Well, I decided to install FSX on a third machine [my old one]. When I got to the activation wizard, the online activation didn't work [no surprised here] so I resorted to phone activation. When I called the service rep, she told me that I had to purchase an additional activation code in order to install FSX on my third machine.
Piracy must have become pretty problematic if Microsoft is charging people for additional activation codes. This isn't the first time that anyone is doing such a move. In my Homestead college, you have to purchase an additonal registration code if you lost the first one [that comes included with a $130 math book] for the math lab. Even Guild Wars [look it up if you don't know this game] does something almost similar. If you lose the activation code or if you're completely unable to log into your account, then you'll have to create a new account and then [if you lost the original activation code] pay an additional $49 for authorization to play with the new account even though you created the old account using genuine installation disc that you have right now [this has happened to me].
But the use of registration codes are not the only things that are bringing in more inconveniences. The price of music has also gone up. Back then, music albums were cheap, but now the prices have gone up because people are file swapping with music. As a result, the music industry loses revenue. In effect, the industry would then raise the prices to compensate. In turn, we [the honest users who obtain music the honest way] suffer even more. As another result, more honest users switch over to illegal downloading just to avoid the inconviniences without considering the economic damage they're doing just by commiting such an act.
Then there's other "caused-by-piracy" inconviniences that are too many to list.
I blame piracy for a lot of our inconveniences, but I never thought piracy would force companies to go that far in order to combat it. I have to say that those who would use piracy [ie: nocd cracks, hacked codes, illegal file swapping, etc.] in order to avoid these incoveniences must understand that using such a pirating act will only encourage pirateers to hack even more, thus forcing companies to fight back even more, which in turn causes more incovenience to the honest user. There was a few of us who don't seem to realize this and would automatically point fingers at companies or industries and blame them for monopolizing their products.
If there's anyone out there browsing the SimViation forums right now who commit piracy, hear this:
1. If you're downloading songs or movies illegally just to avoid the high prices or because you don't want to buy an 12-song album in which you only listen to one song, please stop now. There are cheaper and legal sources to get movies and individual songs without paying for the extra stuff that you don't want.
2. If you're downloading nocd cracks, or using hacked codes just because you don't want to pay extra to play your favorite game, please stop now. The less pirating you [and all of us in this crazy world] commit, the less motivated the hackers become. Therefore, the less strict companies like Apple, Microsoft, etc. become when it comes to their games.
3. If you're illegally downloading and installing payware addons just because you don't want to pay the cost set by the developer who has put so much effort into the addon's limitless details, then please stop. This kind of act alone will either discourage more developers from putting more effort into their projects or cause them to charge honest users even more. Or worst yet, they developers might quit altogether.
4. If you're purchasing CDs filled with pirated freeware addons [like the case in Ebay] just because you have a 56k connection and you don't like waiting, please stop. This act along will also discourage developers from producing fine addons. Or worst yet, the developers might quit altogether.
People who support piracy would like to call their deavious acts with a more politically correct and friendly-sounding terms like "alternative sources"
Simviation Forums
Flight Simulator and other chat
People Eating Tasty Animals.
) but there are definatley benifits to us all of piracy. It drives the prices of software/music down and improves customer service, it is almost like competition. At the end of the day the only way to stop piracy is to lower the prices vastly, and improve delivery times etc. At the moment, the way I see it, its faster, easier and FREE to get software/music illegally...so i can kinda sympathize with them.
It does make you feel sick when you spend over
Bar by Mees
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"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is."
