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Erasmus Roterodamnsus

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Everything posted by Erasmus Roterodamnsus

  1. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Good times. Colorized SMI. Looks like Ross is more considerate of not putting annotations near where the subtitles could be, so I didn't have to position them. Lots of researching legal terms. Nelson Sexton was able to build this in a cave. <SAMI> <HEAD> <TITLE>skgupdatesfinal</TITLE> <SAMIParam> Metrics {time:ms;} Spec {MSFT:1.0;} </SAMIParam> <STYLE TYPE="text/css"> <!-- P { font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; color: white; background-color: black; text-align: center; } .ENUSCC { name: English; lang: en-US ; SAMIType: CC ; } --> </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <-- Open play menu, choose Captions and Subtitles, On if available --> <-- Open tools menu, Security, Show local captions when present --> <SYNC Start=333><P Class=ENUSCC>Hello. <SYNC Start=1640><P Class=ENUSCC>I have not had many updates <SYNC Start=3188><P Class=ENUSCC>on the Stop Killing Games<br>campaign in a while, <SYNC Start=5801><P Class=ENUSCC>but this is not for a lack<br>of things to talk about. <SYNC Start=9390><P Class=ENUSCC>If you recall in the wrap up video, <SYNC Start=11636><P Class=ENUSCC>I said I don't like doing<br>the news on it now, <SYNC Start=13833><P Class=ENUSCC>unless there's more<br>of a purpose to it. <SYNC Start=16473><P Class=ENUSCC>See, ever since<br>we got the signatures <SYNC Start=18268><P Class=ENUSCC>on the European<br>Citizens' Initiative, <SYNC Start=20486><P Class=ENUSCC>I've been more or less<br>following orders <SYNC Start=22534><P Class=ENUSCC>from the political insiders<br>who have been assisting us. <SYNC Start=25652><P Class=ENUSCC>And it's become much less about<br>getting internet attention <SYNC Start=28468><P Class=ENUSCC>and far more about<br>political maneuvering <SYNC Start=30553><P Class=ENUSCC>and attention of regulators,<br>that sort of thing. <SYNC Start=33496><P Class=ENUSCC>I've been sitting<br>on lots of information <SYNC Start=35301><P Class=ENUSCC>because that's what they advised. <SYNC Start=37369><P Class=ENUSCC>And now I'm being advised to<br>tell everyone what's happening, <SYNC Start=39943><P Class=ENUSCC>or... most of it. <SYNC Start=41433><P Class=ENUSCC>So on that note,<br>I have lots of updates. <SYNC Start=44386><P Class=ENUSCC>Some of it is maybe bad news, <SYNC Start=46468><P Class=ENUSCC>but most of it is good news. <SYNC Start=48607><P Class=ENUSCC>In fact, let me start off by saying<br>I think we're going to win this, <SYNC Start=52360><P Class=ENUSCC>namely, the problem of<br>publishers destroying video games <SYNC Start=55595><P Class=ENUSCC>that you've already paid for. <SYNC Start=57483><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, what I can't say is when<br>or which method will happen first. <SYNC Start=62583><P Class=ENUSCC>We have so many avenues in play, <SYNC Start=64604><P Class=ENUSCC>and the more I learn, <SYNC Start=66036><P Class=ENUSCC>the more I see this could<br>become a quite convoluted path. <SYNC Start=69633><P Class=ENUSCC>But the reason I have so much<br>faith in us getting a win <SYNC Start=72561><P Class=ENUSCC>is that the law<br>is on our side on this. <SYNC Start=75652><P Class=ENUSCC>We could lose five paths<br>we're pursuing and still get a win. <SYNC Start=80167><P Class=ENUSCC>Let's start with the<br>maybe bad news first. <SYNC Start=83567><P Class=ENUSCC>The meeting with the EU Commission<br>is coming up very soon <SYNC Start=87018><P Class=ENUSCC>and we actually have<br>no idea what to expect. <SYNC Start=90159><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, what I'm hoping happens <SYNC Start=91834><P Class=ENUSCC>is once we've explained what's<br>going on in the games industry <SYNC Start=94927><P Class=ENUSCC>and how the practice<br>of game destruction <SYNC Start=96654><P Class=ENUSCC>is largely violating EU law, <SYNC Start=99286><P Class=ENUSCC>the Commission will<br>realize there's a problem <SYNC Start=101401><P Class=ENUSCC>and bring our proposal<br>to EU Parliament <SYNC Start=103955><P Class=ENUSCC>or at the very least,<br>clarify existing law on the issue. <SYNC Start=107550><P Class=ENUSCC>However, we've had some<br>events that could suggest <SYNC Start=110392><P Class=ENUSCC>that won't be what will happen. <SYNC Start=112865><P Class=ENUSCC>One of the biggest is<br>this will actually not be <SYNC Start=115155><P Class=ENUSCC>our first meeting<br>with the Commission. <SYNC Start=117680><P Class=ENUSCC>Back in October, <SYNC Start=118801><P Class=ENUSCC>members of the Initiative were<br>invited to discuss the possibility <SYNC Start=122101><P Class=ENUSCC>of getting our issue added<br>to the Digital Fairness Act. <SYNC Start=126000><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, I wasn't there,<br>so I'm getting this secondhand, <SYNC Start=128833><P Class=ENUSCC>but from what I've been told,<br>it wasn't great. <SYNC Start=131800><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm told it felt like the Commission <SYNC Start=133608><P Class=ENUSCC>had been prompted<br>with lines from the industry. <SYNC Start=136267><P Class=ENUSCC>They apparently kept emphasizing <SYNC Start=138034><P Class=ENUSCC>how video games are a<br>"living, breathing thing" <SYNC Start=141611><P Class=ENUSCC>because of constant updates. <SYNC Start=144098><P Class=ENUSCC>Oh, yeah. <SYNC Start=145306><P Class=ENUSCC>That <i>totally</i> doesn't<br>sound like an expression <SYNC Start=147634><P Class=ENUSCC>the industry came up with. <SYNC Start=149599><P Class=ENUSCC>Though, I admit, <SYNC Start=150734><P Class=ENUSCC>that description pairs well with<br>the Stop <i>Killing</i> Games movement. <SYNC Start=155581><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm pleased with how<br>the organizers responded to this, <SYNC Start=158714><P Class=ENUSCC>explaining that your phone<br>receives lots of updates also, <SYNC Start=162230><P Class=ENUSCC>but if software support ends, <SYNC Start=163977><P Class=ENUSCC>you still get to keep your phone. <SYNC Start=166267><P Class=ENUSCC>They were also concerned about this <SYNC Start=167801><P Class=ENUSCC>preventing new games<br>from being made. <SYNC Start=169903><P Class=ENUSCC>Specifically, teenagers in their<br>bedrooms creating small games. <SYNC Start=174683><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, my first thought was, <SYNC Start=176371><P Class=ENUSCC>"Oh, yeah, <SYNC Start=177803><P Class=ENUSCC>all those teen solo developers<br>creating live service games." <SYNC Start=183074><P Class=ENUSCC>You may as well be worried<br>about discouraging teen lawyers <SYNC Start=186151><P Class=ENUSCC>from opening up law firms<br>out of their bedrooms. <SYNC Start=189233><P Class=ENUSCC>I mean, the vast majority<br>of developers, let alone teens, <SYNC Start=193280><P Class=ENUSCC>are not making live service games, <SYNC Start=196430><P Class=ENUSCC>especially the kinds that create<br>the most problems in the industry. <SYNC Start=199903><P Class=ENUSCC>But then it hit me: <SYNC Start=201163><P Class=ENUSCC>Wait a minute. <SYNC Start=202586><P Class=ENUSCC>I actually can think of a teen<br>who made a live service game. <SYNC Start=206567><P Class=ENUSCC>Nelson Sexton made the game <i>Unturned</i> <SYNC Start=209668><P Class=ENUSCC>at 16 years old. <SYNC Start=211713><P Class=ENUSCC>It's intended primarily<br>for online play <SYNC Start=214464><P Class=ENUSCC>and receives frequent updates. <SYNC Start=216751><P Class=ENUSCC>There are many who would define that<br>as a live service game. <SYNC Start=220567><P Class=ENUSCC>Oh, oh! <SYNC Start=221588><P Class=ENUSCC>But what's this? <SYNC Start=222900><P Class=ENUSCC>It already had<br>private server support? <SYNC Start=225967><P Class=ENUSCC>So, he was never part of<br>the problem in the first place! <SYNC Start=228967><P Class=ENUSCC>So, this exact<br>and very rare scenario <SYNC Start=232467><P Class=ENUSCC>that the Commission<br>is concerned about <SYNC Start=234326><P Class=ENUSCC>has already happened. <SYNC Start=236386><P Class=ENUSCC>And if our Initiative had existed, <SYNC Start=238500><P Class=ENUSCC>it wouldn't have interfered<br>with him in any way. <SYNC Start=241416><P Class=ENUSCC>Everything would<br>have still been fine. <SYNC Start=244156><P Class=ENUSCC>And it wasn't small either. <SYNC Start=246000><P Class=ENUSCC>It's had 24 million players. <SYNC Start=248600><P Class=ENUSCC>So, a 16-year-old was able to<br>figure out how to do this in 2014, <SYNC Start=253517><P Class=ENUSCC>but major publishers worth billions <SYNC Start=256171><P Class=ENUSCC>just keep struggling<br>with this concept. <SYNC Start=259323><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm having a flashback here. <SYNC Start=261580><P Class=ENUSCC><font color="#00ffff">It's impossible.</font> <SYNC Start=262933><P Class=ENUSCC><i>Nelson Sexton</i> <font color="#ffff00">WAS ABLE<br>TO BUILD THIS IN A CAVE!</font> <SYNC Start=267685><P Class=ENUSCC><font color="#ffff00">WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!</font> <SYNC Start=269767><P Class=ENUSCC>Though a developer does<br>not have to be Iron Man <SYNC Start=272668><P Class=ENUSCC>to not destroy their game. <SYNC Start=274783><P Class=ENUSCC>On the contrary, the vast<br>majority of them don't do this. <SYNC Start=278565><P Class=ENUSCC>A publisher has to go<br>out of their way <SYNC Start=280434><P Class=ENUSCC>and do lots of extra work <SYNC Start=282485><P Class=ENUSCC>to design a game to stop<br>working when support ends. <SYNC Start=285371><P Class=ENUSCC>It's a very deliberate decision. <SYNC Start=287833><P Class=ENUSCC>Also in the meeting was<br>our old favorite talking point. <SYNC Start=291159><P Class=ENUSCC>The Commission was concerned<br>that we were asking for <SYNC Start=293201><P Class=ENUSCC>endless support from publishers. <SYNC Start=295885><P Class=ENUSCC>It was explained, no, we're not. <SYNC Start=299376><P Class=ENUSCC>Publishers can end support<br>any time they want. <SYNC Start=303276><P Class=ENUSCC>We're asking that they don't <i>also</i> <SYNC Start=305618><P Class=ENUSCC>destroy what they've already sold<br>to the customer when they do so. <SYNC Start=310132><P Class=ENUSCC>I don't blame the Commission<br>for needing clarity on that point. <SYNC Start=313329><P Class=ENUSCC>The industry keeps trying to push<br>this mischaracterization of us <SYNC Start=316533><P Class=ENUSCC>over <SYNC Start=317568><P Class=ENUSCC>and over <SYNC Start=318901><P Class=ENUSCC>and over. <SYNC Start=320550><P Class=ENUSCC>Anyway, there were mixed<br>opinions on the meeting, <SYNC Start=323400><P Class=ENUSCC>but I'm told the overall vibe<br>was that it felt like the Commission <SYNC Start=326468><P Class=ENUSCC>was trying to find reasons to<br>not include our Initiative, <SYNC Start=330060><P Class=ENUSCC>which is unfortunate, <SYNC Start=331481><P Class=ENUSCC>since I'm told by EU staff <SYNC Start=333267><P Class=ENUSCC>that we set a record in the number<br>of comments received by the public <SYNC Start=336930><P Class=ENUSCC>on a pending EU act <SYNC Start=338671><P Class=ENUSCC>for trying to be included<br>in the Digital Fairness Act. <SYNC Start=341382><P Class=ENUSCC>Additionally, if you look at the<br>purpose of the Digital Fairness Act, <SYNC Start=345230><P Class=ENUSCC>look at what it says<br>it's trying to address. <SYNC Start=347648><P Class=ENUSCC>"According to the<br>European Commission, <SYNC Start=349603><P Class=ENUSCC>the effectiveness of EU consumer<br>protection is undermined <SYNC Start=353233><P Class=ENUSCC>by insufficient enforcement, <SYNC Start=355091><P Class=ENUSCC>legal uncertainty, <SYNC Start=356580><P Class=ENUSCC>increasing risk of<br>regulatory fragmentation <SYNC Start=359167><P Class=ENUSCC>across Member States'<br>national approaches, <SYNC Start=361764><P Class=ENUSCC>and the lack of<br>incentives for businesses <SYNC Start=363701><P Class=ENUSCC>to aim for the highest<br>standard of protection." <SYNC Start=366443><P Class=ENUSCC>That perfectly<br>describes our problems <SYNC Start=368634><P Class=ENUSCC>with how the law is<br>currently functioning <SYNC Start=370434><P Class=ENUSCC>in regards to publishers<br>destroying games. <SYNC Start=373120><P Class=ENUSCC>And part of the Act is even<br>focused