Europeans can save gaming!

Summary

Ross, the campaigner against video game obsolescence, urges the audience to support a European Citizens' Initiative to prevent publishers from disabling games post-support. This practice, likened to burning films for silver, is seen as a consumer rights violation. The initiative proposes that games remain playable without further connection to publishers or their affiliates, protecting both purchased and free-to-play games with microtransactions. Ross calls for widespread support to gather the necessary signatures, emphasizing the importance of consumer ownership in the digital age.

Takeaways

• 🕹️ Ross is leading a campaign against the destruction of video games due to 'kill switches' post-support by publishers.
• 📉 The practice is likened to planned obsolescence, where publishers are accused of destroying games already sold to consumers.
• 🎥 Ross compares the issue to the destruction of films a century ago for their silver content, resulting in the loss of many historical films.
• 🏛️ He is challenging the legality of this practice in various countries, as it is seen as highly consumer-hostile.
• 🇪🇺 A European Citizens' Initiative has been proposed to require publishers to keep games in a working state post-shutdown without further connection requirements.
• 💰 The initiative would apply to both paid and free-to-play games with microtransactions, protecting consumers' purchases.
• 📝 Publishers would not be required to give up intellectual property rights or source code, nor would they need to provide endless support.
• 🛑 The initiative wouldn't impact publisher business practices during the game's supported period, allowing them to operate as usual.
• 📉 The success of the initiative hinges on gathering one million valid signatures across the EU, with minimum thresholds per country.
• 📢 Ross is reaching out to European influencers to help spread awareness and gather signatures, emphasizing the importance of a collective effort.
• 💡 The initiative is not just about video games but also about the broader issue of consumer rights and ownership in the digital age.

Q & A

What is the main issue that Ross is campaigning against in the video?

Ross is campaigning against the practice of video games being designed to stop working after publisher support ends, which he refers to as a 'kill switch' and a form of planned obsolescence.

How does Ross compare the destruction of video games to an earlier practice in the film industry?

Ross compares it to studios from a century ago burning their own films after they were done showing them to recover the silver content, resulting in most films of that era being gone forever.

What is the European Citizens' Initiative that Ross mentions in the video?

The European Citizens' Initiative is a proposal for a new law that would require publishers to leave games they have sold to customers in a working state at the time of shutdown, without requiring further connection to them or affiliated parties for the games to function.

How would the proposed law affect free-to-play games with microtransactions?

The proposed law would apply to free-to-play games with microtransactions as well, ensuring that if a player purchased a microtransaction and the game became unplayable, they would not lose their goods.

What are the requirements for publishers under the proposed law, regarding intellectual property and game support?

The law would not require publishers to give up any of their intellectual property rights or source code, nor would it require endless support. Publishers could end support whenever they wanted, but they would need to ensure the games remain playable for customers.

What is the main challenge Ross faces in getting the initiative passed into law?

The main challenge is gathering enough signatures to get the initiative considered by the European Union. Ross needs one million signatures across the EU, with certain minimum thresholds per country.

What is the significance of the initiative for consumers according to Ross?

According to Ross, the initiative is significant because it would ensure that consumers do not lose basic ownership rights of the games they have purchased, preventing the spread of a practice that could potentially affect other industries as well.

How does Ross suggest people can help in promoting the initiative?

Ross suggests that people can help by reaching out to European YouTubers, streamers, and others who can cover the initiative, especially those whose core audience is non-English speaking.

What is the time frame Ross has to gather the necessary signatures for the initiative?

Ross has one year to gather all the necessary signatures for the initiative to be considered by the European Union.

How does Ross view the potential impact of the initiative on the gaming industry and beyond?

Ross believes that if the initiative passes, it could change gaming history and potentially prevent the spread of similar practices to other industries such as farm equipment, education tools, and medical devices.