There's a gritty side to Mexico's
booming game industry, shown today as the ESA
celebrated the efforts of Mexican law enforcement. 500 officers from the Procuraduría General de la República (PGR) and the Agencia Federal de Investigacion (AFI) teamed up to knock on a few doors down in Mexico City's 'notorious' Tepito district. By the end of the day, four pirate hideouts and three booty stashes were raided, netting roughly 290 DVD/CD burners, 28,800 illegal copies of games and more than 900,000 game cover inserts.
"Mexico is an important market for ESA members due to the enormous popularity of entertainment software," said Ric Hirsch, senior vice president for Intellectual Property Enforcement at the ESA. "Unfortunately, Mexico also has an alarmingly high rate of game software piracy that by our estimates reaches 88%." Sounds like those federales have a few more doors to knock on.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 10:03PM
Hardcore Mexican video game bust. It just sounds funny.
Superstar90 @ Mar 17th 2008 10:19PM
more like pirates of the central america amirite?
Sora267 @ Mar 17th 2008 10:56PM
http://www.kscakes.com/LolCats/Uploads/Saved/operation-totem-pole-status-fail.jpg
Gurei @ Mar 17th 2008 10:29PM
As long as real games are super expensive,and its just way more viable to get a moded console and dvd games,people will do it.
Batzarro @ Mar 17th 2008 10:36PM
Not to mention those stupid extra months of wait... Everytime I pick up a games magazine in spanish, they are talking about months old games!
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 17th 2008 11:23PM
Sadly enough, I'd have to agree with you: I used to live in Vietnam, where the average income is nothing compared to the traditional videogame-serviced countries.
You end up buying pirated games from fake retailers for a dollar each because there aren't any other viable options left.
It's funny how those countries are incredibly fond of videogames, yet for some reason, publishers don't want to service them with reasonable options.
But it's their loss: people wonder why free microtransaction-based MMOs are popular in Asia.
Dale @ Mar 18th 2008 11:35AM
Video games are hideously over-priced when compared to other entertainment media, this is true. That being said, using the price as an excuse for piracy really doesn't work.
At the end of the day, they are luxury items - not necessities. If you can't afford them, then you either need to save up or go without. This instant gratification mindset is why this planet is becoming such a cesspit; and piracy at large is why video game publishers are so risk-adverse, causing release schedules to become so bland and predictable.
I do think the industry as a whole needs to address pricing as a means to expand the audience and combat piracy, and you're right - microtransactions are one way to do that. But nothing justifies theft.
ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285) @ Mar 17th 2008 10:49PM
I'd probably do the same thing if I lived there. From what I hear, it sounds like Central/South American gamers regularly get the shaft in both pricing and availability.
laserboyjc @ Mar 17th 2008 11:30PM
that's right they do, my cousin bought a couple of used games when he visited the States because they only sell new ones in Mexico and for $80 or more...not fun if you're a gamer and a student not making enough money. I don't think this excuses the piracy, it's still wrong, but I do wish fellow gamers around the world had an easier time enjoying videogames among other things
Saria the Cat @ Mar 17th 2008 10:50PM
All I read was "booty stashes raided," and am now off to chuckle to myself for a while.
Sora267 @ Mar 17th 2008 10:55PM
Phew, I'm not the only one.
Senator Dracula @ Mar 17th 2008 11:04PM
Piracy rates of 88%?!?
Does anyone there buy games legally? I guess one guy has to and then everyone else gets a copy. It's like only one kid in class studied for the history quiz.
Wilson @ Mar 17th 2008 11:16PM
Well, when the games are priced with a 30 or 40% markup from the retail priced that you get in the US, it's fucking OBVIOUS that stuff like that is gonna happen.
I'm sure that the piracy % gets lower as you get closer to the frontier with the US, since it's easier just to cross to the US and buy the original game, which is what I do. Fuck Mexican gaming stores, I'm not paying 80 dlls for a 40 dlls game!
eugene @ Mar 18th 2008 12:32AM
Just wait a little bit, the way things are going, the Peso will be worth more than the Dollar soon enough so you guys will be all set.
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 12:54AM
I buy everything legal so sthu (No I don't share my stuff with anyone) but yeah there is a huge piracy problem in México yet there a lot of people buying their stuff legal mostly because Microsoft and Nintendo have supplied México with more games at better prices. Well yeah some games still cost 100$ but the prices of some Nintendo and MS games have dropped, I bought No more heroes on 40$ pretty neat considering it was brand new at the time and it was a great game.
My daily job is take down pirates and if you think México is bad check Perú, at least in México they do something.
