Unfortunately, this is yet another setback for video game preservation. The Protect Our Games Act, proposed by a California state assemblymember, had been passed by the California State Assembly last June.
The bill then had to pass before the State Senate to have any chance of becoming law. Unfortunately, this legislation, which was intended to prevent the disappearance of paid video games, was ultimately rejected at this stage. Four Democratic lawmakers voted in favor, three Republicans voted against it, and the rest abstained. In this case, it was the abstentions that doomed the bill, which required a majority of votes in favor to pass.
A volunteer with the Stop Killing Games initiative posted a message on Reddit. He explained that the campaign was conducted without any funding or lobbying.
“This was our first attempt, in our first year, in the United States, with a U.S. budget of zero dollars. No paid staff in California. No war chest. No in-person lobbying operation. The timeline was so compressed that we could not get funding in place fast enough to put people in the building.”
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is accused of pressuring senators to reject the bill by providing “claims ranging from misleading to outright false.” Activists aren’t giving up and plan to return to the field to lobby during the next session.
Were the Protect Our Games Act ever be passed, it will require publishers to notify customers at least 60 days before shutting down servers. Studios will also be required to provide an alternative version of the game that does not require an online connection or to refund players.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
