[strich]

As a game developer it's kind of sad to see such practices in stealing my or others hard work.

But I have to keep telling myself those kids or parents wouldn't have paid for them anyway.

Maybe consider buying a few copies at least in the future?

[techjamie]

It really depends on what games are being pirated. If it's a solo dev or small team, then yeah, definitely pay for the official release if you can. But since these are kids, they'll definitely be pirating games here and there since they don't have money. At least the person above is helping them by giving them, presumably, safe copies.

Now, if we're talking AAA titles from companies who will post record profits at the same time as record layoffs, while also giving the C suite a bonus bigger than the GDP of a small nation... Then yeah, sail the high seas. Those same companies thoroughly don't believe buying is owning, so I'm fine to call piracy polite borrowing.

[johnnyanmac]

That's always the risk in a game with no protections. It just takes one person uploading it to the internet and it's shark bait.

At least this example is limited to a neighborhood.