General Discussion

  Haven't played a game for months but came across this and found it to be a pretty damn good idea.  Sorry if this has already been posted.

Thoughts?

~Hairysun~

I'd definitely like to see this go forward as a gamer, but I also understand that its going to take a while for it to gain any sort of authority if ever. However, I think gamers themselves took this into their own hand with the most powerful statement we can make, not buying a game.

Take Spore for example, it has fairly draconian DRM from the posts I've read of its specifics. Go take a look at what spore is rated on Amazon. Its barely 1.5 stars, because as of the lsat time I checked over 2100 of the 2250 reviews were 1 star, and almost all talked about DRM. So now some parent goes to amazon to buy spore for their kid not knowing much about it and sees 1.5 stars? Not going to happen.

We know which companies at least try to project a facade of respecting gamers and those that don't even try. If you don't like how a company handles something then make the choice to not buy their game. You don't have to evangelize the Gamer's Bill of Rights or how evil this or that company is, everyone will make the decision on their own. How a company treats gamers has actually been the deciding factor in my purchases, it can be in yours too.

Originally posted by Isikari

I'd definitely like to see this go forward as a gamer, but I also understand that its going to take a while for it to gain any sort of authority if ever. However, I think gamers themselves took this into their own hand with the most powerful statement we can make, not buying a game.

Take Spore for example, it has fairly draconian DRM from the posts I've read of its specifics. Go take a look at what spore is rated on Amazon. Its barely 1.5 stars, because as of the lsat time I checked over 2100 of the 2250 reviews were 1 star, and almost all talked about DRM. So now some parent goes to amazon to buy spore for their kid not knowing much about it and sees 1.5 stars? Not going to happen.

We know which companies at least try to project a facade of respecting gamers and those that don't even try. If you don't like how a company handles something then make the choice to not buy their game. You don't have to evangelize the Gamer's Bill of Rights or how evil this or that company is, everyone will make the decision on their own. How a company treats gamers has actually been the deciding factor in my purchases, it can be in yours too.

This is marketing and nothing more.

Stardock is the company behind "Impulse", which is a digital distribution/social networking service like Valve's Steam.

Microsoft has it's Games for Windows deal too; which started off as a brick and mortar retail branding experience, which is now about to launch a digital distribution service as well in addition to all the "Live" features it has now.

Point being, with all the competition going, these software/service offerings just might grow to become platform targets not entirely unlike physical consoles. Meaning guys like Valve, Microsoft and Stardock may be able to dictate developers release PC games of the same quality as console games.

A bill of rights though? At the moment, nothing wrong with a PC Game developer releasing a new product through GameStop or direct2drive online and completely ignore anything Stardock tries to muster; but again, if those service platforms grow into something rivalling consoles, it'll be a different story.

I hope GFW, Steam, Impulse and whatever else that comes along continues to grow.

I would support this. I will need to read each point but so far I would definitly want this on games.

IF, it's independently authorized.

Not only by microsoft or 1 company. Mutliple companies and individuals need to support this.

By the way, here's the real Gamers Bill of Rights, in full effect right now:

1) Gamers shall have the right to do research and read reviews before they buy games.

2) Gamers shall have the right to vote with their wallets.

3) Gamers shall have the right to file complaints with the BBB.

4) Gamers shall have the right to let other people know about their experiences.

5) Gamers shall have the right to play the demo first.

6) Gamers shall have the right to wait a month or two after the release of an MMORPG before buying it.

7) Gamers shall have the right to try and use their credit card companies' charge back systems.

8) Gamers shall have the right only to buy games made by reputable developers.

9) Gamers shall have the right to try pirated copies of games before buying them...unless they get caught.

10) Gamers shall have the right to go outside and play sports...sports don't have bugs.

i like my rights the way they are right now

1) I have the right to research a game before i buy it

2) I have the right not to buy a game that just released

3)i have the right NOT to buy a game.

how about to have the right to read the EULA before i buy the game so if i refuse it i can get my full refund

i dont know how to word this into a right (maybe someone can help but with SWG pre-cu they changed the whole game and now its SWG NGE, and i can't play the game that i originally bought.

you mean like this?

www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/eula.html

Here's how I would phrase it:

x.  Gamers shall have the right to read the EULA and TOS that practically all developers post on their websites, and if not, they shall have the right not to buy them.