The Gamer's Bill of Rights

By aLap on August 29, 2008 9:30:14 AM from

"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."

Excellent initiative Brad! You're right on target. Congratulations for Stardock and Gas Powered Games on this wonderful initiative.

A perfect example for the need of a Gamer's Bill of Rights is what's happening with the borg collective (aka EA) getting their hands on every possible profitable developer. I started to get worried when they assimilated one of my favorite developers: Bioware. The immediate result was an obnoxious SecuROM-based DRM for Mass Effect PC. With a limit of 3 activations depending on hardware changes and rootkit-like behavior, it absolutely penalizes paying customers while not doing anything effective against piracy (unless we consider second-hand sales as piracy). That Malware/DRM is getting into Spore and apparently any future games coming from EA. A DRM that makes legitimate gamers to ultimately resort to piracy tools is plain dumb. The Borg is getting big and bossy as the most recent assimilation will be Take-Two Interactive.

What we gamers and the gaming industry need is brave publishers and developers standing for what's right while still being able to prosper.

Cheers!

aLap

+16 Karma | 22 Replies

11.Gamers shall have the right to free highly caffeinated energy drinks any time they wish.

... It was worth a try.

So it sounds like Gamers have the right to use Impulse

Amended 6. Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install ANY software without their express consent.

Other then that, I love it!

Quoting kryo,

reply 2

So it sounds like Gamers have the right to use Impulse

Did you click the external link? It was written up by Brad, so yeah!

(^ what will happen to everyone who isn't using Impulse yet)

Right on the money!

what will happen to everyone who isn't using Impulse yet

The world domination comes somewhere around Impulse Phase 10, remember?

That's what they want everyone to think. They figure people will think there's still plenty of time before they need to worry about impending doom and assimilation, so they'll never expect it, and never see it coming until it's too late!

Quoting Warnstaff,

reply 3

Amended 6. Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install ANY software without their express consent. Other then that, I love it!

That what it already says. Since by the orignal 6, you can't have hidden things installed, you should know what is going to be installed. So if you're clicking on that .exe, it's a given that you want said software installed.

7. Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.

I am very unsure about this one when you see the kind of complaints generated with Stardock policy on second hand games ...

Quoting Insanetitan,

reply 7

Quoting Warnstaff, reply 3Amended 6. Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install ANY software without their express consent. Other then that, I love it!

That what it already says. Since by the orignal 6, you can't have hidden things installed, you should know what is going to be installed. So if you're clicking on that .exe, it's a given that you want said software installed.

Not all software that's installed without consent is hidden; Crysis installed punkbuster without my permission, but it wasn't hidden, and I do not play MP. All I want from #6 is to install the game, and game alone, other bloat/mal/crapware optional with consent only. #6 only covers hidden junk.

Quoting Warnstaff,

reply 9

Quoting Insanetitan, reply 7Quoting Warnstaff, reply 3Amended 6. Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install ANY software without their express consent. Other then that, I love it! That what it already says. Since by the orignal 6, you can't have hidden things installed, you should know what is going to be installed. So if you're clicking on that .exe, it's a given that you want said software installed. Not all software that's installed without consent is hidden; Crysis installed punkbuster without my permission, but it wasn't hidden, and I do not play MP. All I want from #6 is to install the game, and game alone, other bloat/mal/crapware optional with consent only. #6 only covers hidden junk.

I suppose it can be read in mutiple ways. The way I read it, if the installer isn't telling you what it's installing, then it's hidden.

To me, it sounds like #2 and #3 are blatantly contradictory. If it needs after-release support, it wasn't released in a finished condition. I would withdraw this objection if #2 were to read "Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a playable state."

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.

To me, it sounds like #2 and #3 are blatantly contradictory. If it needs after-release support, it wasn't released in a finished condition

My understanding of it is that #2 means the game should work out of the box, while #3 means you should get free FEATURE updates, not just bug fixes.

To me, it sounds like #2 and #3 are blatantly contradictory.

They're not. Read #3 as "meaty chunks of extra new content".

Then 3 is just silly. You get what you pay for, and it should be good (at least according to nr 2).

Anyway, I just plain don't agree with most of these. However, I do think that each of these questions MAY be important to the individual customer and should be answered on the package/website - therefore, would it not be a good idea to say create a separate listindex website that did exactly this? Then you could log on and see for yourself. But demanding it for all games is asking too much for a free computer game market that should thrive on diversity, not standardization.

Then 3 is just silly. You get what you pay for, and it should be good (at least according to nr 2).

Well, user feeback can help to increase the value of game by spotting what needs tweaks or improvements, cloosing not obvious loppholes, ....

I re-read the external link and it was definately not "meaty chunks of extra new content" that was intended. Yes, bug support should be available after release.

Who the hell is stardock?

Check out Reclaim Your Game if you're interested to know more about the current problems with DRM in games and Sony's Securom system.

If you're a gamer, you should know what you're getting into before buying a new game.

Quoting innociv,

reply 17

Who the hell is stardock?

For many informed gamers out there, Stardock is a glimmer of hope.

Which hopefully amounts to good advertising and an increase in sales.

I hope they live up to number one. I just purchased a game yesterday that doesn't work and support has not yet given me a reply.

I hope they live up to number one. I just purchased a game yesterday that doesn't work and support has not yet given me a reply

Suuport usually responds in 24 'business' hours. since it's a long weekend that may be Wednesday.

Did you post elsewhere in the forums? One of us might be able to help.

Actually, I did. And I think you did offer some advice.

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The content will remain as a historical reference, thank you.

The Gamer's Bill of Rights