Stop Killing Games

Summary

The video discusses the ongoing 'Stop Killing Games' initiative, which aims to preserve games by addressing the issue of game terminations, especially those with online requirements that can be abruptly shut down. The speaker highlights the importance of obtaining one million signatures in the EU to push for legal changes that protect consumers. Despite some frustration with the progress of the petition, the speaker commends Ross for his leadership in the initiative and hopes for future improvements in the gaming industry, particularly for big-budget AAA games, while praising the success of indie games.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative aims to protect video game preservation and consumers in the EU by challenging unfair game termination clauses.
• 😀 The petition needs 1 million signatures from EU citizens to bring the issue to the European Commission for review.
• 😀 As of now, the petition has garnered around 460,000 signatures, falling short of the target.
• 😀 Many online games have clauses allowing publishers to terminate services at any time, often cited as unfair terms in consumer contracts.
• 😀 The EU's Directive 93/13/EEC protects consumers against unfair contract terms, which could make such termination clauses null and void.
• 😀 If the termination clauses are deemed unfair, it could lead to significant legal changes or new laws that improve game preservation.
• 😀 The speaker expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of petitions, particularly from an American perspective, where petitions often fail to bring about change.
• 😀 There is hope that petitions in the EU may carry more weight and lead to substantial changes in the gaming industry.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes the current state of the big-budget AAA game industry, describing it as 'a sorry state.'
• 😀 Indie games are thriving and considered to be in the 'golden age,' with indie developers producing highly successful and creative games.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, the speaker remains optimistic about the potential success of the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative and commends Ross for his leadership in pushing the cause.

Q & A

What is the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative about?

The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative is a petition aimed at preserving online games and preventing game developers from shutting down online games arbitrarily. It advocates for better consumer protections in the gaming industry, particularly in the European Union.

How many signatures does the 'Stop Killing Games' petition need to be successful?

The petition requires 1 million signatures from EU citizens to be successful, but it has currently gathered around 460,000 signatures, which is less than halfway to the goal.

Why is the petition especially significant in the EU?

In the EU, there are consumer protection laws, such as Directive 93/13/EEC, which protects against unfair terms in consumer contracts. The petition is significant because the practice of terminating online games may violate these protections, potentially rendering such terms in gaming contracts null and void.

What issue does the speaker highlight regarding the termination of online games?

The speaker highlights that many games with online requirements have terms that allow them to be terminated at any time for any reason, creating uncertainty and potential harm to consumers.

What could happen if the EU Commission finds that the practice of terminating games violates consumer protection laws?

If the EU Commission finds that terminating games violates consumer protection laws, it could lead to changes in how game developers operate. Specifically, any unfair terms in gaming contracts could be deemed invalid, forcing developers to change their policies.

Why does the speaker express skepticism about petitions in the American context?

The speaker expresses skepticism because, in America, petitions are often seen as ineffective. The speaker compares them to writing a letter to Santa Claus, suggesting they are unlikely to lead to substantial change.

How does the speaker view the effectiveness of petitions in the EU?

The speaker is uncertain but hopes that the petition could lead to meaningful change in the EU, where petitions might be more powerful and lead to tangible improvements in gaming policy.

What is the speaker’s overall view on the state of the gaming industry?

The speaker is generally disappointed with the state of the gaming industry, particularly in the big-budget AAA game space. While indie games are thriving, the speaker feels that the larger industry is in a sorry state due to issues like the termination of online games and other consumer-unfriendly practices.

How does the speaker view indie games in comparison to AAA games?

The speaker views indie games as thriving, calling it the 'golden age of indie games.' They believe indie developers are doing exceptionally well, unlike larger AAA game developers, who are criticized for their practices.

What does the speaker hope for in the future regarding the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative?

The speaker hopes for a positive outcome, believing that the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative could lead to change in the gaming industry. Despite the current challenges, the speaker is hopeful that significant progress may be possible with continued effort.