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YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

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Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1ubSVMwaw

In this video, they go in-depth about the different youtube issues going on at the moment, both the recent content-ID massacre, and the new status for network/partners that's coming.

Worth spending time on if you are at all interested in these issues. (Description has shortcuts to the different parts discussed as well, but I recommend watching the entire thing.)

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#33
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Are you really going to make a hot-air blanket statement like "Most video game music is crap"? You do realize that even mid-budget games like Resident Evil 5 & Remember Me (both with really good soundtracks) record using Hollywood sized orchestras. 2) A "CLONE" of a game is different. Especially when you clone an iconic game that Nintendo still sells. It's clearly not as evil an industry as you seem to be consider…

1) it's not because you record with an orchestra that it's not crap, sorry. Music is not just about how much money you throw at it, if there's no art in it, it's just crap. And when I say "there's exceptions" I dont know how you can say i make a blanket statement. 2) Sorry, but a 20+ year old game should be in the public domain, period. Why do we apply copyrights which are longer than what we apply on drugs? Sorry bu…

>And when I say "there's exceptions" I dont know how you can say i make a blanket statement.

Honestly, calling most videogame music crap is a bit ignorant imo (even though you mention "exceptions"). A lot of videogames, even minor ones and some indies, have amazing music and OST. This is because sound is one of the most important aspects of game development, even though most people don't really understand that.

It is up there, style-wise, with graphics and gameplay. A good OST can make or break a game and it's surprising how unnoticed this goes until you find a game with actual crap/out of place music, and then you notice.

I often listen to several game soundtracks and I own a few albums just of pure videogame music, there is a huge market from fans (and even non-fans) directly buying music CDs of videogame OSTs. Plus they are often sold with collector's editions and similar.

Let's give a few examples of games with great music (great, not just "good", for most of them are at least good and far from "crap"): Final Fantasy, Halo, Monkey Island, Zelda, Civilization, Silent Hill (by far my favorite), Castlevania, Portal, The Elders Scrolls, Metal Gear...

I could go on, but you get the point[1]. As a musician I can say for sure that game soundtracks are among the most entertaining and fun to play, there's a lot of people on youtube recording covers and re-arrangements of famous game OSTs.

Really, claiming that "most videogame music is crap" is just being ignorant.

[1] http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/nine-legitimately-a...

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#34

I don't understand, can video game companies really claim copyright over gameplay videos? Or is this just a Youtube-specific thing?

Some people on YouTube play entire video games start to finish without even adding any kind of commentary. On the other end of things, you have things like some of the stuff mentioned in the article, or that TotalBiscuit/Garry's Incident blowup in which a company was clearly just trying to squelch negative reviews. The latter is clearly fair use, while the former is at best a very grey area.

While there are some games where videos are clearly not a substitute for playing the game (puzzle games, multiplayer games), there are others where they might be (low-difficulty games with a lot of FMV cutscenes)

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#35

I'm pretty sure that Twitch will happily fill the gap here.

Since the Twitch player feels like it was written by monkeys in the 90s (while YT is finishing to roll-out its neat HTML5 player), I believe this is clearly not for the best.

Although, maybe the Twitch guys will compensate their awful technological lateness by showing some humanity (which Google seems less and less able to do).

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#36
post #9

What stands out most about this issue is the open-mindedness of the Video Games Industry. The fact that they've stood up for someone's ability to not only record their gameplay, but on top of that, make money from it just shows how understanding they are (unlike neighboring industries that take down amateur remixes from Soundcloud and YouTube). They're one of the few industries that generally: ● Don't Sue Pirates ● D…

Don't claim copyright infringement on uploaded video game soundtracks to YouTube (except Square Enix because their Final Fantasy OST still sells big) Because most video game music is crap, really. Of course, there are exceptions, but nothing that would really sell anyway if they were marketing it. Don't send DMCA notices to people who remix their content (make mods) Huh... you haven't heard about Nintendo I guess? Th…

Nintendo is and has always been an outlier when it comes to clamping down on "their" IP. This is the company that tried to sue Blockbuster for renting games (the fallout from this suit is why rental games didn't come with the official manual). They also tried to sue Game Genie out of existence. If you were bothered by the Super Mario JavaScript thing or Nintendo leading the charge on this YouTube drama, it's nothing new.

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#37
post #17

I don't understand, can video game companies really claim copyright over gameplay videos? Or is this just a Youtube-specific thing?

Publishers who own the IP to titles can claim copyright to the gameplays. Since it is basically free promotion for their games, it's against their best interest. Hence, you see them offering their blessing and support to YouTubers.

The problem is that a lot of videos are being taken down because of copyright claims on press materials and game footage from trailers, not gameplays. This material is classified under fair use.

They're also attempting to claim copyright on game reviews. Which in short, puts reviewers in a bad position where someone is trying to monetize their opinion and are easily silenced if that opinion is unpopular.

For reviewers its grossly unfair for publishers to make money off their reviews, because while they will reference their game, the opinions expressed are entirely the reviewer's, and writing a critique is certainly nothing at all like showing a dry gameplay video with no commentary or editing.

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#38

I'm pretty sure that Twitch will happily fill the gap here.

I don't think that will last. It shouldn't take too long for rights holders to figure out that there are videos and live streams on Twitch that contain music and cut scenes, as well. Might be that Twitch is not receiving as much take-down notices, just yet. Imho that's not going to last. Since there is already people on their making money with their "property".

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#39
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Are you really going to make a hot-air blanket statement like "Most video game music is crap"? You do realize that even mid-budget games like Resident Evil 5 & Remember Me (both with really good soundtracks) record using Hollywood sized orchestras. 2) A "CLONE" of a game is different. Especially when you clone an iconic game that Nintendo still sells. It's clearly not as evil an industry as you seem to be consider…

1) it's not because you record with an orchestra that it's not crap, sorry. Music is not just about how much money you throw at it, if there's no art in it, it's just crap. And when I say "there's exceptions" I dont know how you can say i make a blanket statement. 2) Sorry, but a 20+ year old game should be in the public domain, period. Why do we apply copyrights which are longer than what we apply on drugs? Sorry bu…

I wanna choke you for bitching (#1) but I want to hug you for complaint (#2). Stop it already!

#1 There's as much art to an effective & supportive game theme music as there is to the mind numbing pop "music" that sells millions.

#2 GOD YES. The sheer amount of anti innovation power these companies hold is offensively revolting.

Re: YouTube Blocks Game Videos, Industry Offers Help

#40
post #33
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) it's not because you record with an orchestra that it's not crap, sorry. Music is not just about how much money you throw at it, if there's no art in it, it's just crap. And when I say "there's exceptions" I dont know how you can say i make a blanket statement. 2) Sorry, but a 20+ year old game should be in the public domain, period. Why do we apply copyrights which are longer than what we apply on drugs? Sorry bu…

>And when I say "there's exceptions" I dont know how you can say i make a blanket statement. Honestly, calling most videogame music crap is a bit ignorant imo (even though you mention "exceptions"). A lot of videogames, even minor ones and some indies, have amazing music and OST. This is because sound is one of the most important aspects of game development, even though most people don't really understand that. It is…

> Really, claiming that "most videogame music is crap" is just being ignorant.

It just means I have probably higher standards than you have when it comes to appreciating music. I've been playing video games for 30 years+, so I wouldn't consider myself ignorant, I just find most video games music very dull and uninspiring.

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