Why the Skyrim boycott is a waste of time and missing enjoyment.

[cookyy2k]

No, the Skyrim boycott is a waste of time because ALL video game boycotts are a waste of time. Name one successful boycott in the past and I'll name ten others that didn't succeed. All you are doing by boycotting a game is taking away entertainment from yourself, you aren't sticking it to the man or making the game companies take a long hard look in the mirror. That's of course assuming that half the people that say they're boycotting games actually boycott the games and don't just wait a week until they buy it.

I really wish that game companies wouldn't release information like Zenimax suing Mojang out to the public because it is strictly business. This isn't the big kid bullying the wimpy kid, it's an actual legal situation being worked out by two companies. Also, have people ever stopped to think that it isn't the game developers who are doing the suing? The actual people selling the game probably have nothing to do with these situations, it's just the asshole lawyer squads duking it out.

You know the trends in video gaming that are becoming really annoying. All those online passes and DRMs that screw you. Well your attitude is to blame. "No one boycott because it wont work" translates to "do what you want to us, we wont react" in publisher speak.

What does this or almost any other boycott have to do with DRM and online passes?I'm not saying that boycotts should be avoided because they are ineffective, I'm saying they're stupid because it's usually for dumb reasons. Even if there was an issue about drm or online passes, that's your fault for knowingly purchasing the game. You have a choice in what games you buy because like a lot of things in life, they are luxeries, not things that you have to pay for like taxes.

If there is some great injustice being done to customers, then fine, don't buy the game and don't support the company. Although there's no point in making it a public spectacle that you can pretend will have an effect. Developers don't pay attention to online petitions and boycotts for the most part, they pay attention to sales and consumer trends.

Contradiction much? "They don't pay attention to boycotts but they do pay attention to sales", I believe a boycott may just prevent a few sales...

Also really?! you're not saying all boycotts are a waste of time? read your own post.

 

[Epona]

Yes. I realized which part of the post you were answering to now, nice lack of editing. Anyway, I answered above.

As did I, either way stop being so rude, I know you think it makes you look awesome or smart or a bad ass or whatever your aiming for but honestly It just makes you look juvenile.

I am not being rude, I am telling you that you sounds desperate. Are you afraid the boycott is going to kill Skyrim's sales? You say it's a waste of time so you clearly think the boycott won't kill Skyrim's sales in which case, why make a thread about it?

It's juvenile to try and convince others that their buying decisions should be the same as yours. You want to buy Skyrim, then do so but don't tell others that their decision not to buy Skyrim is a waste.

Just so you know, I am not boycotting Skyrim but I still respect those that are because I respect people who take a stand against an increasingly greedy and abusive industry. I don't respect people who try to guilt trip others into buying something.

I don't care if someone doesn't buy Skyrim because they honestly hate it or whatever but not buying it because its makers BOSSES believe that someone should be sued (when they should) is being stupid.

It is a waste a time because everyone gets hurt in the end, but find where I say that it wont hurt Skyrim's sales? Because it will and its a legitimate concern.

So you think it will hurt Skyrim's sales? Well, then it isn't a waste of time since that's the point of a boycott.

I don't think it will hurt Skyrim's sales but even if it does, I support consumers standing their ground.

Except they won't. I guarantee you, a good portion of that boycott will buy Skyrim and this Boycott will end up like every other major boycott in the last 3 years. Even if the Boycott has a legitimate excuse (See the Modern Warfare 2 boycott) it means nothing if the boycotters are willing to make the sacrifice and as much as I hate to admit it, we gamers find it really to do that.

Fact: The reason why video game boycotts are considered a joke in today's world is because no one is willing to stick to it.

Fact: You aren't helping matters by saying that "it won't work anyway".

Fact: It really, really won't and boycotting a game made by a developer that has no control over the legal actions of their parent company is not gonna help anyone.

They don't need to have control over Zenimax's actions to be affected by them, for better or worse.

