Government Imposition on Gaming (April Fools Day joke)
by Demolishun · 04/01/2012 (5:17 pm) · 27 comments
Apparently the US government it trying to put a squash on freedom of expression. They want to lock down who can and cannot produce video games. There is a lot of speculation but it looks like the MPAA and RIAA are behind the scenes lobbying for these new measures.
Be a look out for bill ICU-812. It is still in draft, but it currently contains things like:
I don't normally like to be an alarmist, but this crap is getting out of hand!
Sincerely,
AFD
Be a look out for bill ICU-812. It is still in draft, but it currently contains things like:
- Mandatory submission of all games, even indy, to the ESRB. Including the fees normally associated with such a submission.
- Additional fees for governmental "book-keeping".
- The ability to suspend web page presence on the internet if the content is deemed "inappropriate" even if you get a rating. We saw a taste of what this might look like when pages voluntarily blocked content to educate people of the threat.
- FBI agents will be used to "monitor" the ESRB. No free ride for them.
- Back door code that must be placed in the code to allow for governmental monitoring of chat and/or shutting down servers. Imagine the exploits on stable servers!
- Registration of compilers with a central governmental repository! Yet another reason to look into scripting language technology.
I don't normally like to be an alarmist, but this crap is getting out of hand!
Sincerely,
AFD
About the author
I love programming, I love programming things that go click, whirr, boom. For organized T3D Links visit: http://demolishun.com/?page_id=67
#2
@Steve - nice observation there mate. And lol.
04/01/2012 (6:05 pm)
Thankfully I'm an Aussie! I'm guessing though that this bill, if it is passed, will restrict sales of foreign games inside the U.S. so I'm still going to be affected. Frank, are you sure this is the U.S. government proposing this, and not the illuminati? It just sounds so.... 1984.@Steve - nice observation there mate. And lol.
#3
04/01/2012 (6:55 pm)
April Fool's?
#4
04/01/2012 (7:40 pm)
@Dan,Quote:are you sure this is the U.S. government proposing this, and not the illuminati?Is there a difference?
#5
04/01/2012 (8:07 pm)
See, this is exactly why this bill has been proposed. Games are the perfect carrier for viral memes. So many games focus on conspiracies these days. To the extent that people who previously laughed conspiracy theories away are looking more seriously into them. In fact, my own project is incorporating MK-Ultra (in abstract). And let's face facts; the current U.S. administration is somewhat.... questionable.
#6
16th and 17th amendment, the federal reserve, and the supreme court decision in 1936 to redefine the meaning of "general welfare" are what has made the US government what it is today. The current administration is a result of those decisions made almost 100 years ago.
Also, this is an April Fools joke. There is no bill. However, do take a look at the EFF. They are bringing to light the actual bills, and many of those are scarier is consequence than this fictional one.
You are very right on the power of games. If used properly they can very much bring about positive social change. It seems that this power has not been fully utilized.
04/01/2012 (11:08 pm)
@Dan,16th and 17th amendment, the federal reserve, and the supreme court decision in 1936 to redefine the meaning of "general welfare" are what has made the US government what it is today. The current administration is a result of those decisions made almost 100 years ago.
Also, this is an April Fools joke. There is no bill. However, do take a look at the EFF. They are bringing to light the actual bills, and many of those are scarier is consequence than this fictional one.
You are very right on the power of games. If used properly they can very much bring about positive social change. It seems that this power has not been fully utilized.
#7
http://demandprogress.org/
04/01/2012 (11:15 pm)
This better not be a bad April Fool's joke. The US really is going to Sh@# if it's true.http://demandprogress.org/
#8
On a serious note (no, really) it's not April fools here. I come to you from the future, so the joke, as perfectly executed as it was, is wasted on me.
Secondly, developers would feature more 'memetic' content were they not being whipped by their publishers (not neaming anyone) into producing titles for the masses. This very niche is squarely in the hands and minds of indie game developers. Like Notch.
Unfortunately handhelds have made a lot more people aware of the apps market, and with dev times being shorter in that sector the obvious potential loser would be the pc games developer/s. Anyway I'd better stop before I enter rant territory. (I'm a wee bit tipsy.)
@everyone - never visit a link to a pro-activism site when discussing the illuminati in a forum.
EDIT: Did I mention how crap Mass Effect is?
04/02/2012 (3:34 am)
@Frank - Um. Right. Oh you thought I was serious? Hahahahaha.... Err...On a serious note (no, really) it's not April fools here. I come to you from the future, so the joke, as perfectly executed as it was, is wasted on me.
