🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Oct29.124526.1555588@zeus.calpoly.edu> > About a week  
ago, someone mentioned on comp.sys.ibm.pc.games that
> software piracy actually causes developers to LOWER their prices
> rather than raise them. The argument here was that, the increased  
demand
> due to the expanded market (if piracy were erradicated) would cause  
the
> optimum price ("optimum" meaning that which maximizes gross  
revenue) to
> increase.

Actually, I think you have the effect correct but not the cause.
I think many companies realize that if they charge $60 for their
game, they are more likely to have people say "I'm not going
to pay that, I'm going to go get it from my friend" than
if they charge $20 for the game.  

By the way, I'm not saying this is right: if a company wants to 
charge $60 for a game and you don't want to pay $60, then DON'T play  
the game. But I do think this effect is real.

--
Jim Mann            
Stratus Computer   jmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com