games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Captain Obvious: Pirates heart The Sims 3 in a big way photo

I know a guy who knows a guy whose brother heard that an unfinished version of The Sims 3 leaked onto the Internet fairly recently. Perhaps you heard the same?

Anyway, Next Generation found out from a file sharing monitor company called BigChampagne that from May 18 through May 21, the game was pirated upwards of 180,000 times. When asked to comment, an EA rep explained that the torrent "is a buggy, pre-final build of the game … Half the world -- an entire city -- is missing from the pirated copy."

Although you could try and calculate how much lost revenue the leak will ultimately cost EA, it could be argued that many of the people who illegally downloaded The Sims 3 were never going purchase the game, even if it didn't leak out.

At any rate, Spore was the most pirated game of 2008, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this game take that honor for 2009. For what it's worth, The Sims 3 will officially launch next Tuesday, so the wait for paying customers isn't long now.


Continue: More The Sims stories





prev next

22 comments | showing # 1 to 22

Anski's Avatar
Anski at 05/28/2009 10:26
Or the wait for the pirates who want a full game instead of a pre-release.
Snidesworth's Avatar
Snidesworth at 05/28/2009 10:26
I wonder if they purposefully leaked the incomplete game to saturate torrent sites with a version that's inferior to a purchased copy.
Kraid's Avatar
Kraid at 05/28/2009 10:29
heh ehlamolamelarawr.

I'm still on the fence about getting this game , I F'ing loved the first one but the second left me bitter.

I think I'm not-gonna play it with a not-unfinished version and buy it if I like it or... not....
Lankey's Avatar
Lankey at 05/28/2009 10:36
To me the whole bit about the leaked copy being buggy and the such seems to be just a whole load of crap EA are using to try and stop people downloading the game. I have actually watched one of my flatmates who did download the game play it and it seems perfectly fine to me.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 05/28/2009 10:40
Sucks that pirates reign in this way... But what can we do?
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar
Phoenix Gamma at 05/28/2009 10:42
To be fair, The Sims 3 isn't adding anything too amazing.

The Sims 2 with tiny little additions? Sounds like EA's the real theif here. Heyoh!
Optimaximal's Avatar
Optimaximal at 05/28/2009 10:51
@Phoenix Gamma

From what I've heard, it's significantly improved over The Sims 2, with a proper social environment (Sims can freely travel between houses and all locations in the entire world can be visited in real time), true Sim goals and a Spore-inspired character-builder.

Basically, if The Sims is your game, it's worth buying. As for the rest of us, pirate it till your hearts content because EA are going to make fucking bazillions off it anyway!
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 05/28/2009 11:12
Well the supposedly real, non-beta retail version of The Sims 3 got leaked out a few days ago. From the looks of things, besides a few bugs being fixed, the "beta" version is exactly the same as retail.
ajaxender's Avatar
ajaxender at 05/28/2009 11:18
This could well be the most pirated game of the year, but also probably the biggest seller. Even if not, its gonna sell truck-loads over a few years.

Also, if EA are even telling the truth, that refers to the old copy. There is a retail version of the game available out there. However, it seems EA has finally figured out how encourage sales; you get free money to spend on items in the in-game store (or however it works) if you have a legit game. So pirates who like the game, may just have to buy it.
Kathos's Avatar
Kathos at 05/28/2009 11:19
Most pirates are cheap, lazy, sometimes moronic and all-scum.

If EA released the pre-release on torrent sites (dual layer disc game... like 10 gigs after decompression?) then it was a smart move on their part, since the pirates weren't gonna buy it there's at least a good chunk of them that would have but are just too cheap.

This is where the cheap part comes in: After downloading 10 gigs worth of game and it's just a pre-release they won't want to download the full game when it comes out 'cause they've wasted 10 of bandwidth already and they'll need the rest of it for the rest of the month or mommy and daddy will yell at them for going over the ISP limit.

And since they're cheap they'd have a crappy internet connection so it would take another (week? few days?) to download the game again so they wouldn't do it since the pre-release left a terrible taste in their mouths.

Gorram EA you sly bastards.
neveranything's Avatar
neveranything at 05/28/2009 11:20
I'm considering downloading this leaked version, just to test the new waters, and if the retail version of Sims 3 comes with something better than Spore's DRM, I WILL buy it. If it comes with anything equivalent to Spore's DRM (install limits, needing to connect online to "validate" the installation, ect) or worse, then EA can kiss the mass of fat and hair that is my ass.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 05/28/2009 11:26
They wouldn't purposely leak a copy of the game even if it was a buggy version of it. And secondly how do a game that hasn't been released get leaked? Did somebody in the office secretly uploaded a copy of the game in the intertubes?
Shadowiii's Avatar
Shadowiii at 05/28/2009 11:38
Does this have DRM on it? If so I expect pirated to skyrocket just out of spite.
Josh Tolentino's Avatar
Josh Tolentino at 05/28/2009 12:00
@Shadowiii

The Sims 3 will have no DRM, besides a disc-check, I think.

