How one game developer is making The Pirate Bay work for him

URL: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/09/how-one-game-developer-is-making-the-pirate-bay-work-for-him/

Figuring out the best way to handle game piracy continues to be a major concern for developers both big and small. Some major publishers are increasingly looking to an unpiratable free-to-play model to blunt piracy's effects, while some smaller developers have offered amnesty sales to try and coax some money out of pirates, or tried to engage pirates in conversation about why they download games illegally rather than buying them.

McPixel developer Sos Sosowski has taken a different tack, one that gives new meaning to the phrase "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Starting this morning, and through the entire weekend, Sosowski is actively directing people to pirate his game using the Torrent link posted on The Pirate Bay, and asking them to donate whatever they want in return. What's more, the pay-what-you-want sale is being actively promoted on the front page of The Pirate Bay, where tens of millions of visitors will see a short, conciliatory message from Sosowski (seen above).

"I know that not everyone can afford entertainment. But everyone needs it," the message reads in part. "And even though I make games for a living. I am most happy just to see people enjoy them. So today, you can download a torrent of my game. And if you like it, throw some coins in my general direction."

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