Project take back used games/drm - similar to take back Mass Effect

[Lady Larunai]

After getting angry on another forum at someone for telling me to just ignore the new Xbox its DRM and used game stance, because if i dont like my rights being twisted I should just ignore it and move on.. Because the xbox it great

Well i thought of a new idea in the vain of take back Mass Effect

My idea is we mail Microsoft mass amounts of squeaky toy bones, I had considered real bones but there are health issues, but anything bone shaped will do, bone shaped dog treats, plastic halloween skeletons.. You get the idea

Just write NO DRM on them or "I buy used games" or just Xbone or nothing at all

It might be silly, it might not do anything, but its an idea at least, hopefully it makes a point

Cheers
Chloe

 

[tippy2k2]

Microsoft has made it perfectly clear that the core gamers are no longer an audience that they are concerned with. I wish that wasn't the case but hopefully Sony will show that it still wants the core gamer as it's customer. Worst case, I suppose I can finally have the excuse to learn how to build and maintain a PC...

I'm not going to go through the effort to try to change their minds. Go for it if you want to but I don't see Microsoft changing for our opinions are not the ones they care about anymore.

 

[an annoyed writer]

That is an idea, but I think it'll take more than just that to convince them otherwise. The thing is they might interpret those messages as a confirmation that they'll get a ton of profits here. We need to let them know what the concept of ownership means. A retake Mass Effect-esque movement might work though, but it needs to be effective on multiple levels to work. We need much more than a mail-in campaign: we need something that will get onto goddamn television. There's a lot of anger in this community: it's time we give it purpose that will benefit everyone within and without. Much more is at stake than just our games here: if Microsoft's ploy succeeds, companies will try to make us dependent on them, rather than vice-versa. Other industries will take notice and find their own way to copy these practices. We cannot let that happen. If that happens, human autonomy is going to be put under the axe.

 

[Lady Larunai]

That is an idea, but I think it'll take more than just that to convince them otherwise. The thing is they might interpret those messages as a confirmation that they'll get a ton of profits here. We need to let them know what the concept of ownership means. A retake Mass Effect-esque movement might work though, but it needs to be effective on multiple levels to work. We need much more than a mail-in campaign: we need something that will get onto goddamn television. There's a lot of anger in this community: it's time we give it purpose that will benefit everyone within and without. Much more is at stake than just our games here: if Microsoft's ploy succeeds, companies will try to make us dependent on them, rather than vice-versa. Other industries will take notice and find their own way to copy these practices. We cannot let that happen. If that happens, human autonomy is going to be put under the axe.

So no bones.. Any ideas? Not sure a picketing would make the news, and its an expensive flight from aus to hold up a sign.

As much as i would like to put up some billboards its not cheap, working in the media i know it would be something big to reach them but sadly mosts of their intrests are pretty much tabloid style stories..

I would say a class action suit but until there is a 100% verified status on used games wont be of use

 

[Zeh Don]

I believe Kotaku had a piece about emailing Fox News, as they're the easiest mass-media provider to stir up. I sent a couple of emails off, hoping a few others did as well.

Once the News outlets are interested, they'll hit the net to see what "Xbox fans" make of this, and stumble into our tornado of hate. Once they run with this, we'll have plenty of opportunities to chime in and keep the story going.

 

[DoPo]

I don't think would work. I mean, it's sound idea on theory - show the company the disapproval, they would then take the hint and make amends (or something). But this is Microsoft. They are known for cheerfully going in the face of logic and good ideas and everything all the while being very hard to convince otherwise. Some people sending them stuff might not even register on their radar. Yeah, I said it - Microsoft won't really care.

I'm sorry I'm being so negative but I don't really know anything that would help either. Unless you slap them with something official, they are not really that adaptable.

 

[hazabaza1]

Or we can just not buy their shitty console.
That's how I'm doing it.

 

[Bellvedere]

That would make sense if xbone was the only next gen platform available...

As it is you've got options (which ME fans didn't). There will undoubtedly be great exclusives to each platform, and even more multiplatform titles.

Also if you're planning on launching a campaign that complains about used titles - best to wait until the actually reveal how that's going to work. It would hurt the cause, if a significant percentage of the complaints were related to incorrect information. As it is, they've claimed that used games sales and trades will be possible, so writing I buy used games is not going to be helpful. If they say something you don't like about the sales then you'll have something more relevant to write.

 

[Lady Larunai]

Yea it was one of those things i should have worded better, i wouldnt do anything till there was a 100% confirmation on a lot of things that are still quite sketchy, as it is ive gotten a WiiU in the last few days and will wait for the final reveals for the one and ps4 before buying either or acting on any plans.

For the just dont buy it thing, its a good plan but just seems a little passive..
Just because i dont buy it to prove a point it seems silly to just give up at that and let them get away with it.