on video games. <SYNC Start=376665><P Class=ENUSCC>So yeah, <SYNC Start=377526><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm missing how our issue <SYNC Start=379001><P Class=ENUSCC>is a poor fit for the<br>Digital Fairness Act. <SYNC Start=382112><P Class=ENUSCC>But it wasn't just that. <SYNC Start=383600><P Class=ENUSCC>The meeting kind of bled over<br>into the Citizens' Initiative also. <SYNC Start=387525><P Class=ENUSCC>But the real closer came at the end, <SYNC Start=389801><P Class=ENUSCC>where the Commission<br>told us point blank <SYNC Start=391942><P Class=ENUSCC>they are pursuing a<br>"deregulatory agenda." <SYNC Start=395683><P Class=ENUSCC>And yes, <SYNC Start=397117><P Class=ENUSCC>the Initiative is<br>asking for regulation. <SYNC Start=400223><P Class=ENUSCC>So if the Commission has already<br>decided it wants to deregulate, <SYNC Start=403919><P Class=ENUSCC>I could see where that<br>might be a problem. <SYNC Start=406140><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, ironically,<br>after the meeting was over, <SYNC Start=408860><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm told some legal experts involved<br>came up to the organizers <SYNC Start=412311><P Class=ENUSCC>and said to please pursue<br>this issue because it's worthwhile <SYNC Start=416051><P Class=ENUSCC>and it is a fight that<br>needs to be fought. <SYNC Start=419280><P Class=ENUSCC>See, stuff like this is<br>exactly why I have no idea <SYNC Start=423033><P Class=ENUSCC>which way the Commission<br>is going to go on this. <SYNC Start=425467><P Class=ENUSCC>More on that point,<br>this next part gets weird. <SYNC Start=428880><P Class=ENUSCC>On July 10th of last year, <SYNC Start=431333><P Class=ENUSCC>back when we were still collecting<br>signatures for the Initiative, <SYNC Start=434866><P Class=ENUSCC>the EU Commission<br>released a statement <SYNC Start=437020><P Class=ENUSCC>titled "Ready Player EU." <SYNC Start=439707><P Class=ENUSCC>It then took it down the next day <SYNC Start=441815><P Class=ENUSCC>so fast there wasn't even time<br>for Wayback Machine to archive it. <SYNC Start=445731><P Class=ENUSCC>I never even got a chance<br>to read this article. <SYNC Start=448230><P Class=ENUSCC>However, a reporter for<br>news outlet <i>Euractiv</i> did, <SYNC Start=451533><P Class=ENUSCC>and you can see<br>the headline for yourself. <SYNC Start=454032><P Class=ENUSCC>"Commission preparing token gesture <SYNC Start=456034><P Class=ENUSCC>for angry gamers and<br>game developers." <SYNC Start=458633><P Class=ENUSCC>"The EU Commission is preparing<br>a non-binding Communication <SYNC Start=461701><P Class=ENUSCC>on the video game sector, <SYNC Start=463241><P Class=ENUSCC>likely in response to<br>an ongoing citizens' initiative <SYNC Start=466160><P Class=ENUSCC>calling for rules to<br>'stop killing games'." <SYNC Start=468991><P Class=ENUSCC>What's more,<br>in the article, it says, <SYNC Start=470949><P Class=ENUSCC>"A spokesperson<br>blamed a technical glitch <SYNC Start=473520><P Class=ENUSCC>but said full publication<br>is planned for 2026." <SYNC Start=477133><P Class=ENUSCC>Huh. <SYNC Start=478513><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm honestly not sure<br>what to make of this. <SYNC Start=481000><P Class=ENUSCC>And the political insiders<br>helping us aren't either. <SYNC Start=483888><P Class=ENUSCC>Or rather, they're divided. <SYNC Start=485807><P Class=ENUSCC>Some say that the <i>Euractiv</i> article<br>misread it and this means nothing. <SYNC Start=489699><P Class=ENUSCC>Others are saying, <SYNC Start=490601><P Class=ENUSCC>"No, that article is<br>reading between the lines, <SYNC Start=493617><P Class=ENUSCC>and the EU Commission<br>has already decided <SYNC Start=495734><P Class=ENUSCC>to make a non-binding<br>statement on this issue, <SYNC Start=498059><P Class=ENUSCC>probably encouraging<br>the industry to self-regulate." <SYNC Start=501840><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, I feel like this<br>goes without saying, <SYNC Start=503821><P Class=ENUSCC>but in case it doesn't, <SYNC Start=505534><P Class=ENUSCC>self-regulation from the industry<br>is not a good solution <SYNC Start=509568><P Class=ENUSCC>for two big reasons. <SYNC Start=511891><P Class=ENUSCC>Probably more,<br>but I can think of two. <SYNC Start=514433><P Class=ENUSCC>First, the practice of publishers<br>deliberately destroying games <SYNC Start=518001><P Class=ENUSCC>with no expiration date <SYNC Start=519701><P Class=ENUSCC>that customers have already paid for <SYNC Start=521734><P Class=ENUSCC>has been going on<br>for at least 13 years. <SYNC Start=524928><P Class=ENUSCC><i>BattleForge</i> is a notable example of<br>one of the earlier ones from 2013. <SYNC Start=529400><P Class=ENUSCC>So, the industry has already had<br>over a decade to self-regulate, <SYNC Start=534576><P Class=ENUSCC>and that's led to the<br>situation becoming so bad, <SYNC Start=537463><P Class=ENUSCC>that's what led to<br>over a million people <SYNC Start=539419><P Class=ENUSCC>petitioning the<br>EU Commission about it. <SYNC Start=541677><P Class=ENUSCC>And they're still going! <SYNC Start=543600><P Class=ENUSCC>Hell, at the time of this video, <SYNC Start=545506><P Class=ENUSCC><i>Anthem</i> got permanently disabled<br>by Electronic Arts just last month. <SYNC Start=550320><P Class=ENUSCC>It sold 5 million copies<br>and now no one can run it again, <SYNC Start=553920><P Class=ENUSCC>and people are not getting refunds. <SYNC Start=556200><P Class=ENUSCC>This is what industry<br>self-regulation looks like. <SYNC Start=559440><P Class=ENUSCC>We're living it. <SYNC Start=560880><P Class=ENUSCC>So, we've already tried it<br>this way for over a decade, <SYNC Start=564240><P Class=ENUSCC>and it's getting worse. <SYNC Start=566080><P Class=ENUSCC>That's why we want law enforcement. <SYNC Start=568301><P Class=ENUSCC>Believe me, <SYNC Start=569168><P Class=ENUSCC>I was hoping the industry<br>would solve this themselves. <SYNC Start=572560><P Class=ENUSCC>I don't want to be doing this. <SYNC Start=574467><P Class=ENUSCC>Second, the industry<br>has built a history <SYNC Start=577134><P Class=ENUSCC>showing it's <i>terrible</i><br>at regulating itself on this issue. <SYNC Start=581280><P Class=ENUSCC>I refer back to my earlier video <SYNC Start=583360><P Class=ENUSCC>where volunteers did a study <SYNC Start=585200><P Class=ENUSCC>examining as many games<br>as they could find <SYNC Start=587520><P Class=ENUSCC>requiring a connection<br>to the publisher. <SYNC Start=590160><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, we've since<br>updated those results <SYNC Start=592068><P Class=ENUSCC>on a wiki anyone can check out. <SYNC Start=594167><P Class=ENUSCC>Out of over 600 games<br>with this design <SYNC Start=596480><P Class=ENUSCC>that the industry<br>has ended support on, <SYNC Start=598640><P Class=ENUSCC>the publisher let the<br>customer keep their purchase <SYNC Start=600834><P Class=ENUSCC>about 4 to 6% of the time, <SYNC Start=603215><P Class=ENUSCC>depending on how you measure it, <SYNC Start=604720><P Class=ENUSCC>due to some games only<br>being partially destroyed. <SYNC Start=607520><P Class=ENUSCC>But let's take the most generous<br>interpretation and say it's 6.5%. <SYNC Start=612467><P Class=ENUSCC>That's terrible under any standard. <SYNC Start=615360><P Class=ENUSCC>If you scored 6.5% on a test,<br>that would be a failure. <SYNC Start=619824><P Class=ENUSCC>Self-regulation is not working. <SYNC Start=622467><P Class=ENUSCC>So, I don't know what to make<br>of this leak by the EU Commission. <SYNC Start=625440><P Class=ENUSCC>But if that <i>Euractiv</i><br>article is true, <SYNC Start=627600><P Class=ENUSCC>then I admit,<br>that caught us off guard, <SYNC Start=630240><P Class=ENUSCC>because that means<br>the decision was already made <SYNC Start=632320><P Class=ENUSCC>before we even got a chance<br>to present our evidence. <SYNC Start=634880><P Class=ENUSCC>We were still collecting signatures. <SYNC Start=636800><P Class=ENUSCC>I mean, if you look at <SYNC Start=637901><P Class=ENUSCC>the European Citizens'<br>Initiative process, <SYNC Start=640320><P Class=ENUSCC>that's like taking the<br>absolute final step of the process <SYNC Start=643520><P Class=ENUSCC>and moving it up to step three here. <SYNC Start=645919><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, if that's what's happened <SYNC Start=647168><P Class=ENUSCC>and the decision's<br>already been made, <SYNC Start=649120><P Class=ENUSCC>wouldn't that make<br>the other steps pointless? <SYNC Start=651440><P Class=ENUSCC>It kind of reminds me<br>of an old <i>Onion</i> video <SYNC Start=653680><P Class=ENUSCC>about the election results<br>accidentally being leaked <SYNC Start=656254><P Class=ENUSCC>before the election. <SYNC Start=657687><P Class=ENUSCC>Oops. <SYNC Start=658440><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, just to be clear,<br>I'm not saying that's what happened. <SYNC Start=662073><P Class=ENUSCC>I don't know. <SYNC Start=663440><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm saying having this leaked <SYNC Start=664880><P Class=ENUSCC>during the height of our<br>signature-gathering was weird <SYNC Start=668160><P Class=ENUSCC>and that <i>Euractiv</i> article <SYNC Start=669751><P Class=ENUSCC>only increased our concerns <SYNC Start=671600><P Class=ENUSCC>about whatever the<br>EU Commission has planned. <SYNC Start=674320><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, I'm hoping this is all just us<br>worrying about nothing, <SYNC Start=677977><P Class=ENUSCC>but I've seen this issue<br>get ignored again and again, <SYNC Start=681357><P Class=ENUSCC>long before the Commission<br>ever heard of it. <SYNC Start=684000><P Class=ENUSCC>So, I'm kind of biased<br>to expect the worst here. <SYNC Start=687120><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm just showing everyone<br>why we have concerns <SYNC Start=689600><P Class=ENUSCC>the meeting might not go well. <SYNC Start=691867><P Class=ENUSCC>So, that's the maybe bad news. <SYNC Start=694800><P Class=ENUSCC>There's a lot of good news. <SYNC Start=696991><P Class=ENUSCC>Because we don't know<br>what kind of answer <SYNC Start=698960><P Class=ENUSCC>we're going to get<br>from the Commission, <SYNC Start=700480><P Class=ENUSCC>we're trying not to<br>take any chances. <SYNC Start=702800><P Class=ENUSCC>Thanks to volunteer help, <SYNC Start=704320><P Class=ENUSCC>we've been making serious<br>inroads in EU Parliament, <SYNC Start=707680><P Class=ENUSCC>and at this stage, <SYNC Start=708880><P Class=ENUSCC>I've been told we have<br>majority support, <SYNC Start=711840><P Class=ENUSCC>and our issue will be<br>brought before Parliament <SYNC Start=714320><P Class=ENUSCC>and it's in a good position<br>to get passed. <SYNC Start=716960><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, EU policy-making<br>is quite complex, <SYNC Start=719600><P Class=ENUSCC>so there are more steps beyond that, <SYNC Start=721520><P Class=ENUSCC>but that's good news. <SYNC Start=723500><P Class=ENUSCC>Next, the movement as a whole<br>will be launching an official NGO <SYNC Start=727840><P Class=ENUSCC>on the issue of game destruction. <SYNC Start=730160><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, if you're like me, <SYNC Start=731280><P Class=ENUSCC>you may have some skepticism<br>on how much this can do, <SYNC Start=734240><P Class=ENUSCC>but there are definite advantages. <SYNC Start=736480><P Class=ENUSCC>The first is<br>this will allow us to do <SYNC Start=738134><P Class=ENUSCC>long-term counter-lobbying<br>on this issue. <SYNC Start=741360><P Class=ENUSCC>I mean, we're hoping to get<br>the Citizens' Initiative passed <SYNC Start=744240><P Class=ENUSCC>or added to the<br>Digital Fairness Act, <SYNC Start=746586><P Class=ENUSCC>but if those fail, <SYNC Start=748241><P Class=ENUSCC>there's still the possibility<br>of being added <SYNC Start=750094><P Class=ENUSCC>to the Digital Content<br>Directive revision. <SYNC Start=752720><P Class=ENUSCC>We're trying to find a way in<br>any way we can. <SYNC Start=755767><P Class=ENUSCC>This will also signal that we're<br>not just going away on this issue. <SYNC Start=760080><P Class=ENUSCC>I mean, I might, <SYNC Start=760960><P Class=ENUSCC>I've been at this for over a decade, <SYNC Start=762706><P Class=ENUSCC>but the movement isn't. <SYNC Start=764560><P