"The Music Pirates Game" from MGI

**HolyMoly** · December 1st, 2003, 09:51 PM

I read an article in another forum and responded to it there. But, I can't find a mention of it on ZP, so here goes.

A software developer named MGI (Cambridge, Mass.) is developing a computer game called "The Music Pirates Game" to teach children about the evils of file-sharing. They hope that the RIAA will distribute the game nationwide. You can read an article about it here:

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercuryne...ss/7386116.htm

It also appeared in the Detroit News but originated in the L.A. Times ... and I sent letters to the editor of all three saying this:

Dear Editor,

Hey, that gives me the idea for another new game called TURN THE TABLES. This is how it works. You are the head of the RIAA. Your quest is to protect yourself and the labels you represent from those who would challenge your control over the music market. But, in order to do this, you've got to accomplish four things. First, you have to create a policy called MAP that rips off the music consumer to the tune of $400,000,000 starting four years before Napster was even born. Secondly, you have to find a friendly Attorney General who won't press criminal charges against you for the monstrous theft. Thirdly, you have to settle a multistate antitrust lawsuit in such a way that you get to keep $256,000,000 of the $400,000,000 you stole while making the plaintiff attorneys think THEY won. And finally, you have to convince the public, the Congress and the Senate that you and your member labels are merely innocent victims of copyright pirates ... hoping they won't see through your facade to see the biggest pirate of all.

Sincerely,
(real name omitted)
:ass

**origin** · December 1st, 2003, 10:45 PM

First of what a bunch of crap!, kids know the difference just as we do FREE is FREE it is a hard price to compete with oftenly un-defeatable. I hope (when it is finally released) some crew releases it just to *uck with them, we not only pirate you're music but even you're weak a** games! lol. good post HM.

l8

**Siskabush** · December 1st, 2003, 11:31 PM

hmm, i got a good game too!

Its called "Defeat the RIAA censorship barriers!"
You can play in real life too! What you do is find the truth in all the RIAA spin, and listen to what you want to listen, and when Brittney spears serves you with a lawsuit from the RIAA for enjoying other quality music, you pimp slap her!

I dont even know what im saying, but you get my point.
Im Ripping a DJ Slinky CD, I had to borrow it off my friend because none of the record stores could order it. I beleive that justifies my "illegal" aquisition of this CD.

I better sleep...

**serrebi101** · December 1st, 2003, 11:33 PM

How the hell could a game teach something like that with a title like that, what do you do, download til you get caught? lol this is gonna be a hot seller!
I can see the mods now.

**Omyn** · December 2nd, 2003, 01:17 AM

The Music Pirates Game

I say it becomes the number one pirated game on p2p 2 weeks before its official release :D

Seriously I want this game, this is just way to hilarious to pass up...

It will then suffer a "lack" in sales, remember the greatest business tactic to use in court is blaming it on everyone else for your lack of sales, remember if a product of yours doesnt sell, because its just common sense that people always have to buy things at a constant rate and at a set ammount of cash each year. its their fault, even if they dont like you because of bad public relations problems :]

They hope that the RIAA will distribute the game nationwide.
Yes, but with copyright protection.

You look and see Omyn in the horizon, a rather handsome yet mysterious pirate, in his customary black clothes.

He commands a laptop with wireless internet thats not even his, constantly pirating 20 to 30 songs at a single moment.

He knows no fear against the black suited men, for he is a pirate, living without morals, knowing that information should not be free.

With a patch over one eye and a keyboard for a wooden leg, his broken shard of an old CDR is in one hand equipped to signal for the final strike that may come any second against the corporate fleet.

**shawners** · December 2nd, 2003, 04:27 AM

I thought the RIAA already had a board game, wasnt it called MOnopoly?

**Malicious Intent** · December 2nd, 2003, 04:44 AM

That is a good letter HolyMoly. Fingers are crossed that it get published in at least one.
It is very funny, but perhaps starting it "Hey" wasn't the best move.

**HolyMoly** · December 2nd, 2003, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by Malicious Intent

That is a good letter HolyMoly. Fingers are crossed that it get published in at least one.
It is very funny, but perhaps starting it "Hey" wasn't the best move.

I started it with "Hey" for a reason ... to mock the same childish excitement in the first part of their article, quote, "Hey, kids! Want to join the FBI and chase music pirates?" In short, I started with the same "Hey," hehe. Besides, indignation is no fun unless it's righteous indignation.
:fire
Still, I suppose MGI (aka Kids Music Stage) has a right to champion big business if they want to. In fact, I'm surprised their principal email addresses - [email protected] - [email protected] - [email protected] - aren't better known by big business. I can think of any number of big businesses that would love to offer them things like diet formulas, herbal viagra remedies, and penis enlargement therapies ... and, being supporters of big business, I'm certain they wouldn't mind hearing about such offers. Ahem.

**DudeAsInCool** · December 2nd, 2003, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Omyn

The Music Pirates Game

You look and see Omyn in the horizon, a rather handsome yet mysterious pirate, in his customary black clothes.

He commands a laptop with wireless internet thats not even his, constantly pirating 20 to 30 songs at a single moment.

He knows no fear against the black suited men, for he is a pirate, living without morals, knowing that information should not be free.

With a patch over one eye and a keyboard for a wooden leg, his broken shard of an old CDR is in one hand equipped to signal for the final strike that may come any second against the corporate fleet.

ROTFL. :)

**Omyn** · December 2nd, 2003, 09:13 AM

I would make a very good story teller, perhaps I should write scripts for movies.

**Malicious Intent** · December 2nd, 2003, 09:37 AM

I see where you are coming from now. It was only ever a minor point.
How about a story now Omyn? Staring ZP posters...

**Siskabush** · December 2nd, 2003, 10:20 AM

The taliban should have done the right thing and crashed a non-passerger airline into the RIAA building.

*Waits for flames*

**Omyn** · December 2nd, 2003, 11:13 AM

I could not agree with you more Siskabush...

It would be a tragedy though, for the people working the lesser jobs such as janitor and people who deliver boxes across seperate offices.

Maybe if they crashed an airplane into their company BBQ then it would be far more acceptable loss, after all its for the greater good.

The children would then recieve their millions of dollars and be handed off to relatives, where they live the good life and never actually do anything still running the riaa, then you send a second plane down and do it all over again, its a never ending process.