You DON'T Actually OWN Your Video Games.
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- Опубликовано: 9 июн 2024
- Hi everyone, it's Dutchess! Today I'll be discussing how we don't own the video games we buy anymore. In this video, I'm talking about physical video game discs have become license keys and how that could negatively impact the video game industry. If you enjoyed it, let me know and be sure to leave a like and subscribe!
Timestamps:
▶ 1:08 - It Wasn't Always Like This
▶ 2:16 - When I First Noticed It
▶ 3:40 - How It's Impacting Us Now
Music Provided By: GameChops
You can find me on:
Minimap: minimap.net/user/dutchess 
Игры
Ironically, the best way to ensure ownership of most modern games is to "sail the seven seas," if you catch my drift.
If purchasing isn't ownership then piracy isn't theft.
Sadly, this is the path most video game preservationists have to tread now, since so many of these older games are so difficult to get a hold of nowadays. And it definitely doesn't help that companies like Nintendo seem to want their games to die out in obscurity. Look at what happened to Vimm's Lair. It's insane what's going on!
@@Dutchess5 Yeah, I'm crestfallen about the Vimm's Lair situation. They were one of the OG ROM sites and one of the few "Web 1.0" sites that are still around. A part of me is amazed it lasted for as long as it did, but it's still a bitter blow.
The gaming industry absolutely does not want to preserve old games. They want people to perpetually buy new games instead, especially so-called "live service" games and other predatory methods that they can use to exploit players via recurring spending. They're probably also afraid that people will hold them to higher standards if they're able to experience just how good some of those old games are.
Piracy actually isn't theft. Legally it is not defined as theft, only copyright infringement. So if anyone says it's theft, they're legally wrong too lol
Let the Jolly Roger wave high in the skies!!!!
I own My old school Videogames corpo's can kick rock's.
Amen to that!
This is why pirating is an obligation
That's only a good excuse if the games are not being preserved.
People should buy the games fair and square..
@@Siranoxz IF
@@Siranoxz That's the thing, we don't always know when these games will be delisted. Companies can simply remove something at a moment's notice for any reason, so even games that have been around for a long time are not guaranteed to stay preserved. If we don't know if a game will be delisted now or ten years later when that console's store is shut down, then it's better to preserve the games ourselves.
@Siranoxz That is a cope fantasy. People pirate because 1. They can & 2. They don't want to pay for anything.
People pirate retro games that are readily, legally available left and right.
"""Preservation""" has nothing to do with it. That is the biggest lie. I love honesty and truth, and I think we should, at least be honest about this fact.
Nothing was preserved by pirating Metroid a week before release.
This is why we need more laws on this stuff like Japan has.
I do own most of my games, any game they try and take away from me, I will just pirate.
I only play one live service game, and I wont be getting into any other live service games. Only live service games can be taken away from me.
It's what we unfortunate that anybody has to resort to doing that, but it definitely doesn't help that video game companies don't want to keep their older games alive in a viable form. Like I was telling some of the other people who commented, look at what happened to Vimm's Lair. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! 😁
This is a can of worms, for sure! Publishers, devs, industry heads - they've all been eroding away at this issue for the better part of 15 years now, and in so many ways. It's made it really hard for gaming communities to unite on any front when it's only more recently that the consequences of allowing all these little problems to slip past. You are spot-on that most games and basically all publishers now are enforcing these nondescript licenses saying you don't own the software any longer, and this only forces us into a checkmate as online gaming, DRM checks, lack of physical copies on disks and patches/updates have become the norm. It really is turning into a situation where game preservation and piracy are interchangeable at this point with the iron grip these companies are trying to hold on their games.
And gosh THANK YOU for calling Steam out for this!! nobody likes to bring up the fact that Valve is less than perfect, but this really is an Achilles' Heel for the Steam service as every time DRM gets questioned - and even that is infrequently - Valve is always concerningly quiet about it. It's gotten to the point where if I can help it, I'll purchase the GOG version of a game over the Steam release. At least in GOG's case, there's an exe installer that maybe has a chance of being manipulated and used as an install script in 10-20 years from now.
Yet another fantastic choice of topic that needs to get talked about more these days - great video!😃
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a fantastic comment, friend! 😁 Again, you made some pretty fantastic points which I might wanna follow up on in another video. Perhaps speaking about emulation and how the war against it has just recently taken down Vimm's Lair. It really is a super concerning thing that video game companies just don't seem to care much about game preservation anymore. Nintendo seemingly wants their older games to fall into obscurity, along with plenty of other companies like Sega, etc. I see a ton of stuff happening within the industry these days that just makes me scratch my head and wonder why stuff like DRM checks are even a thing. Anyways, sorry for my kinda abstract thoughts! 😂 It is something that I think about a lot lately! Thanks for taking the time to watch 😊
Video games as a medium are in a very privileged position compared to most others because of how recent their existence is. Not only is the means of interacting with them fundamentally different from how people interact with books or films due to the fact that they are real-time programs built around certain architectures, but they also managed to dodge a lot of legislation pertaining to what archives and libraries were allowed to store for preservation and research purposes.