Class=ENUSCC>If there's a lobbyist<br>showing up again and again <SYNC Start=767201><P Class=ENUSCC>at the EU Commission, <SYNC Start=768640><P Class=ENUSCC>that might influence things. <SYNC Start=770800><P Class=ENUSCC>This will also allow<br>for more watchdog action. <SYNC Start=773560><P Class=ENUSCC>Like if you recall, <SYNC Start=774568><P Class=ENUSCC>I helped organize<br>a multilingual site <SYNC Start=776880><P Class=ENUSCC>with easy-to-follow instructions<br>for reporting on <i>The Crew</i> <SYNC Start=780534><P Class=ENUSCC>to consumer protection agencies. <SYNC Start=782600><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, maybe the NGO<br>could set something like that up <SYNC Start=785407><P Class=ENUSCC>for <i>every</i> big shutdown where<br>the game is destroyed in the future. <SYNC Start=789760><P Class=ENUSCC>There are lots of smaller angles too<br>that could increase the pressure. <SYNC Start=793200><P Class=ENUSCC>Like, I would bet it starts to get<br>a lot easier to get refunds on games <SYNC Start=797280><P Class=ENUSCC>that get destroyed<br>in many countries, <SYNC Start=799771><P Class=ENUSCC>even before all the<br>legal matters are settled. <SYNC Start=802667><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, there's a lot<br>of people involved now, <SYNC Start=804640><P Class=ENUSCC>so I'm not trying to dismiss anyone, <SYNC Start=806800><P Class=ENUSCC>but you can thank Moritz Katzner and<br>his team for spearheading the NGO <SYNC Start=811200><P Class=ENUSCC>and helping us with so much<br>influence in Parliament. <SYNC Start=814464><P Class=ENUSCC>Since we got the signatures, <SYNC Start=816231><P Class=ENUSCC>in my opinion, <SYNC Start=817680><P Class=ENUSCC>he's been doing as much for the<br>movement in the political sphere <SYNC Start=821074><P Class=ENUSCC>as I did on the issue<br>on everything prior to that. <SYNC Start=824400><P Class=ENUSCC>And I wouldn't wish that on anyone. <SYNC Start=826560><P Class=ENUSCC>That could be why<br>he tends to not sleep. <SYNC Start=829360><P Class=ENUSCC>I've told him he should sleep, <SYNC Start=830768><P Class=ENUSCC>but whatever. <SYNC Start=832080><P Class=ENUSCC>Edgar Allan Poe<br>didn't like sleep either. <SYNC Start=834967><P Class=ENUSCC>So, we're going to have<br>a European NGO. <SYNC Start=837680><P Class=ENUSCC>They'll have more details later. <SYNC Start=839547><P Class=ENUSCC>But wait, there's more! <SYNC Start=841851><P Class=ENUSCC>Did I say NGO? <SYNC Start=843680><P Class=ENUSCC>I meant <i>NGOs</i>. <SYNC Start=845801><P Class=ENUSCC>There's a second one launching also. <SYNC Start=849057><P Class=ENUSCC>Yes, there is going to be a second<br>Stop Killing Games NGO, <SYNC Start=853544><P Class=ENUSCC>except in the United States. <SYNC Start=856000><P Class=ENUSCC>Political activists in the US<br>were inspired by what we're doing, <SYNC Start=859520><P Class=ENUSCC>and have secured some real funding. <SYNC Start=861687><P Class=ENUSCC>And because he's such a workhorse, <SYNC Start=863680><P Class=ENUSCC>Moritz is helping them<br>by getting the process started <SYNC Start=866421><P Class=ENUSCC>to pass legislation<br>in multiple states. <SYNC Start=869440><P Class=ENUSCC>He's even flown out to DC<br>to get the ball rolling. <SYNC Start=872494><P Class=ENUSCC>It's underway, <SYNC Start=873600><P Class=ENUSCC>he's setting it up so that<br>the US members will take over. <SYNC Start=876633><P Class=ENUSCC>I admit, I did not see that coming: <SYNC Start=879360><P Class=ENUSCC>that we're having law drafted<br>on this in the USA before the EU. <SYNC Start=884320><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, before people get too excited, <SYNC Start=886480><P Class=ENUSCC>I've never hidden the fact <SYNC Start=887680><P Class=ENUSCC>that I'm very skeptical of our odds<br>of changing this in the US, <SYNC Start=891680><P Class=ENUSCC>because unlike the EU,<br>the legal foundation isn't there. <SYNC Start=895414><P Class=ENUSCC>So, the <i>only</i> way to fix this<br>is through new law, <SYNC Start=899360><P Class=ENUSCC>but I would love to have<br>my cynicism proven wrong. <SYNC Start=902640><P Class=ENUSCC>At the very least,<br>it won't hurt anything, <SYNC Start=904960><P Class=ENUSCC>and could raise more attention<br>on solving the problem, <SYNC Start=907360><P Class=ENUSCC>either there or elsewhere. <SYNC Start=909100><P Class=ENUSCC>Actually, what I kind of<br>hope this does <SYNC Start=911200><P Class=ENUSCC>is maybe give the<br>industry some pause. <SYNC Start=913867><P Class=ENUSCC>Like, "Huh..." <SYNC Start=915134><P Class=ENUSCC>"Should we be spending millions<br>on fighting this issue <SYNC Start=918080><P Class=ENUSCC>when we could be<br>spending thousands, if that, <SYNC Start=921137><P Class=ENUSCC>just fixing the problem <SYNC Start=922800><P Class=ENUSCC>so our customers<br>stop lobbying against us?" <SYNC Start=926191><P Class=ENUSCC>Like, I get why<br>the industry fights so hard <SYNC Start=928720><P Class=ENUSCC>against regulating<br>predatory monetization. <SYNC Start=931840><P Class=ENUSCC>If the video game industry<br>can't push microtransactions <SYNC Start=935280><P Class=ENUSCC>on kids and gambling addicts easily, <SYNC Start=938560><P Class=ENUSCC>that could literally<br>cost them billions. <SYNC Start=940473><P Class=ENUSCC>So, while I'm not a fan of that, <SYNC Start=943040><P Class=ENUSCC>I at least understand why<br>they spend a lot fighting that. <SYNC Start=947167><P Class=ENUSCC>But our issue? <SYNC Start=948906><P Class=ENUSCC>Having barebones end-of-life plans? <SYNC Start=951981><P Class=ENUSCC>That's peanuts! <SYNC Start=953767><P Class=ENUSCC>They are absolutely spending more<br>money on lobbyists to fight this <SYNC Start=958080><P Class=ENUSCC>than it would take to fix<br>their development process, <SYNC Start=960640><P Class=ENUSCC>and then the cost would be<br>almost nothing afterwards. <SYNC Start=963600><P Class=ENUSCC>And as a bonus, then their<br>customers would like them more. <SYNC Start=967233><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, between the two NGOs, <SYNC Start=969206><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm told they also plan to<br>make this a global movement. <SYNC Start=972720><P Class=ENUSCC>I don't have any details yet, <SYNC Start=974240><P Class=ENUSCC>but maybe they could follow up<br>on our consumer action in Australia. <SYNC Start=978080><P Class=ENUSCC>Or maybe they could get lawsuits<br>back on the table in Brazil <SYNC Start=980720><P Class=ENUSCC>like we attempted earlier. <SYNC Start=982400><P Class=ENUSCC>I don't even know everything<br>they have planned, <SYNC Start=984560><P Class=ENUSCC>but it feels like this is<br>coming together <SYNC Start=986240><P Class=ENUSCC>to apply pressure on this<br>from all sides. <SYNC Start=989333><P Class=ENUSCC>But back to the EU. <SYNC Start=990880><P Class=ENUSCC>I said earlier I think<br>we're going to win this. <SYNC Start=993520><P Class=ENUSCC>That's because there are<br>two basic ways we can win. <SYNC Start=996914><P Class=ENUSCC>The first and the best option <SYNC Start=998960><P Class=ENUSCC>is introducing new law that<br>specifically addresses the problem, <SYNC Start=1002960><P Class=ENUSCC>like we've been doing. <SYNC Start=1004560><P Class=ENUSCC>Doing it this way can make<br>the transition as easy as possible, <SYNC Start=1008320><P Class=ENUSCC>take industry concerns into account, <SYNC Start=1010320><P Class=ENUSCC>and it's faster. <SYNC Start=1011867><P Class=ENUSCC>But let's say we lose<br>on all fronts on that. <SYNC Start=1014960><P Class=ENUSCC>Say the EU Commission<br>doesn't want new regulation, <SYNC Start=1017840><P Class=ENUSCC>getting support in<br>Parliament isn't enough, <SYNC Start=1020174><P Class=ENUSCC>we can't push the<br>Citizens' Initiative forward, <SYNC Start=1022760><P Class=ENUSCC>we can't get in the<br>Digital Fairness Act, <SYNC Start=1024800><P Class=ENUSCC>and we can't make it into the<br>Digital Content Directive. <SYNC Start=1027887><P Class=ENUSCC>If all that happens,<br>then new law is out, <SYNC Start=1031120><P Class=ENUSCC>which means our only option left<br>is enforcement of existing law. <SYNC Start=1035533><P Class=ENUSCC>See, the thing that gets forgotten<br>when talking about the Initiative <SYNC Start=1038720><P Class=ENUSCC>is that it's very likely large<br>portions of the video game industry <SYNC Start=1042487><P Class=ENUSCC>have already been breaking the law <SYNC Start=1044400><P Class=ENUSCC>when destroying customer copies<br>of video games for a long time. <SYNC Start=1048400><P Class=ENUSCC>There's just been<br>no enforcement on it. <SYNC Start=1050800><P Class=ENUSCC>My theory on what happened<br>is in the United States, <SYNC Start=1053840><P Class=ENUSCC>the law that allows<br>companies to do this <SYNC Start=1056000><P Class=ENUSCC>was basically settled<br>back in the '90s. <SYNC Start=1058800><P Class=ENUSCC>So what I think happened<br>is the rest of the industry <SYNC Start=1061513><P Class=ENUSCC>kind of copied<br>what the USA was doing, <SYNC Start=1063927><P Class=ENUSCC>even though in the European Union, <SYNC Start=1065920><P Class=ENUSCC>the laws that were supposed<br>to protect customers <SYNC Start=1067934><P Class=ENUSCC>against practices like this<br>never actually went away. <SYNC Start=1071567><P Class=ENUSCC>I've mentioned before how earlier we<br>got help from members of Parliament <SYNC Start=1075133><P Class=ENUSCC>to ask the EU Commission questions <SYNC Start=1077200><P Class=ENUSCC>on how exactly these<br>types of games are governed. <SYNC Start=1079740><P Class=ENUSCC>And we referred<br>specifically to terms like <SYNC Start=1082240><P Class=ENUSCC>"can be terminated<br>at any time for any reason" <SYNC Start=1085280><P Class=ENUSCC>in user license agreements. <SYNC Start=1087007><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, the Commission itself<br>said that these may be a violation, <SYNC Start=1091040><P Class=ENUSCC>but need to be handled<br>on a case-by-case basis. <SYNC Start=1094080><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, if they stick to that,<br>that's unfortunate, <SYNC Start=1096240><P Class=ENUSCC>because that's going to create<br>more chaos for everyone, really. <SYNC Start=1099510><P Class=ENUSCC>First, this clause here<br>is not a few isolated cases. <SYNC Start=1104043><P Class=ENUSCC>I want to say 98% of all games sold <SYNC Start=1107120><P Class=ENUSCC>that require a connection<br>to the publisher <SYNC Start=1109200><P Class=ENUSCC>have a clause like this. <SYNC Start=1110807><P Class=ENUSCC>It might even be 100%, I don't know, <SYNC Start=1113267><P Class=ENUSCC>but it's almost all of them. <SYNC Start=1114540><P Class=ENUSCC>Look at any major game where you<br>need to connect to the publisher, <SYNC Start=1117803><P Class=ENUSCC>and it's going to have<br>some variant of this term. <SYNC Start=1120440><P Class=ENUSCC>So handling this case by case,<br>country by country <SYNC Start=1124800><P Class=ENUSCC>is going to flood the courts<br>doing it this way, <SYNC Start=1127680><P Class=ENUSCC>with different penalties<br>and interpretations for each. <SYNC Start=1130980><P Class=ENUSCC>But I guess that's something<br>the NGO could help with. <SYNC Start=1133800><P Class=ENUSCC>The situation on this issue<br>is already in chaos now. <SYNC Start=1137697><P Class=ENUSCC>This would just send it<br>all into overdrive. <SYNC Start=1140400><P Class=ENUSCC>At this point in time, <SYNC Start=1141928><P Class=ENUSCC>no country in the EU <SYNC Start=1143760><P Class=ENUSCC>has a clear answer<br>on how to handle the situation <SYNC Start=1146560><P Class=ENUSCC>of a publisher selling you a game, <SYNC Start=1148877><P Class=ENUSCC>giving you no time frame<br>for how long it lasts, <SYNC Start=1151680><P Class=ENUSCC>then deliberately disabling it<br>at a later date. <SYNC Start=1154800><P Class=ENUSCC>Do you know how I know this? <SYNC Start=1156397><P Class=ENUSCC>Because we already<br>tried to find out. <SYNC Start=1159120><P Class=ENUSCC>Back in 2024, we had people<br>from countries all around the EU <SYNC Start=1163200><P Class=ENUSCC>reporting to consumer agencies<br>on the company Ubisoft <SYNC Start=1166400><P Class=ENUSCC>disabling the game <i>The Crew</i>. <SYNC Start=1168614><P Class=ENUSCC>Germany, Netherlands, Sweden,<br>Spain, Italy, Croatia… <SYNC Start=1172367><P Class=ENUSCC>We had