Someone's Trying to Pull the Plug on 'Stop Killing Games' – But Will It Work?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative, aimed at preserving online games, is facing an anonymous transparency complaint alleging undeclared funding – sounds like someone's trying to sabotage their efforts, but hopefully, it's just a minor setback. This is a good reminder that fighting for gaming preservation isn't always a walk in the park.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're fighting the good fight, trying to save your favourite online games from the digital graveyard, and suddenly someone throws a spanner in the works? That's exactly what's happening with the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' initiative, the EU petition spawned from the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign. Big thanks to Rock Paper Shotgun for flagging this up, by the way – always good to keep an eye on these things.
For those not in the loop, 'Stop Killing Games', spearheaded by YouTuber Ross Scott (of Accursed Farms fame), is all about getting publishers to, well, *not* kill games. The idea is simple: when a company decides to sunset an online title, they should have a plan in place to keep it playable, even if it's not officially supported anymore. Think server files released to the community, or some other way to keep the virtual world alive.
Now, here's where it gets a bit spicy. Someone – and I mean a *completely anonymous* someone – has filed a transparency complaint against the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' EU initiative. The complaint, relayed by the European Commission, alleges that the initiative made a boo-boo by failing to declare sources of funding and systematically concealing contributions. Bloody hell, sounds serious, doesn't it?
But hold your horses, mate. The whole thing hinges on Ross Scott's involvement. The complaint argues that Ross's time dedicated to the campaign is so extensive that it should be considered a quantifiable "in-kind contribution", worth somewhere between €63,000 and €147,000. And because the petition listed that they have no funding, then it's allegedly misleading the EU commission.
Ross, bless his cotton socks, is adamant that he hasn't been paid a penny and has been volunteering his time. He even points out that he's not officially listed as an organiser of the EU initiative and has "no actual authority" over it. It's all a bit like accusing a wizard of using enchanted ink when he's just got a really fancy quill, isn't it?
Scott reckons this complaint is an attempt to "kill the initiative", and suggests that it might be linked to someone in the gaming industry. Now, there's no concrete proof of that *at all*, but it does make you wonder, doesn't it? Someone's clearly not happy with the idea of games being kept alive after their official lifespan. But why?
The good news? According to the EU, even if a complaint is deemed admissible, the initiative will get a chance to respond and provide evidence. So, unless Ross and the team are hiding a vault full of gold doubloons, it sounds like they've got nothing to worry about. Assuming, of course, they're being straight with us (and with the EU).
Ultimately, this whole saga highlights something we all know: the fight to preserve gaming history is rarely easy. There will always be those who want to control the narrative, to decide which games live and which die. But thanks to passionate folks like Ross Scott and the 'Stop Killing Games' movement, the spirit of these games might just endure. It's a reminder that even in the digital age, a bit of community magic can go a long way.
Tags: gaming preservation, online games, Ross Scott, Stop Killing Games, EU petition
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun