Capcom Confirms: If ESA Is For SOPA, Then So Is Capcom

from the well,-at-least-it's-honest dept

Thu, Jan 5th 2012 4:09am — Mike Masnick

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:22am

"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."

The question is; is it as bad and nefarious as the Street Fighter credit card?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:26am

It's OK; their games have been kind of crap lately anyways.
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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:35am

You said in the Kodak article. Legacy companies litigate and legislate. How long has Capcom been exploring the Street Fighter title to exhaustion?

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:43am

Re:
Yeah, you did steal it. Congratulations, asshats like you are the reason SOPA exists.
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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:51am

Re: Re:
And asshats like you make TD comments a little bit trollish and a lot more amusing. Capcom got my money, spit on my face by releasing the same game with a few extras and you are implying I should pay again for a few extra stuff? No, thanks.

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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CK20XX, 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:54am

Oh brother... thanks to the things Capcom has done leading up to and following how they burnt out Keiji Inafune, I'm kinda numb to this pain now. See this attitude they're displaying here? This is why someone is gonna have to get fired before Megaman Legends 3 can be made.
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abc gum, 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:55am

Re: Re:
"Yeah, you did steal it. Congratulations, asshats like you are the reason SOPA exists."

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:03am

lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
You got surprised enough to be angry that a SF game came out with a new version? After SF1, EVERY SF game has had multiple versions. That was a given.

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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Machin Shin (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:04am

Re: Re: Re:
I don't think that it is being sheltered that is the problem. It is just the entertainment industry has such a fat ass that when you spend all your time kissing it you cant see anything else.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:09am

Re:
I agree, I'd boycott Capcom over this if I had bought any games from them in the last decade.

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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Butcherer79 (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:12am

Re: Re:
I was under the impression that SOPA doesn't exist - yet
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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:20am

Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
After SF1, EVERY SF game has had multiple versions. That was a given.

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:24am

Re: Re: Re:
SOPA and PIPA both exist as Bills. They aren't Laws yet, but that's not the same thing. If they aren't killed they will become laws, so now is not the time to pretend they aren't around.
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anonymous, 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:26am

Re: Re:
stop talking like a complete twat! SOPA and it's ilk exist because companies want the right to continue to rip off customers made law, whilst not doing anything to encourage customers to continue to buy their stuff or give new customers a reason to start buying their stuff!
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:29am

Re: Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
The right response would be to not buy them or pirate them, or to wait a few years and buy the best one... but then this verges on a question of morality, and then everything gets muddy. While I can sympathize with you and I'm definitely not a supporter of Capcom and others like them, I don't think I agree with "I took it because they should have given it to me for free in the first place."
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Michael, 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:40am

Capcom, what happened?
So nice to see how knowledgeable so many people are about Capcom and what they've done over the years. When it comes to cash-cow VG companies that milk their feanchises, they're the original banner company. This is the company that used to produce such quality gems as Strider, Ghouls N' Ghosts, Forgotten Worlds, Night Warriors, and many other top-quality softs. After the arcade scene died down and 3D gaming kicked into high gear, they never were the same. Nowadays, they intentionally lock content in their software, such as playable characters, so that you need to pay microtransactions to gain access. What a way to alienate your fan base.

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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ChrisB (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:43am

Re: Re: Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
> buy the best one

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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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:52am

Boycott List
I'm writing up a list of companies to boycott. The ESA (and all their member companies*) is already on the list for their SOPA support. Capcom has just earned a special place on the list for it's blind support.

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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deane (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:52am

yet another company to boycott. what a shame capcom. you lost me as a customer. though I never played your games anyways! good riddance, see you in bankruptcy some day :-)
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Butcherer79 (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:52am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
so they are redundant, cannot be enforced and so may as well not exist.
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:

This is why we want SOPA to become law

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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Scooters (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 5:57am

if (ESA=='SOPA' && Capcom=='SOPA') {
me != capcom_buyer;
/* ESA not a company I can't support */
}
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gorehound (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:00am

SOPA/PIPA Support equals Boycott that Company.
Take away our Freedom of Choice and we Americans will know what to do with you.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:03am

Re:
*Sniff* I can't even show my displeasure by boycotting their bad games I wasn't going to buy anyway.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:05am

Does anyone here even support crapcom?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:06am

"But without SOPA, how can we release Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Turbo Arcade Edition: Two Worlds HD Remix featuring Skin and Violent Ken (to make up for regular Ken's absence) in this wild west? By the way, we're still not giving you Mega Man Legends 3 or any new Darkstalkers (except for rereleases with at least one glorified MUGEN character added) or Breath of Fire games."
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:11am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"so they are redundant..."
"...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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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:14am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I'm from Brazil. SOPA would have zero effect here and our laws allow downloads for non-commercial uses. I don't hide my IP nor I would if I lived in any of those countries that are seriously considering these draconian laws. Such laws should be challenged and scrutinized. They most certainly violate one or two constitutional rights and the very reason for their existence can be completely debunked.

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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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:15am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
No, you're right, SOPA wouldn't exist even in it's non-law form if it wasn't for piracy. Another bill would be there right now named after whatever scapegoat the entertainment industry pulled out of their asses.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:15am

Re: Re: Re: Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
You seem to have misunderstood me; the bit about shitty albums is why I don't buy CDs any more. My point wasn't "just put up with it, because stealing is wrong," but more, "I don't think I agree with your justification, and there are alternative actions."

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:16am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
SOPA, by any other name, smells as sweet.

