this post was submitted on 13 May 2024
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.giftedmc.com/post/441893

Stop Killing Games Canadian Petition - Now Open For Signature

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/20896275

Stop Killing Games Canadian Petition - Now Open For Signature

Petition E-4965 is the one that is posted to stopkillinggames.com, Ross Scott (Accursed Farms)'s campaign to end the practice of bricking games people have purchased, whenever the publisher doesn't want to support it anymore.

It is open for signing by Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, until September 5th 2024.

Please spread the word to your Canadian friends and family who take interest in games, and please add your name to it to support this campaign to help preserve games in some form in perpetuity.

Thank you!

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[–] villasv@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (14 children)

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;

How enforceable is this legislation in face of games that simply cannot function without multiplayer? The developers of a game similar to Among Us would be forced to update the game with bots to be compliant?

I signed the petition but can't say I'm hopeful the Parliament will write good legislation on this...

[–] m0darn@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The developers of a game similar to Among Us would be forced to update the game with bots to be compliant?

I'm not a programmer or IT specialist or anything but I think the ask would be more like,

when discontinuing multiplayer service they must roll out an update to allow gamers to specify private server addresses

They don't need to program bots, they need to open the code enough for fans to keep the game functional. Like when I was a kid I could play multi player games with my friends by typing their phone number into the game. Our computers would connect through the phone lines and we could battle for the fate of Azeroth. I still remember the phone number of the friend I did that with.

[–] villasv@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

they need to open the code enough for fans to keep the game functional

That makes sense. Another commenter pointed out that even for defunct MMORPGs people were able to spin up their own servers to keep the game alive. If companies are forced to provide something to help that, it's already a win.

I'm not hopeful Canada would be able to pass legislation forcing companies to open source things, though. Maybe if this was the EU lol our track record of fighting tech companies hasn't been pretty.

[–] m0darn@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It would probably just result in games not being for sale in Canada.

Maybe a progressive tax, not a ban, eg if your game grosses say $1M sales in Canada you pay a higher tax rate if you don't attest that you've set aside enough cash to do this when you sunset the game. Then if you said you'd do it but don't, the CRA can come after you. Revenue from this tax could be earmarked for computer education or indie studio grants or something.

[–] knitwitt@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That sounds like a nightmare! I don't think game developers (or any other artist) would want the CRA breathing down their neck, telling them what they can or can't do with their work. I certainly wouldn't program under those conditions.

[–] m0darn@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago

... then just pay the higher tax rate? You already grossed a million dollars in sales.

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