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Valve Will Stop Removing Controversial Games on Steam Unless They Are 'Illegal or Straight up Trolling' (geekwire.com)

Posted by msmash on from the alright-then dept.

Valve will no longer remove games from its Steam game marketplace unless they are "illegal, or straight up trolling," according to a statement from the Bellevue, Wash.-based gaming company posted today. From a report: The announcement comes a week after Valve removed a controversial game that simulated school shootings, following a nationwide outcry to ban the title. Last month it also issued warnings to developers about adult content in games. In its blog post, Valve executive Erik Johnson writes that "Valve shouldn't be the ones deciding this." "If you're a player, we shouldn't be choosing for you what content you can or can't buy," it reads. "If you're a developer, we shouldn't be choosing what content you're allowed to create. Those choices should be yours to make. Our role should be to provide systems and tools to support your efforts to make these choices for yourself, and to help you do it in a way that makes you feel comfortable."

4 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. I'll get some popcorn. by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's a welcome sudden breakout of common sense. Let's see how long it lasts!

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    Ezekiel 23:20
  2. Re:Fine, just make sure kids aren't buying this cr by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So it pains me to say this, but until they fix this gigantic loophole, they are in the wrong here.

    Maybe parents can check their kids ages on their accounts? I tend to be unsympathetic to the "you should be watching your kids 24/7" argument, but to verify their ages on their accounts?

    Also, what have you done about your niece's game collection.

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    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  3. Re:Fine, just make sure kids aren't buying this cr by fafalone · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A libertarian would say parenting is the responsibility of parents, not the market. If Steam wants to offer parental controls, that's certainly their choice, but they should be under no such obligation. And perhaps your nieces parents, who I'd imagine know the girl much better than you, have determined that she is mature enough to play some or all 18+ titles? As a left social libertarian myself, I wouldn't want Steam to try to second guess parental discretion like that.

  4. As it should be by duke_cheetah2003 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Steam should not be a place to express a viewpoint. It's a platform to hook game devs and game players up. Nothing more.

    No one is forcing you to buy a game you find objectionable.