Now we all know this SOPA bill has been around for a long time yet it just won't die. Hey, I've talked about it six months ago. Basically, every single gamer hates it (the day a gamer likes it is the day Sega makes the Dreamcast 2) while the companies themselves are lukewarm to the idea. And the fact that we have other pressing issues in the United States like our national debt, massive spending, massive unemployment, the healthcare debacle, illegal immigration, expanding size of government & regulations, our national debt, the disastrous housing market, energy independence (or lack thereof), our dwindling military, and our national debt, you'd think SOPA is a drop in the bucket. But whatever, let's deal with it because this can be disastrous if it passes.
Here's a funny story pertaining to the bill that's generated some controvery and I want to address it. There's some website that's been sending mass e-mails to all game companies requesting their stance on SOPA. Some companies replied while some have not. Sega replied to the e-mail...with an automated message that doesn't pertain to the question in the least (perform a "hard reset"). This set up for a funny Internet joke at the time. Sega's inbox searches for keywords in its e-mails and sometimes sends an appropriate reply in order to save the Q&A crew some time. But apparently, the story got around the Internet so much that Sega themselves replied to it. With a video:
"I used to be Nintendo's rival company, until I took a hard reset." - YouTube comment.
Yes, it's a hokey video and some do hate it. This is when the Sega haters come out the woodwork to take pot-shots at them. For one thing, they never mentioned if they support SOPA or not. Like they know they're "busted"--they don't want to lie but they don't want to admit they support the bill so here's a "non-answer." But are we really going to find out if they support it? These are just some guys working on the ground level who are just responding to Internet trends. Do you think the suits at the top will find out and give their opinions on the issue? Probably not. But I REALLY would like to know Sega's stance on this.
Then again, we know that Nintendo, Sony, Electronic Arts, and Capcom have been flirting with the bill but have pulled support due to peer pressure so does it really matter if Sega supports it? Who really cares what Sega thinks anyway?? Do they have that much clout in anything anymore? I don't know...judging from Sega's cease-and-desist demands in a couple of things (Sonic advice YTMND's, Streets of Rage remake), I think they'd be somewhat for the bill.
Man, screw the bill. I'm all for stopping illegal piracy (well duh, that's why it's illegal), but this whole streaming crap is next. What's next--they systematically strip the Internet of any gaming-related media? Yeah, you may not be able to watch every cutscene on Heavy Rain (which could remove the incentive from buying the game), but it may go much farther than that. What's to stop them--what's the end-game anyway when it comes to censorship? And you can blame the "evil corporate lobbyists" all you want (never mind the fact people will mass boycott them), if these dummies in Congress can't get the q-tips out their ears and end up passing this law, then SHAME ON THEM. Will they even read the bill? Remember: "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."
Anyway, forget about SOPA, I wonder what the corporate culture at Sega is like. Seems like a couple of kids floating around the office with a camera as Sega continues to act impotent as usual. If it weren't for Sega of Japan & Sumo Digital's heroics, they'd be in a much worse position than now. I'm going to write an essay on that soon--I'll let you know about that in the future.
BTW, SOPA is a stupid name for a bill...almost reminds me of SOAP...shoes that is. Sonic Adventure 2.
Here's a funny story pertaining to the bill that's generated some controvery and I want to address it. There's some website that's been sending mass e-mails to all game companies requesting their stance on SOPA. Some companies replied while some have not. Sega replied to the e-mail...with an automated message that doesn't pertain to the question in the least (perform a "hard reset"). This set up for a funny Internet joke at the time. Sega's inbox searches for keywords in its e-mails and sometimes sends an appropriate reply in order to save the Q&A crew some time. But apparently, the story got around the Internet so much that Sega themselves replied to it. With a video:
"I used to be Nintendo's rival company, until I took a hard reset." - YouTube comment.
Yes, it's a hokey video and some do hate it. This is when the Sega haters come out the woodwork to take pot-shots at them. For one thing, they never mentioned if they support SOPA or not. Like they know they're "busted"--they don't want to lie but they don't want to admit they support the bill so here's a "non-answer." But are we really going to find out if they support it? These are just some guys working on the ground level who are just responding to Internet trends. Do you think the suits at the top will find out and give their opinions on the issue? Probably not. But I REALLY would like to know Sega's stance on this.
Then again, we know that Nintendo, Sony, Electronic Arts, and Capcom have been flirting with the bill but have pulled support due to peer pressure so does it really matter if Sega supports it? Who really cares what Sega thinks anyway?? Do they have that much clout in anything anymore? I don't know...judging from Sega's cease-and-desist demands in a couple of things (Sonic advice YTMND's, Streets of Rage remake), I think they'd be somewhat for the bill.
Man, screw the bill. I'm all for stopping illegal piracy (well duh, that's why it's illegal), but this whole streaming crap is next. What's next--they systematically strip the Internet of any gaming-related media? Yeah, you may not be able to watch every cutscene on Heavy Rain (which could remove the incentive from buying the game), but it may go much farther than that. What's to stop them--what's the end-game anyway when it comes to censorship? And you can blame the "evil corporate lobbyists" all you want (never mind the fact people will mass boycott them), if these dummies in Congress can't get the q-tips out their ears and end up passing this law, then SHAME ON THEM. Will they even read the bill? Remember: "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."
Anyway, forget about SOPA, I wonder what the corporate culture at Sega is like. Seems like a couple of kids floating around the office with a camera as Sega continues to act impotent as usual. If it weren't for Sega of Japan & Sumo Digital's heroics, they'd be in a much worse position than now. I'm going to write an essay on that soon--I'll let you know about that in the future.
BTW, SOPA is a stupid name for a bill...almost reminds me of SOAP...shoes that is. Sonic Adventure 2.
ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND...
Oh and one more thing. Some Japanese tabloid has predicted which Japanese game companies will shut down in the next decade. Sega, Square, and Tecmo are ranked "most likely to fail" followed by Capcom, Konami, Namco, and Sony. Nintendo and Gree (who the f*** is that) have a massive gap over the others and thus are the only ones sitting cozy so basically Japan is screwed. But to restate, Sega is doomed. Go to Hell, Sega won't die on my watch. They'll always have a niche and won't resort to producing slot machines and UFO catchers for all eternity. Stop hating on your own country's developers and get lost. And y'all can't stop me from talking about Sega racers--not SOPA, not Sega's misery, all that nonsense.
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