volunteers in<br>the majority of EU countries <SYNC Start=1175837><P Class=ENUSCC>trying to get an answer on this. <SYNC Start=1177900><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, the EU recommends doing this <SYNC Start=1179760><P Class=ENUSCC>through the European<br>Consumer Centres Network. <SYNC Start=1182291><P Class=ENUSCC>So, that's what we did. <SYNC Start=1184160><P Class=ENUSCC>Or, we tried to. <SYNC Start=1186026><P Class=ENUSCC>The results were chaos. <SYNC Start=1187867><P Class=ENUSCC>Most agencies had no idea<br>what we should do. <SYNC Start=1190943><P Class=ENUSCC>A representative from<br>Germany even said that <SYNC Start=1193180><P Class=ENUSCC>"There is no clear legal<br>regulation on this." <SYNC Start=1196707><P Class=ENUSCC>In several cases, <SYNC Start=1198080><P Class=ENUSCC>we had contradictory answers<br>from the same country. <SYNC Start=1201280><P Class=ENUSCC>So, if you called in the morning, <SYNC Start=1203040><P Class=ENUSCC>they might tell you<br>you were entitled to a refund. <SYNC Start=1205557><P Class=ENUSCC>If you called in the afternoon, <SYNC Start=1207520><P Class=ENUSCC>they might say that<br>there's nothing they can do. <SYNC Start=1209920><P Class=ENUSCC>You would have more consistency<br>asking a Magic 8 Ball. <SYNC Start=1213367><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, we eventually managed<br>to bypass the ECC network <SYNC Start=1216480><P Class=ENUSCC>since that went nowhere, <SYNC Start=1218160><P Class=ENUSCC>and got thousands of complaints <SYNC Start=1219760><P Class=ENUSCC>sent to consumer protection<br>agencies in France and Germany. <SYNC Start=1223360><P Class=ENUSCC>But that was almost 2 years ago. <SYNC Start=1225440><P Class=ENUSCC>And they're <i>still</i> trying<br>to figure this out. <SYNC Start=1228720><P Class=ENUSCC>At the time of this video, <SYNC Start=1230397><P Class=ENUSCC>no country in the EU<br>knows how to handle this situation. <SYNC Start=1234240><P Class=ENUSCC>And as a reminder, <SYNC Start=1235534><P Class=ENUSCC>this problem has been going on<br>for at least 13 years. <SYNC Start=1239200><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, really the practice<br>began around 2004, <SYNC Start=1242400><P Class=ENUSCC>but the negligence side<br>started around 2013 at the latest. <SYNC Start=1246400><P Class=ENUSCC>I mentioned those questions<br>to the EU Commission earlier. <SYNC Start=1249761><P Class=ENUSCC>Those were asked<br>because neither members <SYNC Start=1251601><P Class=ENUSCC>of European Parliament<br>that we talked to <SYNC Start=1253734><P Class=ENUSCC>nor their staff <SYNC Start=1255034><P Class=ENUSCC>knew the answers to how<br>this practice is regulated. <SYNC Start=1257700><P Class=ENUSCC>Even though the video game industry<br>is worth hundreds of billions, <SYNC Start=1261241><P Class=ENUSCC>this rather fundamental<br>issue for customers <SYNC Start=1264240><P Class=ENUSCC>has managed to slip through<br>the cracks of governments <SYNC Start=1266468><P Class=ENUSCC>all around the EU. <SYNC Start=1267767><P Class=ENUSCC>Again, the best way<br>to solve this situation <SYNC Start=1270093><P Class=ENUSCC>would be to have a clear regulation<br>addressing the problem. <SYNC Start=1273420><P Class=ENUSCC>But if we can't get that, <SYNC Start=1275200><P Class=ENUSCC>we have to do it the messy way, <SYNC Start=1276880><P Class=ENUSCC>through the consumer agencies<br>one by one trying to figure this out <SYNC Start=1280484><P Class=ENUSCC>and probably through the courts. <SYNC Start=1282320><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, why is this worse? <SYNC Start=1284000><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, a few reasons, both for<br>consumers and the industry. <SYNC Start=1287767><P Class=ENUSCC>First, this is way more<br>bureaucratic overhead. <SYNC Start=1291360><P Class=ENUSCC>Having dozens of governments<br>across every country <SYNC Start=1293920><P Class=ENUSCC>trying to interpret<br>what the law says <SYNC Start=1295920><P Class=ENUSCC>instead of having clear<br>rules from the EU? <SYNC Start=1298790><P Class=ENUSCC>Case by case is going<br>to be very messy <SYNC Start=1301600><P Class=ENUSCC>for a practice that's being done<br>across the whole industry. <SYNC Start=1304877><P Class=ENUSCC>Second, this method<br>is way, way slower. <SYNC Start=1308404><P Class=ENUSCC>It's already taking years<br>for consumer agencies <SYNC Start=1311301><P Class=ENUSCC>to process one case. <SYNC Start=1313440><P Class=ENUSCC>I suspect they'll find Ubisoft<br>guilty of something, <SYNC Start=1316664><P Class=ENUSCC>especially the DGCCRF, <SYNC Start=1318880><P Class=ENUSCC>then that may lead to<br>a court case against them, <SYNC Start=1321440><P Class=ENUSCC>then that will go through appeals, <SYNC Start=1323200><P Class=ENUSCC>then maybe after that, it goes to<br>the European High Court of Justice. <SYNC Start=1327347><P Class=ENUSCC>This path moves at a glacial speed. <SYNC Start=1330660><P Class=ENUSCC>Third, this way is going to be<br>harsher on the industry. <SYNC Start=1334233><P Class=ENUSCC>See, the Citizens' Initiative<br>talks about customer copies <SYNC Start=1337280><P Class=ENUSCC>being "reasonably playable," <SYNC Start=1339200><P Class=ENUSCC>giving some leeway for how many<br>features need to be intact. <SYNC Start=1342310><P Class=ENUSCC>The courts could be<br>far less lenient. <SYNC Start=1345840><P Class=ENUSCC>Also, on that note, <SYNC Start=1347200><P Class=ENUSCC>the Citizens' Initiative<br>is not retroactive. <SYNC Start=1350034><P Class=ENUSCC>It can't be under EU law. <SYNC Start=1352294><P Class=ENUSCC>But courts finding companies<br>guilty of violating law <SYNC Start=1355440><P Class=ENUSCC>that's already on the books <SYNC Start=1357440><P Class=ENUSCC>can be enforced as far back<br>as countries want to. <SYNC Start=1360480><P Class=ENUSCC>So, this path has way more<br>penalties for the industry <SYNC Start=1363440><P Class=ENUSCC>and is way more disruptive. <SYNC Start=1365824><P Class=ENUSCC>But, if the possibility of new<br>regulation is truly off the table, <SYNC Start=1370400><P Class=ENUSCC>then this is all we have left. <SYNC Start=1372133><P Class=ENUSCC>But don't take my word for it. <SYNC Start=1374833><P Class=ENUSCC>Law professor<br>Alberto Hidalgo Cerezo, <SYNC Start=1377881><P Class=ENUSCC>PhD of the University of San Pablo, <SYNC Start=1380720><P Class=ENUSCC>who has the Madrid Lawyers Bar Award <SYNC Start=1382720><P Class=ENUSCC>in international and<br>European Union law from 2019 <SYNC Start=1386480><P Class=ENUSCC>has been working on a 500-page<br>legal study on this issue. <SYNC Start=1390964><P Class=ENUSCC>Alberto actually did his<br>PhD thesis on this subject, <SYNC Start=1394960><P Class=ENUSCC>was awarded <i>summa cum laude</i>, <SYNC Start=1397040><P Class=ENUSCC>an Extraordinary<br>Doctorate Award in 2020, <SYNC Start=1400320><P Class=ENUSCC>with it being published in the<br>number one law editorial in Spain, <SYNC Start=1404400><P Class=ENUSCC><i>Aranzadi</i> in the collection<br>"Great Treaties." <SYNC Start=1408237><P Class=ENUSCC>The study is still forthcoming, <SYNC Start=1410160><P Class=ENUSCC>but I talked to him<br>about the legality <SYNC Start=1411840><P Class=ENUSCC>of the practice of publishers<br>selling a copy of a game <SYNC Start=1414880><P Class=ENUSCC>with no time frame, <SYNC Start=1416480><P Class=ENUSCC>then later deliberately disabling<br>the customer's copy permanently <SYNC Start=1420320><P Class=ENUSCC>and offering no refunds. <SYNC Start=1422560><P Class=ENUSCC>According to him, that is unlawful <SYNC Start=1424720><P Class=ENUSCC>and constitutes at least<br>a breach of objective conformity <SYNC Start=1428400><P Class=ENUSCC>according to Directive 2019/770. <SYNC Start=1431367><P Class=ENUSCC>In all honesty, he brought up so<br>many points on why this is unlawful, <SYNC Start=1435520><P Class=ENUSCC>I got a little lost. <SYNC Start=1437334><P Class=ENUSCC>But he emphasized that<br>the buying and selling of a contract <SYNC Start=1440480><P Class=ENUSCC>is a transfer of property, <SYNC Start=1442240><P Class=ENUSCC>both in the physical<br>and the digital world, <SYNC Start=1444960><P Class=ENUSCC>and you can't simply say<br>you'll end the contract at any time <SYNC Start=1447920><P Class=ENUSCC>without permission or cause. <SYNC Start=1450320><P Class=ENUSCC>He had some good legal quotes<br>pertaining to that, such as <SYNC Start=1453470><P Class=ENUSCC>"The validity and<br>enforcement of contracts <SYNC Start=1456034><P Class=ENUSCC>cannot be left to the discretion<br>of one of the contracting parties." <SYNC Start=1460236><P Class=ENUSCC>Also, <SYNC Start=1461136><P Class=ENUSCC>"No one may be deprived<br>of their property <SYNC Start=1463468><P Class=ENUSCC>except by competent authority <SYNC Start=1465301><P Class=ENUSCC>and for justifiable<br>reasons of public utility, <SYNC Start=1468169><P Class=ENUSCC>always subject to the<br>corresponding compensation." <SYNC Start=1471189><P Class=ENUSCC>He also mentioned that this may<br>circumvent Articles 17 and 38 <SYNC Start=1475120><P Class=ENUSCC>of the EU Charter<br>of Fundamental Rights, <SYNC Start=1477600><P Class=ENUSCC>and that this falls under<br>Articles 4.2.f, 12, 114.3, and 169 <SYNC Start=1484880><P Class=ENUSCC>of the Treaty on the Functioning<br>of the European Union. <SYNC Start=1488114><P Class=ENUSCC>And that's on top of Directives<br>93/13/EEC and 2019/770 <SYNC Start=1494960><P Class=ENUSCC>that the EU Commission mentioned. <SYNC Start=1497040><P Class=ENUSCC>He thinks that EU consumer law<br>is among the best in the world <SYNC Start=1500720><P Class=ENUSCC>and I'm inclined to agree, <SYNC Start=1502720><P Class=ENUSCC>so we came to the right place<br>to get this problem examined. <SYNC Start=1506080><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, I'm not doing him justice. <SYNC Start=1508080><P Class=ENUSCC>For those interested in this part, <SYNC Start=1509514><P Class=ENUSCC>we plan to have him appear<br>in a video later on, <SYNC Start=1512080><P Class=ENUSCC>going into detail on this study, <SYNC Start=1513760><P Class=ENUSCC>so you can hear about<br>it directly from him. <SYNC Start=1516053><P Class=ENUSCC>More news, that's the EU itself, <SYNC Start=1518467><P Class=ENUSCC>but in Poland, <SYNC Start=1519467><P Class=ENUSCC>we've been in touch with<br>the Polish government, <SYNC Start=1521360><P Class=ENUSCC>and they've been very supportive, <SYNC Start=1522960><P Class=ENUSCC>along with the major<br>opposition party in Poland. <SYNC Start=1525840><P Class=ENUSCC>So, there's support across<br>party lines on this issue there. <SYNC Start=1529680><P Class=ENUSCC>I mentioned the ongoing consumer<br>action in Germany and France, <SYNC Start=1533040><P Class=ENUSCC>though in France especially, <SYNC Start=1534800><P Class=ENUSCC>all news I've received <SYNC Start=1535968><P Class=ENUSCC>suggests we're going to get as fair<br>a hearing as possible on this issue <SYNC Start=1539520><P Class=ENUSCC>by the DGCCRF. <SYNC Start=1541521><P Class=ENUSCC>We can't ask for more than that. <SYNC Start=1543680><P Class=ENUSCC>And hey, <SYNC Start=1544400><P Class=ENUSCC>maybe that NGO can help activate<br>more countries on this, we'll see. <SYNC Start=1548320><P Class=ENUSCC>We're building momentum. <SYNC Start=1549867><P Class=ENUSCC>When it comes to the issue<br>of game destruction, <SYNC Start=1552247><P Class=ENUSCC>all signs point to<br>the video game industry <SYNC Start=1554560><P Class=ENUSCC>breaking the law on<br>a massive scale in Europe. <SYNC Start=1557440><P Class=ENUSCC>There just hasn't been<br>any enforcement on it. <SYNC Start=1559840><P Class=ENUSCC>I think we'll change that. <SYNC Start=1561560><P Class=ENUSCC>…eventually. <SYNC Start=1563100><P Class=ENUSCC>Again, we'd <i>prefer</i> to just<br>work out a sensible new law <SYNC Start=1566480><P Class=ENUSCC>to make this as easy as<br>possible on everyone. <SYNC Start=1569040><P Class=ENUSCC>That's why we use the terminology <SYNC Start=1570701><P Class=ENUSCC>"reasonably playable"<br>in the Initiative, <SYNC Start=1573300><P Class=ENUSCC>similar to the<br>Right to Repair Directive <SYNC Start=1575367><P Class=ENUSCC>talking about a "reasonable price"<br>or a "reasonable time." <SYNC Start=1579520><P Class=ENUSCC>We want games to be<br>"reasonably playable." <SYNC