Poll: Gamer's bill of rights--is it necessary?

News.com Poll

Life, liberty, and pwnage
Do gamers really need a bill of rights?

Definitely! I'm sick of being screwed by the game industry.
Sounds reasonable in theory, but it needs some tweaks.
Absolutely not. Can you say "ridiculous"?

View results

I don't know. Something about framing the purchase and playing of video games in the same light as the practice of religion, defending one's property, and attaining redress from one's government strikes me as a tad overly dramatic.

On the other hand, I get it: gaming is serious business. Like, to the tune of almost $10 billion a year, according to the Entertainment Software Association.

And like any industry, consumers have come to expect a certain level of service. That's why two game developers compiled a list of 10 "rights" PC gamers have. The intention is to have the industry adopt it as a set of principals.

The list from Stardock and Gas Powered Games says things like PC gamers shall have the right "to return games that don't work with their computers for a full refund," "to demand that games be released in a finished state," and "to expect meaningful updates after a game's release."

So, what do you think? Let us know in our poll.

[Shaymojack]

The way games are being made now, it probably will be necessary before too long.
Some of these "rights," however, seem to be there to try and make game piracy easier.

[jes834]

high five number ten
ok when your cd drive crashes u have to buy a brand new computer! or if the disk breaks having to put a disk in to play my games bothers me to no end. but otherwise really the gov shouldnt get involved

[Raziel66]

The only "right" I want is access to a truthful preview of a game. Look at Kane and Lynch and the hype it received before it was released. Then look at the reviews after it came out... what happened? Are the gaming media so stupid that they can't realize a game sucks before it's released??

[colmaboy]

Don't forget about the need to elimanate exclusive deals such as EA Sports Madden and the NFL. Madden is a tired year after year minor tweak game and all this for the low low price of $60. Open the door the competition and watch a real NFL game be developed. Boycott Madden!

[Xcalibir]

Please! If you buy a game based on a review... well you deserve to loose the $60. Most of the games I buy are based on the developing companies rep, Demos and or word of mouth.

You start regulating the gaming industry and just like everything else regulated by the Gov, the prices go up. $60 bucks is affordable. If a game sucks don't buy from that company again.