• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Dev pulls TotalBiscuit's video for copyright infringement to suppress criticism

He was one of the proponent for console DRM that Xbone used, IIRC. He even defended MS and acted like a douche to others who are against it.

Now he's on the receiving side of a company's dirty tactic I guess he doesn't like it. What goes around comes around, I suppose.
IIRC he wasn't really a proponent, he just made a reasoned argument as to why companies might feel entitled to or have (in their eyes) justification for DRM. There is a difference.
 
These two things are not one in the same. Not even close.

Both are instances of companies trying to screw people who buy their console/game. What's different about it?

At any rate, yeah, the company sounds shady but so was he in the DRM fiasco. So no sympathy from me.
 
Terrible move by dev/publisher. Couldn't have picked a worse person to do it to either. TB makes it a point to highlight hypocrisies like this in the industry.

Wow - everyone dislikes him? Not sure if I'm surprised.
 
For the full story, they are deleting every single negative topic and comment (as well as banning users) on their Steam page... and they barely speak English, so their posts are simply amazing.

That is incredible. They aren't doing themselves any favours. Rather than take the feedback on board and try to fix the game they want to shut down any critical opinion.
 
although i understand your point, i think his problem is, like he said, having an argument over twitter or reddit, which he thinks is counter-productive. i don't really agree with him, but it's sorta comprehensible.

Except he uses Twitter to espouse his own views all the time. But it was the tone, not the point that I take issue with. He didn't say "Twitter is not a good venue, I'll make a video about it or send you an e-mail or address it some other way." Instead he got on a high horse about how he didn't owe anyone a response and bragging about how he had legions of fans "clamoring for his attention." I'm not not trying to be mean, but I don't know how you can sound like more of a douchebag than saying something like that.

And it really isn't just a one time thing. I watch TB videos and while I often like that he highlights smaller indie games on sale and I really like his Steam sale wrap ups, the way he dismisses people who have different views is pretty noticeable. In short, I just think he lacks class and professionalism, which is a large problem among this new journalism 2.0 youtube crew.
 
I have a love and hate relationship with this guy
some times is videos are enlightening, other times he is a douche

but in a sense he has a right to make a video based on criticism of this said game if he chooses too
 
Ah the internets land of self important fake celebs most of which I have never heard of. That twitter exchange though was an awesome way to treat someone. /s
 
Terrible move by dev/publisher. Couldn't have picked a worse person to do it to either. TB makes it a point to highlight hypocrisies like this in the industry.

Wow - everyone dislikes him? Not sure if I'm surprised.

He's good at what he does, but he's a giant asshat.
 
Oh TB must be so shocked. Aka, loving this since it will give him lots of attention.

Doubt it, every second this video is down he is wasting potential money, lowering his paycheck.

Also I think Tb just makes himself look bad. On his podcast he's a nice guy, its just he responds to idiotic comments with force. Dealing with these fools all day, I wouldn't be suprised if I lashed out a little unnecessarily or was cold on twitter or whatever.
 
Maybe the devs are just trying to do us a favor and are waiting for 2 devs more to step up to the plate to push his account into shutdown territory. They essentially set up a trap for him.

I mean if I was a dev I would probably do it.
 
IIRC he wasn't really a proponent, he just made a reasoned argument as to why companies might feel entitled to or have (in their eyes) justification for DRM. There is a difference.

This is true, I actually made the original thread with that video and I didn't see him as a proponent. More of showing that an all digital future was inevitable and more viable for monetization.

In his latest video The Devil's Halibut - Used Games, TB makes some compelling arguments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G_f8YBy39M

This should make for some good GAF discussion. Check fallacies at the door please.


Music
  • Multiple recurring revenue streams
  • Royalties - Pandora, Spotify, Radio Play
  • Concerts and live shows
  • Merchandise
  • CD sales aren't that relevant, more of a marketing tool
  • No cost to Studio once music is released

Movies
  • Similar to music
  • Most of the time money made back entirely at the box office
  • DVD/Blu Ray
  • Rental
  • Royalties - On Demand, Amazon/Netflix/Hulu
  • TV Syndication
  • No cost to Studio once movie is released

Used Car
  • Inherent Risk
  • Wear and tear
  • Degradation of performance and safety
  • No post-purchase cost for manufacturer
  • Not a luxury item

Video Games
  • Stores push used over new - Making massive profit margins
  • Often have to go to specialized stores for used CDs/DVDs. Used games in mainstream stores
  • Good as New, no wear and tear (resurfacing)
  • post purchase upkeep by Devs/Publishers (servers, patches, customer support)
  • Used Sales keep multiplayer communities alive for users, but the associated costs aren't being equitably repaid
  • Online Pass/DLC used to monetize used copies
  • Microsoft's policy isn't necessarily anti-consumer. They are aimed at Gamestop, not at consumer, but consumer is still affected.
  • Retailers have been bullying Devs/Publishers for years into pre-order exclusives, price fixing (forcing digital prices to stay equal to retailer see: base prices on Steam, PSN, eShop)
  • Policies are looking to diversify revenue streams much like movies or music

