Introducing The Gamers Bill of Rights

[The 1 2 P]

It's a work in progress but I think it has merit: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/stardock-proposes-gamers-bill-of-rights/?biz=1

Although my laptop isn't powerful enough to play almost any game, I figured pc gamers would be very interested in this. As for consoles, it would have been nice if they had one of these in place during the PS1 and PS2 era. I'm sure I'm not the only one that had trouble playing an older PS1/PS2 game on a newer PS1/PS2 system and vice versa with older PS1/PS2 systems and newer games.

[Berserker]

I think it's a good start, but there are some cracks. For one, the demanding of a "finished" game is wishful thinking. Of course we want a game that we can play to its end without any showstopping bugs, and we largely already demand this with our wallets, as history shows. However, PC games are always going to require patches, and updates, and "finished" is such a vague term that could be construed that we DEMAND perfect, flawless games from the outset, which is not going to happen.

They should cut off those sorts of things and focus it completely on DRM, which is by far the most important fight, and more than worthy of being the singular focus. Also, I think for this to really have some sort of effect beyond temporary headline novelty, such a "bill" would have to come from grassroots groups of gamers, not some corporation. Good start though.

[otaku]

very nice. I like alot of what's there. Here's hoping it gets "adopted"

[monkeychemist]

I think instead of having the right to return a game that doesn't work it may be more worthwhile to have:

Gamers should be allowed to mail their non-working/scratched/damaged media to the manufacturer and get a free replacement. With how fragile DVD media is, that is the most frustrating thing for me. Back in the day of NES the carts were MUCH more durable. I bought the special edition of FFXII and somehow (i don't know how because the game never left the console) I got a scratch that freezes the game at a key point, not letting me move forward. My only option is to shell out another $30 and that SUCKS!

[FrakAttack]

"Meaningful updates" is a bit vague. If they're talking about technical updates, then yeah, to a point. Manufacturers shouldn't be expected to update their games to run with a newer OS 10 years after the software was written. Nice if they do, but that's not a gamer's "right." If they're talking about promised "bonus content" then, yeah, people should expect more than one new multiplayer level or a downloadable skin.

The combination of 9 and 10 will never happen. Maybe one or the other but not both.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I have a feeling that this is about as worthless in a practical sense as internet petitions and open letters.

I've never had a problem with #1. If the 'It doesn't play on my system' argument fails you can always bring it back latter and say, 'I do not accept the terms in the license agreement.' Simple as that.

[Push Upstairs]

They should cut off those sorts of things and focus it completely on DRM, which is by far the most important fight, and more than worthy of being the singular focus. Also, I think for this to really have some sort of effect beyond temporary headline novelty, such a "bill" would have to come from grassroots groups of gamers, not some corporation. Good start though.

I think the focus should be on telling companies that DRM is not welcome.

Why should I spend my money only to be treated like a criminal?

[Berserker]

My only option is to shell out another $30 and that SUCKS!

Couldn't you just get the disc resurfaced?



I think the focus should be on telling companies that DRM is not welcome.

Why should I spend my money only to be treated like a criminal?

Exactly. I'm against any kind of online validation for any reason apart from strictly online play, because it effectively binds the playable lifespan of the game to a company, which is bad news for retro gamers like us. The company inevitably goes under and then we're shit out of luck, and I'm already starting to see this happen.

[Kamisama]

Here in Germany, one of the bigger DRM-Music Shops got closed down some months ago and you could not revalidate your songs when you want to burn or redownload them or whatever. It's already happening and it's not good.

Most of the people will only understand that when it happens to them, that's the problem. People have to know that they are paying for something they probably cannot use anyone in 1 or 2 years.

[Rob2600]

Gamers should be allowed to mail their non-working/scratched/damaged media to the manufacturer and get a free replacement. With how fragile DVD media is, that is the most frustrating thing for me. Back in the day of NES the carts were MUCH more durable. I bought the special edition of FFXII and somehow (i don't know how because the game never left the console) I got a scratch that freezes the game at a key point, not letting me move forward. My only option is to shell out another $30 and that SUCKS!

Good point. What's funny is during the PS/N64 era, people were laughing at cartridges and making fun of Nintendo for using an old, dead, expensive format. It turns out, I never, ever had a customer return an N64 cartridge to my store defective.

As for the price, yes, N64 cartridges may have been expensive, but guess what? Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games are on "extremely cheap" discs and stores are still charging $50-$60 for them. Go figure.

[FantasiaWHT]

#3 I don't think is any sort of right. Surely it's nice to get free updates to a game after it comes out, but I don't think it should be any sort of right.

#8 is too broad to actually mean anything. All manufacturers of all products need to be mindful of potential theft of their product. There's better ways to deal with it than others, but I think the makers have every right to assume that some people will try to steal their product.

#10, too, I think the makers have every right to say what will be needed to play their game.

Many of the rest I really agree with, especially releasing working games (#1, 2, 5)

[SegaAges]

It is early and work is slow, so slashdot gives me stuff to read. This 1 is good

http://www.edge-online.com/blogs/the-gamers-bill-rights

discuss

[neuropolitique]

Overall I find it retarded. The parts that aren't are common sense.

[Rob2600]

I believe there's already a thread about this from last week:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121357&highlight=bill+rights

[williewonka2k1]

Yea, I thought it was kind of dumb too. Sorry.

[Nature Boy]

I agree, it seems silly. Stuff like "Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state" is a problem? If it's not in a finished state shame on you for buying it and then being sour because it wasn't what you expected. Put some research into your purchases!

[williewonka2k1]

Here's more to add to the list...

1. Gamers have the right to have fun
2. Gamers have the right to install their games
3. Gamers have the right to beat their games


etc. LAME

[PapaStu]

I believe there's already a thread about this from last week:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121357&highlight=bill+rights


Thanks Rob!

**Merged for Great Success**