Start=1582440><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, that has some interpretation, <SYNC Start=1584320><P Class=ENUSCC>but deliberately disabling<br>every customer copy of a game <SYNC Start=1587840><P Class=ENUSCC>is not "reasonably playable." <SYNC Start=1590160><P Class=ENUSCC>But what that phrase means <SYNC Start=1591440><P Class=ENUSCC>is we're leaving maximum<br>flexibility to the industry <SYNC Start=1594400><P Class=ENUSCC>for how they achieve this, <SYNC Start=1595760><P Class=ENUSCC>and are open to any solution<br>that solves the problem. <SYNC Start=1599760><P Class=ENUSCC>But we do want to solve the problem. <SYNC Start=1601594><P Class=ENUSCC>We are sticklers for that part. <SYNC Start=1604200><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, I've been asked to point out<br>in the statement lobby group <SYNC Start=1606768><P Class=ENUSCC>Video Games Europe made on us, <SYNC Start=1608967><P Class=ENUSCC>they said they're looking forward<br>to discuss their position <SYNC Start=1611300><P Class=ENUSCC>with policy makers, <SYNC Start=1612567><P Class=ENUSCC>which they no doubt have, <SYNC Start=1614560><P Class=ENUSCC>and those who have led the<br>European Citizens' Initiative <SYNC Start=1617047><P Class=ENUSCC>in the coming months. <SYNC Start=1618374><P Class=ENUSCC>Well, that was seven months ago, <SYNC Start=1620233><P Class=ENUSCC>and we still have not heard<br>one word from them. <SYNC Start=1622960><P Class=ENUSCC>They're welcome to contact us, <SYNC Start=1624480><P Class=ENUSCC>and in fact, the movement<br>is preparing meetings in the future <SYNC Start=1627167><P Class=ENUSCC>to make it even easier. <SYNC Start=1629040><P Class=ENUSCC>They're invited<br>for public discussions. <SYNC Start=1631733><P Class=ENUSCC>Anyway, that's the news for the EU. <SYNC Start=1634140><P Class=ENUSCC>Elsewhere, I didn't really<br>cover it at the time, <SYNC Start=1637033><P Class=ENUSCC>but our government<br>petition in the UK <SYNC Start=1638934><P Class=ENUSCC>did get brought before Parliament, <SYNC Start=1640800><P Class=ENUSCC>and it was declined. <SYNC Start=1642240><P Class=ENUSCC>But that wasn't a huge surprise, <SYNC Start=1644240><P Class=ENUSCC>the UK was always<br>more of a long shot. <SYNC Start=1646320><P Class=ENUSCC>It simply doesn't have<br>the same consumer protection laws <SYNC Start=1648800><P Class=ENUSCC>that the EU does. <SYNC Start=1650267><P Class=ENUSCC>That said, there actually<br>may be another angle <SYNC Start=1653120><P Class=ENUSCC>to get protections<br>in the UK later on <SYNC Start=1655440><P Class=ENUSCC>that I'm not at liberty<br>to talk about yet, <SYNC Start=1658080><P Class=ENUSCC>but that one's really iffy,<br>even more of a long shot, <SYNC Start=1661077><P Class=ENUSCC>so don't count on that. <SYNC Start=1662880><P Class=ENUSCC>For our intents and purposes,<br>the UK is probably cooked. <SYNC Start=1666577><P Class=ENUSCC>Probably. <SYNC Start=1667967><P Class=ENUSCC>Outside of Europe, <SYNC Start=1669207><P Class=ENUSCC>in 2024, we submitted complaints to<br>the ACCC on <i>The Crew</i> in Australia, <SYNC Start=1674560><P Class=ENUSCC>and a law firm stated that it had<br>been escalated internally there, <SYNC Start=1678160><P Class=ENUSCC>and they are still<br>making their decision, <SYNC Start=1680390><P Class=ENUSCC>like Germany and France. <SYNC Start=1682880><P Class=ENUSCC>So, there's just more<br>waiting to do there. <SYNC Start=1685393><P Class=ENUSCC>And ironically, <SYNC Start=1686468><P Class=ENUSCC>it blows my mind that the USA<br>is currently in the lead <SYNC Start=1690400><P Class=ENUSCC>for things happening<br>first on this issue. <SYNC Start=1693004><P Class=ENUSCC>But I still have a lot of skepticism<br>on how that turns out. <SYNC Start=1697333><P Class=ENUSCC>The takeaway from all this <SYNC Start=1698560><P Class=ENUSCC>is while I hope we have a favorable<br>answer from the Commission <SYNC Start=1701280><P Class=ENUSCC>and can really start<br>solving the problem, <SYNC Start=1703660><P Class=ENUSCC>don't be discouraged <SYNC Start=1704701><P Class=ENUSCC>if there's nothing to celebrate<br>from the meeting. <SYNC Start=1707137><P Class=ENUSCC>We're working around it<br>just in case. <SYNC Start=1710160><P Class=ENUSCC>We are coming at this issue so hard. <SYNC Start=1713120><P Class=ENUSCC>When you consider the NGOs,<br>the consumer agencies, <SYNC Start=1716557><P Class=ENUSCC>possible court action,<br>the Initiative, <SYNC Start=1719200><P Class=ENUSCC>working with Parliament,<br>legal studies, <SYNC Start=1721600><P Class=ENUSCC>hell, even the US bills, <SYNC Start=1723686><P Class=ENUSCC>but most of all, <SYNC Start=1724700><P Class=ENUSCC>EU law is already<br>on our side on this. <SYNC Start=1728320><P Class=ENUSCC>We're going to find a way<br>to make this work. <SYNC Start=1730210><P Class=ENUSCC>Your guess is as good<br>as mine which one, <SYNC Start=1733360><P Class=ENUSCC>and there's actually even<br>a couple <i>more</i> things going on <SYNC Start=1736394><P Class=ENUSCC>I can't talk about yet <SYNC Start=1738160><P Class=ENUSCC>that could be a path<br>to victory also. <SYNC Start=1740710><P Class=ENUSCC>Now, as much as I don't like<br>how this campaign <SYNC Start=1743134><P Class=ENUSCC>keeps derailing my life, <SYNC Start=1745440><P Class=ENUSCC>I'm really happy we're getting<br>lots of competent help now <SYNC Start=1748480><P Class=ENUSCC>that can hopefully take this over<br>entirely at some point. <SYNC Start=1751920><P Class=ENUSCC>At the beginning of the campaign, <SYNC Start=1753631><P Class=ENUSCC>I said this is all<br>an amateur effort. <SYNC Start=1756427><P Class=ENUSCC>That's becoming less<br>and less true now. <SYNC Start=1759040><P Class=ENUSCC>We're getting more and more<br>of the help we need. <SYNC Start=1761867><P Class=ENUSCC>All right, that's it. <SYNC Start=1763360><P Class=ENUSCC>We'll see how things<br>go with the Commission. <SYNC Start=1765336><P Class=ENUSCC><font color="#ffff00"><i>[Subtitles by Erasmus Magnus]</i></font> </BODY> </SAMI>
  2. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Some more remixes: https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/350227 https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/1510088
  3. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Better a Kilroy than a Killjoy Knutson. The K's not silent, you can use Google Translate to Auto-detect name languages for accurate pronunciation.
  4. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Well, it's no longer available on Steam.
  5. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Limited of course, but a decent time for a single playthrough, or a second thinner one.
  6. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    The closest thing we'll get to They Hunger: Lost Souls (barring the leak). The atmosphere was that palpable for me. Like They Hunger, you begin wrecked in a small mysterious town at night, seemingly devoid of life, until you discover... what else? I really took a liking to the level design with the minor puzzles for pacing, and many small hidden areas that reward exploration. It's less linear than Half-Life, there are often multiple pathways to take to get to your destination, but never to the point of frustration, just thoughtful navigation. The minor negatives are it losing the punch of its atmosphere closer to the end, and being stuck in the darkness with a dead flashlight, being forced to repeatedly press f to get any kind of light.
  7. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    I saw a video of a guy playing this game. The brief snippets I saw were enough to get me interested in the franchise as I wasn't familiar with the original comic or the movies. That and I'm a sucker for turn-of-the-millenium 3D dreamlike cyberpunk map design. The Messiah Game Dungeon is one of my all time favorites simply for how disorientating and hostile the game and premise is, it's like a fucked up dream, I love it.
  8. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Nice, I saw it was uploaded! The dub makers responded and said they can dub whatever we want if we ask. So @Ross Scott, let us know if you want more of your videos dubbed, we can make it happen.
  9. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    IT'S THAT VAMPIRE'S FAULT. It's that same corner. He's been hunting everyone, that's why they vanished. He's why there's all this fog! To make sure no one asks about his shadow ever again. Jaywalker? Just one step removed from vehicular assault! And of course the cave is his lair, with the creatures his progeny. It all fits. Slap the silver cuffs on him.
  10. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Another freighthopping Brave Dave? There's room enough for two!
  11. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Take Minecraft. Where you can change the world in anyway. Put it in the "oldest anarchy server" where people honestly try to play the game on equal stakes on equal ground. And holy shit things get insane fast. People still build. People still play. It's like trying to survive in a player-made apocalypse of biblical proportions. The only real rule is that anything that doesn't threaten the server's very existence is permitted. This server turns every player wizard-hacker in deep subterfuge seeing how far they can push the envelope every day. This is the kind of server where the morbidly curious want to see how psychopaths commit social engineering, exploits worthy of Neo shaping the Matrix that would literally be impossible on any normal server, and regular borderline illegal hacking for amusement. I get a real kick out of this. The kind of server where you have to have hacks on by default, and that's STILL not enough. This guy has loads of stories like this, here's a great introduction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtuSXLM8TQE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG6uaHAJyAc
  12. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Unless Ross strikes down with the wrath of Zeus, go for it, I've always wanted the highest definition videos. Especially since YouTube is paywalling full 1080p bitrates nowadays.
  13. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    BETTER. Now that YouTube dubbing is feature supported, just like the Spanish SKG ECI dub, we can officially add this Russian voiceover ourselves! I contacted the creator and he gave his permission. He clarified that without doing brand new lip-synced dubbing from scratch, this style of voiceover is very popular in Russia. Here you go @danielsangeo. I cannot believe I now have an honest to god dub folder. Dub upload process. Translated Russian Title: Игры-сервисы - это обман Credits: Text read by Alexey Gneushev. Translation by Nikita Koval. Sound engineer by Mikhail Krinkov.
  14. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    "Oh yeah, when I think of medieval fantasy, the first thing I think of is a saxophone":
  15. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Oh crap, I forgot until now since it's been ages since I last interacted with these. One more quirk of @BIRB's subtitles is that they are ANSI encoded. So accented character appear weird unless the file is saved as UTF-8 in Notepad or something. Sorry about that. I remember taking care of that for the first 53 episodes now. Those at least don't have to be resaved. You're 100% right it's not a fun process but hey at least we've got posterity now.
  16. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Well, at least now that YouTube finally rolled it out site-wide, the silver lining is maybe we can get more official dubs. It was fun to make this one.
  17. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    BIRB made color subtitles correctly. YouTube does not read them correctly. A simple SRT > SMI conversion fixes this. 1. Download BIRB's .SRTs on the forums, starting from Episode 54. 2. Manually save each .SRT as an .SMI (with a program such as "Subtitle Edit") 3. Upload to YouTube The end tl;dr: BIRB's .SRTs > "Save As" .SMI > Upload to YouTube
  18. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Much appreciated! For clarify, subtitles from episodes 54 up to Freeman's Mind 2 are in color, but the SRTs haven't been converted to SMIs yet. This is as simple in Subtitle Edit as (Open SRT > Save as SAMI (.smi) ) Please note that the RAR files contain a COLORLESS SMI and should therefore be ignored.