Comparisons to the PC Market
  • Used games essentially don't exist anymore. You buy digital or retail, both generally activate to services online
  • Buying an old game, just digital codes (see: GOG, Steam, etc)
  • The result is more money going directly to Devs/Publishers, resulting in ridiculously low sales prices
  • Even new games are affected like this, seeing massive discounts

Random
  • People who sell their used games are able to purchase more games as a result of that
    -Concedes the point, but goes on to say that most people who do that will only stay in the used ecosystem in order to save more money
  • Publishers see high profit margins for DLC
    One player buys DLC, trades copy in, DLC stays on account. Then next player is forced to buy the DLC again
  • No used titles in the future, going to an all digital market. Examples: iOS, Steam, Books, music, etc.
  • Very strange for Microsoft to take the negative PR now since we have a digital future
  • Fallacy where shutting down used games will cause more expensive games. Source: Steam
 
I'm not exactly a fan of Totalbiscuit, but I have to agree - the guy was just doing his job by reviewing a game that was provided to him by the developers. Something they did for the sole reason of having TB make a video about it.

Zero respect for any dev that would do this. Can't deal with criticism of your game? Make a better game, or don't release it for reviews until it is more finished.
 
Except he uses Twitter to espouse his own views all the time. But it was the tone, not the point that I take issue with. He didn't say "Twitter is not a good venue, I'll make a video about it or send you an e-mail or address it some other way." Instead he got on a high horse about how he didn't owe anyone a response and bragging about how he had legions of fans "clamoring for his attention." I'm not not trying to be mean, but I don't know how you can sound like more of a douchebag than saying something like that.

And it really isn't just a one time thing. I watch TB videos and while I often like that he highlights smaller indie games on sale and I really like his Steam sale wrap ups, the way he dismisses people who have different views is pretty noticeable. In short, I just think he lacks class and professionalism, which is a large problem among this new journalism 2.0 youtube crew.
Yeah, i agree with you. i think my problem with the hate is that people should separate the work from the person. He really only acts like this on twitter, which i tend to ignore when he acts like this. on his podcast, and his videos, he doesn't really comes out that arrogant. It's strange, really.
 
So you literally don't know the difference between Digital Rights Management and a blatant abuse of copyright claims? Okayyy.

LOL, I know the difference but it's all still about company abusing their control and in one instance TB support one and in another he doesn't.

But stay salty about my opinion though.
 
I think many people here were exposed to him first when he was going off on people that were against DRM. I'd personally never heard of him until then.

Seems that way, I'm pretty surprised how many people are referencing it here. When it happened I was just like "oh, that's pretty stupid" and moved on, since then it seems like that everyone else is using that as his defining moment.

Also those devs are dicks.
 
Playing Devil's Advocate here, you interact with enough stupid people on the internet every day, its bound to get frustrating.

I can't believe the comments I read on Youtube, Twitter, and Reddit sometimes. I have trouble wrapping my head around how people can be so devoid of rational thought.

He also tried to discredit the #PS4NoDRM campaign, saying that nothing that a forum could do would change the policies of a company.
 
He's a moron who believes he's ten times more important than he actually is.

I admit that he has a bit of an ego (or at least for the persona he puts up on the net) But i don't see him as a total dick.

Personally i unsubscribed after the whole drm fiasco.

He was one of the proponent for console DRM that Xbone used, IIRC. He even defended MS and acted like a douche to others who are against it.

Now he's on the receiving side of a company's dirty tactic I guess he doesn't like it. What goes around comes around, I suppose.

IIRC. he was saying that since he already was always online with PC gaming and never had an issue with digital media even if it meant using Xbox one Infamous restrictions with disks. he just not saw a problem with it.

it was his opinion .

I understand that it is an opinion that many strongly disagree with and may even loath him for it .but i will still defend his right to say it.
 
Yeah, i agree with you. i think my problem with the hate is that people should separate the work from the person. He really only acts like this on twitter, which i tend to ignore when he acts like this. on his podcast, and his videos, he doesn't really comes out that arrogant. It's strange, really.

That is why I come back to the frustration thing. I think his behavior on Twitter is, frankly, embarrassing, but he is probably just getting frustrated with the amount of stupid people he has to interact with on a daily basis.

