So, from time to time, we here at LagSpike write editorials on a variety of different things. It could be from how Video Gamers should be monitored due to video games causing violence to damn right stupid public relations stunts.
A question that has long gone unanswered, stepped over, and dodged like trying to explain to a four year old how babies are made is that of game release dates, especially digital releases. If the industry is trying to push for a more digital future, surely they should be pushing to release games worldwide on the same day not having different release dates between regions with no logical explanation.
Of course, some of the people reading this article will know I’m actually raging over Battlefield 4, a game I enjoyed during the beta and really want to get my hands on. But Electronic Arts has decided to give some stupid release dates. Here, let’s check the territorial release dates below:
All times are listed in local time respective toward the region.
- East and Central Asia
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Oct 29 at 12:01AM KST
- North and South America
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Oct 29 at 12:01AM EDT
- Russia
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Oct 29 at 12:01AM MSK
- Australia
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Oct 31 at 12:01AM AEDT
- European Union
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Oct 31 at 12:01AM CET
- New Zealand
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Nov 1 at 12:01AM NZDT
- India
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Nov 1 at 12:01AM IST
- South Africa
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Nov 1 at 12:01AM SAST
- United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Nov 1 at 12:01AM GMT
- Japan
- Pre-load: At least 24 hours before launch
- Game Launch: Nov 7 at 12:01AM JST
Now, let’s look at Activision’s Call of Duty: Ghosts - November 5th. Yes, November 5th you will get your hands on the game worldwide for all platforms, including next gen. Now if Activision is embracing a worldwide release date, why can’t other publishers do the same?
Before I took a course in games development, I didn’t know very much of the process of making games let alone the publishing steps. So you’re most likely thinking it’s down to the territories giving release dates to the publishers, well your wrong. You might be thinking it’s down to the certification, again you’re wrong. The majority of the games go through a lengthy testing and review process when going under the hammer for its certification (usually up to 2 – 6 months prior to release). So what’s the hold up?
The publisher chooses and sets the date, and for an online based game providing territories with days early access before another is essentially saying here have all the unlocks. Providing an unfair advantage to online warfare. Especially in a competitive environment like CoD or Battlefield.
But it doesn’t just stop there, Twitch TV is getting lazy. You’re most likely thinking well its Twitch TV they haven’t done much for a few years apart from a graphical lift. Well, while Twitch continues to reassure its community that it’s hard at work with new hardware upgrades and chat improvements, Twitch’s official response is to not shut down channels streaming games prior to release. This practice is strongly frowned upon by developers and publishers. However, Twitch is claiming legally it can’t do anything without the manufacturer of the game stepping in with a DMCA notice. According to Twitch TV's terms and services, the practice of streaming a game before release date is a ban offense. So, which is it? Here’s proof of this situation via Twitter, where a Twitch TV Admin talked to Aaron aka Stereorage on Twitter claiming Twitch cannot legally do anything about it concerning WWE 2k14.
So, while a channel could receive a DMCA complaint to be shut down, the likely hood is extremely rare. The process to stream a game early used to involve contacting the publisher then contacting Twitch with the relevant information and proof. However today's antics implies anyone has received a game early can go stream it and have a low chance of getting shut down unless a manufacturer is watching Twitch like a hawk.
If anyone remembers back to Grand Theft Auto V, less than a month ago, Twitch's response was completely opposite of this. Twitch’s response was anyone streaming the story would be banned and shut down until a certain time on the east coast. However, a streamer could cast free roam as they wished. Applying the new rule from today and WWE2k14, a DMCA order would have to be issued to each and every stream playing story mode.
Update:
Shortly after posting this article Twitch began posting messages across its site to warn people to stop playing certain games before a set time and date of the release (usually these consist with the American release). So if a game comes out in your territory first before the USA just be warned your channel could be shut down (This was confirmed to us just prior to the launch of Halo 4).
"As Battlefield 4 is out of Beta, the retail version is not allowed for broadcasting until Oct 29 at 12:00am EST. Please stop broadcasting BF 4 immediately. We must start closing channels shortly."
Credit to Victor Debolle (Funkmetal) for bringing the Battlefield 4 streams to our attention.