   Biggest Criminals in Game History? READ
  Wednesday February 5th, Crytek Studios (developers of up and coming PC title Far Cry) were raided by the criminal police.They were charged with illegal pirated software with an estimated damage value in the 6 digit euro range( 80,000USD - 800,000USD).Immediatly following Crytek Studios released a press report stating that no evidence was found and no arrests were made.  This is where it gets hot.Apparently Crytek was unaware or unwilling to accept that fact that the criminal police release press reports (police reports) on all of the crimes that happen.  Here is a link to the police report. http://www.polizei.bayern.de/ppofr/aktuell/index.htmSorry dont know how to make that in a clickable link.Mind you the link is in german you should have no problems translating it.  You are looking for the police reports for wednesday the 4th ( time is different then here ).Now UBisofts response to this has been that they are not legally responsible or involved in this in any way.  And they even hinted at "We cannot get involved or talk about Cryteks court matter" which makes its obvious that they were charged.Now this is what is so bad.  I have posted this on the FarCry forums obviously and have been promptly banned and it was so obfuscated by the developers almost instantanously that I almost beleived them.They have everyone fooled on this even all of the major game sites that have posted the story like IGN and most German gaming sites.This is obviously the biggest coverup to save face and company I have ever seen.  What I am looking for is help on getting this out and make the consumers aware that we are dealing with criminals and liars.As a Game Developer or Consumer I would be VERY concerned with this bit of information.Oh and please dont post links to unnoficial sources like Crytek and other game sites.  Either post government sources or none at all.  Thanks I dont want to start flame wars with uneducated folk who read a internet news site and acually take what they say as water.  Official sources only, Thank you.And I ask that none of you beleive third party information and only stickw ith the police on this one.  Thanks.[edited by - Ritual on February 6, 2004 12:34:56 AM]
  repost   I Want My Island"The same people who so greatly oppose slavery, so much that they are willing to kill over it... have just forced me to fight the battle for them."- Robert (I Want My Island) ;quote:Original post by black_mage_s  repost Actually, no, this one lends new information... - Alex Broadwin- Domini Nocti Games- My Journal- The All-Knowing One;  I find the post conspiracy theory-esque, but I'm going to wait. A lot of reports on Software piracy are trumped up.  Its quite easy to go over 80 000 Euros, expecially if you charge premium for software.  I mean, artists sometimes bring their own software into the studio, but it could easily be grouped into piracy, since the company doesn't own it, but its on their computers.  Plus, 80 000 to 800 000 is a FRIGGIN huge range.It isn't a cover up that you can't post on the Far-Cry Forums, it's just they cannot comment on it.  They probably deleted because they effectively have a legal gag on the issue.  They can't defend themselves, so why open themselves up to attack.   [edited by - dede on February 7, 2004 3:21:48 AM];  I am confused...but maybe I am just drunk. ;  dede:  Its not that they have not commented on it.  they have said they are innocent and no charges were ever filed and no evidence was ever secured.  Also all of the other gaming sites are all saying that they are innocent and quoting Crytek directly. The estimate of the police was that the damages could be in the 6 digit euro range.  They didnt say how much.  It is not a point to bring up about the range I just posted it to give you an example of what it was entailing.  I said I did not wish any uneducated flame wars on this thread so please dont start any,  Sounds to me like your trying to play down or disprove any claims.80,000USD is not a small fraud charge.  And 800,000USD is way worse.Taulin:  What I said was that crytek has been charged with criminal fraud while they are openly lying about it and so far people are beleiving them.  THey are trying to save face and ocntinue to try and publish their up and ocming games and sell off their game development tools.Im SHOCKED that this hasnt drawn more attention and being software developers you guys arent appaled or concerned about this.Ill pursue this one on my own if I have to.  But I was just looking for a little more exposure.  [edited by - Ritual on February 7, 2004 12:23:45 PM];  If you think this makes them the biggest criminals in the gaming industry, you obviously don''t know anything about the gaming industry. ;quote:Original post by Ritual  Im SHOCKED that this hasnt drawn more attention and being software developers you guys arent appaled or concerned about this.I didn''t even know of Far Cry before this story broke, and it''s not like they are exceptional. If there is an organization responsible for cracking down on companies purchasing illegal software, it''s not an isolated case. Why would we focus so much on this? If they are proved illegal, they''ll be fined. Far Cry is the small company, it did wrong, and it''s being beaten up by the big ones. I don''t see a problem.quote:Ill pursue this one on my own if I have to.  But I was just looking for a little more exposure.You sound like you were the one who ratted them out See:quote:As a Game Developer or Consumer I would be VERY concerned with this bit of informationWould? So you''re neither, or don''t want to identify yourself to any of those two classes?Cédric ;quote:Original post by Ritual  Here is a link to the police report. http://www.polizei.bayern.de/ppofr/aktuell/index.htmI can''t  find any police report there :S How about giving a direct link? ;  I find it more suspicious that this is the only thread Ritual has ever posted in and that he''s a member since yesterday. 