 

[Epona]

No, the Skyrim boycott is a waste of time because ALL video game boycotts are a waste of time. Name one successful boycott in the past and I'll name ten others that didn't succeed. All you are doing by boycotting a game is taking away entertainment from yourself, you aren't sticking it to the man or making the game companies take a long hard look in the mirror. That's of course assuming that half the people that say they're boycotting games actually boycott the games and don't just wait a week until they buy it.

I really wish that game companies wouldn't release information like Zenimax suing Mojang out to the public because it is strictly business. This isn't the big kid bullying the wimpy kid, it's an actual legal situation being worked out by two companies. Also, have people ever stopped to think that it isn't the game developers who are doing the suing? The actual people selling the game probably have nothing to do with these situations, it's just the asshole lawyer squads duking it out.

You know the trends in video gaming that are becoming really annoying. All those online passes and DRMs that screw you. Well your attitude is to blame. "No one boycott because it wont work" translates to "do what you want to us, we wont react" in publisher speak.

What does this or almost any other boycott have to do with DRM and online passes?I'm not saying that boycotts should be avoided because they are ineffective, I'm saying they're stupid because it's usually for dumb reasons. Even if there was an issue about drm or online passes, that's your fault for knowingly purchasing the game. You have a choice in what games you buy because like a lot of things in life, they are luxeries, not things that you have to pay for like taxes.

If there is some great injustice being done to customers, then fine, don't buy the game and don't support the company. Although there's no point in making it a public spectacle that you can pretend will have an effect. Developers don't pay attention to online petitions and boycotts for the most part, they pay attention to sales and consumer trends.

Contradiction much? "They don't pay attention to boycotts but they do pay attention to sales", I believe a boycott may just prevent a few sales...

Also really?! you're not saying all boycotts are a waste of time? read your own post.

I know right, I read that post and thought, "wow, that was pointless".

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Yes. I realized which part of the post you were answering to now, nice lack of editing. Anyway, I answered above.

As did I, either way stop being so rude, I know you think it makes you look awesome or smart or a bad ass or whatever your aiming for but honestly It just makes you look juvenile.

I am not being rude, I am telling you that you sounds desperate. Are you afraid the boycott is going to kill Skyrim's sales? You say it's a waste of time so you clearly think the boycott won't kill Skyrim's sales in which case, why make a thread about it?

It's juvenile to try and convince others that their buying decisions should be the same as yours. You want to buy Skyrim, then do so but don't tell others that their decision not to buy Skyrim is a waste.

Just so you know, I am not boycotting Skyrim but I still respect those that are because I respect people who take a stand against an increasingly greedy and abusive industry. I don't respect people who try to guilt trip others into buying something.

I don't care if someone doesn't buy Skyrim because they honestly hate it or whatever but not buying it because its makers BOSSES believe that someone should be sued (when they should) is being stupid.

It is a waste a time because everyone gets hurt in the end, but find where I say that it wont hurt Skyrim's sales? Because it will and its a legitimate concern.

So you think it will hurt Skyrim's sales? Well, then it isn't a waste of time since that's the point of a boycott.

I don't think it will hurt Skyrim's sales but even if it does, I support consumers standing their ground.

Except they won't. I guarantee you, a good portion of that boycott will buy Skyrim and this Boycott will end up like every other major boycott in the last 3 years. Even if the Boycott has a legitimate excuse (See the Modern Warfare 2 boycott) it means nothing if the boycotters are willing to make the sacrifice and as much as I hate to admit it, we gamers find it really to do that.

Fact: The reason why video game boycotts are considered a joke in today's world is because no one is willing to stick to it.

Fact: You aren't helping matters by saying that "it won't work anyway".

Fact: It really, really won't and boycotting a game made by a developer that has no control over the legal actions of their parent company is not gonna help anyone.

They don't need to have control over Zenimax's actions to be affected by them, for better or worse.

