants to go tell them how you're feelin.
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Q?
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