From technology to politics to video games; these are the random thoughts of a geek with too much time on his hands
We hold these save games to be self-evident...
Published on August 29, 2008 By Zoomba In Sins News

Stardock announced today the Gamer’s Bill of Rights: a statement of principles that it hopes will encourage the PC game industry to adopt standards that are more supportive of PC gamers. The document contains 10 specific “rights” that video game enthusiasts can expect from Stardock as an independent developer and publisher that it hopes that other publishers will embrace. The Bill of Rights is featured on Stardock’s website (www.stardock.com) and is on prominent display in Stardock’s booth (1142) at the Penny Arcade Expo.

“As an industry, we need to begin setting some basic, common sense standards that reward PC gamers for purchasing our games,” stated Brad Wardell, president and CEO of Stardock Corporation. “The console market effectively already has something like this in that its games have to go through the platform maker such as Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony. But on the PC, publishers can release games that are scarcely completed, poorly supported, and full of intrusive copy protection and then be stuck on it.”

Chris Taylor, CEO and founder of Gas Powered Games stated, “This is an awesome framework for the industry to aspire to, and ultimately so that we can provide our customers with the gaming experience that they have wanted for years, and really deserve.”

As an example of The Gamer’s Bill of Rights in action, Stardock instituted a policy of allowing users to return copies of The Political Machine purchased at retail to Stardock for a full refund if they found that their PC wasn’t sufficient to run the game adequately.

“The PC market loses out on a lot of sales because a significant percentage of our market has PCs that may or may not be adequate to run our games. Without the ability to return games to the publisher for a refund, many potential buyers simply pass on games they might otherwise have bought due to the risk of not being certain a game will work on their PC. The average consumer doesn’t know what ‘pixel shader 2.0 support’ means, for instance,” said Wardell.

According to Stardock, the objective of the Gamer’s Bill of Rights is to increase the confidence of consumers of the quality of PC games which in turn will lead to more sales and a better gaming experience.

The Gamer’s Bill of Rights:

  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 play adequately 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 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.

Comments (Page 2)
8 Pages1 2 3 4  Last
on Aug 30, 2008

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Consolas; panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750091 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText {mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-link:"Plain Text Char"; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} span.PlainTextChar {mso-style-name:"Plain Text Char"; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Plain Text"; mso-ansi-font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas; mso-ascii-font-family:Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family:Consolas;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

This is a great first step. Now SD should get the ECA involved and take the game up another step.

on Aug 30, 2008

Spartan,

Where are you posting from? I've got a wall of code in your reply...

 

 

on Aug 30, 2008

Gabal

As for updates, what does it mean? Patches? Expansions?. And meaningful? How do we define "meaningful"?
As for the rest of them.... I love you Stardock!! 

I think meaningful would mean that if there is a critical error, say for example one that causes the game to randomly crash, then it should be the first thing on the to-do list.

 

Not that I'm implying anything, mind you.

on Aug 31, 2008

"Gamers shall have the right to return games that don’t work with their computers for a full refund."

 

I'd guess this calls for a literal translation.  It may seem unfair to be having people return software because it's their computer's fault, but there are drawbacks to a fair system.  First, proof is impossible.  You would have to send a godlike tech support guru out to their house and inspect their computer inside and out before you could even presume that the problem was on their end.  Unless they want to spend billions on the task, that's just not going to happen.  Second, people aren't rational.  Even if you proved it was their own fault the game didn't work, many would still hate you for "screwing" them anyway.

 

The only plausible alternative to a no hassle return policy is what we have now.  You buy a game, it doesn't work/runs like shit.  You try to take it back, they tell you to fuck off.  You don't buy anymore games.  I don't buy anything from EA, Ubisoft or Lucas Arts before it's been through the works.   I just don't trust them anymore, I'm going to have proof the game was finished and properly supported before I buy it.  If returns were no hassle instead of all hassle, I'd be a little more willing to offer myself up as a sacrifice for the latest beta test from EA that may or may not run to completion.

 

"Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state."

 

I would assume this refers to rushed releases.  KOTOR2 anyone?  It's fairly obvious when a game flat wasn'tt finished.  I'd go with reasonable doubt.  If it's reasonable to doubt the incomplete status of the game, then it's finished.

 

"Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game’s release."

 

Doesn't really belong in a bill of rights.  It is however a key hook to get people to actually buy the product.  It's more of a common sense thing than something the customer has a right to.  It's like having ketchup and mustard at a hotdog stand.  Your customers don't have a right to condiments unless you're actually selling them, but you'll sell a hell of a lot more hotdogs if they get them anyway.

 

If you provide updates beyond bug fixes, and that's what they mean by meaningful updates, and it's at least semi difficult to get them through third parties with an illegal copy, people are more inclined to buy it.  The content packs Bioware is doing with Mass Effect are a good example.  They're sorta like miniature expansions, pre planned and with a nasty barb in the mix since EA went with SR7 and online activation, but an excellent method of selling copies to people that are capable of buying your product and on the fence about pirating it.

