Re: Video games Europe - Seriously?

On 07/07/2025 16:43, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

I've generally stayed away from Stop Killing Games just because -as
much as I agree with their goal- it's a lost cause from the start.
There's too much legal precedent and money against it ever gaining any
sort of traction, especially for as spurious a medium as video games
(which, given the age of the average litigator, is assumed to be
something only little kids play and thus lacking any and all artistic
integrity). Its end goals are too vague too; how, exactly, can you
prevent a publisher from killing games without overreaching
legislation?

I think the chances of the EU* suddenly springing into action are very low but I do think that it will at least help make them more aware of whether the current law is fit for purpose when it comes to digital assets in general. The EU is generally consumer friendly and less inclined to the mantra of businesses must be allowed to do whatever they want to make as much money as possible. There's also an outside chance that a single individual in the EU may take it up as a cause**.
For the vague part, I agree it is but STG have said they look at this as the starting part of a conversation over what would be a reasonable solution.
One positive I do hope one thing that comes out of it is that it keeps the issue in gamers minds and thinking do I really want to be buying, and continue to spend, money on a game where at some point the publisher is going to turn around and say bad luck you've lost it all.
*The UK petition has already passed the number of signatories but I think we have somewhat bigger problems to attend to at the moment.
**We had a similar case here in the UK when I single MP took it upon themselves to try and do something about what's called fixed odds betting terminals and the real life harm they can cause - think people losing their jobs, family and house. They made the industry so much money that is was actually profitable to open up another betting shop close by just to get around the limit of only four allowed per-shop.
The gambling industry swung into action but after I think two years the rest of parliament just got to the stage of let's pass this bill to keep her quiet!