Well on topic I hope Sony realizes México is a good market since we don’t get a lot of support from Sony here and the price of the PS3 here is very high (USD 800$) I would also like to mention that getting Pc games in México is almost impossible and getting hardware pieces is even harder (weird considering that Carlos Slim owns CompUSA)
That was the reason I returned to console gaming.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Mar 18th 2008 1:14AM
Are you from Mexico ESC? thats a little surprising.
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 1:19AM
“Just wait a little bit, the way things are going, the Peso will be worth more than the Dollar soon enough so you guys will be all set”.
You know that's bad right?
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 1:42AM
I thought that was known /:
I don't bring that up too much because that's a good way to get into a fight with a troll, is the internets after all and even if I won I get B&.
That was what happened in kotaku, I won but I got B&, same in GS forums, SW forums etc etc. That doesn’t means I won’t be back. I had 15 different Gs accounts, too bad they did B& the one I used for the serious stuff. Man I was in 20 groups and had 30 friends, stupid GS mods.
eNrique @ Mar 18th 2008 2:31AM
i think mr esc you are f***ing wrong, in México Sony gives a lot of support compared to nintendo, since most part of the games cost the same here, MX, as there, US, and obviously the ps3 does not cost 800 dlls, i got a 60 gb one at 6999 MXN, about 650 dlls, incluiding taxes. and pc hardware is very cheap, talking about proccesor and video cards, donde carajos compras??
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 1:45PM
En el Estado de México ya que es una potente existencia moral (Que diablos significa eso?)
Si hablas de los componentes que tienen en el bazar o en la plaza son pura fayuca yo se de donde los obtienen.
No puedo obtener una buena Nvidia aqui más que importando que es una molestia.
Gamplanet lo vende a 8999$ el PS3 pero claro es la version más cara,si en el liverpool esta más barato pero es la versión sin juegos.
Thierry @ Mar 17th 2008 11:20PM
I can imagine that games are more expensive than what we have in North America + a day's worth of salary can't even buy a game compared to here. Pirating does seem the way to go in that sense but soft piracy is also another way which I'm sure many people will move to if and only if every physical pirates have been tracked down.
jcd @ Mar 17th 2008 11:21PM
NOOOO!! mah games!!!
nah, mine are original, though I buy them in gringo place to save cash.
Night Elve @ Mar 17th 2008 11:23PM
I'm from Monterrey, Mexico.
And all my games are original I never buy illegal copies. So far I have 40 PS2 Games, 6 PS3 Games, 6 PSP Games, 10 PS1 games.
So yes a lot of people here buys legal stuff. The thing is a game here can cost 780 pesos which is 70 ~ 72 Dollars.
A lot of people can't afford that of course piracy is not the solution, the ideally solution is to lower the prices.
jcd @ Mar 17th 2008 11:30PM
I don't even know why that fucken tax is implemented, I mean, it's not like its protecting the mexican market or anything.
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 12:58AM
Yeah there are a lot of folks buying their stuff original but well games aren't really necessary so is not a big deal if you can't afford them I mean why people buy pirate stuff Music, DVDs or even games aren't necessary shouldn't they be saving for education and stuff?
Speaking globally there are people that can buy videogames and music and they rather use limeware and torrents, WTF with them?
Senator Dracula @ Mar 17th 2008 11:35PM
Why do games cost so much more in Mexico? Are there high tariffs or other government imposed fees? I can't imagine all the game developers are just charging Mexican stores/retailers more than their counterparts in other countries.
Jack Thompson didn't move there, did he?
Carlos @ Mar 18th 2008 12:47AM
Well, it has to do mainly with the retailers because they pay to get the games here, specially with Nintendo since there is no official Nintendo here in Mexico. I don't know why Microsoft and Sony charge more for their games and consoles though.
CJLopez @ Mar 18th 2008 1:07PM
Well, it's not really hard realize why games and consoles cost more here. Transport and import of the games. I mean, I live in Hermosillo, Sonora, finding good games on cheap prices here is almost impossible, they would come to cost 70-80dlls when on the US are 40 or 50, don't mention the brand new one's, i saw the other on a Blockbuster a SSBB on 90dlls!!!!
