Meet the REAL Video Game Pirates
Meet the REAL Video Game Pirates
November 15, 2008
So you torrented Spore and Fallout 3?
Shame on you. But, among pirates, you're a lightweight.
PC World reports that Somali buccaneers have been pirating games the old-fashioned way - on the high seas, with guns.
Pirates in the vicinity of Somalia have been stepping up attacks on trade ships beyond the Horn of Africa into the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, imperiling access to the Suez Canal. Those attacks are up from one every few weeks to four in a single day, according to Sam Dawson of the International Transport Workers' Federation... "This is not just guys in little fishing boats anymore," says Dawson. "We know there are three probably ex-Soviet trawlers acting as mother ships..."
"Despite all the publicity over piracy it will really hit home when consumers in the West find they haven't got their Nintendo gifts this Christmas..."
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGIN / REGISTER
Crispy Gamer
GamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:40pm
Valdearg: @Zip: Not exclusively Online, I don't think. And it's like 17,000 a year, to attend. Not worth it, IMO.
Valdearg: @Zip: Not exclusively Online, I don't think. And it's like 17,000 a year, to attend. Not worth it, IMO.
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:25pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:do they have online corses?
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:do they have online corses?
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:22pm
Valdearg: Fun. For what it's worth, at ITT, it was 8 Week Quarters.
Valdearg: Fun. For what it's worth, at ITT, it was 8 Week Quarters.
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:looky here, http://forums.theeca.com/showthread.php?t=8590
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:looky here, http://forums.theeca.com/showthread.php?t=8590
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:09pm
ZippyDSMlee: Valdearg:So force our nobles in charge to re join normal sosicty is unrealistic?
ZippyDSMlee: Valdearg:So force our nobles in charge to re join normal sosicty is unrealistic?
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:08pm
Valdearg: Instead of thinking about these fanciful notions of how things should work in your world, you should be thinking how can we realistically fix the problems with our current system. Small steps mean progress, big leaps are usually defeated.
Valdearg: Instead of thinking about these fanciful notions of how things should work in your world, you should be thinking how can we realistically fix the problems with our current system. Small steps mean progress, big leaps are usually defeated.
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:07pm
Valdearg: @Zip: Thinking realistically is the first step to bettering yourself. :P
Valdearg: @Zip: Thinking realistically is the first step to bettering yourself. :P
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:06pm
ZippyDSMlee: They should be treated as part of society not nobility and I have been labeled an incompetent so I can haz my monies, not like its enough to live on....going to be fun when I start devry in a few years.....
ZippyDSMlee: They should be treated as part of society not nobility and I have been labeled an incompetent so I can haz my monies, not like its enough to live on....going to be fun when I start devry in a few years.....
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:04pm
ZippyDSMlee: House/senate/P/VP do not need to be paid , they also should be blocked from working with any industry thats attached to government(even lowest contract bids) after office.
ZippyDSMlee: House/senate/P/VP do not need to be paid , they also should be blocked from working with any industry thats attached to government(even lowest contract bids) after office.
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:02pm
ZippyDSMlee: Also survive<live
ZippyDSMlee: Also survive<live
Posted 03/17/10 at 04:00pm
ZippyDSMlee: They do not need to be paid, the fame,influence,back scratching, free security and reduced housing is all they need to live and work.They live far to far away from society to be charged with its governance....
ZippyDSMlee: They do not need to be paid, the fame,influence,back scratching, free security and reduced housing is all they need to live and work.They live far to far away from society to be charged with its governance....
Posted 03/17/10 at 03:59pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:If I had the millions they did on average I would not need my check to survive.
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:If I had the millions they did on average I would not need my check to survive.
Posted 03/17/10 at 03:57pm
Valdearg: So, you want congress to work for free while you don't work and get paid.. Sounds totally logical.
Valdearg: So, you want congress to work for free while you don't work and get paid.. Sounds totally logical.
Posted 03/17/10 at 03:56pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag: Goverment needs an overhaul not absolute destruction tho I dubt it would be changed any other way >>.
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag: Goverment needs an overhaul not absolute destruction tho I dubt it would be changed any other way >>.
Posted 03/17/10 at 03:55pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:Only if congress stops taking their checks :P
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:Only if congress stops taking their checks :P
Posted 03/17/10 at 03:41pm
Valdearg: @Zip: Tell you what. How about you be the first to forsake government. You want to neuter it, how about you stop cashing those SSD Checks you receive every month. I mean, if Government is bad, then clearly, that money is corrupt.
