Free video games to beat pirates

Video game developer David Perry - known from games like Earthworm Jim, MDK and Enter the Matrix - claims the next big thing in the video game industry will be free games. Perry believes free games will be the solution for one of the biggest issues of the PC games industry: piracy. Instead, he plans to charge people for things they might want to use in games like better-looking armor or better weapons.

"The next big thing will be free games," he said.

Mr Perry said the plan "sounds crazy" but it had already proved successful in Asia.

"They had so much piracy that they decided to stop charging for the games. Instead, there'll be a charge for things you might want to use in the game," he said.

"Your character might have a plain white T-shirt. If you wanted a nicer one you could have it for a dollar. Or perhaps you could buy a magic sword for a knight for a dollar."

He said this approach had already proved successful in Asia.

"It's going to turn our industry on its head and I want to see the same thing happening in the USA and Europe."

More info BBC News.