 

"Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will play adequately on that computer."

 

30 fps, 1024x768, low settings.  I'd consider that a nice baseline to work off.  There, defined aqequate.

 

8,9 and 10, yeah... kinda repetative.  The first does cover the other two.  They are irritating enough that I don't mind their getting special mention though.  Would be nice to have mandatory activation in the list too though.

 

Also, for 4, the key word there is play.  Impulse doesn't have to run to play the game.  It really doesn't change anything at all, it's just one patcher instead of another.  Even when downloading stand alone patches, they still require software to operate, even if it's winzip.    One of the more recent fads in DRM on the other hand is having a patcher type program that also servers as your own personal nanny, making sure that you're behaving.  They start up with the program, connect to a server, prevent you from running various types of software, all kinds of wonderful things.

on Aug 31, 2008

Commendable but doubtful other publishers will follow suit any time soon. Will definately have me keeping tabs on Impulse/Stardock released games than any other publisher. I'm quite sick of stupid copy protection schemes that go so far as to force me to look for and download cracks to play the games that I paid good money for. It is refreshing to see at least one company out there that won't treat me like a criminal for purchasing their games.

Sometimes I doubt why I still purchase games when pirates seem to have a lot easier time running the software they download without any hassles like cdkey checks, online checks, birth certificates, passports, citizenship cards, dna checks, retina scans and fingerprint proofing just to play the damn game (I may have exaggerated a little but rest assured once the technology is available those publishers would stoop so low as to have these kinds of ridiculous protection measures).

At least with Stardock I don't feel like I'm shelling out money for a product that is lackluster or will never get even one patch to fix issues let alone multiple updates. Definately well worth every cent for any stardock product just for the treatment you receive as a customer and the support that is available to you.

on Aug 31, 2008

Kitkun
Spartan,
Where are you posting from? I've got a wall of code in your reply...
 
 

Japan. But that has nothing to do with it since I run an English system. I thought it had something to do with Firefox and commented about it in one of my threads but I was told my SD that Firefox is not the issue and it does not happen every time I post - It is strange to be sure. If I edit my posts it goes away but they have the edit feature turned off on most forums.

on Aug 31, 2008

When I read number 4, the first thing that came to my mind wass VALVe and their Steam platform. When you think about it, Steam isn't that bad. Sure the online connection is a pain in the ass at times (running off a generator during a power outage ) but overall it does it's job of keeping pirates at bay while avoiding the necessity to perform a cavity search.

on Aug 31, 2008

Thank you Stardock you are awesome...hope you can give EA a run for its money

on Aug 31, 2008

Japan. But that has nothing to do with it since I run an English system. I thought it had something to do with Firefox and commented about it in one of my threads but I was told my SD that Firefox is not the issue and it does not happen every time I post - It is strange to be sure. If I edit my posts it goes away but they have the edit feature turned off on most forums.
Sorry, I meant which of the forums. Either way, you already know and have talked to SD. Thanks for the reply. By the way, I find that switching over to another SD site usually gives an edit button.

 

 

on Aug 31, 2008

Games are never finished, just abandoned.

on Aug 31, 2008

Kitkun
By the way, I find that switching over to another SD site usually gives an edit button.
 
 

 

Yes I discovered that "feature" as well. Regarding the forum I generally use the Sins skin.

on Aug 31, 2008

Th3Myst
. Sure the online connection is a pain in the ass at times (running off a generator during a power outage ) but overall it does it's job of keeping pirates at bay while avoiding the necessity to perform a cavity search.

Online connectivity requirement is the sole reason why I don't own any steam products except for Team Fortress 2. I refuse to purchase anything from Steam that requires an internet connection to use. Why you ask? I'm in the Defence Force and will not have luxuries of civilization available to me for at least half a year or more if posted overseas. How can I play all these games I paid for if I don't have a net connection? Yep, I have to go search for cracks like if I had pirated the game.

on Sep 01, 2008

Quoting Shipmaster,
reply 14
I bought the retail version of this game and do not play online.

In stardock central it says about min reqs
Windows XP SP2/Vista
1.8 GHz Processor
512 MB RAM (1 GB for Vista)
128 MB DirectX 9 3D Video Card
1.6 GB hard disk space
DirectX 9.0c or higher
Broadband Connection for Internet Multiplayer

So why expect playing on dial-up ??

It says broadband for multiplayer NOT broadband for single player.

I'm sick of Stardock treating all people who can not update the game via the Internet only Impule as criminals.

"The Gamers Bill of Rights" - hahaha - they forgot number 11

 

11. Gamers have the right to be treated as dirty pirate scum unless they have a high speed Internet connection with which to get patches, activations and prove they have a money flow with which to buy the game.

on Sep 01, 2008

Simple - Download patch from work/library connection, mag CD etc

8 Pages1 2 3 4  Last