Zero Punctuation: Video Game Voters Network

[Swifteye]

A lot of people here don't actually live in america but it wouldn't hurt to see what happens if you throw your hat in. After all if they stop making games for americans to play most likely all the other countries won't get those games either.

Not to crap in anyone's danish but the bankroll behind the VGVN is the ESA which is the lobbying arm of the game publishers.

The ESA is responsible for propaganda abortions like http://www.jointhecteam.com/ with complete bullshit statements like "natural connection between copyright and creativity" The purpose of the propaganda is to indoctrinate kids into the notion that copyright infringement is the same as plagiarism.

So while the VGVN appears to be a pro freedom you can bet the ESA would support a draconian three-strikes law similar to what France just passed: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/09/24/0942227/In-France-Hadopi-Reporting-Begins-With-Only-10000-IP-Addresses-Per-Day

Damn, you hit it out of the park with this. Here's a paragraph that basically tells kids it's ok to use others work in school without permission, but nowhere else. Which renders things such as reviews and even articles in the newspaper as illegal (by their standards):

Quote from jointhecteam.com:
"Conclude this class discussion by reminding
students that the special rules for respecting
intellectual property in school don?t apply outside
the classroom. Students are allowed to copy short
passages of copyrighted text, individual
copyrighted images, and excerpts from other
copyrighted material in their school work, as long
as they credit their sources. This is called ?fair
use.? But no one is allowed to copy copyrighted
material outside the classroom for any reason
without getting permission"

People who create the works in question would love that because they could pick and choose who reviews or reports on the item in question, usually (hell, always) to those who give favorable reports.

Can't we save games first and then handle that? I don't like dealing with two big issues at once makes my brain all hot in a bad way.

 

[Nixzilla]

i think if they somehow won there would be a restiance force to fight agaisnt them for videogames. now where do i sign up

 

[Lucifron]

Not to crap in anyone's danish but the bankroll behind the VGVN is the ESA which is the lobbying arm of the game publishers.

The ESA is responsible for propaganda abortions like http://www.jointhecteam.com/ with complete bullshit statements like "natural connection between copyright and creativity" The purpose of the propaganda is to indoctrinate kids into the notion that copyright infringement is the same as plagiarism.

So while the VGVN appears to be a pro freedom you can bet the ESA would support a draconian three-strikes law similar to what France just passed: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/09/24/0942227/In-France-Hadopi-Reporting-Begins-With-Only-10000-IP-Addresses-Per-Day

That was a minor shit in my danish, but it doesn't mean that they can't do any good in this case.

 

[I_am_acting]

I have looked at the site and it is looking good. Great of you to mention it. But I'm 16 and not American so I wish you the best of luck.

By the way: Is video game violent a big problem in Europe? Here in Denmark we don't hear anything about it, what's up in the other countries?

well i do remember germany attempting to ban violent video games and crytek threaten to close down their german studio there

 

[alexbaxthedarkside]

Excellent Stuff yahtzee, you summed up the subject Beautifully,
I will do my bit to help!

At least if gaming is under threat, maybe this is the kick up the arse game developers need to grow up and start telling some really compelling and meaning games.

Anyway,

Will do my Bit to help the cause! ^_^

 

[Lightslei]

I was with Yahtzee up until he mentioned free speech. Only stupid Americans pretend they have free speech anymore and even then they can all see they don't, it's just in their constitution.

Free speech is something that on paper sounded like a good idea, but in practice really doesn't work and just has unfortunate consequences for people who try to exercise it.

You know what else sounded like a good idea on paper but in practice really doesn't work and just has unfortunate consequences for people who try to exercise it? Communism. Athankyew.

Can I smack you? Really really hard?

Free Speech simply means the right to say what you think.

As for communism, you are aware a true communist state has never existed, correct? How about instead of following the media around like a lapdog you do your research? Every single country that has claimed to be communist was actually a blend between fascism and socialism - NOT communism. Communism can't be "created" nor "enforced" but you wouldn't know that because you couldn't be bothered to pick up the damn Communist Manifesto and read it. Communism can only come about on it's own once ALL the world's workers are exploited.

If people stopped believing everything they were told in school and did their own research, the world would be a better place.

Also the Constitution does not say free speech, what it does say is this:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

If you can't vote, that's no excuse to just sit on your lazy asses. Do what Yahtzee did, spread the word! Tell all your friends to spread the word untill it's known worldwide. American Government doesn't like being printed as bad. Now, I want to see tons of VGVN banners on facebook!

I don't use facebook so no .

 

[Fruitloops89]

Been a member, not an ACTIVE member but still a member, since fall of 08.

 

[imnot]

Wait, ZP on a Friday? THIS IS MADNESS!

Anyway, I'm British, so apparently have no ay in the matter.

Madness, THIS IS YAHTZEE!!!!!!!!!

OT: UK so I cant really help, just hope we dont jump on the Us bandwagon.

 

[Zeroresistence]

I agree with Yahtzee this could determine the future of video games

 

[MonsterZero74]

I would've appreciated this more if not for the F*CKING COMMERCIAL to start the vid. You'd think a PSA would be ad-free. Maybe I'm deluded or something. The funny part is that the ad is for an M-rated game. Oh the irony.

Nice video from Yahtzee though!

 

[Albino Boo]

Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that Yahtzee is from the UK and and lives in Australia, both of which have laws that banning the sale mature rated videogames to children. Yet somehow both counties have managed to conduct free and fair elections and so no signs of becoming dictatorships. Odd that.

 

[De Ronneman]

Awwwww. Is that it? And I don't even live in America...(Netherlands)

Same here. At least the Netherlands have another convenient target in election years...

 

[no oneder]

Yahtzee wants you! (to make him lunch)

 

[snowman6251]

funny how I was too lazy to do this til Yahtzee told me to.

He has too much power.

 

[Delusibeta]

I'm in the UK, where we ban(ned two) video games (and unban them six to twelve months later).

 

[Euphoriaxd]

XD besides all the crap in my beloved Latinamerica
THANK GOD POLITICS HERE STILL DON´T KNOW WHAT A VIDEOGAME IS... sad but true

Are there any sites that want to do the same but world wide???

 

[StriderShinryu]

Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that Yahtzee is from the UK and and lives in Australia, both of which have laws that banning the sale mature rated videogames to children. Yet somehow both counties have managed to conduct free and fair elections and so no signs of becoming dictatorships. Odd that.

The US has a lot more influence on what games get both made and sold the world over than the UK or Australia do. If games with mature content face legalized sale restrictions then less places will sell them (particularly the big guns like WalMart), and if less places sell them then less games with mature content will be created. And, of course, based on the approach being used in this law, exactly what constitutes "mature content" is not likely to just stop at obvious blood gore and sex. Gamers everywhere should be watching this issue closely and offering whatever support they can.

 

[wasalp]

Tis better to light a small candle then to curse the darkness, as the saying goes, I'll head to the site cause if it happenes to the americans, canada will follow like the little sheep we are

Curses that had not crossed my mind. VOTE AMERICAN! If not for the constitution do t for your northern brethren.

 

[Danman1]

Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that Yahtzee is from the UK and and lives in Australia, both of which have laws that banning the sale mature rated videogames to children. Yet somehow both counties have managed to conduct free and fair elections and so no signs of becoming dictatorships. Odd that.

Nobody has said that it will automatically lead to the downfall of society. What it very well could lead to is the downfall of art. Imagine if during the Renaissance the pope just declared that paintings turned people into the devil. That's an entire section of western culture and art wiped out because a grumpy old man said so.