  19. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Hm, I remember them displaying correctly when originally uploaded. Were they edited or corrected inside YouTube Studio at some point? Doing so removes the formatting of italicizing and positioning. If there were no corrections, you can simply copy and paste the WebVTT contents into a .txt file and reupload them. If there are corrections, you can tell me yourself or do them manually inside a text editor so it doesn't flatten the markup.
  20. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    How's Honey, I Joined a Cult? Seems to tick all the boxes. Except maybe the cutesy art style and 70s kitsch. Otherwise, everything seems to be there.
  21. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    And only 21 hours after upload. I was occupied, so these are later than I like, but here you are, with positioning data. WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:01.287 Hey! 00:00:01.287 --> 00:00:04.800 This video is a bit awkward, since a little over a month ago, 00:00:04.800 --> 00:00:08.454 I made one called "The end of Stop Killing Games", 00:00:08.454 --> 00:00:12.480 and this is a wrap up to Stop Killing Games. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:14.590 In my defense, when I made that, 00:00:14.590 --> 00:00:16.880 I really did think that was close to the end 00:00:16.880 --> 00:00:19.661 for what Stop Killing Games could influence. 00:00:19.661 --> 00:00:22.000 But since we didn't accomplish everything, 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.147 I wanted to go down swinging. 00:00:24.147 --> 00:00:26.424 Well, through dumb luck, 00:00:26.424 --> 00:00:30.044 that video swung so hard, it changed the timeline. 00:00:30.044 --> 00:00:32.866 So now I should probably do a different one. 00:00:32.866 --> 00:00:36.720 Just to let people know upfront, this video isn't that important. 00:00:36.720 --> 00:00:40.400 It's going to go over various things, but nothing earth-shattering. 00:00:40.400 --> 00:00:42.800 Yeah, in fact, let's get the important stuff out of the way. 00:00:42.800 --> 00:00:44.720 It's only a few things. 00:00:44.720 --> 00:00:46.154 If you're in the EU, 00:00:46.154 --> 00:00:47.600 line:0 you can still contact members 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:48.833 line:0 of European Parliament 00:00:48.833 --> 00:00:49.533 line:0 to support 00:00:49.533 --> 00:00:52.447 line:0 the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative. 00:00:52.447 --> 00:00:56.320 And you and people from several other European countries 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:59.440 can add a comment to the Digital Fairness Act, 00:00:59.440 --> 00:01:02.000 asking politely if they can add protections 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.967 from publishers destroying video games you've already paid for. 00:01:05.967 --> 00:01:07.974 And I guess if you're in the UK, 00:01:07.974 --> 00:01:10.480 you can still contact members of Parliament 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:14.640 to support the government petition to stop destroying games there. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:18.560 Though, I won't lie, the UK situation is a lot iffier. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:21.200 Finally, this one's a shot in the dark, 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:25.200 but I've been advised if anyone has connections to the EU Commission, 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:29.920 specifically mid-level admin workers, that could be very helpful. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:31.168 line:0 You can contact me, 00:01:31.168 --> 00:01:33.040 line:0 or the official spokesperson. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:33.934 line:0 His contact info 00:01:33.934 --> 00:01:35.633 line:0 is on the initiative page. 00:01:35.633 --> 00:01:36.960 Okay, that's it. 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:39.180 Nothing else I'm going to say here really matters much, 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:41.680 so if you want to stop watching, that's fine. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:42.760 I guess, first off, 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:46.400 thanks to everyone who's assisted with the Stop Killing Games campaign, 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:48.000 or is still helping. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.014 It's involved literally millions of people at this point. 00:01:52.014 --> 00:01:55.448 On one hand, I'm really glad we got the help we needed. 00:01:55.448 --> 00:02:00.320 On the other, I still can't shake the feeling of how stupid this all is. 00:02:00.320 --> 00:02:04.966 Not people helping, but that we have to fight for any of this to begin with. 00:02:04.966 --> 00:02:09.280 The issue of not destroying games that people have already paid for 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:13.200 in a business bigger than the film and music industry combined 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:15.840 when the whole thing is entirely preventable 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.240 has always struck me as crazy. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:22.000 I still view this like fighting for the right to have plumbing in your home, 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:26.534 or to demand that bread you buy shouldn't be filled with sawdust. 00:02:26.534 --> 00:02:31.381 And no, not just a label telling you that your bread contains sawdust. 00:02:31.381 --> 00:02:35.920 There is such a thing as minimum standards for many products. 00:02:35.920 --> 00:02:40.800 So this entire movement has never been a calling for me, and still isn't. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:42.574 It's more like this particular practice 00:02:42.574 --> 00:02:45.280 has annoyed me way more than the average person, 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:46.720 and I just want it to go away 00:02:46.720 --> 00:02:49.854 so I can spend my time on things I'd rather be doing. 00:02:49.854 --> 00:02:52.080 However, through dumb luck, 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:55.680 I've been in a unique position to attempt to end this practice, 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.601 and I knew I would feel like a giant hypocrite 00:02:57.601 --> 00:02:59.920 if I didn't give it my best shot. 00:02:59.920 --> 00:03:01.520 So I guess first 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.600 why don't we go over what that shot has looked like, 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:05.520 and how effective it's been. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:08.366 Let's pull up the old battle plans again. 00:03:08.366 --> 00:03:11.120 Okay, so here are the original plans, 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:13.760 but new options opened up along the way. 00:03:13.760 --> 00:03:15.520 So, here's the updated version. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.360 And rather than go over everything, 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.160 I made a key showing the state of each attempt. 00:03:20.160 --> 00:03:22.277 I'm rating this by two metrics: 00:03:22.277 --> 00:03:26.560 Did we accomplish what we set out to do, and how effective was that? 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.760 Well, on the first metric, we've actually done amazing. 00:03:29.760 --> 00:03:31.553 We have maximized our chances 00:03:31.553 --> 00:03:34.483 to push back against the issue of games being destroyed 00:03:34.483 --> 00:03:36.160 on almost every front. 00:03:36.160 --> 00:03:37.534 That's incredible. 00:03:37.534 --> 00:03:40.488 I wouldn't have predicted we would have gotten this far. 00:03:40.488 --> 00:03:45.040 In fact, I'd say the only place we outright failed to launch was Brazil. 00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:46.400 It was looking promising, 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.040 but we ran into a wall where the law firm needed more data 00:03:49.040 --> 00:03:51.680 on how many copies of <i>The Crew</i> were sold in Brazil, 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:53.541 and we just weren't able to find it. 00:03:53.541 --> 00:03:54.960 So, bummer about that, 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:58.100 but I think it wasn't the most pivotal country in this either. 00:03:58.100 --> 00:04:01.401 I think France, Germany, Australia, 00:04:01.401 --> 00:04:04.560 and the EU as a whole are the heavyweights in this. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.000 As long as we get a major market prohibiting game destruction, 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:10.240 I think we'll largely win this globally. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:13.847 But what about the second metric: how effective this all was? 00:04:13.847 --> 00:04:16.261 Well, some were outright failures, 00:04:16.261 --> 00:04:18.533 some of which were kind of expected, 00:04:18.533 --> 00:04:21.128 but by and large, we still don't know. 00:04:21.128 --> 00:04:24.400 All the consumer agencies are still investigating this. 00:04:24.400 --> 00:04:27.440 The Digital Fairness Act is still accepting comments. 00:04:27.440 --> 00:04:30.480 Hell, even for the European Citizens' Initiative, 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.600 we still don't know if we actually got enough valid signatures. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:35.520 Though, I think we probably did. 00:04:35.520 --> 00:04:36.720 So, as you can see, 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:39.680 a whole lot of the campaign now involves waiting. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.201 And government does not move quickly. 00:04:42.201 --> 00:04:43.040 But seriously, 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:47.422 I think we've done about as well as is humanly possible, given the landscape, 00:04:47.422 --> 00:04:50.533 especially considering that I'm just a friggin' YouTuber! 00:04:50.533 --> 00:04:53.840 I think all this stuff we've launched are our best shots. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:57.440 I don't see lots of new stuff on the horizon later. 00:04:57.440 --> 00:05:00.160 I think we either win on at least one of these, 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.800 or if they all fail, then it's over. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:05.040 Besides the Digital Fairness Act, 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:07.840 the only big one I think I still have any influence over 00:05:07.840 --> 00:05:10.200 is the European Citizens' Initiative. 00:05:10.200 --> 00:05:12.960 However, since the signing period is over, 00:05:12.960 --> 00:05:15.520 we're entering a phase where things like counter-lobbying 00:05:15.520 --> 00:05:18.437 and political connections are most important. 00:05:18.437 --> 00:05:21.344 And frankly, that is not my department. 00:05:21.344 --> 00:05:24.217 I know <i>nothing</i> about that. 00:05:24.217 --> 00:05:26.320 Though, some political insiders do, 00:05:26.320 --> 00:05:29.360 and they're advising the official organizers. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.524 I'm not even aware of all their plans, 00:05:31.524 --> 00:05:35.166 but even if I was, I probably wouldn't say what they're up to. 00:05:35.166 --> 00:05:39.120 Ever since the industry took a shot at us with fabricated claims, 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.240 I've been acting a little bit like I've been Mirandized. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.800 So, on some parts of this, I may be very quiet, 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:48.560 since I know <i>someone</i> is trying to use that against us. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:52.320 If the insiders have requests for me, I'll probably follow them, 00:05:52.320 --> 00:05:55.840 but this is turning into a game I'm not qualified to play. 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:59.577 I am qualified to encourage people to sign a form. 00:05:59.577 --> 00:06:01.840 That's more within my skillset. 00:06:01.840 --> 00:06:03.820 I don't have a timetable on the initiative, 00:06:03.820 --> 00:06:05.920 since some of it is out of our control, 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:09.200 but it's going to be months down the line before there's a hearing. 00:06:09.200 --> 00:06:11.328 I probably will be assisting the organizers 00:06:11.328 --> 00:06:14.994 with notes and talking points for when they go to the EU Commission. 00:06:14.994 --> 00:06:16.560 Assuming they do. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.120 I mean, we're probably safe with the signatures, 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:21.274 but if we don't have a million valid ones, 00:06:21.274 --> 00:06:23.520 none of this part matters anyway. 00:06:23.520 --> 00:06:27.766 That's why we have alternate plans of attack just in case others fail. 00:06:27.766 --> 00:06:31.440 So that's where my mind is at, but if I confuse people, here: 00:06:31.440 --> 00:06:33.434 line:10% I made a chart of Ross-vision 00:06:33.434 --> 00:06:35.514 line:10% on how I see the campaign right now. 00:06:35.514 --> 00:06:37.533 line:10% That should hopefully clear it up. 00:06:37.533 --> 00:06:38.480 Now, some have asked, 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.055 "Hey, since you're winding down your end of things on the campaign, 00:06:42.055 --> 00:06:45.464 can you pass the torch on this, or let the community take over?" 00:06:45.464 --> 00:06:46.960 Yeah. Sure. 00:06:46.960 --> 00:06:49.440 You don't even have to wait on me, really. 00:06:49.440 --> 00:06:51.120 I actually have someone in mind 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:54.480 who might be great to lead or help lead things in the future. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:58.320 It's the same person who helped organize things to contact TV stations, 00:06:58.320 --> 00:07:02.560 and was talking about a possible watchdog group if the initiative did pass. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.500 So he's had good ideas. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:05.920 As for the community, 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.800 I'm afraid I don't have a solid plan for that as of yet, 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:10.960 other than it's being sorted out. 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:13.197 A lot of people are helping with that. 00:07:13.197 --> 00:07:16.480 Yeah, in fact, I'm not even in direct control of the website, 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.240 so it may be outdated for a few days 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.280 while the person who does maintain it is working on it. 00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:23.667 Now, I am pessimistic on how much we can do 00:07:23.667 --> 00:07:26.240 beyond the action we've already put into play, 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.708 but I'm of course in favor of people continuing 00:07:28.708 --> 00:07:32.001 Stop Killing Games-related things if they want. 00:07:32.001 --> 00:07:33.961 Speaking of related things, 00:07:33.961 --> 00:07:36.202 I've received a lot of questions about the current 00:07:36.202 --> 00:07:39.440 Steam and Itch censorship going on right now. 00:07:39.440 --> 00:07:41.014 I am not an expert on that, 00:07:41.014 --> 00:07:43.920 but I can talk about how it relates to us. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.720 I have some good news and some bad news, 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:48.720 and I think some more good news. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.760 The good news is if a storefront removed your game, 00:07:51.760 --> 00:07:53.821 and gave you no ability to back it up 00:07:53.821 --> 00:07:56.560 and continue running it without further support, 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:01.600 then that is exactly the situation Stop Killing Games is trying to address. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.160 We've been mostly focused on games 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.240 that have the online dependency built into the game, 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.814 but if a store gave you no notice before removing your game, 00:08:09.814 --> 00:08:12.761 then yeah, it's the same problem, just a different flavor. 00:08:12.761 --> 00:08:15.860 The game you paid for was taken from you! 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:18.960 Now, stores could still remove access to games you paid for, 00:08:18.960 --> 00:08:21.997 but they would have to give you 30 days' notice or something, 00:08:21.997 --> 00:08:25.040 <i>and</i> the ability to back it up and keep running the game 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:27.520 before something like that would be okay. 00:08:27.520 --> 00:08:29.920 So, while we can't address this situation now, 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:32.997 because again, government moves really slowly, 00:08:32.997 --> 00:08:33.885 what we're doing 00:08:33.885 --> 00:08:37.533 could partially protect against situations like this in the future. 00:08:37.533 --> 00:08:39.900 Now, the bad news is Stop Killing Games 00:08:39.900 --> 00:08:44.160 would do nothing to prevent companies from delisting games. 