Support NeoGAF

[dLMN8R]

http://www.shacknews.com/article/71965/firefall-dev-shutting-down-beta-site-in-protest-of-sopa

Reddit announced earlier today that they would be going down for at least 12 hours on January 18th. Red 5 has decided to join in, shutting down the beta for 24 hours on the same day.

The twist, however, is that due to their disappointment in the ESA supporting SOPA, they also cancelled their E3 plans.

This isn't just some no-name publisher. Red 5 had literally the biggest showing of any game at all at PAX Prime, one of the largest gaming conventions in the world. They undoubtedly would have had a massive showing at E3 too. While the ESA will probably find others to fill their slot, this is not some ho-hum gesture by an irrelevant company.


Hopefully the ESA wakes up soon and stops supporting this catastrophic bill.

 

[inky]

Pretty ballsy move, but one these guys can afford being a PC online only game. Even if some studios like EPIC claim to not support SOPA I don't see them ever backing down from the biggest games show there is. Let's see if some people follow suit (tho I imagine it will only be indie types and such).

 

[Zzoram]

ESA supports SOPA? Seriously? Ugh.

 

[crimsonheadGCN]

ESA supports SOPA? Seriously? Ugh.

Yes and they do not want to back down from their support.

 

[shrapnelmagnet]

Is there a realistic way for us to signal to the ESA that we do not support their position?

 

[Chris_C]

The fact is that more studios need to put pressure on the ESA to stop misrepresenting the industry. The whole situation is frankly ridiculous.

 

[TaroYamada]

I already intended to play this game, but honestly, I will support the game financially solely because of this (which I never do with F2P games).

Good PR move, and an extremely ethical one.

 

[bishoptl]

Nice PR move.

 

[dLMN8R]

I don't even care if this is just a carefully calculated PR stunt. Maybe they were already planning to pull out of E3 for some other reasons, maybe financial.

I just don't care what it takes for people to wake up and realize that SOPA is bullshit.

 

[element]

I'm sure they will still be at E3 in some capacity, such as private showing at The Standard or something. They just won't be at the show floor.

I applaud them for their stance though. It is sad that the lobbying group for game developers support SOPA even though I haven't heard a single developer publicly support it.

 

[dLMN8R]

I'm sure they will still be at E3 in some capacity, such as private showing at The Standard or something. They just won't be at the show floor.

Sounds pretty clear-cut to me:

When asked if Red 5 Studios would appear at future E3 events considering the company's position against the ESA, CEO Mark Kern said: "No, we will not attend E3 unless ESA reverses their stance."

[Update: 7:35pm PT] "I just had my staff cancel our E3 plans," Kern added in a follow-up email.

 

[SparkTR]

This stunt will get them more attention than an E3 showcase could.

 

[Zomba13]

So much respect to those guys.

 

[Twinduct]

I honestly expected more developers to come out for support against SOPA.
Then again, looking at some of the supporters for it is kinda disheartening.

 

[inky]

Is there a realistic way for us to signal to the ESA that we do not support their position?

Stop supporting any of these guys and make it clear why? (e-mail them or something):

38 Studios
345 Games
505 Games
Capcom USA, Inc.
Deep Silver
Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
Eidos Interactive
Electronic Arts
Epic Games, Inc.
Her Interactive, Inc.
Ignition Entertainment
Konami Digital Entertainment
LEVEL-5 Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Natsume Inc.
Nexon America, Inc.
Nintendo of America Inc.
Nival
NVIDIA
O-Games, Inc.
Perfect World Entertainment
SEGA of America, Inc.
Slang
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Sony Online Entertainment, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Tecmo Koei America Corporation
THQ, Inc.
Trion Worlds, Inc.
Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.
XSEED Games

Then probably these studios themselves force the ESA to reconsider. Unlikely, but I don't see what else you could do other than the usual petition signing, protesting and supporting of other companies that oppose SOPA like the EFF.

 

[element]

Sounds pretty clear-cut to me:

Canceling their 'E3 plans' isn't the same as not going to LA.

You can still go to LA, do private demos at a local hotel, and not be part of E3. God Games did that years ago renting out the parking lot across the street from the South Hall entrance. Free beer and burgers.

 

[JWong]

I didn't even know what Firefall is or who Red 5 is. I guess their advertisement is working? 8P

 

[Squire]

http://www.shacknews.com/article/71965/firefall-dev-shutting-down-beta-site-in-protest-of-sopa

Reddit announced earlier today that they would be going down for at least 12 hours on January 18th. Red 5 has decided to join in, shutting down the beta for 24 hours on the same day.

The twist, however, is that due to their disappointment in the ESA supporting SOPA, they also cancelled their E3 plans.

This isn't just some no-name publisher. Red 5 had literally the biggest showing of any game at all at PAX Prime, one of the largest gaming conventions in the world. They undoubtedly would have had a massive showing at E3 too. While the ESA will probably find others to fill their slot, this is not some ho-hum gesture by an irrelevant company.


