Gamers Bill of Rights

[dangel]

"We the Gamers of the world, in order to ensure a more enjoyable experience, establish equality between players and publishers, and promote the general welfare of our industry hereby call for the following:

1. Gamers shall have the right to return games that don't work with their computers for a full refund.
2. Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.
3. Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game's release.
4. 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.
5. Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will adequately play on that computer.
6. Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install hidden drivers or other potentially harmful software without their express consent.
7. Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.
8. Gamers shall have the right to not be treated as potential criminals by developers or publishers.
9. 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.
10. 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."
(proposed by Stardock and Gas Powered Games)

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


Lovely idea, chances of it happening?

[kalniel]

I don't like the idea of updates - I can see them holding back features so you can update the game after release. Whatever happened to the idea of getting a complete game out of the box that doesn't need updates?

Also I don't agree with the minimum spec idea - that's what recommended spec is for. Minimum spec should be what is compatible with the game, IMO.

Rest are good though.

[aidanjt]

Nice one, now we just need to get the EA Games CEO to read it without his head exploding.

[pauldarkside]

Excellent if it every gets universally adopted - can't see it happening any time soon, at least not completely.

I don't like the idea of updates - I can see them holding back features so you can update the game after release. Whatever happened to the idea of getting a complete game out of the box that doesn't need updates?

PCs aren't cloned systems so it's virtually impossible to ensure your game functions 100% on every system. Consoles, well that's a different matter and there's really little excuse there. I say little as I know how something you're developing can be jeopordised by external factors. Also, for some genres, RTS game for example might have an audience which prefers a particular balance tweak. Whilst the developer probably had the game play tested, those testers might not have been representative of the larger group.

I wouldn't make updates mandatory, just make sure they're released when needed within a reasable timeline.

[directhex]

gas powered games?

so where can i re-download the latest version of dungeon siege?

[pauldarkside]

gas powered games?

so where can i re-download the latest version of dungeon siege?

Would be ideal if it was retroactive but that would destroy any chance of getting the likes of EA to sign up. What about all of those past titles whose ip has been sold on or in limbo?

I can't imagine either of those groups having much clout within the developer/publisher arena without a more established/well known one joining in. The only way something like this will take is if it's forced by the game playing community. So long as these two stick to it, it's a start - a move in the right direction anyway.

[mediaboy]

It looks good.. but legally? Practically?

I don't see how you'd enforce it... unless you could get together a legaue of gamers, or a Gamers Union.

Anyone up for starting a small gamers union.. say a multinational thing that extends across the world in all the different languages, with a few hundred million members?

If there's a NUT then there should be a WUG - World Union of Gamers. We could go on strike and refuse to buy games! Bankrupt the companies!

Dont think that many people would agree to it though... you sort of need some sort of reason to start up some sort of union. Just getting a few rules pushed into play won't mean much in the end lol.

Afterall.. rules are there to be broken.

[pauldarkside]

Wouldn't be enforcable anyway - it's voluntary.

[dkmech]

Maybe it could be a voluntary code of practice with a certification mark awarded if it is followed - kinda like fairtrade or organic. Means that if yo buy a certified game you can expect not to be treated like ****.

To be honest I'd accept a sliding scale refund to stop people completing a game in 3 days then claiming it doesn't work. Plus refunds are normally recorded so if someone keeps doing it they either need to get a proper pc or to stop being a freeloader

[kalniel]

PCs aren't cloned systems so it's virtually impossible to ensure your game functions 100% on every system. Consoles, well that's a different matter and there's really little excuse there. I say little as I know how something you're developing can be jeopordised by external factors. Also, for some genres, RTS game for example might have an audience which prefers a particular balance tweak. Whilst the developer probably had the game play tested, those testers might not have been representative of the larger group.

I wouldn't make updates mandatory, just make sure they're released when needed within a reasable timeline.

They're not talking about bug fixes or minor balance tweaks - the wording is specifically 'meaningful updates'.

[Noksukau]

[B]" 2. Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.
3. Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game's release.

I like the idea, but there might be a contradiction between these two. If it needs an update, is it finished?

[Twigman]

Well it pretty much blows steam out of the water, so it'll never happen.
As much as I dislike steam its just become too big now.