Valdearg: @Zip: Tell you what. How about you be the first to forsake government. You want to neuter it, how about you stop cashing those SSD Checks you receive every month. I mean, if Government is bad, then clearly, that money is corrupt.
Posted 03/17/10 at 03:08pm
ZippyDSMlee: Can we neuter government first before we fix health care?
ZippyDSMlee: Can we neuter government first before we fix health care?
Posted 03/17/10 at 02:33pm
Andrew Eisen: I just skimmed the article but it doesn't appear the survey was made up, just that it was sourced incorrectly.
Andrew Eisen: I just skimmed the article but it doesn't appear the survey was made up, just that it was sourced incorrectly.
Posted 03/17/10 at 02:25pm
Valdearg: They are attributing them to legitimate journals and using them as evidence to oppose HCR. Desparation, at its finest.
Valdearg: They are attributing them to legitimate journals and using them as evidence to oppose HCR. Desparation, at its finest.
Posted 03/17/10 at 02:25pm
Valdearg: In another shameful example of right wingers, apparently, they are now MAKING UP surveys in opposition of HCR.
Valdearg: In another shameful example of right wingers, apparently, they are now MAKING UP surveys in opposition of HCR.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
*pictures pirates in old fashioned ships going after modern cargo ships, and firing cannons at it and getting on board and making everyone 'walk the plank.'*
"Arr! This be our ship now matey. Copies of Spore! One to each of us and plenty to go 'round. Now we need to find someone to strip the game of it's DRM!"
Nah, I'm sure they have a more modern way of doing it on the seas. But still, its what comes to mind first.
- Warren Lewis
Edit: Also, my excuse for missing out on 'Talk like a pirate day.'
Nah, I'm sure they have a more modern way of doing it on the seas.
Yup. High speed and cigar boats as opposed to sloops, RPGs as opposes to cannons and "shoot and dump" as opposed to the plank.
Can ye hear the anti-game crowd? Those gamelubbers be killin one another for their games! They need to be banned!
- Warren Lewis
Captain Beefsteak (CB): "Avast, you scurvy dogs! Yonder be our precious catch!" - Motions to a boat on the horizon
CB: "I hear tale that vessel be carryin' a mighty haul of booty."
First mate Sissy-fizzle (FS): "What kind of booty be we talkin' 'bout, Capn'?"
CB: "Why, none other than disc shaped gold!"
FS: "You mean to say...."
CB: "AYE! Copies of Spore with no DRM features coded into it."
Crew: Random cheering and clapping
CB: "Settle down, lads. Remember the last time we were careless around the Electronic Alliance's vessels." (Holds up a stub of a hand with a USB flash drive attached to the end)
FS: "Aye, twas a sad day indeed, Capn'"
CB: "It was worth it to steal the last digit on their CD-keys though. A loss I gladly accept to bring down those elitest EA bastards."
Cabin boy Wiggly-Wrists (CW): "Capn', why are we stealing from EA when they offer their products at reasonable prices?"
CB: *approaches the boy* "Your right, me bucko. They have never done anything wrong at all have they?" *Pulls out a Rockband guitar and smashes the boy over the head with it.* "EXCEPT MAKE SHIT THAT DOESN'T WORK IF YOU BUY IT FROM THEM!"
*motions to FS* "Those this little pup to the sharks."
*address crew* "Split your lungs with blood and thunder!!!!"
Arr! those sharks are going to have indigestion if you feed them the boy matey!
That was quite funny.
- Warren Lewis
"CRAP! Someone beat me too it."
Oh yeah, they also pirated some tanks. But that's all good and well, because eventually Russia's going to get those tanks back in a matter that will make those who took them regret their actions.
why get them back when russia has piles of old useless tanks that it needs to get rid off...
Because
1) they weren't old tanks, they were the current Russian military tanks and
2) being responsible for giving a somali warlord tanks is something that no one wants to see happen.
That's the awesomest thing i've ever heard of.
-I apologize-
That is the war Bush should have went after... damn sea pirates, making us internet pirates look bad... at least online pirates dont hurt people
---
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Good point!
- Warren Lewis
Well if Clinton hadn't lost the fight in Somalia in the first place, this might not be such a big deal. Also, let's face it; the American people don't have the stomach to see a war in Africa.
Maybe now we can that we have a black president without it being a racist war... I think a war in Nigeria would be a life style upgrade for half of the people. They are one of the crime capitals of the world... Why are we closing down guantanamo bay again? Oh thats right, because we have other more secret locations that we hide a lot worse people that we do a lot worse things to.