Secondly, developers would feature more 'memetic' content were they not being whipped by their publishers (not neaming anyone) into producing titles for the masses. This very niche is squarely in the hands and minds of indie game developers. Like Notch.
Unfortunately handhelds have made a lot more people aware of the apps market, and with dev times being shorter in that sector the obvious potential loser would be the pc games developer/s. Anyway I'd better stop before I enter rant territory. (I'm a wee bit tipsy.)
@everyone - never visit a link to a pro-activism site when discussing the illuminati in a forum.
EDIT: Did I mention how crap Mass Effect is?
#9
... now keep still ...
04/02/2012 (5:16 am)
Frank, April Fool's is only until 12pm ... you posted late ... and must be punished ...... now keep still ...
#10
To be honest it was inspired by EFF. They sent me a really good April fools so I thought I would create one for GG. There were a lot of bogus titles but here is the best one they sent me:
@Dan,
Not really. When discussing conspiracy theories it is important to understand the source of those problems. Every 100 years there is a "shift" either towards "freedom" or "force". You can look back in history and see this. It is like clockwork. Every nation does this at a different time for the most part. In 1776 there was a "freedom shift" in the Americas. In 1920-1930 there was a "force shift" in the USA. You can look around the world and see these shifts.
So while my intention is have fun with this blog, I never pass up an opportunity to help ppl understand why the world is the way it is. That way if someone wants to change the "status quo" then they are armed with the information that will help them achieve their goal. Call it a kindred spirit search if you will.
04/02/2012 (12:15 pm)
@Steve, To be honest it was inspired by EFF. They sent me a really good April fools so I thought I would create one for GG. There were a lot of bogus titles but here is the best one they sent me:
Quote:
Patent Office Sued Over Patent on Issuing Patents
The US Patent and Trademark Office has been forced to halt the issuing of new patents after being sued for violation of patent number #4608919, "System and Method For Granting Limited Monopolies On Inventions."
@Dan,
Not really. When discussing conspiracy theories it is important to understand the source of those problems. Every 100 years there is a "shift" either towards "freedom" or "force". You can look back in history and see this. It is like clockwork. Every nation does this at a different time for the most part. In 1776 there was a "freedom shift" in the Americas. In 1920-1930 there was a "force shift" in the USA. You can look around the world and see these shifts.
So while my intention is have fun with this blog, I never pass up an opportunity to help ppl understand why the world is the way it is. That way if someone wants to change the "status quo" then they are armed with the information that will help them achieve their goal. Call it a kindred spirit search if you will.
#12
04/02/2012 (2:54 pm)
US Patent system ... in "your favourite search engine" © search for "penny arcade patently ridiculous" ... caution bad language ... poo-poo ... or I'd have posted it here. :)
#13
No I am not kidding about the shifts. They occur. You can research it yourself. Every nation is on its own clock for these shifts. However, the next shift is supposed to be global because the whole world is now connected through the internet. This is not a conspiracy theory. You can trace it back as far as you want and you will find the pattern. Now, it may not happen exactly every 100 years, sometimes it is longer and sometimes it is shorter.
@Steve,
Nice! Poor octopus though...
04/02/2012 (4:17 pm)
@Dan,No I am not kidding about the shifts. They occur. You can research it yourself. Every nation is on its own clock for these shifts. However, the next shift is supposed to be global because the whole world is now connected through the internet. This is not a conspiracy theory. You can trace it back as far as you want and you will find the pattern. Now, it may not happen exactly every 100 years, sometimes it is longer and sometimes it is shorter.
@Steve,
Nice! Poor octopus though...
#14
04/02/2012 (4:51 pm)
I think we need a dedicated forum for this Frank. Hint hint.
#15
Well if you would stop bringing up conspiracy theories... :)
"I am not saying its aliens...but its aliens."
04/02/2012 (5:03 pm)
@Dan,Well if you would stop bringing up conspiracy theories... :)
"I am not saying its aliens...but its aliens."
#16
However I dont find this funny at all.
Maybe is me though, even the whole thing of the "aprils fool" is irritating to me. People wasting time pestering other people.
Is hard to bring this things to the table without someone not interested (or not willing to hear in depth what you intend to say), that throws the words "conspiracy theory" to the thread, as if per se, that would mean an insult, or something that diminishes the proposed alternative thinking. Thats the end of the story, because nowadays those words actually derail the discussion by dimishing any arguments, doesnt matter any logic any more.
And in a way, if you do what you do in a rather careless way, you are prone to produce insensibility towards the topic, while also resting certain degree of compromise towards something that requires serious consideration.
Just my two cents.
(Edited a bit for clearness).
04/03/2012 (11:51 am)
@Frank, I appreciate your will to make people consider this things.However I dont find this funny at all.
