I understand how difficult it is to get useful feedback from the end user and that analytics tools are extremely useful for gathering the data that devs actually do need. The problem here, to me, lies with Red Shell siphoning off data without anyone knowing what they're doing with it. From the accounts of what the devs had access to (which has been consistent across a bunch of companies) it wasn't that much information they were gathering.
I will give kudos to the devs that have removed Red Shell. They listened to their customers' concerns and responded appropriately. Other devs have been flagging reviews mentioning Red Shell and have been flippant towards people's concerns. Those are the ones that don't deserve forgiveness.
And this same or greater level of tracking is likely present in console and mobile games, but you can't do much of anything about it. On PC, there's already a batch script making the rounds to block this tracking via the HOSTS, at least until Red Shell buys another domain.
Now I agree that people should have more power over what they buy digitally, but this is a separate issues entirely
Enigma Software and SpyHunter; I thought those sounded familiar. Last year they used an abusive copyright claim to remove a video from a malware YouTuber I watch. Best part: Rogueamp explicitly said that it isn't malware in the first 5 seconds of the video and defended it on those grounds.
Enigma has a history of screwing with anyone who dares criticize their terrible program in any way and really deserve to crash and burn. Hopefully this'll be their final mistake.
On Wil Wheaton He's a jerk. My personal favorite example of his jerkness is him exploiting the suicide of a 12 year old girl to push to end anonymity (link below). Before you go and say but it's only gaming, remember that A) that means giving up anonymity in all gaming activities and linking all usernames to your real name if you dare want to play with people you meet online, B) Blizzard tried this and it lead to one of their moderators being doxxed and having his, and his parents', information plastered all over the internet permanently, and C) remember that there are plenty of people being jerks on Facebook under their real name.
On the "Wheaton" effect Agreed wholly. I bought Way of the Samurai 4 after watching ExintheVatican play it on YouTube, whereas I didn't know that it existed before. I currently have 5 games on my waitlist after watching them on YouTube and am actually watching Darkest Dungeon right now, which is seriously tempting me to buy it. Watching raw gameplay from someone is the single best way to judge a game, period. It's also really fun to watch someone learn a game and can pick up some strategies yourself.
A person is guilty of electronic communication harassment and subject to prosecution in the jurisdiction where the communication originated or was received if with intent to annoy, alarm, intimidate, offend, abuse, threaten, harass, frighten, or disrupt the electronic communications of another, the person: ... electronically publishes, posts, or otherwise makes available personal identifying information in a public online site or forum.
This reads to me that it has the potential to make interacting with anyone who is using their real name a crime, regardless of whether that person was willingly using their real information or not. Also, it doesn't seem to have any caveats for someone who publishes their own information willingly (by Facebook for example), meaning FB could functionally be illegal to use in Utah if this passes.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Jim the Bear.
(untitled comment)
I will give kudos to the devs that have removed Red Shell. They listened to their customers' concerns and responded appropriately. Other devs have been flagging reviews mentioning Red Shell and have been flippant towards people's concerns. Those are the ones that don't deserve forgiveness.
Re: PC Master Race/Steam
Now I agree that people should have more power over what they buy digitally, but this is a separate issues entirely
(untitled comment)
Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhxVKqGcNhk
About the Takedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNhNaz2eE9M
Enigma has a history of screwing with anyone who dares criticize their terrible program in any way and really deserve to crash and burn. Hopefully this'll be their final mistake.
(untitled comment)
He's a jerk. My personal favorite example of his jerkness is him exploiting the suicide of a 12 year old girl to push to end anonymity (link below). Before you go and say but it's only gaming, remember that A) that means giving up anonymity in all gaming activities and linking all usernames to your real name if you dare want to play with people you meet online, B) Blizzard tried this and it lead to one of their moderators being doxxed and having his, and his parents', information plastered all over the internet permanently, and C) remember that there are plenty of people being jerks on Facebook under their real name.
https://archive.is/D6eMr
On the "Wheaton" effect
Agreed wholly. I bought Way of the Samurai 4 after watching ExintheVatican play it on YouTube, whereas I didn't know that it existed before. I currently have 5 games on my waitlist after watching them on YouTube and am actually watching Darkest Dungeon right now, which is seriously tempting me to buy it. Watching raw gameplay from someone is the single best way to judge a game, period. It's also really fun to watch someone learn a game and can pick up some strategies yourself.
(untitled comment)
This reads to me that it has the potential to make interacting with anyone who is using their real name a crime, regardless of whether that person was willingly using their real information or not. Also, it doesn't seem to have any caveats for someone who publishes their own information willingly (by Facebook for example), meaning FB could functionally be illegal to use in Utah if this passes.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Jim the Bear.
Submit a story now.
Tools & Services
TwitterFacebook
RSS
Podcast
Research & Reports
Company
About UsAdvertising Policies
Privacy
Contact
Help & FeedbackMedia Kit
Sponsor/Advertise
Submit a Story
More
Copia InstituteInsider Shop
Support Techdirt