---
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Oh yeah, Nigeria is a shithole, just like most of that continent. But do the American people have the fortitude to wage that war? I doubt it. For some reason, we have this idiotic notion of a 'fair fight', which makes it seem 'unfair' to fight people in shorts and tshirts with small squads of men armed with well-maintained automatic weaponry, body armor, and the latest in night-vision and weapon-mounted optics. Which is ridiculous.
We haven't had much care to be in Africa since Patton beat Rommel.
Here are we -- and yonder yawns the universe.
We were actually doing a great job in Somalia until the Clinton Administration took over. Let's face it, that administration sold Task Force Ranger down the river and lost America some of its finest soldiers. It also proved once again that the UN is absolutely worthless.
What sort of authority do you expect the UN to have when one of its founding members ignores its recommendations? Who is going to follow the UN's rules if not its members? Only worthless entity on the world stage is yours, my friend.
Excuse me, but I need to go ask Santa what the orders are. He's one of the world's most successful Ninjas - only a Ninja can break into that many houses on a single night - and he's in charge of all Christmas-related Ninja activities.
Actually he's a pirate. He has a vessel full of loot that he puts it in boxes and buries them in chimneys or under trees (well actually it's hard to bury anything when you have to dig through hardwood floor). Oh and Santa's been around for hundreds of years, normally he'd be dead but he isn't and nobody sees him at work.
He's a ghost pirate.
----------------------------------------------------
"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
Are you a Pastafarian too?
---
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
No after getting in touch with my spiritual self I've decided to embrace an Eastern Religion.
I worship the flying Lo Mein monster.
----------------------------------------------------
"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
Santa is obviously corporeal, given his ability to eat milk and cookies. He possesses powers of ninja and pirate in nature. And the reindeer with the glowing red nose is obviously a cyborg, and Santa would never let somebody else have cybernetic enhancements without getting some of that action for himself.
Thus proving that Santa Claus is, in fact... a Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot!
But a Ninja before the other three.
Well that depends on what he became first. We don't know that, all we know is that he's 1/4 ninja 1/4 pirate, 1/4 robot and 1/4 zombie ... oh and 1/4 Santa.
----------------------------------------------------
"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
um, 1 + 1 + ... wait a sec... *brain explodes*
Yep. Because Santa's just that awesome.
I was trying to make a manbearpig reference but I guess it didn't work.
----------------------------------------------------
"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
I got it, haha.... The laughs that southpark brings to life...
---
Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
What? no Jesus?
Sweet. Hopefully the make a dent in Wiis shiping to the US so that mine will sell for more this Christmas.
These people do put my feeble pirating to shame though :(
---------------------------------
Internet troll > internet paladin
Forget about the war on terror, when on earth are they going to use the fleets around to systematically wipe these guys off the surface of the earth? Send them to Davy Jones' Locker already! That protection fleet of 6 ships is cute and all for only a handful of ships, if they want to end all this taking of hostages and stuff they should send warfleets from several countries.
So...are they gonna make people have to enter a key and verify with their servers before they climb up the ladder, but if you enter more than 5 times it says "Do not enter" and you just hit the computer thing with a hammer and it shuts up?
I think this is somehow appropriate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I5dVBezF9k
That's Epic dude.
----------------------------------------------------
"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
Too bad the ESA, the MAFIAA and our corporate controlled government doesn't have the balls to these guys, since you know, they'll probably put up a fight.
*Ignores international laws and political issues.*
Didn't a group of these guys try to hijack a Japanese ship, and they Japanese fought back and won with only one person on the Japanese side suffering minor injuries? I could swear I remember reading something about that on CNN a few months ago.
Hmm, maybe they need some kind of private security firm with a fleet of light frigates to run escort for cargo ships and ward the pirates off. The **AA's could probably pay for them and if they ever fall short of cash again I'm sure they could sue more 10 year olds and dead people.
Now that I think of it, that naval security thing sounds like a good game idea, they should make it and then as an amusing twist, have it stolen by sea pirates.
Does anyone here know someone from Somalia? I'd love to hear what "Avast ye scurvy landlubbers" sounds like with a somali accent...
I have a strange feeling that it would sound eerily similar to a blast from an AK47...
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" - Benjamin Franklin
You know... if they broke the shipments up and used a fleet of cargo planes, they could bypass the pirates altogether...
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" - Benjamin Franklin
Maybe we need to "discover" oil in Somalia.
Video Game Pirates work very professionally.
Art papers