[ PC Gaming ]

Is Anino’s bust a blow to the game development industry?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief August 31, 2008 · 2 min read

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Word that Anino Games, a local game developer, was busted by the National Bureau of Investigation last week for allegedly running pirated software was confirmed by a story in Inquirer.net.

A complaint was filed at the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division by AutoDesk, a publicly listed company that develops 2D and 3D design software.

The raid resulted in the seizure of 36 computers that were installed with alleged illegal copies of several applications from software developer Autodesk Inc. Among the allegedly pirated software that were found were 3D Studio Max 2008, 3D Studio Max 9, AutoDesk Maya 8.5, AutoCAD 2008, AutoDesk Maya 2008 and Combustion 4.

AutoCAD costs $3,995 for each license, AutoDesk Maya costs $1,995 and 3D Studio Max has a price tag of $3,495. These softwares have a pretty hefty price tag and it’s obvious why AutoDesk Inc. filed the complaint against Anino Games (the first commercial game development firm in the Philippines).

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) only goes after big-time offenders so this bust could be in the millions of pesos.

This story incident hints of a curious question — is the local game development industry failing that companies cannot afford to pay for software licenses? How would this reflect on the Philippines as a potential hub for outsourcing game development?

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

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30 Comments

Accretian Archon · 17 years ago

Oh my, when did this happened?

I just sent my resume to anino and was scheduled for an interview next week. Is it worthy to work in this company?

I just hope this “pirated software” issue has been settled.

Thanks for the info

n · 18 years ago

shux this news really shocked me. i actually worked in Anino before and i never thought nor did i know that the software they are using are pirated.

anyway, this would really serve as a lessons learned to other companies who does the same thing….

Jay · 18 years ago

Welcome to Philippines!

maparaan talaga ang pinoy!
mabuhay!

Amorsolo · 18 years ago

“Without a doubt Iâ€™m sure that all pinoys (like myself) learned using 3D platforms by using pirated version of Autodesk products, At least for learning purposes.”

I take exception to this comment. I’m learning 3D using Blender (blender.org), which is a Free Open Source, cross-platform 3D application.

sherwin · 18 years ago

Geez, they sell their products using stolen software. I also didn’t like the comment of that Dagondon guy from Anino, he’s justifying the wrong doing of his company and turning the bust the other way around. i hope all of their produced software will also be seized and pulled out from the market to pay for the licenses they’ve stolen, since it was made using stolen products anyway.

sdg · 18 years ago

heh probably hindi nagpadulas ang anino, too bad

jhay · 18 years ago

Anino translates to shadow, meaning it’s a copy of something else. So it wouldn’t be such a surprise?

Kidding aside, as lawyers would say, “Dura Lex, Sed Lex”

webmaster · 18 years ago

I think if you think on te long term effct of the incident on the BPO industry it does hurt the industry and create a negative effect on us. but the brigther side of it. Software investors that we care about their business in our country. but the sad thing about it is we have found ways to stop business ogranization from using pirated software but let us remember that this business that uses pirated osftwares help our economy. I think BSA should device means and ways to stop piracy but at the same time help this organization in acquiring licensed software.in this way it stops piracy and at the same time will help in selling original software. win / win situation :)

http://www.corel-lifestyle.blogspot.com/

JC John SESE-Cuneta · 18 years ago

I doubt. It is just one company who was caught and it does not reflect in any way that other companies are doing the same thing.

However, I do not like what Anino said, quoting below:

‘Dagondon also implored the BSA to help them instead of attacking them. Such attacks, he said, could force other development firms to either close down or “resort to undesirable means.”

“[A]ttacks such as these are damaging not just to Anino and its staff but to the entire Philippine creative and outsourcing industry in general. This has a negative effect not only on Anino’s operations but to the reputation of Philippine offshore service providers as a whole composed of dollar-earning companies whose clients are mainly based
abroad,” Dagondon said.’

If I were one of the victims, I wouldn’t say it is damaging, because I know the law was just implemented. In a Country like the Philippines being accused of lack of implementation, I will be neutral if not happy when I see the law against piracy (and Intellectual Property) implemented.

rogerd · 18 years ago

They could have used other alternatives; but I am sure they know these already.

1. Blender http://www.blender.org – Free
2. Truespace http://www.caligari.com – Free

Andre Marcelo-Tanner · 18 years ago

I guess their excuse is because its the Philippines they thought its ok

sylv3rblade · 18 years ago

ouch!
I guess we won’t be expecting any new titles from them.

Rouge Carey · 18 years ago

Without a doubt I’m sure that all pinoys (like myself) learned using 3D platforms by using pirated version of Autodesk products, At least for learning purposes.