Poll: Do you think Video Games Need a Lemon Law?

[WolfEdge]

But then where do you draw the line between a 'defective' and a not 'defective' game? It's pretty easy to determine whether a car works - either it does or it doesn't. But if you can install, launch and play a game then you can't really call it defective, can you?
Besides, there's no flawless software, every game comes with bugs, especially the ones developed for PC.

True, but there HAVE been instances where a product was shipped faulty (there was a Tiger Woods game by EA a few years ago whose online function just didn't work, period), and because there are no laws in place to prevent this sort of thing from happening with videogames, consumers have no real recourse, other than the rather passive-aggressive act of returning the game. Instances where the law could actually take precedence would be rare, but it IS something that I think is worth addressing.

 

[aashell13]

In addition to what everyone has said about the lemon law being misunderstood, I'd like to add that gaming is a whole lot more subjective than cars are. Also, you do get the equivalent of a manufacturer's warranty for games in the form of free patches/updates for bugs and gameplay issues.

If the major publishers decided to make a habit of releasing unfinished games and charging people extra for subsequent bug fixes, that would be material for lawsuits and possibly the sort of law you seem to have in mind.

 

[Snowalker]

To be perfectly honest, I simply black ban developers for putting out unplayable games. I wont buy anything from Bethesda again after the mess that was Fallout:NV.

Funny.. they didn't make that game.... I mean, they produced it, sure, but design? Entirely Obsidian.

 

[Wolfram23]

I really haven't had too many issues with broken games in the past. And I've played Oblivion, Fallout 3, FNV, STALKER:CoP... So I don't know. I guess there's been some minor stuff but certainly nothing game breaking for me.

 

[tkioz]

To be perfectly honest, I simply black ban developers for putting out unplayable games. I wont buy anything from Bethesda again after the mess that was Fallout:NV.

Funny.. they didn't make that game.... I mean, they produced it, sure, but design? Entirely Obsidian.

They're IP, same deal, should of had better control of Obsidian. I don't blame the tree that falls on my car, I blame the idiot with the chainsaw.

 

[Snowalker]

STALKER:CoP...

That games supposed to be buggy? I'm one lucky son of a gun, cause I haven't noticed anything while playing it.

 

[Mr Snuffles]

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[yanipheonu]

Honestly, compared to the crap we had to put up with in the older days (I can't tell you how many NES games had some sort of crazy problem), it's pretty unnecessary these days. Quality control is much better now, and even if there are problems, patches can usually fix it.

 

[Snowalker]

To be perfectly honest, I simply black ban developers for putting out unplayable games. I wont buy anything from Bethesda again after the mess that was Fallout:NV.

Funny.. they didn't make that game.... I mean, they produced it, sure, but design? Entirely Obsidian.

They're IP, same deal, should of had better control of Obsidian. I don't blame the tree that falls on my car, I blame the idiot with the chainsaw.

Huh? thats bull... Its not like they had any hand in the development, so, basically your blaming the chainsaw company, not the man with the chainsaw. Because in my mind, Chainsaw company sells chainsaw, Bethesda sells the IP to Obsidian for a game to be made, Man takes chainsaw begins cutting a tree down, Obsidian makes a game, Tree falls on your car, Game is buggy as hell.

If you don't see it that way, it confuses me, because if a publisher is supposed to have full control over all their IPs, then fuck, we don't need any design companies out there, just let EA and Activision run the gaming industry straight into the ground.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

Eeh, It would be nice but kind of hard to prove/enforce

Also, some of the best poll options I've seen in a while.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Because this is the new, awesomest meme, but is in no way relevant:

In an effort to stave off a probation

No, I think people will abuse it. If they can rally up to bring PORTAL 2's score down in metacritic, they are capable of any and all evil, greedy self-entitled deeds. They'd go "OH MY GOD! I found A glitch on Half-Life 3! I DEMAND refund NAW!!!" The government has better things to do than cater to obnoxious, entitled dipshits.

If you heard a game is buggy, buy it later or buy it at your OWN risk. Simple as that.

 

[Agayek]

If you don't see it that way, it confuses me, because if a publisher is supposed to have full control over all their IPs, then fuck, we don't need any design companies out there, just let EA and Activision run the gaming industry straight into the ground.

You say that like it's not exactly what the pair of them are doing .

