Valve Is Making All Their Games Free To Debian Developers

[DDF420]

So if steam wants to monopolize game distribution, the least they could do is show some maturity and not push their own limited moral standards on other people. They should at least allow all kinds of games on the market, regardless of their personal tastes or religious views.

It's funny. Apple plays dictator on their app store and censors apps for nudity - evil!!! Internet warriors, assemble!

Steam does the same - cue excuses...

When left 4 dead 2 first came out it was refused classification by our Office of Film and Literature Classification board .At the time, it failed to gain a MA15+ rating, the highest possible rating for video games in Australia.This stopped all sales of the game in Australia even via steam. Valve then released a censored version which was given a M rating by the OFLC and we were allowed to buy the censored version. That kind of nonsense doesn't happen as much any more since we finally got a R18+ rating category for video games.That R18+ rating however,despite being for 18 years plus, really only covers violence, for porn type games you need a X18+ category which does not exist with computer games only movies.

Maybe they are trying to avoid all the issues with different countries internal laws/ratings knowing violence is ok but porn is to border line.

[Luke]

Beating ratings is another advantage of FOSS/no DRM

When left 4 dead 2 first came out it was refused classification by our Office of Film and Literature Classification board .At the time, it failed to gain a MA15+ rating, the highest possible rating for video games in Australia.This stopped all sales of the game in Australia even via steam. Valve then released a censored version which was given a M rating by the OFLC and we were allowed to buy the censored version. That kind of nonsense doesn't happen as much any more since we finally got a R18+ rating category for video games.That R18+ rating however,despite being for 18 years plus, really only covers violence, for porn type games you need a X18+ category which does not exist with computer games only movies.

Maybe they are trying to avoid all the issues with different countries internal laws/ratings knowing violence is ok but porn is to border line.

This is easily countered: a FOSS game need only be legal in one place on Earth to be downloadable and playable everywhere on Earth, via Tor and manual install if the target nation blocks the host. I would advise anyone blocked from buying a pay game by ratings to turn around and torrent the game: no mercy, no quarter for the ratings/censorship pigs donate to the authors if they are concerned about that aspect. Governments can take their ratings laws and stuff them: when there is no money changing hands and no "business presence," they are like trolls caught in the sun and can do nothing,

[Kivada]

I don't go to best buy or walmart either. In fact I've never been in either and I do believe I'd have to travel literally thousands of kilometers before I'd have a chance of seeing either. I don't even know what eb games is, is it some place where your granny shops?

So if steam wants to monopolize game distribution, the least they could do is show some maturity and not push their own limited moral standards on other people. They should at least allow all kinds of games on the market, regardless of their personal tastes or religious views.

It's funny. Apple plays dictator on their app store and censors apps for nudity - evil!!! Internet warriors, assemble!

Steam does the same - cue excuses...

So I take it you also take offense that you can't buy enriched uranium at the gas station...

Don't reply to buttheads, it only encourages them. Just keep walking.

Nah, this guy is actually pretty hilarious.

[Kivada]

This is easily countered: a FOSS game need only be legal in one place on Earth to be downloadable and playable everywhere on Earth, via Tor and manual install if the target nation blocks the host. I would advise anyone blocked from buying a pay game by ratings to turn around and torrent the game: no mercy, no quarter for the ratings/censorship pigs donate to the authors if they are concerned about that aspect. Governments can take their ratings laws and stuff them: when there is no money changing hands and no "business presence," they are like trolls caught in the sun and can do nothing,

It doesn't need to be F/OSS either. The Japanese will gladly provide you with one of their poorly translated porn games anywhere on earth direct from the publisher.

[DDF420]

This is easily countered: a FOSS game need only be legal in one place on Earth to be downloadable and playable everywhere on Earth, via Tor and manual install if the target nation blocks the host. I would advise anyone blocked from buying a pay game by ratings to turn around and torrent the game: no mercy, no quarter for the ratings/censorship pigs donate to the authors if they are concerned about that aspect. Governments can take their ratings laws and stuff them: when there is no money changing hands and no "business presence," they are like trolls caught in the sun and can do nothing,

Material rated r18+ or x18+ simply isn't suitable for children.Without a rating system any kid could walk into a shop and purchase a game full of porn/violence/rape/torture/or any material that is simply not suitable for children of certain age groups .The same reason certain movies only come on here when children should be in bed. Maybe if you had kids you would understand. Or maybe you are the type of parent that feels exposing young children to such material builds character

At the time it was easily circumvented but that wasn't really my point. Valve felt pressured enough to release a censored version.IMO porn brings up to many issues in to many countries for them,they probably don't want the bad advertising that may come about being a porn distributor, which means they will likely always steer clear of it.

