ELSPA: 90 percent of American DS owners are pirates, Us: Huh? [update]
by Justin McElroy 
{ Feb 1st 2008 at 2:00PM }
...Ninety percent? Ninety? There are 20 million DS users in North America, and we're supposed to believe that 18 million are dirty, dirty pirates? Listen, one person ripping off a company is too many, but exaggerating the problem only marginalizes it in the eyes of the people you really need to reach: The gamers.
We've emailed the ELSPA for confirmation, and we'll let you know what we hear. But if they insist that the 90 percent of Americans are pirates, we're hanging up our blogging pants and opening up a personalized eye patch store.
Update: Apparently, the Sunday Post misquoted Hillier entirely, reports DS Fanboy. "[Hillier] didn't quote the Sunday Post on any figures whatsoever," said a spokesperson for the ELSPA. The unverified 90% figure supposedly comes from an article published by The Straits Times about piracy in Singapore. Go figure.
[Via DS Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Donald @ Feb 1st 2008 2:04PM
wtf @ picture
You have to be at least 18 to be Anonymous
StrangeBum @ Feb 1st 2008 2:43PM
underage b&
Mr.ESC @ Feb 1st 2008 2:52PM
Captain babypirate is now a meme!
Stupidiot @ Feb 1st 2008 3:07PM
Sadly, this picture does actually depict the average age of anons these days (inb4 broke rules 1&2)
Cheezeman3000 @ Feb 1st 2008 2:07PM
Hahaha this is pretty funny. I consider myself a pretty hardcore gamer and I've never been attracted to pirating stuff on the DS. Neither have any of my friends who own it. And that's a lot of people.
Ghen @ Feb 1st 2008 2:24PM
Admit it, you don't have friends.
NoHitHair @ Feb 1st 2008 2:46PM
I have two friends who pirate DS games using a flash card but I have many, many more friends who purchase all their games for their DS (myself included).
There's simply no possibility that any rational person would believe that 90% of American DS owners pirate games - I don't even think the people that released this report actually believe that.
Seriously, this is such an asinine stretch of the truth that Mr. Hillier must either be joking or was misquoted.
James @ Feb 1st 2008 2:57PM
I've got an M3 Lite and M33 3.90 PSP, modchipped Xbox and PS1. Not a pirated game at all. I'm really into getting the most out of a system with homebrew, streaming apps.
Really good on the PSP actually, 333mhz removes so much lag.
None of my friends pirate either. But we're rich so *shrugs*.
Saria the Cat @ Feb 1st 2008 4:55PM
Yeah, I really don't think knowledge of pirating on the DS is widespread, let alone usage. I worked at EB Games and none of my customers or gaming friends knew that it was possible to pirate DS games, let alone what an R4 was. The wacky statistical claim is almost like assuming 90% of Americans pirate movies instead of watching them in theatres, which is also obviously erroneous.
Cyro @ Feb 1st 2008 2:09PM
Its simply impossible that there are 18M pirated DS out there. Thats just plain stupid to think that.
FrankTheCrank @ Feb 1st 2008 2:38PM
They're just calling all, or most, American DS owners scumbag pirates who are nothing more than pilfering thieves.
How soon they forget World War II and how we saved them from the goose steppers.
Nigeria @ Feb 1st 2008 2:57PM
What has World War 2 got to do with DS pirates?
*inserts obligatory "yarrgh"
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 1st 2008 2:10PM
I needs to get me an R4. Or something. I don't want to pirate games, I'd like to rip the roms off my games myself (complete with save games) so that I don't have to carry around 3 cases to hold all my DS games.
Does something like that exist?
Einhanderkiller @ Feb 1st 2008 6:55PM
They're called Nintendo DS ROM dumpers, but I think they're somewhat pricey and complicated to use.
It's easier to just download ROMs off of websites, but according to Nintendo's legal page, that's illegal.
Moorio || peacebyanymeans @ Feb 1st 2008 2:11PM
Hhm... The D and S keys aren't next to the P and C keys...
Well, perhaps the C key...
StrangeBum @ Feb 1st 2008 2:45PM
Oh I see what you did there!
Lol, I really don't get where this data comes from. I mean, I thought that most DS owners were more casual than anything and really wouldn't know how to go about the process of pirating.
joeyg @ Feb 1st 2008 2:12PM
not sure if 90% is right...there are plenty of people that aren't in the know.
but everyone I know that has a DS (about 12 or so people) have the R4...we all have the wiikey as well.
I've said this before...I think a large portion of nintendo hardware sales are because people can pirate software easily for them
Markster @ Feb 1st 2008 2:51PM
I agree.
I've noticed over the last year that a large number of my DS-enabled friends have purchased an R4, or G7 or somesuch.
Heck, I'm nearly on the precipice of buying one for myself!
But although it is most definitely a piracy device, none of my friends have stopped buying games.
Shimrra @ Feb 1st 2008 2:13PM
I have an R4 its not bad. But that does not mean I have stopped buying games. If anything this has helped me make better decisions when it comes to buying games that I will enjoy.
Zsavior @ Feb 1st 2008 2:22PM
LMAO I am giving you a plus just cause you have the evil Michael Knight as your avatar. LOL man it owns. Wasn't his name like Something Black. I mean it just owns I can't stop laghing.
Shimrra @ Feb 1st 2008 2:24PM
I just realize that. I am admitting that I own a R4 for gaming and I have a Garth Knight avatar. LMAO
_spike @ Feb 1st 2008 2:14PM
this is so true. i hope more people get into this...10% more.
i should buy my little cousin the R4 or similar device...
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 1st 2008 2:14PM
Arrrrr. I be no pirate, ya bilge rat.