On topic: I'm anti-government in general, so I'd be against legislating quality control. I will say, however, that I came into this topic expect it to be something about mandating combustible lemons in video games, and that I wholeheartedly support.

 

[tkioz]

To be perfectly honest, I simply black ban developers for putting out unplayable games. I wont buy anything from Bethesda again after the mess that was Fallout:NV.

Funny.. they didn't make that game.... I mean, they produced it, sure, but design? Entirely Obsidian.

They're IP, same deal, should of had better control of Obsidian. I don't blame the tree that falls on my car, I blame the idiot with the chainsaw.

Huh? thats bull... Its not like they had any hand in the development, so, basically your blaming the chainsaw company, not the man with the chainsaw. Because in my mind, Chainsaw company sells chainsaw, Bethesda sells the IP to Obsidian for a game to be made, Man takes chainsaw begins cutting a tree down, Obsidian makes a game, Tree falls on your car, Game is buggy as hell.

If you don't see it that way, it confuses me, because if a publisher is supposed to have full control over all their IPs, then fuck, we don't need any design companies out there, just let EA and Activision run the gaming industry straight into the ground.

Hardware store gets a shipment of chainsaws they asked for that will cut off the hand of most people who use them, but sells them anyway.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

Well either I'm calling people socialist pussies, bashing on corporations for ripping people off, bashing on the government, praising the idea, or saying I'd have nothing to complain about here. You need an "I've never had a game that was completely unplayable I wasn't able to return" and an "I don't care" option.

That first additional one would be mine really. If a game is simply too buggy to play, I bring it back and say "Dude, I just bought this, there are too many bugs, I can't finish it" and they replace it or credit it. That simple.

Also, you know some people on this site MIGHT be socialist and having a "socialist junky pussies" option MIGHT be a tad offensive? Canada? Socialist-Capitalist country. Alot of the Baltic or Scandinavian countries? Socialist... try to be a tad more mild in your poll options dude

 

[kloiberin_time]

The only effect this will have on the industry is that even more games will be clones of whatever is selling the best at the time. If you know a product works, why would you try and improve it if there is a chance that you will have to recall the entire thing?

 

[Snowalker]

Hardware store gets a shipment of chainsaws they asked for that will cut off the hand of most people who use them, but sells them anyway.

The fuck? The Hardware store probably doesn't know it will cut their hand off.... and even if it does, its not their fault, that would be the fault of the company for making a faulty product.

Besides that, your statement there neither disagrees nor agrees with what I stated.. honestly, it made no sense to me.

At best, the way I can make it out, your blaming the store in which you bought the game from... which makes even less sense then blaming Bethesda.

 

[ryo02]

if it means developers (and deadline pushing publishers) will take some care with a game before releasing it Im all for it.

seriously some games have literally not been poissible to complete like far cry 2.
some are so full of bugs they cant have been missed fallout 3 and new vegas , and the dragon age games

I should note that I liked all those games listed above despite the bugs.

modern games can and indeed have been released without flaw (or atleast understanderble ones) like dead space 1 and 2 , mass effect 1 and 2 , borderlands , bioshock , all the halo games , FEAR , half life and the portal games , darksides , singularity , infamous , (I could go on)
some people out there actually seem to care about the things they make so we know it can be done

 

[jawakiller]

No. Obsidian would have ALL of their recent games to deal with.

 

[Vrach]

9th option missing:
Never had a broken game.
I've played some shit games before, but never one that didn't work or was unplayable. Sure, Radscorps in rocks was abit lame, but its flaws are forgiven for its large gaming area. Follow that sentiment to all other buggy but playable games.

Go get Civilization V. Play a Huge map and play Conquest only. I double fucking dare ya
(If you're extra masochistic, play it on Marathon mode too. And while you're at it, you could also chew on some broken glass)

PS
That's not the only place it's broken, just a way you'll get to see the full extent of how broken it is, with the exception of witnessing the shitness of the AI in it's full splendor (fear not, you'll witness most of it anyway, just not the other victory-related stuff)

 

[Echo136]

Games can be beaten in a matter of hours. Whats to stop someone from buying, beating, and returning a game in the same day claiming its a lemon. Ive bought used games and returned them the next day to Gamestop for a full refund. Its pretty telling that it would happen if a lemon law were put in place.