You do realize that even if this boycott does negatively affect Skyrim's sales, and it won't, Zenimax still won't drop the suit and Bethesda will be the one to bite the bullet correct? Now explain to me how its fair that Bethesda employees get laid off because of something they have no control over?

Now if Bethsda was a lone company managing itself like Valve or Epic games, I could see how this Boycott might be warranted, but as it stands, it'll just be hurting a company that has no say in the matter.

 

[andyp363]

So then if I trademarked "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ" does that stop anybody from using ANY part of that title? if so (as you claim) titles are pretty f***ed

If it worked that way it would be impossible to bring out 2nd and 3rd games the 3 in "halo 3" is still in the trademark. (for lack of knowing what the first 3rd game was)

Think for a second!
"Scrolls of magic" (e.g) in no way resembles "the eldar scrolls" enough to confuse customers, no court would accept that.

 

[Mercsenary]

If you inhabit the internet you know about Zenimax suing Mojang over the word "Scrolls"

And you've most likely heard how everyone Notch fanboy from here to the moon is going to boycott Skyrim because Bethesda is beating on the little man!

Ok, for one, Notch isn't little, stop defending him.

Second, Zenimax has all the right to sue Notch over this if they want to.

Third, No, Zenimax isn't the only one to blame, they sent him a cease and desist letter, his reaction? Post it on twitter and laugh about it.

Fourth, a article went up recently (This one: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.316261-Mojang-Offered-Up-Scrolls-Trademark-Bethsoft-Said-No)
and more butt hurt and flames were sputtered by Notch fanboys. Apparently Notch said that he was willing to change "Scrolls" to 'Scrolls: [some subtitle]' and now he's confused as to why he's getting sued still.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET RID OF THE SCROLLS PART.

That's what Zenimax is peeved about, the Scrolls part, so adding a subtitle doesn't solve their problem.

Now is Zenimax guilt free? Of course not, they're being stupid about the lawsuit to, but Notch is being just as equally (if not more so by bringing the public into it) about the whole thing.

My overall point? Boycotting an awesome looking game because your overlord says hes completely innocent is just being stupid, please for the love of god use your brain.

There's a boycott? XD

 

[Normandyfoxtrot]

So then if I trademarked "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ" does that stop anybody from using ANY part of that title? if so (as you claim) titles are pretty f***ed

If it worked that way it would be impossible to bring out 2nd and 3rd games the 3 in "halo 3" is still in the trademark. (for lack of knowing what the first 3rd game was)

Think for a second!
"Scrolls of magic" (e.g) in no way resembles "the eldar scrolls" enough to confuse customers, no court would accept that.

I'm not certain about that keep in mind US corporate and copyright laws are complex and screwy to all hell little of it makes much sense and it's all rather haphazard.

 

[The Random One]

Ugh, don't call it 'boycotting'. I have limited time and resources to spend in gaming, and I make sure I spend them in the ways I consider best. This usually means a game I believe I will enjoy, but can also mean supporting a company whose actions I believe are good for the development of games as an art form, and neglecting to buy them from companies which I believe hinder them. That is why the only games I will buy readily are from independent game companies and I will refuse to buy from companies which are notoriously bad with their customers, employees, or the industry in general.

I'm not 'boycotting' them because a boycot is a refusal to buy something you need. I don't 'need' games. I enjoy them but I have so great a choice of them that I can afford to be picky even about things that do not affect me directly. The only people who call this 'boycotting' are idiots with no impulse control whatsoever that need to shout politically-sounding gibberish to stop their feverish grubby hands from lunging at new games before anyone with a shred of wisdom would even consider reaching for their wallets.

I'm merely being completely logical with my spendings. And a completely logical outlook says that a company that sees its profits dive when they do something unrelated to the games themselves will start paying more attention to those things. One might say not enough people do that for it to work, but it's not my job to make sure the other idiots do their job; it's my job only to not act as an idiot.

