Author Topic: The Gamer's Bill of Rights (Read 4057 times)

ShadowBrain · « **on:** October 16, 2008, 05:11:31 PM »

I don't know how many people are familiar with this--heck, I wasn't until now--but there's a "Gamer's Bill of Rights". Well, it's not like it's some super-official thing (it was penned by PC publisher/developer Stardock), but it still makes some good points. It was recently brought into light on account of a few revisions, so here you go:

1. Gamers shall have the right to return games that are incompatible or do not function at a reasonable level of performance for a full refund within a reasonable amount of time.

2. Gamers shall have the right that games they purchase shall function as designed without defects that would materially affect the player experience.

3. Gamers shall have the right that games will receive updates that address minor defects as well as improves gameplay based on player feedback within reason.

4. Gamers shall have the right to have their games not require a third-party download manager installed in order for the game to function.

5. Gamers shall have the right to have their games perform adequately if their hardware meets the posted recommended requirements.

6. Gamers shall have the right not to have any of their games install hidden drivers.

7. Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest version of the games they purchase.

8. Gamers whose computers meet the posted minimum requirements shall have the right to use their games without being materially inconvenienced due to copy protection or
digital rights management.

9. Gamers shall have the right to play single player games without having to have an Internet connection.

10. Gamers shall have the right to sell or transfer the ownership of a physical copy of a game they own to another person.

Of course, most people here probably have Wiis, so most of these won't apply.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2008, 05:36:29 PM »

This sounds more like one dev's manifesto rather than an actual rights proposal.

higuy662 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2008, 06:08:38 PM »

Someone please show this to Activision. oh you meet minimum specs? Yay you get 1 FPS!!1!!!111!

Glorb · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2008, 06:23:22 PM »

11. Players shall not be subjected to stupid tacked-on afterthought RPG elements that start the player off really weak and crappy for the sake of so-called "character development".

ShadowBrain · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2008, 07:02:04 PM »

12. Gamers shall have the right to nude patches for every game.

I sense an awesome, unexpected thread coming on...

BP · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2008, 07:48:59 PM »

I sense a lame forum game.

MaxVance · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2008, 10:00:25 PM »

I sense a weak attempt at humor.

Sqrt2 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2008, 05:49:52 AM »

Quote from: ShadowBrain on October 16, 2008, 05:11:31 PM

10. Gamers shall have the right to sell or transfer the ownership of a physical copy of a game they own to another person.

I believe it's already legal to do that, be it on eBay or a clearing out sale in your front garden. At least, I haven't heard of a case of Nintendo or anyone else suing someone because of doing this...

Besides, even if there is, no-one can stop it from happening.

ShadowBrain · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2008, 06:38:11 AM »

Well, it's not like this is a protest, or anything. Something can be legal and still be a right--the point is that right shouldn't be taken away.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2008, 06:20:50 PM »

Certain companies/corporations and localities have tried to take that away, I think. I don't think it's worked yet.

Glorb · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2008, 05:04:43 AM »

Quote from: Sqrt2 on October 17, 2008, 05:49:52 AM

I believe it's already legal to do that, be it on eBay or a clearing out sale in your front garden. At least, I haven't heard of a case of Nintendo or anyone else suing someone because of doing this...

You can't do that with PC games (well, you can, but you'd be ripping off whoever you sell it to). These days, you need to put in a registration number that binds that disc's soul to your computers' (or digital distrubtion system account type thing, like Steam). That means that attempting to put that number in anywhere else gets you a slap on the wrist and no game.

Although I do recall Sony attempting to pull some crap like that with the PS3 before the decided that they didn't want anyone to hate them more.

Luigalaxy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2008, 06:02:03 AM »

Just read the subject line.

MaxVance · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2008, 09:00:01 PM »

Are you trying to be funny by overusing the subject line? I tried it a few times and failed.

penguinwizard · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2008, 10:59:45 PM »

I'm not sure anyone uses the subject line for message boards anymore, unless it's the start of a new topic or it's used to reply to a specific post (here, we just have quotes).

As someone on Slashdot said, the Gamer's Bill of Rights might sound good in theory, but some of the rights may be hard to enforce and it's unlikely that any company will follow it.