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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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:20am

Re: Re: Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
The right response would be to not buy them or pirate them, or to wait a few years and buy the best one...

Indeed, considering their practices that might be the
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:20am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
SOPA would have zero effect here and our laws allow downloads for non-commercial uses.

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:25am

Re: Boycott List
Don't know the date on this, but he's a PDF list from the House's .gov website. A good place to start.

http://judiciary.house.gov/issues/Rogue%20Websites/List%20of%20SOPA%20Supporters.pdf
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:27am

Re:
You know, if Capcom goes bankrupt, those properties get auctioned off, right...?
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Pete Austin, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:55am

This is Ironic
"People like to mod things, Garrett Hunter has modded a gun and modded it to resemble the Samurai Edge from Resident Evil. There�s a whole lot of work gone into it! Check it out in the video at the link" - Capcom's Facebook page
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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PaulT (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:59am

The way I interpret this:

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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Radu, 5 Jan 2012 @ 7:25am

Capcom died to me the day they signed onto EA's origin servers, this is the nail in the coffin. Goodnight sweet prince.
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PRMan, 5 Jan 2012 @ 7:32am

Re:
Download MAME and play arcade Street Fighter for free. That'll show 'em.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 7:55am

I don't buy from them since the whole 3ds resident evil incident. I read an article saying that they are struggling with their ip, I hope they die. I cold not stomach another resident evil clone
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President of the Anti-Fandom Association, 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:03am

As President of the Anti-Fandom Association (AFA), I would like to congratulate the House Judiciary Committee on considering SOPA. AFA encourages the House to swiftly pass the bill. We also urge President Obama to indefinitely detain Copyright infringement terrorists in FEMA camps under Section 1021 of the NDAA 2012 law. We also recommend a bill to require DRM-chips to be implanted in the brains of consumers to make sure they obey copyright, be uncreative, unproductive and buy our media products. Artists, publishers, and other media companies don't need fans. What a big disgrace of Nintendo, Sony Digital, Electronic Arts, and Epic Games have made a bad decision. Never the less, the majority of the Electronic Software Association (ESA) including Capcom have supported this bill. The minority should be kicked out of the ESA for their disgrace on supporting those brainless consumer puppets on opposing this bill. All consumers who defy us as corporate gods should be indefinitely detained in FEMA labor camps, Chinese style labor without pay making our games so that that our own employees can rest easy and have longer vacations with pay.

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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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:14am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
They can trample with the domains assigned to the United States. But who will actually do any business with the US if this comes into law? I meant zero effect on my ability to download. Actually for the seasoned pirates around the US the effect would be zero too. In the short term. 09/11/2001, towers blown, Patrot Act follows. Fast forward 10 years and now we have NDAA. ??/??/2012, MAFIAA passes legislation to fight online piracy. Fast forward 10 years and now we have the Great Firewall of Corporate America.

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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:20am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
All of that I agree with.
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Ninja (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:22am

Re: Re: Re: Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
response was cut..

... 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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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:22am

Re:
I wish I could vote this post "Boring."
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:25am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: lol @ being surprised about a new version of a SF Game
when some auto-maker releases a car, do you wait a few years and then buy the best version?

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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Joel Coehoorn, 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:54am

Coordinated Christmas Boycott
It's a little late now, but if bill is not yet approved and still on the docket come this October it would be cool to see people respond to the entertainment distribution industry's push of this legislation with an organized boycott of Music, Movies, Software, and Video Games given as gifts for next year's holiday season.

Sure, buy what you want for yourself, but when shopping for gifts next year spend your money elsewhere.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 9:49am

...it's pretty dangerous to completely outsource your views ... to third parties

Why? Did Paul Christoforo started working for the Entertainment Software Association?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 10:07am

Re:
I just came here to say the same thing. Capcom is already dead to me, this is just another nail in their coffin. It's a pity because they used to release some really good games.
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 10:11am

Re: Re:
I bet if he had been offered a reasonably priced upgrade he would have bought it with no more than a grumble or two.

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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bjupton (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 10:19am

Farming out the way you think about something is actually quite common for humans.

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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MikeP (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 10:30am

https://www.facebook.com/capcomunity?sk=wall&filter=2

capcom's fbook wall, in case anyone wants to go tell them how you're feelin.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 11:06am

Re:
I think all support for them went away the moment Inafune left. They have been getting shittier and shittier ever since.

Now they exist entirely on momentum.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:12pm

Re:
Why? Did Paul Christoforo started working for the Entertainment Software Association?

In this case that would be a serious improvement.
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Aaron Martin-Colby (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:58pm

Re: Re:
No! Download MAME and then don't play Street Fighter Arcade. That way, you can show them that you are so angry, you won't even not buy their games.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:30pm

Re: Re: Re:
It doesn't matter unless you use the "networked" MAME to play online with other around the world.

They can't see what you play. Can they?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:32pm

Re: Re: Re:
https://github.com/MisterTea/ClientServerMAME

hehehe!
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Butcherer79 (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 12:28am

Re: Re: Re:
I think ninja said he 'stole' it in what should have been an ironically funny way, the AC picked up on this word and launched the misinformed attack from there. I'm not defending AC's viewpoint, just saying he/she responded the the self accusation thinking he/she had some sort of foothold.

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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ivar, 6 Jan 2012 @ 10:35pm

Q?
What does European Space Agency have to do with the american legislation ???
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Berra Razuke, 11 Jan 2012 @ 3:46pm

Re: Re: Re:
I'm positive he's right and not trolling, actually. If you researched this issue you would know that.
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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