Just recently, the Copyright Office of the United States has been conducting hearings in which the ESA (Electronic Software Association) and researchers/non-profits (the Video Game History Foundation being one of them) pitched in their opinions on a reform to copyright that would allow for researchers to store video games in databases so as to allow other researchers and students to access them for whatever academic purpose. The ESA outright said that there is no form of compromise that could ever be brokered with them because any form of remote access to research materials could theoretically allow random people to gain access to the database and treat it like a virtual arcade. Granted, a compromise that they approve isn't NECESSARY for reform to get passed (since the Copyright Office can make decisions without any private organization's approval), but...
Not only is it bonkers to think that any organization would oppose academic handling of their materials because a few random people might choose the extremely inconvenient method of gaining access to a database to "pirate" games, but it also goes to show how privileged the industry sees itself. They weren't around for the laws determining how books and films are handled by libraries and archives, and they want to KEEP themselves from being beholden to said laws. Given how antagonistic the industry is toward academic institutions and non-profits that are explicitly attempting to preserve video games for cultural ends, it's little wonder that they show no more respect toward the general public. They literally see us all as entitled brats who will take the first opportunity to grievously steal from them the moment that we gain the opportunity.
If they already see us as thieves and treat us as such, what motivation is there for people NOT to pirate? Even if someone purchases literally everything they have ever owned, make no mistake: the companies that you support do not afford you any more respect than they do the occasional pirate.
Absolutely fantastic comment! It was a joy to read through it. I had no clue about the recent hearings on including video games within academic libraries. It's disheartening to hear that companies don't want students to create a higher art form and legitimacy out of video games. How is including games in a library any different from a college student checking out a fiction book for the sake of recreational reading any different? If that's the case, academic libraries just shouldn't exist because people are going to abuse them as a means of recreation. It's crazy weird logic.
I miss the 90's and early 2000's when you would just buy a game and be able to play it as much as you want, however you want and without connecting to the internet. Until 2004 I had dial-up and would only ever connect to the internet for an hour or so and downloading a 5MB mp3 could take an eternity. But nowadays with broadband internet and everyone being online all the time they don't have that pressure to deliver a fully self-contained product anymore.
Unrelated, however, I have to say that these videos dutchess creates have improved significantly. It's been really cool to see how much better these videos get with every new video is uploaded. The difference between the first couple videos and the more recent ones is unparalleled. Keep up the great work Dutchess!
I wholeheartedly agree! You can tell that she puts her heart and soul into her uploads.
And it's all thanks to you and everyone else watching who has given me feedback on how I can improve the quality of my videos. I should be thanking you, honestly! 😊 I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and let me know how much you've enjoyed keeping up with my journey of content creating. Here's hoping it keeps getting better and I continue to make content that you all enjoy! 🥳
I put together my current gaming PC in 2014 and set it up with windows 7. Haven't upgraded it at all since. I had a bunch of games I could run on it through steam with windows 7 still, but then at the start of this 2024 steam released an update that ended any support for windows 7. Even though I own all those games and had some of them installed I can't launch them anymore because the steam launcher doesn't work.
Rather than owning my games I got owned instead 😂
That's so unfortunate! Can't believe that happened... so what happens next for you, though? Are you going to upgrade to a newer OS?
@@Dutchess5 Need to upgrade to a new gaming pc anyways for the new FFXIV expansion. So Ill probably keep the old one to run emulator games and older stuff now.
This is why I like physical games. Shame its all going digital. This is also why I like emulation, it preserves gaming!
Exactly! Couldn't agree more
I'm glad there are people who create emulators and rip ROMs so that even after something is de-listed we can still play it. I'm dreading the day that my PS4 stops working.
Same here, friend!
The algorithm blessed me with a dope video. Honestly at least with PS4 majority of games could have been played as a 1.0 without patches so in that sense we still own the game, albeit buggy.
Glad you enjoyed watching! 😁 You raise a good point, at least we have access to the 1.0s of a game lol. It's still not an entirely ideal situation but at least it's something
Wait... doesn't the PS4 let you play games even when offline? I remember when I first got mine, I had Fifa 18 and WWE 2k18 (kind lame choices I know) and I put them in, they just got copied from the disk to the console without any internet (because we had none) and I could play it right away. Yes, games have updates, but for singleplayer, I don't need to connect to the internet. I agree with everything you say, but the PS4 is not that deep in the ditch. Not yet at least.