But not everything is lost, there are people who goes to the US, buys games, and sell em only for 5 dlls more than what they cost original, sad thing, this guy hasn't been able to get a hold of a Brawl, other way i'd be playing Brawl right now instead of posting a comment, xD
I can't say "I have never done piracy", cuz i have, i mean, I have played a lot of emulator games, i have emulated lots of burned psx, also original, lot's of downloaded or burned pc games, but it's because of the same thing, some times, games don't reach this side till one year later or so, and I want em to play em now, so my only option is to download em, and when I get go visit my sis on phoenix, i buy the ones that I liked a lot. Also, know with the recent consoles, come, PS2 and GameCube perfect emulation is not coming for a while so I bougth my Wii and 2 years ago my sis won a PS2 and gave it to me, so I spend lot's of times on web-selling pages looking for people selling their games cheap, also I go to Bookmans, I always find some good games to buy
I'm not against piracy, it's something that hardcore latinoamerican people need to satisfy our needs, but we do know thats we are hurting the game industry by doing it. It's a shame that GAMELA, the representant of Nintendo in Mexico is not functioning anymore, or hasn't done much if it's still on business.
Also, a little off-topic as a general knowledge, La Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), would be the Mexican version of SWAT and the Agencia Federal de Investigaciones (AFI) something like FBI, we still don't have any kind of CIA or Interpol though, xD
Mills and Boom @ Mar 17th 2008 11:50PM
I didn't know our resident pirate, Mike, lived in Mexico.
mike @ Mar 18th 2008 1:50AM
Its not me :p. I dont sell my games, nor do I own 28800 of them, or even close to that ammount. I wonder who buys pirated games? You can just get them yourself for free on the internet. If your gonna pay for pirated content, you might as well pay for the real thing.
And mexico with games is alot like Pacific mall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Mall
. Raids occur, but its useless, as the next day they are back selling. I have seen dvd stores raided by the police at PM before and the next day theres some dude setting up in the exact same shop location with thousands of pirated dvds. Mexico losses 28 800 pirated games today, 30 000 new ones are produced for tomorrow.
Maik @ Mar 18th 2008 12:10AM
It's not like we don't have the money, its just that they are way overpriced for example, it is cheaper to go to the USA(because we just cross the river...duuuuh!)to buy games than to buy them here.
PD = )
PD2 = l
PD3 = (
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 1:17AM
(because we just cross the river...duuuuh!)to buy games than to buy them here.
Well you do that I take use Continental and American airlines to get to the U.S mostly NY and Orlando (Wee Universal) ;)
Damn what the hell.
You know before 2000 I used to love the U.S since I mostly visit for either Business or Vacation and in a date almost near my birthday so it was awesome just go there and get new games, I still remember when I first went to a circuit city and bought Diablo and Hexen 2.Then after 2000 the security measures (you know for the um 9 11) were really an annoyance but it was okay I mean it didn’t stop me from going to Disneyworld 2 times in a year or New york but after 2006 it really was a pain in the ass and this attitude some Americans (I’m tempted to say Gringos here)have about Mexicans really pissed me off, I mean have paid taxes in the U.S for over what 10 years now.
Really notice the difference between the Illegal aliens and the paying tourist/business men for Christ sake, you are losing money in tourism for that attitude but okay if you don’t want my money I guess Canada will be happy to accept it.
Sam406 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:12AM
Here in Venezuela every video-game relate thing (games, consoles) triples in price form what it cost in USA if you buy it in a mall.
Buying it in a store will only double you the price for it in USA. (Don't know why the big difference).
The only way to get it at the acctual price is to import which is very common, but since our mail service sucks, there's no way it will get to you unless you use a private company (DHL, FeDex) or travel to USA yourself.
People who can't go through all this crap are almost forced to pirate games OR pay double or triple.
Jansperus @ Mar 18th 2008 12:16AM
I'm totally against piracy, but I definitely sympathize with people who have to pay jacked up prices on video games just because they live in another country. Heck, even $60 is too much (which is why the latest game I got for the Xbox360 or the PS3 was Dead Rising)!
Richie @ Mar 18th 2008 12:22AM
Mexicans.....LOL why am I not surprised?
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 1:01AM
Wow I'm surprised you even know about the existence of another country I thought your view of the world was limited in your crappy mobile home.
See I can be even more racist, don’t even try fighting me back you‘ll lose.
Saria the Cat @ Mar 18th 2008 1:20AM
What the f*ck is with your racist comments here and in other places? You don't know jack sh*t about Mexican people or Mexican Americans. Most of my family have PhDs (one DDS) and I bet we contribute way more to society than your sorry ass. Get off the internets.
xFenixKnightx @ Mar 18th 2008 8:46AM
Richie
Your sad. Its important to embrace the Mexican people. You DO know that by 2030-2040 Mexicans are going to be the majority right? Unless your like 80 then you dont care but thats doubtful. Dont be surprised if little Candice or Kimberly get with an "ESE" LMAO!!!!!
