German group sues Valve

If this goes through it would probably destroy DD online and PC gaming as a whole. I mean PC gaming is bigger then it's ever been because of DD but it still makes the smallest piece of the overall pie when it comes to multiplats. If we start to be able to sell used then It wouldn't surprise me if companies just abandoned PC gaming altogether since piracy combined with being able to resell digitally? Publishers would just go "f*** that". While I agree with the principal In actuality it could be a very bad thing for PC gaming.

Steam politics, online passes, it's all communism to me!

It's disgusting how games have changed from being an actual product you own to a piece of software you do not own but are "allowed" to use under strong ristrictions, even though you paid for it.

If I bought a game, disc or digital, I should be allowed to mod it, crack it and change it however I like as long as I don't distribute it, just like I'm allowed to modify any other product I buy (toys, clothing etc.).

I bet in a couple of years we aren't even allowed to open the game directory anymore..

this is why when i buy games digitally, i make sure to buy them dirt cheap, especially if im buying them on my console's marketplace. some advocate group similar to these guys need to represent us digital gamers here in the states because they make a really good point and im surprised more people havent made more noise about it yet.

Maybe Valve would change their policies if they lose but i doubt it. It would be easier for them to just not sell anymore games in Germany. It's not what anyone wants to happen but i do hope German consumers have thought about that. Even if they win, they might lose out bigger than they expected.

@lusa2106 agreed...episodic content to this degree is just bleeding the name brand dry. I don't have a problem with new content or dlc, but halo and COD are the same in this regard. They release the game, get feedback, then release DLC (for a price mind you) Only after downloading every extra do you really have the final product. What they released wasn't complete, just decorated enough so people wouldn't notice or mind.

you know just checking above http://www.gamespot.com/news/diablo-iii-targeted-by-german-consumer-advocacy-group-6388367

This german consumer advocacy group really takes bad company practices to task. My question, why is the better business bureau here in america not pushing hard for its consumers also?

I personally try to buy physical store copies when I can, so that I give it away to family, share it with friends or sell it on ebay. And yes if a pc game really sucks balls I will take it back to the store and state the disc and software damaged my pc and want my money back, unethical yes- but some dlc is also. On another note here is a great article regarding steam and valve: http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/1/3941274/gabe-newell-steam-box-talk-ut

GS will probably ban me for showing another game site news article.

Reading the terms of use before accepting is something I never do, because it's just plain boring. However if you plan on suing Valve, it might be a good place to start...I'm sure they've got it covered and the VZBV don't.

Off Topic: Gamespot, can you remove that 1 and only 1 photo there you post on the left under Recent News?

I think a compromise would be for digital distributors to explain to the consumer what they are purchasing better and more simpler-

"hey that digital game you are now buying: with the ability to get it now, optimized for your needs, stored here if you ever lose it, and better yet, you do not have get off your ass and go to a store where sunshine possible may burn you. - WELL JUST SO YOU KNOW- you are not buying ownership of a physical product, you are agreeing to a service, one that you cannot give away, resale, trade, or get a refund because it sucked. All of those games in your digital collections is not a physical item, you do not own the licenses from the publishers we do. It is not something you can will to relatives if you die, or trade to a neighbor for a bike. Much like a lap dance you get to see it, play it over in your mind again and again, tell friends about it - but no matter how much try you, cannot share it with others (unless they pay) And you sure as hell do not own the stripper afterwards. Now if you want to go buy a copy from the store by all means, you then have all the legal rights given to a physical product in regards to each state and country. But since you just checked the box agreeing to our terms and services - screw you. Now lets go play some f'ing video games."

I think wording it that way above would help alot.

This is why I don't buy digital unless it's significantly less expensive than a physical copy (which when dealing with XBLA and PSN never happens) - why pay more for a product that you don't even own and can do nothing with once you're done with it? It just doesn't make any sense...

Maybe it's better value on Steam, I don't know as I'm not a PC gamer.

in order for this to happen, they have to make sure you no longer have a way to play the game anymore after you re-sell it, bringing a horrible world of allways-online-DRM with them.

shouldn't they be sueing EA (dont know if Ubi and Acti does it) too?

This is a fine example of laws and policies which are outdated, and did not keep up with its time. If this lawsuit is allowed to pass, it will affect other digital content of other media as well. E.g. Music, movies, apps.

The government should not be telling Valve how to sell games. Even though I don't like the way it's done, Valve does inform its consumers about the terms of the purchase. It isn't up to the government to make buying decisions for its citizens unless it can prove the existance of neglect or willful intent to cause harm.

In my opinion, people should be able to trade/resell their license to play games, it doesn't get any more beneficial for customers than that. At first it might sound bad for Steam and game publishers, but such concept actually can be good for everyone if Steam provide a marketplace and with each sale both Steam and the particular game publisher gets a little cut/fee. In total probably still less financial profit for Steam & developers, but with the added benefit for customers, I think it would be a better system overall. It's more fair & beneficial thus I believe customers will not be reluctant to spend more money and show support to both Steam and game publishers. The post above shows that some customers don't feel current Steam system as fair enough. The question for Steam would be, do they want to make it more fair for customers or keep the most benefit for their side? I think it is better to be fair, because in reality it doesn't have to be Steam, there are 'free' version of anything Steam sells. Back to what I said, with more fair system people will be more likely to show support. The question is, would Steam be interested in it?

It won´t hurt Steam, but developers. If you can buy games for 5 bucks on Steam plus you can resell it or retrade it on your own, then what profit it will leave for the developers. Come on, people, stop being so cheap. Last year I didn´t spend more than 20 bucks on any game, recent releases including. Digital games are already cheap as hell, but this is not enough, now we wont to hurt those who develops them.

And we just started to regain the trust of game developers back after all that bad fame due to the piracy.

Besides reselling digital content is not fair in contrast with physical one. Because physical content is subjected to physical degration while digital content will allways stay in pristine condition removing the allure of buying new one.

In the end, we´ll just scare game developers back to the consoles or they will just addopt dreadful free-to-play models.

Soon german will sue Apple appstore to resell most of its downloadable apps :D