For real? I didn't know that! The other comments on here mentioned something similar that the 1.0 version of the game is normally on the disc but they tend to be super buggy without the day 1 patches. I'm glad you took the time to reach out and tell me! 😁
You should link to Ross Scott of Accursed Farms campaign called "Stop Killing Games".
Never heard of that, actually! Glad you mentioned it, though, I'll definitely look into it :)
I've been saying this for a few years now. Outside of maybe GOG, every Digital Platform you "purchase" games on isn't yours, the games are explicitly tied to your library, once your library is compromised, stolen, lost, or deleted, say goodbye to your games. This is the reason why I've been not only using Emulation, but also buying Physical games, and Physical Media as a whole.
Smart move on your end! It's honestly the only choice we have in a digital world where literally nothing we buy is *ours.* I've been moving towards doing the same thing as much as possible. Definitely isn't easy to do, though
@@Dutchess5 Don't get me wrong, Steam is great in some cases, but it lacks Offline Installers for games. Valve needs to follow GOG's example and include them.
@@OfficialRaveBlitz Valve allows games without SteamDRM, it's only one step off from an offline installer, but you can just compress the game folder for the same effect really.
@@De_kaid It's not the same. I mean allow us to own the files for the games we purchase. Give us installers for the games that don't require either a Steam login or online.
@@OfficialRaveBlitz Just saying, Steam also offers games that aren't tied to your account like GOG does, you own the game so it's the same.
gotta love the smartasses that get stuck up in semantics. Okay guy, i understand i don't own the rights to super mario if i buy a super mario bros cartridge, nobody ever thought you own the rights by buying a game, all we want is to not have greedy corporations taking away what you already paid for, and each day people seem more and more okay with this unacceptable behavior from companies
Unfortunately the truth! People defend it using the same thing you mentioned in your comment and it literally doesn't make any sense. I personally think it's just a matter of control for these video game corporations.
🤔... Tell me about GOG !! 😊
This is why the seven sea is important
Couldn't agree more!
Wait.....did that floppy say "Nuke Dukem"? 😮
It sure did! 🤣 I was contemplating removing that scene from the video but I figured it would be funny to keep it. I'm happy you noticed it! 😂
Thank you, Valve, for normalizing a form of all-digital gaming where people are happy to own nothing.
Oof! Sadly true 😭
But it does have some games that are DRM free. One notable example is Hotline Miami 2
The one thing everyone gets wrong is the, "That's why I only buy physical," argument; you're one of the few I've seen get that right. With always-online requirements and everything, buying physical will not save you; just ask anyone who bought physical copies of The Crew how they're enjoying their overpriced drink coasters right now. That and disc rot is a thing; those physical copies aren't going to last, either. The problem isn't digital; the problem's never been digital; the problem is DRM. If you buy a PC game from a DRM-free source, like GOG, itch, etc., then you have a digital copy of that game that isn't locked to a launcher to play or even install/uninstall; make as many copies as you want, and that's yours forever. Unfortunately - and I could be wrong about this because the newest console I own is a PS3 - I don't think there's such a thing as a DRM-free purchase for a console, and a big part of that is because on a console, you have only one option for purchasing digital games, since the company that made said console has that all on lock.
In any case, I'm with Ross Scott on this one: you shouldn't just pirate games; you should buy AND pirate your games. If it's a new game that's being sold for current hardware, then yes, much as I hate to give anything to these money-grubbing billionaires, fair is fair, and they're entitled to payment for that. On the other side of that coin, if you buy a new pair of shoes, the company that made them doesn't have the right to kick down your door, snatch them out of your closet, and toss them into a woodchipper because their "license expired", and it's absolutely absurd that video game companies get away with this. Of course, a big part of the problem (and this is for technology in general; lookin' at you, Google Spybot) is that we don't have sufficient legislation surrounding this, and a big part of that problem is that the people making the laws are mostly old men who barely understand how e-mail works. Back to Ross again, he's fighting in the legal systems of countries all around the world to keep companies from killing games right now, and the biggest obstacle he's been running into is that their legal departments don't even know how to approach the situation, and won't give a clear answer one way or the other.
One last thing: I'm still catching up on your channel, but it's neat to see your personality starting to shine through a bit more, not that I don't love the older videos, but at least since the PS2 video, it seems like you're getting more comfortable with things, and I think that's great.
I find it hilarious that technically i own my Jast games more than my Steam or Ubi games
physical 4 me honey - long as it lasts...Digital if no option or psn freebies monthly.