Good times...
Mills and Boom @ Mar 18th 2008 10:42AM
So along with JSN and John McPoop we have another racist on the site. Best keep an eye on the racists, Joystiq. That kind of behaviour really shouldn't be tolerated.
Banter, arguments, console wars yes. Racism is too much.
t_m @ Mar 18th 2008 12:30AM
So its 2% lower than the US? Heh.
Seriously, when games are MORE EXPENSIVE in places like Mexico and China than in countries where people have 10 times the income its not a surprise. The surprising thing to me is that anyone can afford the PCs/Consoles to run the pirated games on in the first place.
Publishers should just think of it as free marketing giveaways that they can use to build up a huge userbase for the future, when everyone CAN afford to pay.
(you know, like microsoft did with windows)
mundox @ Mar 18th 2008 12:53AM
They should one of those raids on Peru, from what I've hear they have the high % in piracy in the whole americas.
Well here (in Panama) we have also overpriced crap, but we have the advantage that the currency used here is US dolars. So, yes, there are many who just pirate games 'cause they either can't afford the games or they just don't want to pay for them.
I got a job so I buy whatever I need for my gaming addiction (which it ain't much since I got cod4 on pc and ssbb).
Mr.ESC @ Mar 18th 2008 1:07AM
They should one of those raids on Peru, from what I've hear they have the high % in piracy in the whole americas.
Oh boy tell me about it. Part of my job is watch for sites that sell pirate stuff in Latin America and sometimes the U.S and Canada so I have to be constantly watching (it was one of my first jobs, the pay was decent) and without entering in details I was blown by the amount of pirate software they had and I’m not talking about videogames. The thing is that you can’t do much about it because you can’t contact with those sites since is restricted to citizens of Peru only, I mean they had pirate stuff in a legal site(Rematazo), is the Latin version of Ebay and the competence of Mercado Libre.
The good thing is that is limited to certain areas within Perú.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Mar 18th 2008 1:12AM
When I would go visit my relatives in Mexico, I remember being little and seeing these PS games in the 'tianguis' with like 400 games for like 20 pesos and I would be like oh crap I need that. Then I would take it back to my PS in America and it wouldn't play. I later learned about pirated games and felt bad, but those prices are very attractive, especially to little kids.
Saria the Cat @ Mar 18th 2008 1:24AM
When I lived in Mexico City I didn't know anyone that pirated games, but I was the only kid with a Playstation 1. There was one other PS I saw and it was in a market stall and the entire community of kids would go there to take turns playing it. I felt really privileged to be able to own so many of my own games on my own console. When the average Mexican citizen sees none of the money the government is making, it's no surprise that the average kid can't afford genuine games.
eNrique @ Mar 18th 2008 2:42AM
woah, a pretty-mexican-gamer-girl, impressive, aside from my cousin, long no see one
:D
CJLopez @ Mar 18th 2008 1:17PM
Actually, it's not much of a surprise, I have a lot of girl-friends who are also hardcore gamers and pretty cute, specially in the MMORPG market, also my girlfriend is a KOF addict, but still can't beat me, ha!
Of every 10 guys, there are 3 girls gamers
Kujel @ Mar 18th 2008 4:53AM
Though I don't usually approve of game piracy you can't really blame the Mexicans when they don't even make a 10th of what an American kid makes for the same amount of work (if not more (work I mean)).
Cyro @ Mar 18th 2008 9:16AM
Well. Here in the Dominican Republic, we have terrible piracy problems. Specially PS2 games. But the problem is the pricing on games. a 360/ps3 game will cost you around US$90 to US$95 bucks. Thats way too much. My local store has the new games that come out the day after it comes out in the US, but I buy my games from Amazon. It cost me 3 dollars to import and it only takes about 2 days to get here. Plus it does not pay import taxes since there is a law here that everything that is under US$200 dollars does not pay import tax. Plus I get free shipping from Amazon prime. :)
I currently own 15 360 games. All bought last year. All original. I choose to support the industry because it is my favorite hobby and I want to see grow. This way we will get better games with high production values.
NATO_Duke @ Mar 18th 2008 10:30AM
Fernando - did they get you? Hide the game stash man!!
enxian @ Mar 18th 2008 1:20PM
Ala verga si cuestan los juegos bien caros, es obligatorio que haya otras maneras de conseguirlos. pero yo tengo xbox sin chip y compro juegos usados mejor.
y no nadamas en mexico hay pirateria tambien en otros paises hay asi que no digan que nadamas en mexico existe. Lo que pasa es que aca si somos descarados...