00:08:44.160 --> 00:08:45.760 That's because to solve that, 00:08:45.760 --> 00:08:49.900 you'd have to create law mandating stores keep selling games. 00:08:49.900 --> 00:08:53.440 That seems unreasonable and unrealistic. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:54.708 We're also not addressing 00:08:54.708 --> 00:08:59.280 Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal's grip on entire world commerce, 00:08:59.280 --> 00:09:02.240 because that sounds like a way, <i>way</i> bigger scope 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.466 than anything I could ever deal with. 00:09:04.466 --> 00:09:07.680 One of the reasons Stop Killing Games has made it so far 00:09:07.680 --> 00:09:11.440 is because there are gaps in the law on the issue of game destruction. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:16.720 We're shining a flashlight on a practice that may <i>already</i> be illegal. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:18.960 I can't even imagine where you would start 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:22.486 with trying to rein in payment processors. 00:09:22.486 --> 00:09:26.560 That said, this censorship problem has gotten a lot of attention. 00:09:26.560 --> 00:09:29.520 So hopefully smarter and more experienced people than myself 00:09:29.520 --> 00:09:31.840 know how to push back against this. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:33.360 But even if they don't, 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.880 I think this is a problem that will solve itself over time. 00:09:36.880 --> 00:09:39.360 That's because both players and publishers 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:42.640 want to buy and sell the games that are being censored. 00:09:42.640 --> 00:09:45.866 So that means there's real market pressure to find a solution. 00:09:45.866 --> 00:09:49.520 In fact, I bet there's a startup frantically trying to fill the gap 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:52.240 that credit card companies are leaving them right now, 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.360 because there's so much money being left on the table for them. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.640 If you bet on companies wanting to make lots of money, 00:09:58.640 --> 00:10:00.560 you're rarely disappointed. 00:10:00.560 --> 00:10:03.401 I also think this situation points out how hollow 00:10:03.401 --> 00:10:08.514 the alternative "solutions" you sometimes see suggested are, 00:10:08.514 --> 00:10:13.214 like "clear labeling" or "voting with your wallet." 00:10:13.214 --> 00:10:18.170 In both cases, those do not save the games you want to keep. 00:10:18.170 --> 00:10:20.850 It's the same for censored games also. 00:10:20.850 --> 00:10:22.271 Voting with your wallet 00:10:22.271 --> 00:10:27.066 only helps if the game is allowed to exist in the first place. 00:10:27.066 --> 00:10:29.188 So, Stop Killing Games would only help with 00:10:29.188 --> 00:10:32.560 part of this censorship situation in the future, 00:10:32.560 --> 00:10:36.000 but it's certainly compatible with people trying to do more. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:38.400 Okay, speaking of the future, 00:10:38.400 --> 00:10:40.400 I think what we've done with Stop Killing Games 00:10:40.400 --> 00:10:42.800 has actually changed the timeline, 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:44.800 or is attempting to. 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:47.600 As someone who's been at ground zero on this, 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.240 I thought it might be fun to compare what would still be happening 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.640 if the movement had never happened. 00:10:52.640 --> 00:10:54.667 First, let's look at the battle plans. 00:10:54.667 --> 00:10:58.020 How many of these would still be happening without us? 00:10:58.020 --> 00:11:00.377 Oh, yeah. Nothing! 00:11:00.377 --> 00:11:02.514 None of this would be happening! 00:11:02.514 --> 00:11:06.960 Stop Killing Games is taking credit for getting <i>all</i> of this rolling. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.160 If you don't believe me, 00:11:08.160 --> 00:11:11.440 I encourage you to look at any news related to saving your games 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:14.160 prior to January 2024. 00:11:14.160 --> 00:11:15.977 I feel certain, without us, 00:11:15.977 --> 00:11:18.181 <i>The Crew</i> would have been just another shutdown, 00:11:18.181 --> 00:11:24.080 like <i>Darkspore</i>, <i>BattleForge</i>, <i>PlanetSide</i>, <i>Asheron's Call</i>, <i>Dust 514</i>. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.560 I mean, if any game was going to get people motivated, 00:11:26.560 --> 00:11:28.560 I would think it would be <i>Overwatch</i>. 00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:30.828 It sold over 50 million copies, 00:11:30.828 --> 00:11:32.034 was destroyed, 00:11:32.034 --> 00:11:35.600 and people just accepted it, best I can tell. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.960 I think it didn't have the same legal openings that <i>The Crew</i> did, 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:43.520 but there wasn't an upswell that led to any big action that I'm aware of. 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:45.760 I think if we hadn't acted when we did, 00:11:45.760 --> 00:11:48.240 then game destruction would just continue as usual, 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:52.597 the same way it did in 2023, 2022, and so on. 00:11:52.597 --> 00:11:57.007 I really believe this movement was our only chance on this. 00:11:57.007 --> 00:11:59.200 Oh, sure, there would be other game shutdowns, 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.280 but then people would just accept them too, 00:12:01.280 --> 00:12:03.760 like they're some sort of law of nature. 00:12:03.760 --> 00:12:05.977 Hell, some still do. 00:12:05.977 --> 00:12:09.680 You know, I never expected a <i>Penny Arcade</i> comic on this, 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:12.240 but I love the write-up underneath it: 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:16.160 "What we've been conditioned to believe is normal simply isn't." 00:12:16.160 --> 00:12:19.877 "The purpose of the campaign is to give you what you already own." 00:12:19.877 --> 00:12:22.160 "It's a bizarre state of affairs." 00:12:22.160 --> 00:12:24.960 The part about conditioning is so true. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.988 From my perspective, 00:12:25.988 --> 00:12:27.900 it's felt like <i>lots</i> of gamers 00:12:27.900 --> 00:12:30.880 have gotten brainwashed on this over the years. 00:12:30.880 --> 00:12:34.950 I really feel like we're defying the odds by getting people to wake up. 00:12:34.950 --> 00:12:38.400 So what didn't we change related to game ownership? 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:40.100 Well, there's a few things. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:43.840 That bill in California doubling down and saying you own nothing, 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:45.620 but that there should be clear labels 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:48.100 about you owning nothing would still have passed. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:51.966 That was mostly from Sony pulling movies off its platform, not us. 00:12:51.966 --> 00:12:55.760 The court case against Ubisoft in the US might still have gone through. 00:12:55.760 --> 00:12:59.200 It depends on how motivated the plaintiffs were by the movement or not. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:01.561 I unfortunately think that case has no chance 00:13:01.561 --> 00:13:03.920 of stopping the practice of game destruction, 00:13:03.920 --> 00:13:05.600 but we weren't behind that one. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:09.267 Server emulator attempts on <i>The Crew</i> would still be happening without us, 00:13:09.267 --> 00:13:10.160 thankfully. 00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:11.688 The US copyright office 00:13:11.688 --> 00:13:14.787 would still have rejected the Video Game History Foundation's attempt 00:13:14.787 --> 00:13:18.633 to get extremely meager exemptions to the DMCA. 00:13:18.633 --> 00:13:21.120 And yeah, I think that's about it. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.781 We can take credit for pretty much everything else related 00:13:23.781 --> 00:13:27.854 to pushing back against game destruction from 2024 onward, 00:13:27.854 --> 00:13:30.000 unless you think that <i>Concord</i> is the spark 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.400 that would have rallied everyone to push back. 00:13:32.400 --> 00:13:33.547 Or hey, <i>Anthem</i>. 00:13:33.547 --> 00:13:35.066 That too. 00:13:35.066 --> 00:13:38.720 So, yeah, we're on a different timeline now! 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.833 It feels weird! 00:13:40.833 --> 00:13:44.240 Okay, and here's the part nobody is going to like. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:47.933 I have been exhausted almost every day for over a month now. 00:13:47.933 --> 00:13:50.541 This is what I'm looking like almost all the time now 00:13:50.541 --> 00:13:52.233 when I'm not on camera. 00:13:52.233 --> 00:13:56.400 I know a lot of people found out about Stop Killing Games just recently, 00:13:56.400 --> 00:13:59.920 but I've been going at it hard for over a year and a half now, 00:13:59.920 --> 00:14:03.600 and I wasn't exactly well-rested prior to that. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.680 When I made the first end video, 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.890 I thought I would get a break afterwards. 00:14:07.890 --> 00:14:08.800 Nope. 00:14:08.800 --> 00:14:10.877 It's been unending overtime, 00:14:10.877 --> 00:14:13.920 because like <i>hell</i> I was going to miss the opportunity 00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:15.853 to actually turn this around. 00:14:15.853 --> 00:14:18.560 But man, I am feeling it. 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:20.270 There's been something that has to be done 00:14:20.270 --> 00:14:22.960 every waking moment since then. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.800 And I have no room to complain, either. 00:14:24.800 --> 00:14:27.131 I'm the one who brought this on myself. 00:14:27.131 --> 00:14:28.000 Well, no, 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.160 the industry brought this on all of us, 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:32.737 but I'm the one who decided to get in front of it. 00:14:32.737 --> 00:14:33.834 But since I have, 00:14:33.834 --> 00:14:37.200 I have been getting worn the hell down. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.640 This may sound crazy, 00:14:38.640 --> 00:14:41.120 but I'm actually at a point where I'm becoming numb 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.280 as to whether we even win or not. 00:14:43.280 --> 00:14:45.164 If we win, great. 00:14:45.164 --> 00:14:48.080 If we lose, but I still gave it my best effort, 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.600 I can live with that. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:51.406 But what would drive me crazy 00:14:51.406 --> 00:14:55.760 is losing because I dropped the ball on something I could obviously fix. 00:14:55.760 --> 00:14:59.200 For example, if a regulator gets bribed by the industry, 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.266 I have no influence on that. 00:15:01.266 --> 00:15:04.160 But telling people there's a way for our issue to be a rider 00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:08.001 on the Digital Fairness Act if enough people comment on it, 00:15:08.001 --> 00:15:12.800 yeah, that is totally something I kind of had to do to maximize our chances. 00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:15.955 So I kind of either need to win or be defeated. 00:15:15.955 --> 00:15:18.560 In between just doesn't work for me. 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:22.800 I mean, even if we lose, I want everyone involved to own it. 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.914 So, if the EU says 00:15:23.914 --> 00:15:27.360 there's no problem with publishers killing games you paid for, 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.160 fine. 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:30.500 I want to hear them say that terms like these 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:33.633 are considered legal and completely fair 00:15:33.633 --> 00:15:36.400 under Directive 93/13/EEC, 00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:39.200 which is supposed to protect consumers against unfair terms 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:41.120 and mass-produced contracts. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.301 If consumer protections 00:15:42.301 --> 00:15:45.280 never really existed for video games this whole time, 00:15:45.280 --> 00:15:48.000 and the EU Commission wants to keep it that way, 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.680 then let's hear them say it so the whole world knows. 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:54.400 They could have saved me a lot of time and effort. 00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:58.133 I think there's a serious chance we could win though, somewhere. 00:15:58.133 --> 00:16:02.000 Anyway, I've said before I've kind of hated doing all of this. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.160 It's just been a competing scale of knowing I would hate myself more 00:16:05.160 --> 00:16:07.401 if I quit at a critical juncture. 00:16:07.401 --> 00:16:11.280 Well, I'm just about through the most critical junctures. 00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:12.640 Oh, there's more left, 00:16:12.640 --> 00:16:15.520 but not ones I know how to influence much. 00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:16.666 My goal on all of this 00:16:16.666 --> 00:16:21.280 has always been to get in, hit as hard as I can, then get out. 00:16:21.280 --> 00:16:24.480 The "getting out" part is taking longer than I would have wanted, 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.480 but that's still the plan. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:29.440 I want to be done with this so badly. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.800 I don't think a clean break is really possible for me yet. 00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:36.880 Even as I say this, I still have days of campaign work I'm behind on. 00:16:36.880 --> 00:16:39.440 But as soon as I start to get on top of things, 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:42.080 my plan is to be on a standby break, 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.057 where if something important happens where I need to do something, 00:16:45.057 --> 00:16:47.690 yeah, I'll drop everything and do it. 00:16:47.690 --> 00:16:52.080 Otherwise, I want out as soon as it won't cause things to implode. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.000 If you work past a certain point, 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.480 you kind of stop caring about everything, 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.233 or at least I do. 00:16:58.233 --> 00:17:02.584 Right now, I feel like I want to take a break for the next 10 years. 00:17:02.584 --> 00:17:05.760 I probably don't need to, or can't, really. 00:17:05.760 --> 00:17:07.440 Maybe I only need a couple days. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:09.300 I have no way of telling anymore. 00:17:09.300 --> 00:17:12.543 You know that life-draining machine from <i>The Princess Bride</i>? 00:17:12.543 --> 00:17:16.100 Yeah, I feel like I might have had a round or two on that. 00:17:16.100 --> 00:17:19.360 Ironically, I haven't had time to play <i>a game</i> 00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:21.600 for close to a couple months now. 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:26.240 I admit, part of me just wants to play games for days, and not look back. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.801 I'm reminded of an <i>Onion</i> article 00:17:27.801 --> 00:17:29.680 talking about how you could just stop working 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.920 and play video games until you run out of money, 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.214 and get evicted. 00:17:33.214 --> 00:17:35.333 My mind has gone there before. 00:17:35.333 --> 00:17:38.100 So, assuming I get my life force back at some point, 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:40.560 which I probably will, I don't know, 00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:43.360 I've noticed recently I have a lot of new viewers, 00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:46.337 so I should probably talk some about this channel. 00:17:46.337 --> 00:17:50.400 This whole thing with Stop Killing Games has been one giant detour for me. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:53.920 It's not what I want to spend my time on any more than necessary. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:56.880 Now, things could easily change, but at this moment, 00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:00.080 I have no plans to make more videos on Stop Killing Games, 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:02.480 because so much is underway now. