When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of pirating?

[areobee401]

In the past record labels have pushed album release dates up because of internet leaks. Do you think a video game company would ever follow suit?

I understand video games are not pirated nearly as much as music but with big titles like GAW2 , Fable 2 , Fallout 3 and the like being downloaded weeks before street dates these companies are losing money in what is already a tough economy.

Another factor is most people don't have a modded system where as any CD player or MP3 player can play music from the internet with no modding at all.

Your thoughts ?

[ELDoro]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

I dont think ever.....usually games are being made up till a month or so before the release then they are put into production. Its not as if there is a lot of time where a game is just sitting around waiting to be released.

[The Chef]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

I wouldnt be surprised if they started releasing dates as smoke screen and then having them come out earlier, by design however. In the end what will it change though? People will still pirate it to save money and unless game companies start giving copies out for free there will always be people pirating software. There is a certain website I check with for movies frequently and they already have GOW2 up as of today as well as all those other games you mentioned. I dont download games but whether or not companies move release dates up wont change whether or not people pirate the software in the first place.

[areobee401]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

Well what made me think of this is Gears Of War 2 has been out there for over a week now.

Thats a long time between release. But you are right about most games get finished only a week or so before ship date.

[The Chef]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

Not all games run such a tight timeline though, some games are finished well in advance and do indeed sit in stock rooms for 1-2 weeks waiting for release day. EA Sports is notorious for this, Madden was sitting around store stock rooms atleast a week in advance in some instances and I wouldnt be surprised if it was the same thing for most major releases as no company wants to run the risk of having to delay the game if something minor comes up when pressing the discs.

[areobee401]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

The only thing I see stopping this is next gen when they can do some sort of direct download like they do with PC games.

[The Chef]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

The only thing I see stopping this is next gen when they can do some sort of direct download like they do with PC games.

I dont know man, people will still figure out ways to pirate it. Movie studios apparently release movies earlier overseas to attempt to cut down on piracy and all that does is allow them to upload a better copy of the movie, it really doesnt do any good. I dont see game companies moving release dates because they normally release something with the intent of it being out in a certain week to either compete with something else in specific or avoid something else in specific.

[Matt Diesel]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

I think that is why there is a reluctance for companies to release PC ports on some console games. If I was a game studio, I would not release any game on PC even though I think the PC is a great gaming platform. Its pretty easy to get any PC game you want without paying for it.

[goh]

Re: When will we see a company push up the release date for a game because of piratin

I think they should,it's only fair.