Pirated Modern Warfare 3 discs are already spreading (exclusive) - Polidicks

[QUOTE][URL="http://www.callofduty.com/mw3"]Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3[/URL] doesn’t come out until Nov. 8. But pirates have already obtained the video game — one of the most-anticipated of the year — VentureBeat has learned.The PC version of the game, or at least part of it, has been circulating among pirates in the U.S., who illegally copy and share it without paying Activision Blizzard or its retailers. That’s a big problem, as Activision Blizzard is expected to[URL="http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/224233/battlefield-3-vs-modern-warfare-3-why-activision-continues-winning-the-retail-war/"] sell more than 20 million copies[/URL] of the game in 2011 alone, according to Arcadia Research. That amounts to more than $1.2 billion in sales at retail.Piracy has always been a problem with video games, especially for PC titles. But the pirates go after Call of Duty because it’s the big prize. Every year, a cat-and-mouse game ensues. Activision Blizzard closely monitors manufacturing in the weeks leading up to shipment, since it only takes one stolen disk to set off the viral spread of pirated copies. But it’s hard to stop inside jobs.Evidently, pirated discs began to spread quickly after an employee at a shipping warehouse (run by a huge shipping company) in Fresno, Calif., stole one disc. It’s not clear how many full copies spread this way, as the disc that was stolen was apparently Disc 2 of a two-disk set for the PC. Security may have been too tight for the thief to steal the other disc.The same course of events happened before last year’s launch of [URL="http://venturebeat.com/2010/10/22/blackgate-kindly-private-investigators-track-down-call-of-duty-black-ops-pirates-exclusive/"]Call of Duty Black Ops[/URL] and the year before that with[URL="http://venturebeat.com/2009/11/06/how-investigators-tracked-down-a-modern-warfare-2-cyber-thief/"] Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2[/URL]. But sales of the franchise keep climbing.Investigators are using the same tactics as last year, knocking on doors around the country and asking people nicely to turn over and delete their pirated copies of Modern Warfare 3. Rather than face fines, many complied.A Modern Warfare pirate who was caught posted a message (below) yesterday on Craigslist. In it, the person warns others not to buy MW3 before the release date because “they will come get you.” The post says “you will be fined $5,000″ and it could result in permanent banning from online play. Then the person adds, “I already went through it.” [URL="http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/27/pirated-modern-warfare-3-discs-are-already-spreading-exclusive/mw-3-pirates-2/"][IMG]http://venturebeat.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/mw-3-pirates1.jpg?w=640&h=211[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE] [URL]http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/27/pirated-modern-warfare-3-discs-are-already-spreading-exclusive/[/URL]

Watch activision blame the PC community for their game not doing as well this year.

And just how the hell do they find you?

[QUOTE=Fatal-Error;33021149]And just how the hell do they find you?[/QUOTE] UAV at 3 kills

[QUOTE=Fatal-Error;33021149]And just how the hell do they find you?[/QUOTE] They don't.

[QUOTE=Jasun;33021164]UAV at 3 kills[/QUOTE] no, they equip hardline and bomb cars

Probably a publicity stunt due to BF3. Not like MW3 is going to be different from MW2.

Ohhh no, not permanently banned from online!!

Sounds like bullshit.

By releasing later than BF3 they already lost quite some potential sales. If I bought bf3 I wouldn't even look at mw3.

[QUOTE=Baldr 2.0;33021206]Probably the game calling home and bam they have your IP.[/QUOTE] And BAM they need to compile the evidence and approach a judge and submit a subpoena and oh wait no legal system in the world works this fast.

Cheats everywhere.

[QUOTE=Contag;33021234]And BAM they need to compile the evidence and approach a judge and submit a subpoena and oh wait no legal system in the world works this fast.[/QUOTE] Their game is spyware and sends all the data it can get from your pc.

And nothing of value was lost.

I can imagine the rage if BF3 was pirated instead of MW3.

BF3 was pirated, if I remember correctly.

[QUOTE=Slugathor;33021641]BF3 was pirated, if I remember correctly.[/QUOTE] Ah, well. Doesn't matter now since it's out. [QUOTE=AceOfDivine;33021231]By releasing later than BF3 they already lost quite some potential sales. If I bought bf3 I wouldn't even look at mw3.[/QUOTE] Nah, all of my friends who did buy BF3 are also getting MW3. If I could afford BF3 at the moment, I would get it to hold me over for MW3 and SR3. Unfournately, not enough money.

I don't know why but it's hard to be bothered to give a fuck. My beautiful BF3 awaits me and that's all I need to know. That's probably just me being a BFanboy though.

[QUOTE=Slugathor;33021591]And nothing of value was lost.[/QUOTE] Can we not start this? We're not even at page 2.

[QUOTE=Baldr 2.0;33021206]Probably the game calling home and bam they have your IP.[/QUOTE] IP != physical location.

The reason Activision will do terrible this year is because they're basically pumping out the same game with minor differences. The franchise has turned into FIFA.

[QUOTE=Baldr 2.0;33021206]Probably the game calling home and bam they have your IP.[/QUOTE] Pretty sure that anyone who pirates anything (especially leaked stuff) has a firewall and use it to block the thing they are pirating.

snip dont wanna start an argument

I'm surprised someone is risking their job for a game like this.

Doesn't matter if the PC version is leaked, it uses Steamworks so it's still encrypted.

[QUOTE=Evil Flames v2;33022170]Doesn't matter if the PC version is leaked, it uses Steamworks so it's still encrypted.[/QUOTE] Like thats stopped people before. regardless, if they get your IP address at all, then they CAN and WILL find you. The only factor is whether they choose to follow up on it. Plus, with the way that DRM is going these days, the legal system doesn't even need to get involved unless a court hearing happens. They get your IP, snag you for pirating, send you a court summons, and then they can do whatever the court says they can.

[QUOTE=Evil Flames v2;33022170]Doesn't matter if the PC version is leaked, it uses Steamworks so it's still encrypted.[/QUOTE] You have no idea how fast it is to crack a steamworks game and make it available without even having steam installed.

[QUOTE=Ganerumo;33022442]You have no idea how fast it is to crack a steamworks game and make it available without even having steam installed.[/QUOTE] Yes, it can be cracked but not until release date.

[QUOTE=Terminutter;33021189]Probably a publicity stunt due to BF3. Not like MW3 is going to be different from MW2.[/QUOTE] Untrue MW3 got leaked several days ago from a UK retailer (probably employee). BF3 was available online at around thursday last week on consoles online these things happen.

[QUOTE=Evil Flames v2;33022455]Yes, it can be cracked but not until release date.[/QUOTE] You're assuming the build that would be leaked is already encrypted. Until it hits the Valve content servers, there is a good chance it isn't encrypted I'd expect.