I follow the development of DayZ quite closely and if you know the lead developer, he is generally a very relaxed individual. But I have seen him absolutely explode a few times on Twitter and Reddit after the frustration reaches a boiling point. When you are dealing with that shear amount of idiocy on a daily basis, then I can see how you might explode from time to time.
 
my distaste for this sort of shady copyright abuse is at war with my distaste for TotalBiscuit

Feel the same way.
Unsure-Larry-David.gif
 
Behavior like this

twat_zpsda41f00f.jpg
I'm not gonna defend that, but dude gets a shit end of the stick and snaps every now and again... whilst I hate to admit it I'd be inclined to snap every now and again too. Don't think he's done anything particularly abhorrent that a normal human being wouldn't do every now and again in the moment. I find to find his criticism valid most of the time so I'm glad he's around.

We'll see how this turns out, I doubt well for the dev.
 
I think many people here were exposed to him first when he was going off on people that were against DRM. I'd personally never heard of him until then.

What's weird is that after the Adam Orth fiasco, he was pretty much against the always online DRM plans (although he was still fairly diplomatic about it) then all of a sudden he was fine with the 24 hour check in.

That said he is firmly in the right here. It seems the devs have never heard of the Streisand effect.
 
my distaste for this sort of shady copyright abuse is at war with my distaste for TotalBiscuit

I will always go against censorship even if the person being censored is a douchebag.


All this did for me is to make sure I never buy a game from this company.
 
Well now this is an incident where I honestly can't decide sides. I dislike both equally. Does that count?

Well to be honest, even if I can't stand TB at all, I guess this time I can understand his anger. Shame he'll let it out on his fans eventually.
 
Playing Devil's Advocate here, you interact with enough stupid people on the internet every day, its bound to get frustrating.

I can't believe the comments I read on Youtube, Twitter, and Reddit sometimes. I have trouble wrapping my head around how people can be so devoid of rational thought.

TB has always been a petulant jock who flares up whenever he's confronted with an opinion contrary to his own. It's only reached a head recently because of his childish tantrum over the #PS4NoDRM campaign. I'll concede that his "WTF is ..." videos are very useful and informative but his insufferable attitude has an endless tail. What's perhaps equally worse, though, is that people indirectly encourage this behaviour by responding to it so passionately, the attention from which he just soaks up like a sponge to water -- just ignore it.
 
That is why I come back to the frustration thing. I think his behavior on Twitter is, frankly, embarrassing, but he is probably just getting frustrated with the amount of stupid people he has to interact with on a daily basis.

I follow the development of DayZ quite closely and if you know the lead developer, he is generally a very relaxed individual. But I have seen him absolutely explode a few times on Twitter and Reddit after the frustration reaches a boiling point. When you are dealing with that shear amount of idiocy on a daily basis, then I can see how you might explode from time to time.

I remember reading somewhere that he had some stress problems because of the youtube comments, a while ago. now, it's his wife that manages the comments section.
 
I admit that he has a bit of an ego (or at least for the persona he puts up on the net) But i don't see him as a total dick.

IIRC. he was saying that since he already was always online with PC gaming and never had an issue with digital media even if it meant using Xbox one Infamous restrictions with disks. he just not saw a problem with it.

it was his opinion .

I understand that it is an opinion that many strongly disagree with and may even loath him for it .but i will still defend his right to say it.
It's a completely idiotic opinion to have. Just because he's always online, it does not mean everyone else is or should be.

The fact that he continued to double down on it during the twitter campaign and insult people over it, the fact that Sony made a huge stand against it,and the fact that Microsoft relented puts him and his terrible opinions in a really shitty spot.
 
Wow, I can't believe that some people on Gaf is condoning copy rights abuse just because it happened to someone they don't like. Even if you don't like the guy, I don't either, this form of censorship via copy rights abuse is disgusting.

Reminds me of when some Russian singer filed false copy rights claim against all Persona related videos a while back.
 
I like TB's videos and game opinions a lot but tend to avoid him on Twitter and other platforms.

At any rate, I don't really need a TB review to know that this game was a turd.
 
I don't mind TB at all, but I only know him from his videos, I don't follow him anywhere else. I don't always agree with him, but I can usually understand his viewpoints.

But, like him or not, this is going to go bad for the devs. There's no way they'll be able to spin this, especially since they sent him the code in the first place, knowing full well he was going to make a video and put it on the internet. Apparently they believe that everyone they send free code to will be so grateful that they'll give it a glowing review (which a lot of developers genuinely believe). And apparently they've never watched TB's videos before.
 
Wow, I can't believe that some people on Gaf is condoning copy rights abuse just because it happened to someone they don't like. Even if you don't like the guy, I don't either, this form of censorship via copy rights abuse is disgusting.

Reminds me of when some Russian singer filed false copy rights claim against all Persona related videos a while back.

I don't think people condone it so much as they're just not very sad to see it happen to him.
 
Man, lots of people willing to throw their principles away just to get that feeling of petty vengeance against an internet celebrity. Who the hell cares about Total Biscuit? Shit like this is an all too possible future for Youtube, and it would be terrible if it spread.
 
Top Bottom