#StopKillingGames Matters — And Why It’s Going to Win

Editorial

By Jdawg

. . .Gamers sleep, until we awake

It's just been a few days since streamer Asmongold reacted to MoistCr1tikal's video covering the dispute, long-thought to have been put to rest, over Thor, of Pirate Software's takedown attempt of the Stop Killing Games initiative. Though he has a large audience and is viewed to be authoritative by many gamers, Thor's blistering dismissal of the Petition's language and goals seemed to many to spell the early end to the effort. That was not to be the case, however.

By choosing to throw himself in front of the initiative, Thor's actions caught the eyes of the gaming community's popular voices in the waning hours of its life. With less than a month to go, the maneuver seemed destined to fail. Fate smiled upon its chances however, when Asmon and Moist took it upon themselves to really dig in to what it was Thor claimed about it 10 months ago, not long after it was first launched.

Let us start with what has changed: It now has a chance to succeed!

From the date of Moist's video, to Asmon's reaction, to now, it has doubled its signatures. When this article was started, on the 30th of June, it had only picked up around 200k. At the time of this publication, it has gained 320k more. The basic math began there is only reinforced in its trajectory now – this measure is sure to succeed in reaching its initial threshold of 1 million signatures, probably before the end of today, Thus/3rd:

Early projection

Mind you, that was even before PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye, spoke out in its favor! While the role of the streaming giants may have proven decisive in turning the tide, what it really shows is the strength of the gaming community. It demonstrates the under-tapped potential for great, constructive action to take place on a mass-scale from gamers acting as teams in IRL gaming-centered campaigns. Many of the skills we build in-game, as many players know, have transferable utility to IRL applications.

The fact most of us would prefer to be playing games is always true, should always (or often!) be the case. That's how I feel too! That's the point of it. There should be no higher, or other goal for us to commit ourselves or, potentially risk the waste of time. Yet we understand play as its own reward, and playful, joyful promotion of worthy gaming goals in IRL contexts is a happy mission to be on. It's one worth considering and doing when the opportunity to really make something happen pops up.

This is one of those times! Let's get to the figures –

Near-impossibility has turned into near-certainty

This is as of a few days ago, and was withheld for concern that this information, if publicized too early might serve to retard the effort. At this point, we're past the point of retardation, so no worries there! It is only possible to do one of two things from here: Win Big, or Go Full Retard. Personally, I favor the former, but occasionally you can do the latter and get both! So let's do it!

As autistic as the IRL author is, some things are plain, and plainly worth celebrating –

The reason to continue

And while we celebrate, we don't stop working. We're gonna overload this with the most legit, empowered gamer action since WoW still made people say that when playing it. Since Angry Birds made even normies into gamers overnight. Since gaming was truly great to the point that you couldn't just be told, you had to try it for yourself!

We're working to bring it back again, and keep it that way. That's what it's about! There are practical reasons too:

On any given petition, there is a number of sigs that will not pan out. Something was entered wrong, the person is ineligible, something like that. Those disqualifications can hurt and do turn out to overturn petitions all the time. We can't have that here! The ratio of invalids is anywhere from 10-20% of signatures may be found spoiled or ineligible. A fair margin to ensure that a victory attained is a victory secured, therefore can and should exceed the 100% threshold by at least .1 to .25, ideally .3 (30%,) or higher to cement the win.

What is our goal now, and why it matters

The figure we're aiming for is around 1.3+ million signatures by July 31st. That's just is the beginning of the review process. Before any regulations or laws are even considered. It's a long process. So let's take a moment to reflect on what it all means, too, as we take this one over-goal: A couple things:

Because our cause is just, and we can

This is a move to update the laws ultimately, in favor of We, the Consumers. Now that is true for gamers everywhere, where we find our options limited, and our patience abused by bad actors in the gaming space. While we have options in the market to get what we want, today, we see that the big companies just do not care to give us what we want enough of the time, and with so little difference between them in some cases that the Gamer Wallet does not carry the weight it once did. We want our customer decisions respected, enough to not be gaslit and ripped off by big players in gaming. Sometimes you can do that by asking; other times buying, but when all else fails, you take it up with authorities to settle matters in way that works for everyone. In this case, it's plain industry has made numerous errors for which they are paying now in terms of downsizing, cut titles, cutbacks, etc. Gamers tried to advise them for going on a decade that they were making wrong turns. Today, we reach a point of reckoning, again, especially as it relates to just plain-old Consumer Rights and protections. We've come so far that some of the questionable creative choices aren't the whole issue, even production and marketing aren't the final word in what put these companies on thin ice... they just plain-old failed to meet us, their market, where we are! They're paying for that mistake now! Hat-trick; go for the high score!

We want to demonstrate to these companies that they cannot continue to get away with it – what they've been doing for so long. The pricing gimmicks, the hold-backs, the discontinuations/and claw-backs (like the Live Service games # StopKillingGames is about) and the fake content they've been putting out to pad quarterly earnings in so many cases. It's exploitative, it's creative sloth, and it is bad business! They're starting to get it, but without a reform in the way they do business long-term, and law reinforcing the point, we will only be back here, again, in a few years, if nothing permanent is done about it! We want to send a message. It's not just about the money, it's the principle. Gamers are not a mere 'market.' We're not just some passive, thoughtless consumer group as we have been falsely portrayed. Derided in hit pieces like this. We are people, and more than that, people with a real culture, and customs, lingo, all our own. We are human beings worth of dignity and respect. Whatever motivated people to write things like that, and developers to smear and abuse gamers publicly, that time is now at an end!

We will not stand idly by, or accept the mistruths and outright lies promoted by the likes of the 'Access Media' about gamers. Even so, we will demand accountability from industry. We will, as necessary, form our own vehicles of collation of, and expression of our opinion, art and culture. Organizations like this one stand ready to once again emplatform gamers! We will have our voice, and our say will be reflected to the community and wider world, with our own bootstrapped effort! We will show them our power! With no misunderstanding – we will use our democratic, and civic energy to express our feelings as members of gaming culture, as consumers, and as appreciators of our own, unique and beautiful kind of art! An artform that deserves better than the treatment it is getting lately by big players. And we, lovers of that art, better than we are treated by that industry and the press! That is what this is about. It is a polite reminder that we will not be taken for granted. We will not be trod on by those who may make or comment upon the sort of art we love, but we are by no means the objects of scorn and abuse, which many of us have felt we have been unfairly treated to over the years! – And shortchanged, beside that! Today, with StopKillingGames, we show them that gamers are not to be trampled upon. As people who love gaming art and culture; as customers who are fed up with the lies and excuses, the scams and abuses. That we will rise up, and campaign for our interests, our rights, and defend our dignity as gamers!

With respect and credit going to Ross Scott of accursedfarms, who began this journey over a year ago, and has worked tirelessly to promote it, whose YouTube channel is here, we find our voice is heard through this petition, for the gamers of Europe. It shows the world gamers' power, when we work together to secure our interests! And in time, it may benefit us all! Thank you Ross! Meantime, for tomorrow, and all those tomorrows to follow, you may wish to continue the good work that SKG has begun. The Brotherhood has no one issue we campaign around. We work to do small things, every day, to ensure gamers' rights, gamers' preferences, gamers dignity and gamer culture are all respected – and to get good quality games!

You can join us here!

Update: Since the publication of this piece the petition has reached over 1 million signatures, as predicted. Keep going til the last day! And Happy Independence Day to those celebrating!

J-Dawg is a die-hard gamer, devoted fan of traditional 2D animation, GBAMFS' founder, CEO and pointman.

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