They probably don't. In most of western Europe, people go to prison for posting "insensible" things on Twitter, being against immigration, etc.

No, and smoking in public buildings is illegal too!!!!

It's all a business in the end. Nobody aims for a niche audience when they could just as easily target a mass market audience. I thank indies and smaller developers for making games more directed towards me than EA does, but at the same time I know why they do it and it isn't to be my best friend.

Always keep capitalism in mind and people selling you things can't hurt your feelings.

AAA or indie, it matters little to me. Oh sure, the indie games are usually DRM-Free, which is always a plus. The thing is, that I don't buy a game to support someone, but because I like it. I won't give an indie developer my money even if he is hungry, debt-ridden, etc. if his game sucks. That would look like a charity and I never consider the purchase of a game as a charity.

I think that my points do apply to big publishers, but there is more distance between a big publisher and the consumer than in the case of a small developer or publisher. If I send a thank you email to Gabe Newell for making Half Life 2, what's the chance that he even reads it? Based on the responses that I've gotten back from small developers after sending them an email, I'd say that they really appreciate hearing back from the community. And if that makes them feel good about making the game that I enjoy, then I'm happy to do that because I want them to make more.

To clarify, I'm not against big publishers or AAA titles at all. I'm against draconian DRM that is sometimes used by big publishers. My point was simply that the games industry as a whole cannot continue to exist by relying solely on AAA titles from big publishers due to the high costs and long development times associated with making those games. And I think that the major players in the games industry understand that, which is why there are far more indie games on Xbox 360 and PS3 than there were on the Xbox and PS2. Steam has far more indie games now than it did just a few years ago, and indie games in general are much more in the spotlight these days. And I'm happy about that. But I also don't want to see indie games succumb to the same systems of harsh DRM that many games from big publishers have over the last 5 years or so. I simply think that due to the previously mentioned distance between the parties involved, small developers are much more likely to listen to their consumers than big developers are. Case in point, did the online petitions and endless complaining cause EA to remove the DRM from Sim City 5? No. And now we have the DRM system of the Xbox One to contend with. There's no reason to think that there will be any less indie games on Microsoft's new box, but what does that do to those of us who are against DRM? Will Microsoft lure in developers with promises of high sales and get them to sign exclusivity agreements? Will fewer indie developers, and developers in general, be willing to release games on GOG due to GOG's anti-DRM policy when they can release games "safely" under the watchful eye of Microsoft?

Some people are content to buy games and play games and that's about the end of their involvement in things. And that's fine. But the people who care about things like DRM and sustainability of the industry and the availability of innovative games need to take steps, whatever steps may be found that have an impact, to insure that their hobby of playing games continues in a fashion that they can accept. I like that GOG has more indie games on it these days and I want that trend to continue. If companies like Microsoft had free reign, then every game would be an Xbox One exclusive and you'll have to be connected to the internet in order to play it. The future of gaming will rely very heavily on indie games and I just want to make sure that it's a future that I'll want to participate in.
Oh. Well that's too bad. About the free speech thing, I mean. Smoking in a public building is just wrong.

There is no "but". You are condoning that its only wrong to steal (break the law) if it fits within social expectations. This erases your entire argument and shows that you have an extremely biased agenda.

I would rather see people pay for stuff they like and don't take things that they wouldn't like. Placing a hierarchy on thievery makes you the problem... not even part of it, but THE problem and its the single largest argue point that publishers hide behind today.

Every game maker wants to make money. Your prioritization of indie devs over established game companies exists in your mind exclusively. To your OP... I'll thank ANY developer that releases an entertaining game without anti-consumer properties to it.

In case it needs reminding... we are talking about entertainment, not food/medicine/shelter. Who you rob for your entertainment isn't a question of "THEIR" morals... its a question of YOURS.