 

[Caiphus]

Or we can just not buy their shitty console.
That's how I'm doing it.

The practical man's guide to consumerism.

For the just dont buy it thing, its a good plan but just seems a little passive..

Apathy is an entirely appropriate response when faced with a consumer decision where there are multiple substitute goods.

Of course, if you enjoy making your opinion heard, go for it. Both are appropriate responses within reason, you know, until you start making a cult.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Can we just have project "watch the Xbox crash and burn" instead? I mean, Microsoft is doing all the work for us, all we have to do is sit back and drink pina coladas, and not waste money on their system. I prefer that option.

 

[MagunBFP]

Much more is at stake than just our games here: if Microsoft's ploy succeeds, companies will try to make us dependent on them, rather than vice-versa. Other industries will take notice and find their own way to copy these practices. We cannot let that happen. If that happens, human autonomy is going to be put under the axe.

Wow... that escalated quickly... first we must buy XBoxes then we give up our ability to chose.

I see your slippery slope and raise you a WTF? No one is making you buy the Xbox One, and its not backwards compatible so you're not actually loosing anything by not buying it... so logically we could say that the only loser in you not purchasing the new Xbox is Microsoft? I'm failing to see how suddenly we're dependant on MS for anything. Yes you don't get to play with one type of new shiny toy but that's all, and you can go spend your money on Sony or Nintendo's shiny toys instead. Hardly a dependency.

Also if all it takes is for Microsoft to force us to do something and that suddenly escalates to everyone surrendering our free will to the corporations, then we have a lot bigger problems then which next gen console to buy.

 

[CriticalMiss]

My idea is we mail Microsoft mass amounts of squeaky toy bones

Admit it, you own a squeaky toy bone company and want some extra sales!

I think the best way to show Microsoft that you disagree with their ways (whatever they maybe, DRM or otherwise) is to not buy any of their products. If you have Xbox Live then cancel your subscription and send an email to their PR department saying you are cancelling your subscription and won't be coming back. Explain why and leave it at that, don't be a shit to them because they will take you less seriously if you call them a bunch of squirrel chokers. The only thing they care about is money. You could go to the Microsoft campus and ritually disembowel yourself after giving a moving speech that bring tears to the eyes of thousands (Note: please don't); MS will wonder who is paying for the clean-up or try and figure out a way of putting DRM on your corpse.

 

[Nimzabaat]

I like how MS has the strongest of the three consoles of the next gen and, because it's the most recent, is getting the most hate. Remember the PS4 "reveal"? (reveal in quotations because they didn't actually show the console) Also remember that Sony was going to block used game sales as well until backlash made them rethink their stance and shuffle the responsibility onto the publishers? (see it's them! it's not us! we just gave them the technology to do it!) MS is doing the same rethinking of their stance and it'll take some time to see where it actually ends. As for MS turning their back on "core gamers" if that was at all the case there wouldn't be a controller anymore, let alone work put into making the controller more interactive. They said right in the presentation that they were saving most of the game reveals for E3. A point that the haters ignored immediately of course.

For my part, I have a ton of games I haven't played and none of this gen's consoles are grabbing me except for possibly the Steambox (wait and see on that one). So I probably can wait a few months to a year before buying another brick for the living room.

OT: Wait until the other shoe drops before doing something drastic. If things don't look better after E3, maybe see about getting people to boycott. Spending money on insulting them just makes people look dumb (imo).

 

[The_Echo]

Or we can just not buy their shitty console.
That's how I'm doing it.

Exactly. Vote with your wallet.

Why should we try to get Microsoft to somehow improve the Xbone? It probably wouldn't work anyway. They dug their grave, let them lie in it.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

This is unlikely to catch on. The suppression of used games isn't nearly as important as the ending of a video game.

 

[Aabglov]

I actually think that voicing our disagreement is the right way to go. Microsoft won't risk sales of the Xbone on a slice of the used game market and they still have time to reverse the decision. The reveal could have been a way of stepping their foot in the water to see what kind of backlash they would get from the current state of the console. Announcing it before E3 would also give them a chance to modify things that were receiving too much criticism. I agree that the reveal was disappointing, but a lot could change before "Holdiay Season 2013". If everything remains the way it is at E3 then I'll gladly join in the movement and write something like; "Hey Microsoft, I've got a BONE to pick with you!"

 

[Aabglov]

I believe Kotaku had a piece about emailing Fox News, as they're the easiest mass-media provider to stir up. I sent a couple of emails off, hoping a few others did as well.

Once the News outlets are interested, they'll hit the net to see what "Xbox fans" make of this, and stumble into our tornado of hate. Once they run with this, we'll have plenty of opportunities to chime in and keep the story going.

...That's...actually kind of brilliant.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

That's pretty funny, but it's much more cost effective to not buy the console at all.

And what's more, they have no way of knowing how many of those toys came from people who were even considering buying one. I know I'm not.