Anyway, The Sims and Sims 2 are some of the worst-pirated games in history, and yet are two of the best-selling games in history. Anyone who would ever want Sims 3 enough to pay money for it will buy it, often because they don't know how or wouldn't bother to spend time torrenting, mounting and cracking it. That's ridiculously easy for us, but not necessarily the average Sims player.

I doubt EA will be sunk by this.
Woverine's Avatar
Woverine at 05/28/2009 12:02
it is not a "buggy pre-release" its the full version.. I have already played it for like 15 hours... not one crash.. not one error. they are just trying to get people not to download it same as when wolverine leaked and then they "added footage"
Woverine's Avatar
Woverine at 05/28/2009 12:04
not to mention
http://www.gamershell.com/news_75864.html

it went gold on may 9th.
hpv's Avatar
hpv at 05/28/2009 12:09
Has anyone ever taken these file-sharing numbers and compared them to sales? I'd bet that games with a similar profile are pirated at proportional level to their sales. With a possible exception for EA titles since people love pirating their shit because of all the stupid DRM nonsense.

Of course, I could be wrong. But it's not like these fools are ever going to put out the data required to make that determination.

Kathos: You're a fucking idiot. If you actually knew anything at all you'd realize that "piracy" is part of the free market, which I'd bet you'd claim to love. A thing that is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. For some people that price is $0. It's all about finding the value proposition that will make those people pay money for the product. Unfortunately (and maybe it is because they are cheap, being the only claim you made that's even similar to intelligence) the cost of creating that value proposition is probably more than what those people are ever going to pay for it. So what you do is fucking let them go since they're only costing you money by trying to stop them and costing you nothing by leaving them alone.

But then you'd know that if you weren't so fucking stupid. Also, move to a real country, who the fuck worries about 10GB against a download cap?
Danielzilla's Avatar
Danielzilla at 05/28/2009 13:21
I think that if game demos were actually made available before every game came out that would put an end to lots of pirating. I also think that downloading a game that is readily available for you to purchase is no different than walking into a store picking it up, putting it in your pocket, and walking out the door with it. I guess in the end thieves will always find a way to justify their actions to themselves be it blaming the economy, claiming it's how a free market is supposed to work or saying the product wasn't worth payong for but was somehow worth stealing.
ttech10's Avatar
ttech10 at 05/28/2009 14:05
@Kathos: Firstly, not every ISP has download caps. I can download however much I want every month. The only limit I have is 150GB and that's with a website not connected with my ISP.

Also, pirates don't have crappy internet. If you're a pirate then one of your most important assets is internet so you wouldn't cheap out on it. Even so, we don't have the most expensive and it took me under 2 hours to download.


And to others, I'd say it's not a full-version. I have crashes somewhat regularly and have lost saves due to game corruption due to crashes (though there's a way to retrieve a backup of them). Before you say my PC just can't handle it... http://www.evga.com/community/ModsRigs/comment.asp?sysid=14780

I'm just glad I only have to wait 5 more days to get my copy so I can re-install with a legit, updated version.
Jon B's Avatar
Jon B at 05/28/2009 14:34
It has been fine here, although since noting that The Sims 2 was clever with it's copy protection in locking off the Build mode, had it deemed the .exe to be tampered, I really wouldn't be suprised if this is an incredibly clever way of countering piracy. Personally, I've had no problems whatsoever with the game, except for the missing content of course.

However technically, it IS like an extended demo, much like most pirates use as justification. Personally, I was waiting for it like, 3 months ago, so I'm going to grab the frigging thing as soon as possible. That much of a delay was HARSH.

Oh and slightly unrelated, but I heard there was a mesh importer in the PROPER version, can anyone confirm/deny this?
Cyber Altair's Avatar
Cyber Altair at 05/28/2009 16:21
Half the world -- an entire city -- is missing from the pirated copy.

I'm sure the world is about one file or folder. Don't you think that would get released later when the official thing is released?
lowercaseluke's Avatar
lowercaseluke at 05/29/2009 10:30
Why the HELL would they release an unfinished version of the game to torrent sites? The only thing it would acheive is making people believe the game is worse than it actually is.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos



    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49514 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Ten 'classic' games that did not age well





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray    		 Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006