The Gamer Bill of Rights
From Dark Omen Wiki
Stardock Games in recognition that bad service, immoral game release methodologies, DRM and draconian copy-protection schemes only act to harm gaming, and PC gaming in particular, suggested a "Gamer's Bill of Rights". This should be universally supported.
The Gamer's Bill of Rights
We the Gamers of the world, in order to ensure a more enjoyable experience, establish equality between players and publishers, and promote the general welfare of our industry hereby call for the following:
- Gamers shall have the right to return games that don't work with their computers for a full refund.
- Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.
- Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game's release.
- 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.
- Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will adequately play on that computer.
- Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won't install hidden drivers or other potentially harmful software without their express consent.
- Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.
- Gamers shall have the right to not be treated as potential criminals by developers or publishers.
- 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.
- 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.
It should also be amended by a Declaration of Honest Intent: That games are for the enjoyment of people, and that they strive to contribute additional quality or novelty to technology and/or content of gaming, so that gaming can be enjoyed and will be recognised as art or medium of the same league as literature, traditional art, or movies. However, with the huge money involved and the mass-market focus of the current gaming industry, there isn't a great chance for this, which explains much about the sorry state of the industry today.
