Interesting Game Petition for government

[mechtech]

Not sure how true this is, I live here and have not heard of it.

Canadian Petition That Games Must Remain Functional At EOL - Slashdot

Zitchas writes: The practice of having games require a connection to a publisher's server -- whether it is to check for a license or to access plug-ins and DLC -- is an increasingly common thing in computer software; and many people are concerned that at some point in the future the publisher...

news.slashdot.org

 

[64K]

I haven't read the links and don't know what all this entails but the question that first comes to mind for multiplayer games is what would be the reaction to a Canadian Law that forces the Publisher to spend money to maintain servers indefinitely for the few that would still want to play the game after many, many years? Would they choose to not sell the game in Canada or possibly charge a lot more for the game in Canada than for the rest of the Western world?

For games with a single player component then there's no question that the customer should still be able to play that part unless there were some warning before purchase that the single player part would be terminated along with the multiplayer as well but then that begs the question as to who actually reads the EULA to begin with. I don't think most do. I don't on small purchases like games.

 

[freeagent]

This is dumb. I don't know why I feel embarrassed.

 

[Onasi]

Petitions rarely achieve anything of value, but the sentiment itself is admirable. Digital preservation should absolutely be a thing and publishers really should be obligated to un-tie the games from their server checks if they are unwilling to support said servers or, even better, not use such measures for non-multiplayer games in the first place.

 

[cvaldes]

Lol, I saw Slashdot in the hyperlink which stopped me dead in my tracks: I didn't click.

Good luck with this.

This is dumb. I don't know why I feel embarrassed.

It's from Slashdot. Duh.

 

[Frick]

This is dumb. I don't know why I feel embarrassed.

My take is that it's not really about say World of Warcraft or Fortnite or other pure multiplayer games but rather "online" games with extensive single player modes. See the recent (-ish) The Crew uproar, which you apparently could play entirely offline, but when the servers shut down it will be entirely unplayable.

What they actually wrote is not that though, and as such it's problematic, but generally I sort of agree with the stance that if I can buy a game and play it as a single player game I should be able to continue to do so as long as I have compatible hardware and software.

Petition to the Government of Canada​

Whereas:

• An increasing number of companies require a constant internet connection directly to the publisher for their video games to be playable;
• When companies end support for such games, they often render all purchased copies unplayable, a practice that is uncommon with traditional games;
• Companies may implement planned obsolescence by withholding vital components and thus preventing consumers from repairing their copies of games;
• This practice deprives consumers of basic ownership rights while precluding restoration and preservation efforts of their games; and
• This situation is not clearly covered under existing law, and, as such, consumer agencies are not equipped to deal with this problem.

We, the undersigned, citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

1. Pass legislation requiring publishers that sell or license video games or that sell related features and assets for said games to do the following once they end support for said games: leave their games in a functional state, and remove any mandatory connections to the publisher or affiliated parties necessary for said games to function; and

2. Have the law supersede any end-user license agreements so customers do not forfeit their rights simply by playing a game.