Torchlight Developer Says No to SOPA

[The Wooster]

Torchlight Developer Says No to SOPA

Torchlight developer, Runic Games, is not a fan of SOPA or PIPA.

The Seattle-based developer clarified its position after the issue came up on its official forum. [http://forums.runicgames.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21338&p=190401#p190398]

"The question has been asked regarding our company's official position on the current SOPA/PIPA debate in Congress," said a Runic rep. "It is clear that the scope of the proposed legislation would give unnecessarily broad power to large corporations while reducing the rights of individual citizens -- and it won't even stop software piracy."

"We at Runic Games oppose the SOPA/PIPA legislation and we encourage you to do the same."

He went on to encourage gamers to contract their representatives [http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml] and join the anti-SOPA community on Reddit. [http://www.reddit.com/r/sopa]

While Runic's decision to oppose the bill is brave, it's not surprising. It seems consistent with the developer's somewhat relaxed attitude towards piracy.

"We got a lot of letters from people saying 'Hey, I pirated your game, but it was really cool, so I bought it,'" said CEO, Max Schaefer, in an interview last year. "Y'know, we're cool with that, we're not as concerned about that sort of thing as other companies, especially if it makes our honest players inconvenienced. We assume that everyone is an honest player, and we want to make their experience as cool as possible."

PC hardware manufacturer, Nvidia, also recently came out in opposition of the bill, as did League of Legends studio, Riot Games.

Runic Games currently only has one game under its belt - the excellent Torchlight. The much-anticipated, Torchlight 2, was delayed back in November of last year. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.323719-Torchlight-II-Delayed-Runic-Says-Play-Skyrim-Instead]

Source: Runic Games Forums [http://forums.runicgames.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21338&p=190401#p190398]


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[Epona]

Runic Games currently only one has came under its belt

What?

Is that supposed to read: Runic Games currently only HAS ONE GAME under its belt

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

This is pretty much all I have to say in this regard and I couldn't have done it without the rower.

 

[ShaneGunWolf]

It's only logical to say no.

 

[kaizen2468]

I really doubt they get a lot of emails saying hey i pirated your game but it's so cool i bought it.

 

[kouriichi]

Im gunna buy Torchlight 2 just to support them

Any company that knows its customers are more important then their sales is worth giving all my support!

 

[llafnwod]

I really doubt they get a lot of emails saying hey i pirated your game but it's so cool i bought it.

I suppose a few personal anecdotes in response to your entirely unfounded claim would attract the wrong kind of attention from the mods.

 

[sb666]

I am going to buy both there games now to surport them for this.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Im gunna buy Torchlight 2 just to support them

Any company that knows its customers are more important then their sales is worth giving all my support!

I am going to buy both there games now to surport them for this.

I think that's their evil plan! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Joking aside, I could see myself doing the same as you, but since I don't PC game, I'd get em for a friend.

 

[Valanthe]

I'd get em for a friend.

Not sure what Runic's stance on used games is, but I know certain developers would think that doing that is just as bad as piracy.

On topic however, even though they've only got one (arguably awesome) game under their belt, every voice against this idiotic bill is a welcome sight, hopefully Google, Reddit, and te others I can't recall don't chicken out on their planned blackouts, because I really can't think of a stronger way to get your point across and people often do need something big and loud and 'in your face' to make them understand the scope of something.

 

[80Maxwell08]

Im gunna buy Torchlight 2 just to support them

Any company that knows its customers are more important then their sales is worth giving all my support!

I am going to buy both there games now to surport them for this.

I think that's their evil plan! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Joking aside, I could see myself doing the same as you, but since I don't PC game, I'd get em for a friend.

Well the first one is on the 360 and the second one is coming to it. From what I hear they control perfectly well on a gamepad.

 

[Valanthe]

After an initial facepalm, I'm gonna point out that what he probably meant is that he'll gift the game/games to a friend because he himself doesn't play on PC. I'm almost 100% sure that he wasn't talking about giving away a used copy. However, my personal opinion is that whatever developer says there's something wrong with second-hand sales is living in a dream world.

Regarding your second paragraph, I actually that at this point it would look very, very bad for Google, Facebook and all the other kids if they backed down from their "threats". They can't chicken out now, they're beyond the point of return. Which is very cool, I almost wish they pass the bills just to see it happen, it would have such a cool effect.

I know what he meant, my initial comment was intended to be tongue in cheek, I often forget that such emotions don't translate well into text.

But anyway, I'm with you, I am morbidly interested in seeing the reaction to a Google/Facebook blackout, so far as I know, nothing like that, or at least on that scale, has happened before, it might be history in the making.

 

[Tanakh]

Im gunna buy Torchlight 2 just to support them

Any company that knows its customers are more important then their sales is worth giving all my support!

I am going to buy both there games now to surport them for this.

I think that's their evil plan! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Joking aside, I could see myself doing the same as you, but since I don't PC game, I'd get em for a friend.

Tourchlight is a very good game... now if i could only get it's mod interface to work it would be a GREAT game.

 

[sunthaiduc]

They are an example or what game companies used to be. Small and not so flashy, take pride in product quality not copies sold. Geeks who make and love games. I respect them on many levels have since they were with blizzard and as independents. Great guys great game.

 

[LorienvArden]

But anyway, I'm with you, I am morbidly interested in seeing the reaction to a Google/Facebook blackout, so far as I know, nothing like that, or at least on that scale, has happened before, it might be history in the making.

I can allready feel the disturbance in the force... like a million voices derping in anger, and then suddenly silent.

OT:
Yes, runic games only released one game so far, but they pretty much ARE what Blizzard once was. They have more members of the original Diablo games working on torchlight 2 then Blizzard kept for Diablo 3. There are some well respected Developers in that company - so I do hope that their oppinion gets duely heard.

If you watch TBs Interview on the Torchlight 2 Demo ( i think it was at gamescom), they frequently mention that they want to give the players a complete game - with modding support, offline lan, online lan and any way you want to play. In comparison, Diablo 3 grants you permission to play their game if you shell out the money and play nice and how they like it.

Since I have to choose between the two, I'll gladly skip the Sado-Maso fest of Battlenet in favor of Torchlight II.

 

[Asehujiko]

I really doubt they get a lot of emails saying hey i pirated your game but it's so cool i bought it.

They are a developer, why would they need to make shit up about what people mailed them when they bought their game?