Maybe is me though, even the whole thing of the "aprils fool" is irritating to me. People wasting time pestering other people.
Is hard to bring this things to the table without someone not interested (or not willing to hear in depth what you intend to say), that throws the words "conspiracy theory" to the thread, as if per se, that would mean an insult, or something that diminishes the proposed alternative thinking. Thats the end of the story, because nowadays those words actually derail the discussion by dimishing any arguments, doesnt matter any logic any more.
And in a way, if you do what you do in a rather careless way, you are prone to produce insensibility towards the topic, while also resting certain degree of compromise towards something that requires serious consideration.
Just my two cents.
(Edited a bit for clearness).
#17
@Novack - Good to see you're still around. Haven't seen you for a long time. And yes, I agree completely. It's easy to criticise people for having theories of a conspiratorial nature. And it's easy to label something a "conspiracy theory" and thus "crazy". I think that's Frank's point though. We're both having a laugh at ourselves.
We still need a dedicated thread though.
04/03/2012 (6:27 pm)
And this is why we need a seperate thread. @Novack - Good to see you're still around. Haven't seen you for a long time. And yes, I agree completely. It's easy to criticise people for having theories of a conspiratorial nature. And it's easy to label something a "conspiracy theory" and thus "crazy". I think that's Frank's point though. We're both having a laugh at ourselves.
We still need a dedicated thread though.
#18
Nice to see you too :)
Thanks for your comment, btw. I knew you were at a nice exchange of jokes, my rather dark mood comment was because this situation reminded me of others that I've seen at other forums, along the years.
But you're right, the thing with all this topics is that is good to bring them to the table (as Frank does), but in a rather more delicate way (as I propose), and the proper space for development (as you propose).
See? at the end, we were all right =)
04/03/2012 (8:24 pm)
Hey Dan, Im still around, although mostly as a lurker this days :)Nice to see you too :)
Thanks for your comment, btw. I knew you were at a nice exchange of jokes, my rather dark mood comment was because this situation reminded me of others that I've seen at other forums, along the years.
But you're right, the thing with all this topics is that is good to bring them to the table (as Frank does), but in a rather more delicate way (as I propose), and the proper space for development (as you propose).
See? at the end, we were all right =)
#19
The intent of the original blog was to produce a laugh. It was quite by accident that it brought serious discussion at all. Thanks for your insight on the subject. It is refreshing to hear a frank discussion on the possible ramifications of broaching a subject in this way. You are right, it is serious on many levels.
I changed the title so ppl are not alarmed. The novelty has worn off.
Just so you know. I don't theorize anything in the dark. My sources are reputable and sincere. I trust, but I verify. I am working on a project that at some point I will produce a serious title that will show the outcome of a "force shift". I have been discussing this with an ex-navy officer and he likes the approach I am taking. He believes it is an accurate potential scenario. My main focus is on what will happen to the USA, but because of the global ramifications I think it will be unavoidable to cover worldly consequences in the game in some form. My goal is to illustrate the danger of allowing a "force shift" to occur.
We can move this discussion if you like.
04/03/2012 (11:59 pm)
@Novack,The intent of the original blog was to produce a laugh. It was quite by accident that it brought serious discussion at all. Thanks for your insight on the subject. It is refreshing to hear a frank discussion on the possible ramifications of broaching a subject in this way. You are right, it is serious on many levels.
I changed the title so ppl are not alarmed. The novelty has worn off.
Just so you know. I don't theorize anything in the dark. My sources are reputable and sincere. I trust, but I verify. I am working on a project that at some point I will produce a serious title that will show the outcome of a "force shift". I have been discussing this with an ex-navy officer and he likes the approach I am taking. He believes it is an accurate potential scenario. My main focus is on what will happen to the USA, but because of the global ramifications I think it will be unavoidable to cover worldly consequences in the game in some form. My goal is to illustrate the danger of allowing a "force shift" to occur.
We can move this discussion if you like.
#20
Actually, would be good to know more of the game you're planing, and likely a bit more of your perspective over the status quo, the shifts that you propose, and so on.
Specially the game, Im kind of curious about what you're going to do, is it integrated on the game story, gameplay, sceneraios, what? :)
04/04/2012 (8:43 am)
Hey Frank, thanks.Quote:Just so you know. I don't theorize anything in the dark.It didnt seemed the contrary at any point. :)
Actually, would be good to know more of the game you're planing, and likely a bit more of your perspective over the status quo, the shifts that you propose, and so on.
Specially the game, Im kind of curious about what you're going to do, is it integrated on the game story, gameplay, sceneraios, what? :)
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