Assemblymember Chris Ward, the politician behind a Stop Killing Games-backed California bill concerning game server shutdowns has discussed enforcing it.
Enforcing it on future releases is certainly doable
And then force them to provide lan and direct play options and release server software when they shut down their game, if they dont provide server software to the public beforehand
Any game currently live when the law rolls put should be included. If game is already shut down, but the company releases a new game, one could argue they should be forced to comply as well.
That doesn’t sound fair at all. I think for many games, considerations such as this potential law will demand would have to be included in the initial design and development. There are also the potential implications for licensing of middleware etc.
Again, you cannot be expected to comply with a law that doesn’t exist yet.
There may be a case for “live-service” games that it could apply as they could be considered to be under constant development. Most of those are either subscription or free to play though which would exclude them entirely as neither is a purchase of a perpetual license.
While it might not be easy for existing games…
Enforcing it on future releases is certainly doable
And then force them to provide lan and direct play options and release server software when they shut down their game, if they dont provide server software to the public beforehand
I can’t see why they would try to include existing games. Laws are (almost?) never retroactive. How can you comply with a law if it doesn’t exist yet?
Any game currently live when the law rolls put should be included. If game is already shut down, but the company releases a new game, one could argue they should be forced to comply as well.
That doesn’t sound fair at all. I think for many games, considerations such as this potential law will demand would have to be included in the initial design and development. There are also the potential implications for licensing of middleware etc.
Again, you cannot be expected to comply with a law that doesn’t exist yet.
There may be a case for “live-service” games that it could apply as they could be considered to be under constant development. Most of those are either subscription or free to play though which would exclude them entirely as neither is a purchase of a perpetual license.
…live service games shutting down is like the main reason for these bills in the first place. They are absolutely not excluded.
Watch this video from the guy who started the Stop Killing Games movement. Then you can stop misrepresenting what they’re trying to do.