A new European Union proposal could very well determine the future of videogame development, claims a new report from the BBC. The EU is demanding that games be made to march in step with other products and offer a two-year guarantee, with refunds expected for any videogame that is found to be too glitchy to get through. To put this in perspective, the chaps who made Two Worlds would be bankrupt under this new law.
Dr. Richard Wilson, head of European games representative TIGA, disagrees with the proposal: “They have to be careful not to stifle new ideas. Consumers need good quality products — that is only reasonable — but if the legislation is too heavy-handed it could make publishers and developers very cautious.”
With all due respect, I don’t think publishers can balk at the concept of new game ideas anymore than they already do. Besides which, since when has “new” and “buggy” been in the same league? BioShock was new, but I don’t remember it being glitchy at all. Meanwhile, Bethesda takes the Fallout license, merges it with established Elder Scrolls-style gameplay, and presents to us a glitchtastic tale of buggy delights.
I do see what Wilson is saying, that developers would rely on established engines and be afraid to make new strides in the industry, but at the same time, there’s no excuse for a broken game. “We’re trying something new,” doesn’t quite cut it when you’ve demanded fifty quid for what you’re now claiming is an experiment.
Personally, I feel the threat of a refund might force developers and publishers to seriously think about finishing their games before release, rather than just rely on patches after rushing something out of the door.