Vidikron (FU) @ Feb 1st 2008 2:14PM
WTF? Did they do their research over at GBATemp or something?
paragraph @ Feb 1st 2008 2:15PM
... i think they misplaced a decimal point...
9.0% is reasonable
Hell, i'd even accept 20% (though it's not likely)
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Feb 1st 2008 2:30PM
I think it's actually probably around 20%. There are just too many parents and casual folks that have DS systems for me to believe they all decided to take the plunge into piracy at the same time they finally got a handheld.
I mean, I just don't see Joe Gamer buying his mom a DS + R4 bundle.
However, hang around on the Gamefaqs boards, and you'll see a pretty substantial amount of responses indicating that people are just d/ling games. I'd buy 20%, but nothing higher than 30%.
PhrawzT @ Feb 1st 2008 2:17PM
I use a G6. Yarrr!
Dahk @ Feb 1st 2008 2:23PM
Eh, sure its probably exaggerated, but I think the percentage is still huge.
I mean, I know about 15+ people with a DS (young AND old), and none of them DON'T have an R4.
CJC @ Feb 1st 2008 2:29PM
I want to see this guy's research. The scientist in me demands proof!
deaftly @ Feb 1st 2008 2:30PM
Yarrgh just got me R6 2 weeks ago, i love it Yarrgh!
deaftly @ Feb 1st 2008 2:39PM
R4*
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 1st 2008 3:10PM
Can you use it to play GBA backups as well?
FOXHOUND @ Feb 1st 2008 2:31PM
Now I'm a PSP owner myself(I'd buy a DS, but the Onyx model's never in... and let's face it, it's the MANLIEST one according to Joystiq); but even I think this story's a crock'o'shaite.
Hell, if the story said 1/3... it'd be somewhat more feasible. Or if they said that a lot of PSP owners were pirates, I would *easily* believe that given some of the crazy stuff possible on that inferface... from adding your own X360 style "bladed" tabs to different operating systems completely. x_x
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 1st 2008 2:33PM
A lot of friends work at GameStop. The people who buy DS's and games wouldn't even know what an R4 was. The only people who would would be internet dweebs.
dsub @ Feb 1st 2008 2:49PM
agreed. I sell a DS to someone over the age of 12 maybe once a month.
CJC @ Feb 1st 2008 2:43PM
Whoops! Looks like the paper misquoted him:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=32676
I thought that sounded silly.
kingroach @ Feb 1st 2008 2:47PM
what about us M3 owners?..I smell pirate bias..
baby sea tuna @ Feb 1st 2008 2:52PM
Not me. I've got like 6 or 7 DS games, all legit. I'd personally rather purchase media than pirate it, since I'd prefer if the IP's creator actually got some of the money they were due.
James @ Feb 1st 2008 3:00PM
Yes. I agree. With you.
It's the same with roms for me. It just feels cheap if it's pirated and something I won't properly enjoy. Plus more money going to devs helps them continue to roll out the good games.
jimmcq @ Feb 4th 2008 11:53AM
The ELSPA makes it sound like I'm really missing out on something by not pirating DS games... I guess I'm going to have to jump on this bandwagon now they declare it to be ubiquitous.
tack @ Feb 1st 2008 2:58PM
I bought a DS when I heard about the m3. Ended up getting an R4. How bout? 90% of DS owners wouldnt have bought a system without the help of the r4 to shuffle thru the mountains of crappy games.
coolforever4537 @ Feb 1st 2008 2:58PM
when I think of Scottish people I think of Fat Bastard.
GET IN MY BELLY!
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Feb 1st 2008 2:58PM
WE ARE LEGION.
moominsean @ Feb 1st 2008 3:00PM
you figure at least half the ds owners are probably under 10... i doubt many kiddies are pirating games.
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 1st 2008 3:01PM
Someone misread the article. The article states that 90% of pirates use an R4, not 90% of DS owners are pirates.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 1st 2008 3:07PM
90% Bullshit.
More like 5-10%
LaughingTarget @ Feb 1st 2008 4:49PM
Don't you mean ... 9000%?
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 1st 2008 5:27PM
.....
I hate you.
Farseer (GDI) @ Feb 1st 2008 3:10PM
I like the last line that they sneaked in the article:
"A Nintendo spokesman said, “We are monitoring the situation closely.”"
I have this strange feeling that if Nintendo had proof that 90% of American DS owners were playing pirated games, then they would probably be doing a little bit more than "monitoring the situation..."
Worst Review Ever @ Feb 1st 2008 3:40PM
I saw the fist a split-second before it slammed into my face. My entire body spun to the right as I fell, my head narrowly avoiding hitting the nightstand and my body colliding with the cement floor hard enough to knock the wind out of me. As I lay on the floor gasping for breath, the goon walked around the bed toward me.
"You knew we'd catch up to you eventually, Jonny."
I did know that. As a matter of fact, I had just been on my way out the door forever when Gorilla Fist decided to play tether ball with my face. My thought process was interrupted as I was abruptly hauled to my feet by my jacket.
"Now you're gonna tell me where it is. If you don't, we'll repeat what just happened."
I raised my hands weakly.
"Sure," I croaked. "You wanna let me go so I can get it for you?"
As he let go of my jacket my knees buckled and he instinctively reached out to catch me. Unfortunately for him, I was faking. I spun and caught him on the nose with my elbow and heard the satisfying crunch of bone. He yelled out and fell backwards at which point I kicked him in the chest to discourage him from getting up. Not wanting to wait around for the goon's back-up to arrive I charged through the back door and into the alley behind my house. As soon as I stepped outside I realized my mistake. That'll happen when you're looking down the barrel of a gold-plated Desert Eagle Mark XIX.
"NOW, do you want to tell me where that R4 is?" asked Reggie Fils-Aime.