Dear Future Gamer

I'm writing with reference to the recent letters regarding ELSPA's statement that game pirates are likely to be involved in other, more serious, illegal activities. Being convicted of drunk-driving reveals you to be a total plonker of the first order who should never be allowed within five feet of a steering wheel until they put you in a big box just behind it and drive you to a better place. It doesn't indicate a desire to profit from an unhealthy disregard of the law. House breaking does, and I'm quite sure that if a burglar thought he could make money more safely out of dealing drugs or PlayStation games then he would. Coincidentally, we've just been burgled and the police reckoned from the mode of entry and what was taken that the thief was a videogame player and junkie. He stole just about enough to pay for a hit, plus the power supply to my SNES, Zelda, Phantasy Star and Shining Force.

Cast your minds back to prohibition. A few individuals start smuggling Canadian liquor into Chicago. Before long they're manufacturing the stuff, then they're opening the clubs to sell it in, then they move into gambling and entertainment. Before long they've got fingers in almost everything, legal or illegal. Things don't change. If you don't believe that the mass marketing of bootleg games is run by the same people responsible for the mass marketing of illegal drugs, the smuggling of cheap ciggies and the stealing of cars to order then so be it. Just let me know when you re-enter the real world.

Deke Roberts

FG: There's no denying that when presented with a quick and easy way to make some money a hardcore criminal is going to explore the option, and pirate games might well be one avenue to go down. This, however, and this is what ELSPA have got arse-about-face, doesn't make games pirates drug dealers or porn pushers. ELSPA have decided that it's criminals who've turned to the lucrative piracy market whereas most of the pirates I've known over the years are merely that - pirates. They're games nuts who want the newest, the best, the most games they can get their hands on and no, they have no regard for copyright law, but to say they're involved in drugs and that piracy is 'worse than genocide' is outrageous.