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"The Gamer's Bill of Rights" according to Stardock

August 31, 2008 in News comments 17

Stardock, an independent game developer has announced their "Gamer's Bill of Rights". This mostly goes for PC gamers, and is basically a list of the rights they believe gamers should have. It can be found below.

It would be a great thing if implemented, because there's so much false advertising and controversy with PC developers right now. For example, it's very hard to play some games with a PC that meets the minimum requirements of a game (Cough cough, CRYSIS).

It also includes that games should be released as full products that work and are not full of glitches that require numerous patches (Orange Box, PS3 version!).

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.
Guticb via stardock.com »
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  • 0
    BlackLabel Aug 31, 08
    All very good points though number 10 is a bit too leniant as unless they treat gamers as criminals, then they will be criminal they will install the game register as to have unlimited free downloads of the game and then take the disc back stating it didn't work. Point 10 completely undermines them all, while yes there are lots of good samaritans out there that buy games purely for fun and keep the game, there are others that don't. We are living in a world full of pirates the person typing this is a pirate and i will not deny that, even the most trusting of people will try to get something for nothing these days on the internet and through other means. Point 10 allows them to do exactly that.
    • 2
      Guticb Aug 31, 08
      But for all the people that don't play pirated games, number 10 is completely unfair and a major hassle.
    • 0
      Shattered Sep 1, 08
      You cant really do that because of CD Keys, BlackLabel.
      • 1
        BlackLabel Sep 1, 08
        Isn't that kind of hinted on with point 8, if we aren't treated like criminals then gone are all your security including CD keys.
        • 2
          Guticb Sep 1, 08
          What it probably meant was the extremely invasive DRM some games have.
        • 1
          BlackLabel Sep 1, 08
          While it could be that, aren't CD keys also saying we don't trust you to buy it legally. I think that would umbrella everything security wise.
  • 0
    Final Blade Aug 31, 08
    Lol, This seems more of a joke then being serious. I mean honestly.
    • 0
      chautemoc Aug 31, 08
      Might want to elaborate..or maybe its better you dont..
      • 0
        Final Blade Sep 5, 08
        I think my post is pretty obvious and straight forward, this sound more of a joke then being serious. I mean "The Gamers Bill of Rights", honestly.
  • 1
    Starsky134 Sep 1, 08
    I wish this was true, but would they really give us that much respect?
  • 0
    Kazooieman Sep 1, 08
    I don't like number 10. Someone could just buy the game and install it and then get a refund for it, therefore they can play the game and still have their wallets full of cash! >_>
    • 1
      Koloth Sep 1, 08
      And yet there are 10s of thousands of games out there that don't require the CD to be in the drive to play. And the vast majority of people don't take them back to the store right after install.

      Additionally most stores won't take an open game for full refund anyway. At best they might give you store credit. So it really doesn't benefit anyone to bother doing that.
      • 0
        BlackLabel Sep 1, 08
        Store credit is still good i mean the gamer still get two games for one essentially, they install one take it back get store credit get another game up to the same cost, rinse and repeat.
  • 0
    Play ISDF Sep 1, 08
    I really agree with this list, it's an awesome creation, if only it was implemented but revised for all gamers and their games!

    I do agree that number 10 is a tad iffy, but on the other hand there are so many sites out there that give you such a perfectly fine work around at this time (like just load an image or replace the main exe file) so it becomes really a moot point to argue against.
    • 0
      chautemoc Sep 1, 08
      It's the principle though..
  • 0
    Twisted Sep 1, 08
    Too bad this isn't true. I'll suggest this to one of the presidential nominees lol.
  • 0
    AznLiquid Sep 5, 08
    That's actually quite a solid list. Blizzard has been fulfilling most of those points already.

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