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:05.680 Now, there are all kinds of things I probably could report on, 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.760 but here's the way I look at it. 00:18:07.760 --> 00:18:10.000 I see news related to game destruction 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.666 as kind of falling into one of two categories. 00:18:12.666 --> 00:18:15.360 Some news raises awareness of the problem, 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:17.334 but then nothing ever comes from it, 00:18:17.334 --> 00:18:18.800 nobody does anything, 00:18:18.800 --> 00:18:20.960 and the problem just gets worse. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.800 This is the kind I did without realizing it nine years off and on 00:18:24.800 --> 00:18:26.400 leading up to the campaign. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.990 Every video I've made on this subject prior to 2024 00:18:29.990 --> 00:18:32.480 never amounted to a damn thing. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.734 Now, the other category 00:18:33.734 --> 00:18:36.720 points to some sort of obvious action to be taken, 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:38.320 so people do something, 00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:40.400 and that can change the situation. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:43.041 A good chunk of the coverage I've done on Stop Killing Games 00:18:43.041 --> 00:18:44.700 has been an attempt at that. 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:47.760 See, I don't care about reporting the news. 00:18:47.760 --> 00:18:50.080 I care about games not being destroyed. 00:18:50.080 --> 00:18:52.480 The news was just a means to an end. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.520 So, since I have a lot of new subscribers lately, 00:18:55.520 --> 00:18:57.501 if you came here expecting a lot more news 00:18:57.501 --> 00:18:59.727 on dead games and the campaign, 00:18:59.727 --> 00:19:03.760 eh, you're probably going to be disappointed and should unsubscribe. 00:19:03.760 --> 00:19:06.960 I'm only interested in category two now. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.701 In my eyes, the important part is what we're doing, 00:19:09.701 --> 00:19:11.900 not how often I'm talking about it. 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:13.994 And <i>this</i> is what we've been doing. 00:19:13.994 --> 00:19:16.400 <i>This</i> is the part that counts for something. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.034 I know this is going to upset people, 00:19:18.034 --> 00:19:19.200 but it's like I said, 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:23.107 you work past a certain point, you stop caring about everything. 00:19:23.107 --> 00:19:26.160 Maybe I'll be more open-minded once I'm less burned out, 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:29.440 but this campaign stuff is not a new direction for the channel. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.200 This is all temporary. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:34.720 So, that may leave you wondering, what the hell is this channel then? 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.120 Well, normally it's a few things. 00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:40.960 The big thing I was doing prior to this was <i>Ross's Game Dungeon</i>, 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.960 where it's sort of a game review show, 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:46.080 but kind of targeted to something you might watch late at night, 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:48.640 when you're wondering what you're doing with your life. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:51.033 I think that's my target audience. 00:19:51.033 --> 00:19:53.267 The last episode, <i>Sabotain</i>, 00:19:53.267 --> 00:19:56.320 is actually pretty representative of what to expect, 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:58.480 though some can be much shorter. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:03.120 If you like that, then yes, you probably should stay subscribed. 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:06.080 I've also been meaning to continue <i>Freeman's Mind</i>, 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:09.840 where I narrate the thoughts of Gordon Freeman from <i>Half-Life</i>. 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:14.000 That one's kind of a runaway experiment that's been taking me too long to do, 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.000 but people still seem to want it. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:19.047 Now, what I've done in the past and would like to get back to 00:20:19.047 --> 00:20:23.166 are original comedy shorts using a game engine to animate the scenes. 00:20:23.166 --> 00:20:25.920 Most of these were a series called <i>Civil Protection</i>, 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.734 which is set in the <i>Half-Life 2</i> world 00:20:27.734 --> 00:20:29.900 created with its software development kit. 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:32.480 I also did one short in Source Filmmaker, 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.720 which is a whole different kind of pain. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:37.533 I've had other one-off original shorts also. 00:20:37.533 --> 00:20:40.640 They're almost all comedy or comedy-adventure. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.680 I like directing, 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:45.040 but I kind of hate animating, it's such a time sync. 00:20:45.040 --> 00:20:48.930 Though it's probably getting easier with more tools available nowadays, 00:20:48.930 --> 00:20:52.000 especially since I'm not aiming for Pixar quality. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.880 I care way more about writing and acting. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.320 I doubt I'll hit it, 00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:57.600 but my ideal look 00:20:57.600 --> 00:21:01.120 would be something like the in-game cutscenes from <i>StarCraft II</i>, 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:05.280 where it's obvious it's a game engine, but the animation still looks great. 00:21:05.280 --> 00:21:08.400 Now, I should warn people, I am slow. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:10.720 You know how most movies take a couple years to make 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.280 because a lot of effort goes into making them? 00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:16.424 That workflow is a lot more compatible with my brain, 00:21:16.424 --> 00:21:19.120 but that is not how things work on YouTube, 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:22.000 which wants new videos constantly. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.760 See, if I was smart, 00:21:23.760 --> 00:21:26.000 I would just make short commentary videos, 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.600 get way more views and income, 00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:30.400 and not bother with trying to make something more creative. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:34.200 But my instincts just tell me that is not what I should be doing. 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:38.400 I also do monthly streams with viewers where I just answer questions, 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.800 but those aren't really worth watching. 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:42.801 They're more just a proof-of-life thing, 00:21:42.801 --> 00:21:43.920 since in the past, 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:47.280 viewers would constantly make comments about whether I was dead or not, 00:21:47.280 --> 00:21:49.760 and now they don't say that so much. 00:21:49.760 --> 00:21:52.000 Though, I think I'm going to change that a little bit, 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.200 and start posting those on my secondary channel, 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:56.720 AccursedFarmsJunk instead. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.800 So hopefully, only videos I think have some merit to them 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:01.766 will be on this channel in the future. 00:22:01.766 --> 00:22:04.960 So those are the plans for the channel, but before I go, 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.801 this part is a bit selfish of me, 00:22:06.801 --> 00:22:09.440 but it's related to game preservation. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:11.920 Part of the reason I hate seeing games destroyed 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:15.120 is because so many just have fantastic worlds. 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:16.880 So it's a slap in the face to me 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.533 every time a great one is destroyed forever. 00:22:19.533 --> 00:22:22.000 Hey, <i>Anthem</i> is due to shut down. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:24.101 A bunch of people say it's not a good game, 00:22:24.101 --> 00:22:25.721 and they're probably right. 00:22:25.721 --> 00:22:27.254 But look at that world! 00:22:27.254 --> 00:22:28.500 That looks pretty cool! 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:30.560 Of course I would want to see that! 00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:33.600 Too bad EA is dumping all of this in the trash 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:36.300 so no one can ever experience it again. 00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:38.480 This is also why I can get resentful 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.021 towards people trying to defend this practice. 00:22:41.021 --> 00:22:43.120 It's art destruction! 00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:44.521 And it's preventable. 00:22:44.521 --> 00:22:45.801 Yeah, let's add a label 00:22:45.801 --> 00:22:48.908 saying this world will be completely destroyed for everyone. 00:22:48.908 --> 00:22:50.733 That solves the problem, right? 00:22:50.733 --> 00:22:54.400 Anyway, I'm rehashing some of what I talk about in this video, 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:57.380 but even if we end up being unable to save games, 00:22:57.380 --> 00:23:00.967 man, I at least want to save the game worlds. 00:23:00.967 --> 00:23:04.621 Well, I think technology is making that more and more of a possibility, 00:23:04.621 --> 00:23:07.920 especially with using AI to extrapolate assets. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:10.200 I see there being a few levels to this. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:13.040 The first would just be a completely static world. 00:23:13.040 --> 00:23:14.401 The second would cover things like 00:23:14.401 --> 00:23:18.240 basic looping animations, grass swaying, stuff like that. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.800 Then you would have advanced or contextual animations 00:23:20.800 --> 00:23:23.040 like NPCs or traffic. 00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:26.160 And I guess the fourth layer would be mimicking the game itself. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:29.600 Though I would still get a lot of value with even this second layer here. 00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:32.913 line:20% Some have compared what I'm asking for to the noclip website. 00:23:32.913 --> 00:23:34.400 line:0 Yeah, that's similar, 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.160 but there are hundreds of games I want this for, 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.680 especially for games on death row. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.320 Now, some people may bring up how there have been AI projects 00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:45.280 to generate gameplay-like footage in real time, 00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:47.680 like an AI rendition of <i>Quake II</i>, 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.360 or prompts by Google. 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:52.264 In my opinion, this is barking up the wrong tree. 00:23:52.264 --> 00:23:56.025 All the footage looks soupy and has an uncanny valley feeling. 00:23:56.025 --> 00:23:57.747 Instead, they should be using the AI 00:23:57.747 --> 00:24:01.341 to take its best guess generating the models and textures, 00:24:01.341 --> 00:24:05.440 maybe even entities to be ported to an engine like Unreal or something. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.933 Then it could be rendered cleanly 00:24:06.933 --> 00:24:09.680 and not have this creepy soup vibe to everything, 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.400 or at least a lot less. 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:15.200 Really, the technology for some of this I think is here right now. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:17.680 But it needs to be integrated and streamlined, 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:20.720 because the people willing to go and plot out these game worlds 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:23.310 might not be the same people developing the tools. 00:24:23.310 --> 00:24:24.880 Even with the technology, 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:28.480 right now there's probably 20 steps between capturing footage from the game 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.133 and porting an imitation of it inside an engine you can walk around in. 00:24:32.133 --> 00:24:36.000 Anyway, I just want to encourage development in this direction. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:38.910 I said I'd rather be doing things besides the campaign. 00:24:38.910 --> 00:24:40.480 Well, this is one of them. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:43.733 Be part of a game world explorer's club. 00:24:43.733 --> 00:24:45.200 So, that's the wrap up. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:47.720 Stop Killing Games is largely underway, 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:50.240 even though there are a few things left to do. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:53.133 I'm a bit of a burned out husk because of it, 00:24:53.133 --> 00:24:56.347 but I can keep burning some more if necessary. 00:24:56.347 --> 00:24:58.094 And yeah, that's it. 00:24:58.094 --> 00:24:58.794 See ya. 00:24:58.794 --> 00:25:00.737 [Subtitles by Erasmus Magnus]
  22. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    I'm such a sucker. I fell for the fake Nyet III ending for like 8 years until I saw the art on Newgrounds.
  23. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Stanislav Costiuc discusses the phenomenon of video game cohesion as it pertains to enjoyability, just as you have experienced the negative end of it. It's only a conversation that's gained traction in recent years after decades of superficial reviews that fixate on singular aspects.
  24. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Part of my reupload process to Captionfy is not only converting SRT to SMI, but also re-encoding it from ANSI to UTF-8, so that all characters display correctly when uploaded.
  25. Erasmus Roterodamnsus
    Since it was recently brought up in the Stop Killing Games Discord server, I'd like to bring up this topic again for posterity. @BIRB's Italian subtitles for Freeman's Mind aren't correctly displayed on YouTube. This is how they're actually supposed to be appear. On YouTube, they only appear in plain text, even breaking and displaying color tags at some points. This is not how they were designed, but more importantly, all these features are available on YouTube. Why does this happen? Because YouTube is picky about its subtitle formats. They're not all equally created. SRTs do not accept color markup on YouTube, but SMI subtitles do. You need to use the right format for which features you want to include, and the syntax is different between each one. That's why I've published subtitles in formats from SRTs, SMIs, WebVTTs, and SRV3/YTTs, depending on the needs of the subtitle. BIRB has given me permission to reupload them, hence the playlist of reformatted captions, and I already did the hard part of converting/uploading each subtitle in SMI format, and making sure each file is on the correct video, which isn't always the case on the original forum posts. Only the last 15 episodes and FM2 are exempt from the playlist. It's fair to say displaying them as originally intended by the author would be preferable to arbitrarily stripping them of their features specifically designed for this series. There's a few ways to rectify this. You can: Simply click "download" on each video's subtitles on the playlist as SMI (slower since it's not a one-button press) With video owner permissions—Click "Publish to YouTube" on Captionfy for instant uploading (I've personally tested this one and it works) Have me do it myself as a hobby project, attaching the correctly reformatted SMIs back on the forums to be reuploaded one at a time/in batches, or granting me "subtitle editor" permissions to subcontract it. Go through the forum post, downloading either the SMI inside the RAR, or saving the SRT as an SMI in Subtitle Edit (which does convert it correctly, unlike the ancient Subtitle Workshop)
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