Piracy, the video game industry's multi-billion dollar problem, may have met its match.

1. How To Pirate Sims 3 Expansion Packs
2. Sims 3 Barnacle Bay

Barnacle Bay is a world available for download from The Sims 3 Store, as the second world that The Sims 3 Store has released. It is based on a moderately temperatured island with a tourist pirate theme.

After all, in 2002, The Sims: Vacation let you visit three different travel venues and introduced a few new (but minor) concepts to the formula in the process. The Sims 3: World Adventures sends your digital counterparts back on the road, but don’t assume that this expansion simply retreads what has already been done. Rather than allowing console devotees of the popular series to import their sims from the original release into this newest outing, EA has released The Sims 3: Pets as a stand-alone game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The solution to the illegal copying of video games perhaps isn't a law enforcement task force or volley of lawsuits, but the legitimization of the act itself.

Last week news broke that The Pirate Bay, one of the largest websites in the world dedicated to the illegal downloading of video games, was being purchased by a business group in Sweden with plans on turning the site into a purely legal operation.

The Pirate Bay Purchased

The Pirate Bay has been purchased and is perhaps looking to go legit. Software company Global…

How To Pirate Sims 3 Expansion Packs

Advertisement

Global Gaming Factory X doesn't plan on stopping the downloading of video games, but rather hopes to make enough money to pay the publishers for those downloads.

'We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site, ' Hans Pandeya, CEO Global Gaming Factory, said in a prepared statement. 'The Pirate Bay is a site that is among the top 100 most visited Internet sites in the world. However, in order to live on, The Pirate Bay requires a new business model, which satisfies the requirements and needs of all parties, content providers, broadband operators, end users, and the judiciary.'

Advertisement

The news comes just months after a nine-day trial against Stockholm-based Pirate Bay found four guilty of making copyright content available. The four were sentenced to a year in prison each and were fined more than $3 million.

While heralded by industry lobbying group the Entertainment Software Association, the ruling and even the possible closure of The Pirate Bay would likely have little lasting impact on piracy. That's because it doesn't address the people pirating games, just those making it easier to do so.

Advertisement

Billy Pidgeon, an analyst with Game Changer Research, feels that piracy can only really be dealt with by some meeting of the minds.

'I hate to hear the industry talking about how they have to crush piracy, throwing down the gauntlet,' Pidgeon said. 'The last thing the industry wants to do is alienate their customer base.'

Advertisement

People saying that they deserve to take a game for free, Pidgeon adds, is just as absurd.

That's why Pidgeon was so delighted to hear Electronic Arts' reaction to news of their game, The Sims 3, being pirated.

Sims 3 Barnacle Bay

Advertisement

Three weeks before the game was released for sale, it showed up on pirate sites.

John Riccitiello, the head of EA, told Kotaku that they were initially very nervous about the leaked title.

Advertisement

EA Re-Thinking How You Spend Your Gaming Money

Pirated copies of The Sims 3 temporarily rattled EA. Burnout Paradise DLC came too late. And…

But because the game relies so heavily on online play, something EA can control, gamers who grabbed an early, free version of the title didn't get the full experience, only a taste.

Advertisement

In the end, Riccitiello said, EA decided to think of it as the publisher putting out a really good demo of the game, instead worrying over lost sales.

'Thats great, I love to hear them talk like that,' Pidgeon said of EA's take on the issue. 'Super distribution (like piracy networks) can be turned into an advantage. It's not necessarily lost sales.'

Advertisement

Using the grassroots networks of pirates could allow publishers to reach a much larger audience, including people in regions they don't yet reach. It could also create a sort of ad-hoc iTunes for game distribution, helping publishers and developers get games to people who can't or won't use the standard distribution channels.

In other words, when you can't beat them, use them.

Well Played is a weekly opinion column about the big news of the week in the gaming industry and its bigger impact on things to come. Feel free to join in the discussion.

Vampires and pirates have become more and more popular over the years and The Sims 3 has adapted to these trends by developing new content. EA has the Vampire-lovers covered with the upcoming Late Night expansion, so it makes sense that something pirate-themed would be coming, too. Titled Barnacle Bay, the new area was once filled with scoundrels but is now a vacation getaway.

Barnacle Bay will be available exclusively at The Sims 3 Store for a yet to be determined price point on September 23, 2010. You can learn more about what the new add-on has to offer in the Q&A session below.

IGN: What are the new playable character(s) in this expansion?
EA: There are over 50 new world Sims living in Barnacle Bay, most of which are brand new characters, but you might recognize some familiar faces. There are quite a range of characters from Dude LaMer, a directionless surfer bum that can't get a second date with a girl, to Rose Rome, an elderly gypsy that has been seen rummaging through trash. You might even come across a few pirates while exploring the island.

IGN: What are some of the new NPC Sims that are in Barnacle Bay?
EA: Barnacle Bay is full of some colorful NPCs. My favorite is Roni Pepper (ha!), a slobby, scruffy pizza delivery guy with no sense of fashion. And Brian Adoyo, a scientist that uses food as examples when explaining scientific theories. There are over 25 new NPCs to create your own story with.

IGN: Will Simlish sound different for Pirate characters?
EA: One of the great things about Create-a-Sim is that you can create a custom voice for any character. You can also create your very own pirate characters using the pirate-themed clothing and accessories that are included with Barnacle Bay. There is also Buccaneer's Bounty, a pirate-themed clothing and object set available in The Sims 3 Store. You can make your Swashbuckler Sims sound and look however you want!

IGN: What kind of loot will you be able to find?
EA: There are hidden insects, fish, gem and mineral spawners all over the island for explorer Sims to find. There is even a secret Pirate's Hideaway, but I'm not telling you where it is. You have to explore the island to find it yourself.

IGN: What sort of new houses will be available? Is it possible to live in a pirate ship?
EA: Sims can eat in a pirate ship! Hogan's Deep Sea Diner is a nautical diner where Sims can grab a bite to eat with friends. Players can also build custom pirate-themed houses with the new objects that are included in Barnacle Bay, such as porthole doors and windows, wharf and stone fences, and more!

IGN: Will you be able to sail around the Bay and swim below the water to discover sunken treasures and ships?
EA: No, there will be no sailing ships or taking a dip in the ocean.

IGN: What sort of pirate-themed Sim deaths will you be able to re-create? Can you make them walk the plank?
EA: There are no new deaths in Barnacle Bay. However, you can always starrrrrrrrve your newly created pirates.

IGN: Will things like peg legs, eye patches and hook hands become available in the Sim creator?
EA: There are 7 new pirate-themed clothing and accessory items included with Barnacle Bay. You can dress any Sim you create as a pirate! These new assets include hats, boots and pirate clothing.

IGN: Can you challenge other Sims to sword fights?
EA: Not exactly, but I'm sure you will see plenty of bar fights in the Wanderer's Watering Hole, a new pub located in downtown Barnacle Bay.

IGN: Can we expect any surprise ninja attacks?
EA: There will be no surprise ninja attacks (and we couldn't tell you about them because then they wouldn't be surprises).