Also Skyrim looks so boring that if I played it I'd yawn so much my jaw would become unhinged, so there's that.

 

[brainslurper]

I am not going to boycott skyrim, but I never buying anything on origin. Ever.

 

[lacktheknack]

Have another reason:

Notch has said several times how he intends to buy and play the crap out of Skyrim.

Kinda undermines the attempts to stand up for him, huh?

 

[Creator002]

How I'm reacting to it all: Yay Skyrim, boo Zenimax.
In other words, I'm going to play Skyrim, because it will be awesome, but I'm not too impressed with Zemimax's decision to sue Mojang over such a stupid little thing.
I was a little confused when I read the Escapist article on Bethsda saying "no", because, I too, saw no real name change.

 

[lacktheknack]

I am not going to boycott skyrim, but I never buying anything on origin. Ever.

That's not even remotely on topic. Keep your bile in the relevant threads, please.

 

[renegade7]

This sounds like a fanboy rant XD, you seem to have so much to say about 'Notch fanboys', but you seem yourself to be a bethesda fanboy .

OT: It's just a stupid lawsuit, and no judge in his right mind would rule in bethsoft's favor. And you're missing out on a great game if you boycott it.

 

[Epona]

Yes. I realized which part of the post you were answering to now, nice lack of editing. Anyway, I answered above.

As did I, either way stop being so rude, I know you think it makes you look awesome or smart or a bad ass or whatever your aiming for but honestly It just makes you look juvenile.

I am not being rude, I am telling you that you sounds desperate. Are you afraid the boycott is going to kill Skyrim's sales? You say it's a waste of time so you clearly think the boycott won't kill Skyrim's sales in which case, why make a thread about it?

It's juvenile to try and convince others that their buying decisions should be the same as yours. You want to buy Skyrim, then do so but don't tell others that their decision not to buy Skyrim is a waste.

Just so you know, I am not boycotting Skyrim but I still respect those that are because I respect people who take a stand against an increasingly greedy and abusive industry. I don't respect people who try to guilt trip others into buying something.

I don't care if someone doesn't buy Skyrim because they honestly hate it or whatever but not buying it because its makers BOSSES believe that someone should be sued (when they should) is being stupid.

It is a waste a time because everyone gets hurt in the end, but find where I say that it wont hurt Skyrim's sales? Because it will and its a legitimate concern.

So you think it will hurt Skyrim's sales? Well, then it isn't a waste of time since that's the point of a boycott.

I don't think it will hurt Skyrim's sales but even if it does, I support consumers standing their ground.

Except they won't. I guarantee you, a good portion of that boycott will buy Skyrim and this Boycott will end up like every other major boycott in the last 3 years. Even if the Boycott has a legitimate excuse (See the Modern Warfare 2 boycott) it means nothing if the boycotters are willing to make the sacrifice and as much as I hate to admit it, we gamers find it really to do that.

Fact: The reason why video game boycotts are considered a joke in today's world is because no one is willing to stick to it.

Fact: You aren't helping matters by saying that "it won't work anyway".

Fact: It really, really won't and boycotting a game made by a developer that has no control over the legal actions of their parent company is not gonna help anyone.

They don't need to have control over Zenimax's actions to be affected by them, for better or worse.

You do realize that even if this boycott does negatively affect Skyrim's sales, and it won't, Zenimax still won't drop the suit and Bethesda will be the one to bite the bullet correct? Now explain to me how its fair that Bethesda employees get laid off because of something they have no control over?

Now if Bethsda was a lone company managing itself like Valve or Epic games, I could see how this Boycott might be warranted, but as it stands, it'll just be hurting a company that has no say in the matter.

Of course they won't drop the suit but maybe next time they decide to sue over a word, they will remember how much it upset their fans and how many sales they lost (if they loose enough to be noticeable).

It's fair because Bethesda is part of Zenimax. Just like bad decisions from any other company/parent company filter down to the employees.

