While widespread PC game piracy is generally seen as a blight on the industry, PC Gaming Alliance president Randy Stude contends that the free exchange of games has definitely had a positive effect. In an interview with Big Download, Stude, president of the non-profit organization formed [[link]] last year to promote and improve the state of PC gaming, suggests that early piracy actually helped make the PC gaming industry what it is today.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c&cid=872d12ce-453b-4870-845f-955919887e1b'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c" }).render("79703296e5134c75a2db6e1b64762017"); }); http://kotaku.com/358436/pc-gaming-alliance-officially-announced-here-to-save-the-day The PC Gaming Industry’s history is littered with examples of startups (including Stardock and Valve) that actually benefited from wide spread piracy to grow a market for their future titles. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating piracy… However, how would Quake, Doom, Starcraft, Counter-Strike, or Half-Life have been able to grow widespread brand recognition without a widespread network of gamers openly sharing these games. These [[link]] titles (and many more) defined the industry. Personally, my first experience with a first person shooter was with Doom (back in the day) and I did not pay for it. Id Software turned the corner and has a very successful business built on the back of the early free/open source exchange of their games… Yes, Randy Stude is a dirty pirate, but then again, so was I back then. I too had a non-purchased copy of Doom. Hell, my primitive high school computer programming class was a haven for the exchange of Apple II games of dubious origin. It wasn’t right, but those first few “free” titles turned me into the adult I am today, purchasing upwards of a dozen PC games a year. What I am trying to say here, is the man has a valid point. I probably wouldn’t be here writing this article [[link]] if not for the trespasses of my past. That having been said, the industry is doing fine now, and everyone can stop pirating now. Thanks! Interview: PC Gaming Alliance’s president gives us an update [Big Download via Blue’s News]