[Luke]

I don't let any government agency censor what I watch or play

Material rated r18+ or x18+ simply isn't suitable for children.Without a rating system any kid could walk into a shop and purchase a game full of porn/violence/rape/torture/or any material that is simply not suitable for children of certain age groups .The same reason certain movies only come on here when children should be in bed. Maybe if you had kids you would understand. Or maybe you are the type of parent that feels exposing young children to such material builds character

At the time it was easily circumvented but that wasn't really my point. Valve felt pressured enough to release a censored version.IMO porn brings up to many issues in to many countries for them,they probably don't want the bad advertising that may come about being a porn distributor, which means they will likely always steer clear of it.

I don't trust ANY arm of ANY government with that kind of power. Suppose two RTS games come out: one simulating Fundamentalist Christians trying to close abortion clinics, one simulating anti-globalization protesters trying to shut down a trade summit. Assume no blood and gore and no sexuality in either one, and the same weapons used by protesters and cops, and same basic tactics and strategies in both games. Guess which one is most likely to be censored by the kind of people who push game, movie, and music censorship?

Similarily, I have boycotted Wal-Mart since 1993, when it came out that they had an internal music censorship board to decide what not to sell. That was before Napster and MP3's, so when Wal-Mart opened and all the record stores closed in a small town, young folks found access to many bands was cut off.

[Kivada]

I don't trust ANY arm of ANY government with that kind of power. Suppose two RTS games come out: one simulating Fundamentalist Christians trying to close abortion clinics, one simulating anti-globalization protesters trying to shut down a trade summit. Assume no blood and gore and no sexuality in either one, and the same weapons used by protesters and cops, and same basic tactics and strategies in both games. Guess which one is most likely to be censored by the kind of people who push game, movie, and music censorship?

Similarily, I have boycotted Wal-Mart since 1993, when it came out that they had an internal music censorship board to decide what not to sell. That was before Napster and MP3's, so when Wal-Mart opened and all the record stores closed in a small town, young folks found access to many bands was cut off.

I await the day of your overthrow of the government comrade!

[zanny]

I await the day of your overthrow of the government comrade!

Or more likely just try to move away. I know I wouldn't want to live in Australia where they ban games from being sold because what is effectively a culture board says they are too "bad" in some way. Same with Germany. I'm not sure about how that conflicts with whatever their interpretations of freedom of speech are, though.

[DDF420]

Or more likely just try to move away. I know I wouldn't want to live in Australia where they ban games from being sold because what is effectively a culture board says they are too "bad" in some way. Same with Germany. I'm not sure about how that conflicts with whatever their interpretations of freedom of speech are, though.

Again it was banned because it couldn't fall into any current classification, we didn't have R+ ratings for videos games in 2009, but do now.

Australia does not have an explicit US type First Amendment enshrining the protection of freedom of speech in our Constitution

Lets look at what the good old US deems unsuitable......... why ? because someone is shooting up ? same shit different country

what a terrible place i live in *eyeroll*
Australians are free, within the bounds of the law, to say or write what we think privately or publicly, about the government, or about any topic we want .
We do not censor the media and may criticise the government without fear of arrest. Free speech comes from facts, not rumours, and the intention must be constructive, not to do harm.

We have laws to protect a person's good name and integrity against false information.
We have laws against saying or writing things to incite hatred against others because of their culture, ethnicity or background. Freedom of speech can not be used as an excuse to harm others.
We are free to join any organisation or group if it is legal. We can choose to belong to a trade union or to a political party
We are free to meet with other people in public or private places. We can meet in small or large groups for legal social or political purposes. Being able to protest and to demonstrate is an accepted form of free expression
We can move freely to and from all states and territories. We can leave and return to Australia at any time
Except film, literature, and video games get a classification. What a travesty!!!! eyeroll

[d2kx]

Or more likely just try to move away. I know I wouldn't want to live in Australia where they ban games from being sold because what is effectively a culture board says they are too "bad" in some way. Same with Germany. I'm not sure about how that conflicts with whatever their interpretations of freedom of speech are, though.

In Germany, we don't ban games. Very, VERY few games get "indexed" and are not allowed to be advertised then, but they are not directly banned. Also, I can't remember when that happened for the last time. 10 years ago maybe?