It's the only way to go!
@@Dutchess5 In love with you.
I haven't latched on to the new age of digital only content and consoles. My small cabinet is full of Xbox and PS discs.
I own my snes and switch cartridges.
Awesome to hear! 😁
@@Dutchess5 Thanks. But seriously, digital "purchases" are such a ripoff and it's even celebrated by a lot of people for" convinience".
As you said, yo don't own them.
@@TAttila84 Couldn't agree more, friend! Anytime the internet goes down, too, whoops... there goes the entire catalogue of games within your collection. It's really treading dangerous waters more and more each year.
Pog video, you seem to only reference older games though
Darn it, I think my comment got held as potential spam lol. Great video as always Dutchess
Did it really? I just checked the spam comments and saw nothing there! And thanks so much, friend! 😁 Glad you enjoyed watching
@@Dutchess5 lol I had like an 8 paragraph response with resources and crap lmao. Guess RUclips hates me
@quirkykirkplays Resources? Aww yikes! I feel terrible that happened to you. I'm kinda curious what these resources even were now 😂 I'm guessing that's probably the reason why the comment never got published
@@Dutchess5 What the crap, the comment is gone again...I didn't even throw links this time, just names....How odd.
Huh... alright, that definitely is weird. If you like, feel free to reach out to me on Discord and maybe you'll have some better luck there. My username is dutchess_of_hyrule 😁
You've probably already been told this before in another comment, but Steam allows you to play your games even if you're offline. It's a bit more complex, but essentially if you make a backup of your Steam account and all your games, the only ones you'll not be able to play are the ones with third party drm.
It's also still a common misconception that every single Steam game has to have SteamDRM, there's a lot of games that you can just download from Steam and have it running without Steam open.
Thanks for bringing awareness to that! Really glad you decided to comment 😊 I didn't know there was a way to do something like that!
I do. Arrrrgggggghhhhhh!!!! ☠️
Argh! 🏴☠️
for those defending, piracy is illegal,you know.
i don’t own anything. the world is ours to share. that’s why i pirate 👍
if it's not an actual cart/cd/etc then you don't.
This is why I urge people to write to their representatives and the government.
According to the user agreement YOU DO NOT OWN THE GAMES YOU BUY!!!! THE PUBLISHERS OWNS THE GAMES....YEA SO WHAT.....The reason why they had to outline that fact is because people in the 1980's and 1990's who bought entertainment goods LITERALLY THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE THEY BOUGHT THE GOODS THEN THEY OWN THE GOODS AND WOULD LITERALLY SELLS THOSE GOODS FOR MONEY LIKE AT GARAGE SALES OR ON THE INTERNET, A GREAT EXAMPLE IS NAPSTER, Napster literally thought that because they bought music on CD's and Cassettes then they thought they could turn around and resell that music to someone else!!!!! SO YEA YOU DO NOT OWN THE GAMES THE PUBLISHERS DO.....I JUST LOVE HOW YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS "Seem Controversial"!!!!
We may not "own" the intellectual property or the rights to resell a product on a commercial level, but if we buy a product from a company, the expectation is , as a consumer to expect, is that the product is ours to do what we want forever until we decide to sell or relinquish it. If we pay money to own a particular game from a platform like steam or eshop, it would be wrong of the platform to shut down if they have the means to keep a service going. It's controversial because instead of owning games, it's like a long dragged out way of renting games, and never clicked a rent now button, I clicked buy now or purchase. And the dangers of this are if a huge corporation like Nintendo can shut down their second best selling handhelds library of games for a system that's only 12 years old, then other companies can follow by example. Pokémon ultra sun and moon came out in 2017 and the platform for which they came out on officially shut down now. Imagine buying a game digital less than a decade ago and being told you can't download legally again, now that's ludicrous. That's why backwards compatibility is such a big deal now, because it allows users to not lose the games they spent dollars and hours on.
I Agree With All You Said, but I Can Not Believe That There Are No Laws In Place To Prevent These Shutdowns From Occurring In the First Place, Plus I Can Not Believe Nintendo PlayStation and Xbox Would All Want To Shut Down Peoples Libraries Of Games???!!! That's Just Counter Productive As A Gaming Company???!!!
Couldn't agree more with this comment. You're totally right! 💕
It's true, you don't...and you actually never did.
It's actually not true. First sale doctrine doesn't care what these companies say.
You are simply wrong, a game's TOS does not trump first sale doctrine, stop spreading false info.
if purchasing isnt ownership then piracy isnt theft. fuck the modern industry im so tired of their shit.
I can't say that I blame you, friend. 😞