Florida Man Does Time For Video Game Piracy

[The 1 2 P]

Unfortunately for this dude, his form of piracy had nothing to do with that game Pirates Vs Ninjas. He was a straight up bootlegger:http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=206649#comment_1766896

The good news is that he got time and restitution. But I always wonder if they will go after the customers of pirate games. As for this guy, I'll sum this article up in two words: dumb ass:p

[riverdragon]

I see tons of that Power Player system around here where I live. They don't usually go after customers because people who buy them aren't making any money off them, plus they can always claim ignorance.

[studvicious]

Wow. He made a small fortune selling those crappy things.

[TheRealist50]

haha awesome police sketch. I bet thats EXACTLY what he looks like.

[ooXxXoo]

I actually have one of those, that I bought some time around 2006....The built-in games are a vivid copy of the originals...

[Push Upstairs]

Is that the thing that looks like an N64 controller and has built in games?

If so, I probably would have bought one for like $10 (max) just to see what games were on it that never got an American release.

[Sergeant Sega]

He made an insane amount of money on that scheme... :o

[j_factor]

Just imagine the day he meets his cell mate.

"So what you in for? Myself, I killed a man..."
"I sold illegal copies of video games."
"I think I'll call you Susan."

[Graham Mitchell]

I remember seeing those things on display in Gurnee Mills near Chicago. There were tons of people playing them. I asked the guy running the kiosk if they were legal and he took the controller away from me and wouldn't talk to me anymore.

All the copyright info is absent on the title screens of those games. Out of sight, out of mind, eh?

[riverdragon]

Is that the thing that looks like an N64 controller and has built in games?

Yep that is the one. When I see them at the swap meet they are about $20. I have no intention of buying one but I did see kids playing them there and it looked like they work pretty well.

[SpaceHarrier]

Wow, they have been selling those at all the local malls here for years.. it's kind of surprising. Oh well, other than doing time he is only being asked to pay restitution slightly higher than the amount of money he made selling them. Seriously, he made $390,000 selling those?

[Nature Boy]

Yep that is the one. When I see them at the swap meet they are about $20. I have no intention of buying one but I did see kids playing them there and it looked like they work pretty well.

I think I've seen those thinks in Brampton too then. Asked the guy what he wanted and he said $50. I said I wouldn't pay that and left it at that. I'm sure they sold plenty though.

[XYXZYZ]

A long time ago I saw those on display at some mall. So I picked it up to give it a go and the salesperson immediately barked at me to put it down, saying I wasn't allowed to touch it. Apparently they didn't want me to find out that it ran like shit if it worked at all.