Hopefully the ESA wakes up soon and stops supporting this catastrophic bill.

Forgive me, but you really think the ESA cares about Red 5?

Having a big show at PAX and doing the same at E3 is apples and oranges. PAX is a fan event. E3 is a trade show. It's about the media as well as the retail representatives that attend.

Firefall is a PC exclusive and not even a boxed product at that. So who cares? Joe Starman, the GS clerk can't even sell a pre-order for that!

Let Ubisoft pull out. Or EA or Activision. A console manufacturer even! Someone putting out AAA releases, moving units and really stimulating the industry in a economic way. Then the ESA will take note.

For the record I'm against SOPA myself and major kudos to R5 for taking a stand.

But let's not for even a second trick ourselves into thinking the ESA gives so much as a flying fuck about them or Firefall.

 

[Oblivionmancer]

Good for them. It would be nice if they were the first of many, but I doubt it. I almost don't even hold SOPA support against these devs, only because I don't expect any better of them. I know microsoft isn't my friend, though I sure would love to visit and meet the Master Chief someday.

Edit: hrm, I'm seeing opposing accounts on Microsoft actually. Anyone know for sure? For or against?

 

[subversus]

Stop supporting any of these guys and make it clear why? (e-mail them or something):

38 Studios
345 Games
505 Games
Capcom USA, Inc.
Deep Silver
Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
Eidos Interactive
Electronic Arts
Epic Games, Inc.
Her Interactive, Inc.
Ignition Entertainment
Konami Digital Entertainment
LEVEL-5 Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Natsume Inc.
Nexon America, Inc.
Nintendo of America Inc.
Nival
NVIDIA
O-Games, Inc.
Perfect World Entertainment
SEGA of America, Inc.
Slang
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Sony Online Entertainment, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Tecmo Koei America Corporation
THQ, Inc.
Trion Worlds, Inc.
Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.
XSEED Games

Then probably these studios themselves force the ESA to reconsider. Unlikely, but I don't see what else you could do other than the usual petition signing, protesting and supporting of other companies that oppose SOPA like the EFF.

this list is stupid and you should feel bad for posting this because even the first name - 38 studios - is wrong. They condemned SOPA publicly.

 

[butter_stick]

I support SOPA if it means Reddit going offline.

 

[inky]

Let Ubisoft pull out. Or EA or Activision.

Activision pulled out from ESA years ago, for different reasons.

this list is stupid and you should feel bad for posting this because even the first name - 38 studios - is wrong. They condemned SOPA publicly.

I know that, same for EPIC and Trion Worlds, Inc. Yet they are still members and are still represented by the ESA in these matters. If they feel so strongly about rejecting SOPA, then they should probably make ESA know about it don't you think? It's easy to say you oppose it for good PR like many have done, or like EA and SEGA make the typical "no comment", but the ESA is still representing their interests with the House and Senate and they clearly support it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertc...ts-sopa-and-the-rest-of-the-industry-follows/

 

[Haunted]

I don't understand what Reddit going down for 12 hours has to do with anything.

 

[Foffy]

ESA supports SOPA? Seriously? Ugh.

The ESA is the RIAA/MPAA for video games. You're suddenly disgusted by their actions?

 

[dorkimoe]

I don't understand what Reddit going down for 12 hours has to do with anything.

One of the most popular sites around

However if places really wanted to get attention for sopa they need Facebook to blackout

 

[salromano]

Since we're talking about SOPA, I thought I'd share this. Thought it was pretty funny.

http://m.ibtimes.com/lamar-smith-sopa-bill-author-infringing-copyright-281037.html

 

[Refreshment.01]

SOPA? What this means?

Real question, please don't come with a smart ass response like "spanish soup" or something.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

SOPA? What this means?

Real question, please don't come with a smart ass response like "spanish soup" or something.

censored internets and things.

 

[djplaeskool]

SOPA? What this means?

Real question, please don't come with a smart ass response like "spanish soup" or something.

House Resolution 3261: The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

 

[Linkup]

SOPA? What this means?

Real question, please don't come with a smart ass response like "spanish soup" or something.

Yeah everyone is so sure it's bad and this being GAF I can't help but feel I really want to know what this is exactly rather than just joining the hivemind.

Anyplace I can read about(don't suggest wiki) this that can breaks it down honestly and clearly what exactly it does and what it affects. Censored internet is an autobad, but I have to make sure.

 

[Sober]

RPS actually has a list of ESA members and their position on it:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/esa-members-and-sopa-where-they-stand/

it needs to be updated though because some other just joined in against it that are on the list (like nvidia):

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/01/13/gog-nvidia-frozenbyte-notch-vs-sopa/

 

[El Sloth]

I wonder how many companies cancelling their E3 plans it would take to withdraw the ESA's support of it.

 

[Sethos]

Nvidia also said they don't support it

http://blogs.nvidia.com/2012/01/nvidia-does-not-support-sopa/