In the perfect world that you're advocating, yes, no one would ever break the law. But we do not live in a perfect world and you ARE the problem if you think that it is. Your idea that every crime is equal is the logic behind mandatory minimum sentencing in trials and why we have pot smokers sharing jail cells with murderers. Your idea that stealing from established game companies hurts them just as much as a small developer exists in your mind exclusively. This is reality and laws will be broken. I'm not condoning anything; just accepting the reality of the situation.

My morals are sound, thank you very much. As I already stated, I don't pirate games. Ever. If you don't, then good for you. But your argument that theft is always wrong and thus should never exist doesn't stand up to the reality of the situation that we live in the real world and bad things do happen. But just because I don't think that anyone should ever pirate a game for any reason doesn't mean that I'm willing to pretend that it doesn't happen or accept the fact that it hurts some people more than others. I've got into arguments on these very forums with people who will use any and every reason that you can imagine to justify pirating a game because in their minds the option of not playing something that they want to play simply doesn't exist. It's a losing battle to try to convince someone of something if they truly believe the opposite. So as opposed to fighting that losing battle, I simple seek a compromise. If you're going to pirate a game, which we agree is wrong, at least pirate from those with the resources available to absorb that negative hit. I'm not condoning it and if you have a suggestion on how to end it to everybody's liking, myself and every publisher in the known universe is all ears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up863eQKGUI

I actually agree with Mr. Rose on A LOT of this stuff and vehemently so, but the way he talks down to people in here is worthy, in my opinion, of an A-1 First Class kick in the nuts. Jesus, if I find out he's a democrat I'm screwed. I can't stand toe to toe with someone who treats other people this way no matter how much sense he makes.

Not sure where I see that I'm talking down to people. Sorry you feel that way. They're expressing their opinion, I'm expressing mine. I'm perfectly fine with having a difference of opinion. That's not to say that I respect people who comment just for the sake of insulting me, like those who have obviously not read my OP and consider me some sort of indie fanboy, but even then I'm fine with them posting whatever they want. I welcome debate on the topic, but I'm not going to pander to those who insult me. Sort of a "can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen" situation.

And I don't really subscribe to either political party's ideology. I have both conservative and liberal views.

Oh here we go again. The most imaginative and innovative games I have played lately were about 80% AAA titles. I don't make AAA vs Indie distinction at all, I just don't really give a shit about who developed any given game, and from what I've seen both AAA and indie games are 90% derivates, 10% original stuff. There's absolutely no difference whatsoever. If you want examples, just ask.

Lets look at a few of these.

"Sorry, I wasn't aware that I had to spell that out."
"Not preaching. Just giving my opinion. Do they not have free speech in the Netherlands?"
"Yeah. Yeah. That's exactly what I said. Your reading comprehension skill are amazing. Have fun with Starcraft."

You're ideas are sound, VERY sound. We may not all agree with all of them but they are valid and of course you have the right to express them. Actually you have the right to express them the way you are but doing so, with these little snippy comments AND a clear inability to take a joke, is going to sadly render what are good points moot because no one is going to care how good they are if you are a prick while expressing them.

Just saying. You have the right to continue to voice yourself as you have been, just don't be surprised if you get pissy replies in return. People aren't responding the way they are because they are stupid or mean, they are simply offering back the same amount of respect and courtesy you are giving them, which right now is nill.

I still can't get over the Netherlands comment. This is country that makes Nevada look conservative and you post that. I'll give you some credit for bravery on that one; you deserve that much. :D

The only thing I see in your rebuttal is that you seem to think that if you type enough, you can justify theft. It doesn't work that way.

To answer the part I quoted... don't steal anything. Period. This is the solution for all parties involved. There is no need to correct a problem that people invent simply because they are greedy and selfish.

Good luck, I wish you the best in fixing gaming.

Actually, there is a very simple way of solving all this: Embrace piracy. Tell people 'Oh it's ok, I'm glad you're playing my game'. Support pirated versions if you have the capacity (and if you don't, tell them to wait their turn, they'll understand.) You can't fight it, there's no such thing as 'perfect society' and by fighting pirates, you're going with a wooden plank against a flood.