Just because Bethesda has a parent company doesn't make them invincible. If Bethesda had enough control over Zenimax to stop this lawsuit, they should have.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I get it and I already responded that people don't need to be lawyers to boycott a product. You think people should completely understand everything that is going on in order to boycott. I do not agree!

Think about what you are saying "You must buy the game because you do not understand all the legal BS".

Whoa, where did I say they must buy the game? I don't care who buys the game. Buy the game or don't buy the game. Heck, don't buy the game as part of your "punish Zenimax" initiative, if you are thusly moved.

Just don't organize a boycott of something you're completely ignorant of. That's stupid.

 

[F4LL3N]

So you think it will hurt Skyrim's sales? Well, then it isn't a waste of time since that's the point of a boycott.

I don't think it will hurt Skyrim's sales but even if it does, I support consumers standing their ground.

It's a waste of time because as I've said its just going to hurt everyone.

But what are they standing for? Some guy being immature about an actual legal concern, yay for stands.

There is no legal concern. No person in there right mind would draw any connection between The Elder Scrolls and Notch's Scrolls. You can't copyright the name of an object that's been around for thousands of years.

 

[Epona]

I get it and I already responded that people don't need to be lawyers to boycott a product. You think people should completely understand everything that is going on in order to boycott. I do not agree!

Think about what you are saying "You must buy the game because you do not understand all the legal BS".

Whoa, where did I say they must buy the game? I don't care who buys the game. Buy the game or don't buy the game. Heck, don't buy the game as part of your "punish Zenimax" initiative, if you are thusly moved.

Just don't organize a boycott of something you're completely ignorant of. That's stupid.

So who organized a boycott but was ignorant of the details? Not people participating in it mind you, just the organizers.

 

[Thaius]

Boycotting a game is pointless

At some point you will give in and buy the game.

Bethesda aren't bad people, their legal team are just being assholes who won't do the Quake 3 match.

I guess I'm risking a warning here, because I have nothing to add, but... well, I have nothing to add. Your every word is true.

 

[TheTurtleMan]

Contradiction much? "They don't pay attention to boycotts but they do pay attention to sales", I believe a boycott may just prevent a few sales...

Also really?! you're not saying all boycotts are a waste of time? read your own post.

I said plainly in my post that boycotts are stupid, but I guess let me clarify my opinion that video game boycotts are stupid since you decided not to pay attention to my entire post.

I'm sticking to my opinion that game companies don't care about video game boycotts. Maybe if there was a boycott that cut a significant amount of purchases then I would look at them with more respect. Also like I said before, the small percentage that "boycotts" games have no obligation to staying true to the cause and may have bought the game despite their grievences.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Of course they won't drop the suit but maybe next time they decide to sue over a word, they will remember how much it upset their fans and how many sales they lost (if they loose enough to be noticeable).

They won't lose enough. As I stated before, this Boycott will fall apart at the seams and most, if not all, of the boycotters will most likely buy the game. Sorry, but that's how all of these boycotts go. What reason do you have to prove that this will be any different?

It's fair because Bethesda is part of Zenimax. Just like bad decisions from any other company/parent company filter down to the employees.

Just because Bethesda has a parent company doesn't make them invincible. If Bethesda had enough control over Zenimax to stop this lawsuit, they should have.

So you would punish the people who make the games you love and force some of those folks out of work just because of something their parent company did? Sorry mate, but that doesn't make sense. If you disagree with the lawsuit, then protest it or do something that effects Zenimax directly.

Except they have no control over Zenimax's legal battles. Zenimax calls the shots and gives them their paychecks. Its not like they want this to happen, hell, Todd Howard, the guy who runs Bethesda and is actually good friends with Notch. Even if this hurt Zenimax somehow, Zenimax has Id Software as well and they make millions simply because they made Doom several years ago and is about to release Rage.

In short, Zenimax will survive without Bethesda and by targeting them, you're hurting the wrong people.