The_Raven on 29/8/2008 at 18:07
Stardock recently revealed their wish list of the PC Gamer's Bill of Rights. The list is as follows:
* Gamers shall have the right to return games that don't work with their computers for a full refund.
* Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.
* Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game's release.
* Gamers shall have the right to demand that download managers and updaters not force themselves to run or be forced to load in order to play a game.
* Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will play adequately on that computer.
* Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install hidden drivers or other potentially harmful software without their consent.
* Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.
* Gamers shall have the right to not be treated as potential criminals by developers or publishers.
* Gamers shall have the right to demand that a single-player game not force them to be connected to the Internet every time they wish to play.
* Gamers shall have the right that games which are installed to the hard drive shall not require a CD/DVD to remain in the drive to play.
While Stardock has shown in the past that they're hardly saints themselves, I don't think anyone is going to argue that their heart isn't in the right place. One thing that I noticed was strangely absent from the list is the ability to return your software if you do not agree with the EULA. Similar to the first point, the customer's current ability to do this is extremely hit-and-miss; however, this is more of a problem with the software industry itself, rather than something unique to games. While there is no reason to believe that this "pie in the sky" idea will ever take off, it is good to see a publisher trying to do something to improve the rather stagnant industry practices. One can only hope that stuff like this and GOG.com can bring the PC games industry closer to its golden age from its current state.
(
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20027) Source
Shakey-Lo on 29/8/2008 at 19:58
I don't agree with the third point, particularly as it seems to contradict the second.
Updates after a game's release are a nice bonus but I don't see why they should be a right. In some cases (TF2 comes to mind) people might not want the gameplay updates.
ZylonBane on 29/8/2008 at 21:02
Yes... what about you?
The_Raven on 29/8/2008 at 21:12
Quote Posted by Shakey-Lo
I don't agree with the third point, particularly as it seems to contradict the second.
Updates after a game's release are a nice bonus but I don't see why they should be a right. In some cases (TF2 comes to mind) people might not want the gameplay updates.
I agree, things definitely need to be tweaked; however, I do think it is a good starting point.
redrain85 on 29/8/2008 at 21:57
This comes across as more of a marketing stunt for Stardock and Impulse, than anything. Still, if this leads to any kind of benefit or improvement in the marketplace: then more power to them.
Gamers can bitch and complain as much as they like, yet the majority of publishers clearly aren't going to change their ways. But if one publisher breaks rank from the rest and becomes extremely successful because of their differing policies, the other publishers might sit up and take notice.
Brad Wardell is right when he asks, what has the PCGA done for anyone? Nothing, really.
Interestingly, the article was recently updated with a response from the president of the PCGA. Seems Brad hit a nerve.
addink on 29/8/2008 at 22:33
Quote Posted by The_Raven
* Gamers shall have the right to return games that don’t work with their computers for a full refund.
I'd rather see more demos.
I try to avoid buying games without having tried the demo. But it seems like demos are becoming old fashioned. Especially for hyped AAA titles, where it sometimes feels as if they purposely skip the demo to avoid bursting the bubble.
The_Raven on 29/8/2008 at 22:41
Quote Posted by redrain85
This comes across as more of a marketing stunt for Stardock and Impulse, than anything. Still, if this leads to any kind of benefit or improvement in the marketplace: then more power to them.
I would agree, I'm certainly not believing that they're doing this out of a sense of altruism.
WingedKagouti on 30/8/2008 at 00:08
Quote Posted by Shakey-Lo
I don't agree with the third point, particularly as it seems to contradict the second.
Updates after a game's release are a nice bonus but I don't see why they should be a right. In some cases (TF2 comes to mind) people might not
want the gameplay updates.
So new official map packs are unwanted for TF2 and similar games?
2 & 3 only conflict if you think that a finished game is completely impossible to improve.
rachel on 30/8/2008 at 01:11
The last three. Spot on. If only publishers could get it :erg:
