All glitches are not created equal. Some are game-breaking, but others can be kinda fun. Some can even be both. You’ve likely seen YouTubers racked by spasms of scream-laughter at them. Activision’s been taking down videos of certain glitches, much to the chagrin of some.
Video network Machinima says Activision has been more trigger happy than usual about flagging YouTube videos for possible copyright strikes if they involve Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare glitches. Machinima first took notice of the trend and sent word of it around to their talent network. YouTubers and players alike are not happy, despite Activision’s claims that they’re only targeting glitch videos that focus on cheats and exploits.
ACTIVISION WILL GIVE YOU A COPYRIGHT STRIKE IF YOU SHOW THEIR GAME FUCKING UP SICK THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP MACHINIMA pic.twitter.com/em8VoKpFtX
— Bro Team Pill (@BroTeamPill) November 21, 2014
Now, this hasn’t been a unanimous thing. A quick search on YouTube reveals that there are still quite a few Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare glitch videos available for your viewing pleasure/schadenfreude. However, Activision is keeping an eye out for a certain variety of glitch video, they say.
In a statement sent to Kotaku, Activision claimed that they’re only going after videos that could help others cheat or take advantage of the game’s… less polished elements.
“We’re excited that so many fans are having fun playing the game and posting videos of their gameplay. We love watching the videos ourselves. Occasionally, some folks post videos that promote cheating and unfair exploits. As always, we keep an eye out for these videos — our level of video claims hasn’t changed. We are appreciative of the community’s support in helping to ensure that everyone has the best playing experience possible.”
So Activision claims this isn’t any different from the way they have always operated, but networks like Machinima beg to differ. Here’s Machinima’s full statement on the matter:
“Recently Machinima notified it’s network partners that posting content about Call of Duty videos may receive a strike if flagged by Activision. Machinima was prompted to take this action in order to inform its network partners so that they would remain in good standing on YouTube. When a channel receives a certain number of strikes it is possible that they may be blocked as a YouTube partner. Machinima’s actions are to protect not only its network partners, but its publisher partners as well.”
Strikes are bad news for YouTubers, and they can be easily abused by big companies in cases where they don’t like the way their game is being portrayed. Not only do YouTubers lose the video in question, they also lose access to key YouTube features. On top of that, YouTube adheres to old baseball rules: three strikes and you’re out. Permanently. No more YouTube account. For people who’ve spent years slaving over a white-hot video editor to build an audience, losing all that in the blink of an eye simply isn’t an option.
It’s understandable that Activision wouldn’t want people poisoning its multi-million dollar techno-thriller well with cheats and exploits, but perhaps YouTube flags/strikes aren’t the best way to deal with that. YouTubers stand to lose a lot for what is, in the grand scheme of things, very little.
Comments
28 responses to “Activision Targets Call Of Duty Glitch Videos For Take Down”
So they’re censoring what doesn’t suit their vision and allowing anything that promotes their product? Fair enough.
you mean theyre censoring free speech? fuck its not like we have rules about that or anything
*edit* wow so many people losing the plot here over semantics.
Well if thats what you want, then lets keep allowing activision to do this then. Surely it wont actively encourage them.
Activision isn’t the government.
@shadow @rethilgore
Since its not illegal it makes it ok right?
Nope, not at all.
This is not a free speech issue.
Under YouTube’s user agreement they’re allowed to do it – I just think it’s BS that they’re being so selective about it. In saying that, I totally get why they’re doing it.
Yeah, it’s a dick move for sure. But it’s within their rights.
This has nothing to do with Free Speech, You only have the right to not have your free speech infringed upon by the Government. Also this is Kotaku AU. Australia has no free speech Law or Constitutional equivalent so chill.
Seems like people are going to extraordinary lengths to not promote a bad practice as bad simply because it’s allowed? Isn’t that kind of… Arrogant? Ignorant? Irresponsible? Insincere? Help me out here? It’s a dick move but everyone jumps down a guy’s throat because of semantics without empathising at all despite obviously being aware of the issue; isn’t that kind of a dick move?
I’m all for condemning this kind of behaviour but let’s do so from an informed position use the right language. Correcting someone’s use of a term in no way makes me a supporter of Activision’s behaviour. I just think we should be careful of making potentially hyperbolic statements. Legalities aside, let’s just call it what it is, a dick move.
Well actually:
Section 15 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) provides:
Every person has the right to hold an opinion without interference.
Every person has the right to freedom of expression which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, whether within or outside Victoria and whether-
(a) orally; or
(b) in writing; or
(c) in print; or
(d) by way of art; or
(e) in another medium chosen by him or her.
But regardless of whether they are allowed to do what they do or not, doesn’t make it any less of an asshole thing to do. You’re supporting these actions based on the foundation that Activision is not the government and that this is Kotaku AU – pretty laughable..
At the end of the day they made a shit game and they done want people to see the bugs. its not a violation of your human rights.
get over it sheeple. Call of Doody has been fucking terrible for years but you keep buying the new editions they shit out expecting it to be good. so at the end of the day stop feeding them your wallets and expecting gold.
Maybe they shouldn’t make broken games
Agreed.
how DARE you!
actually, no…. you’re totally right…..
I came here to post this, but you beat me.
Upvote it is then!
As far as I’m concerned it’s the consumers right to have access to information like this regarding glitches
I totally agree, consumers have all the right to information regarding a product including its faults. It doesn’t matter if its a car or a game. Game companies are doing everything they can to hide behind closed doors with no one seemingly to take responsibility for their defective product. Other Companies that do this are breaking the law and are usually dealt with via the courts and legal system so why is it game companies seem to be untouchables?
Yeah dude. Imagine if a company that made TVs started taking down videos of widespread faults. It would be all over the news and current affair programs as a huge scam. Such bullshit that gamers don’t receive the same treatment because it isn’t a physical defect
Can you say “Streisand effect”?
Streisand effect.
Do I win a prize? Please tell me I win a prize.
Perhaps they should focus on fixing the glitches instead of targeting youtube videos.
I’m done with COD.
I’ve played ’em all, going from PC to console and back. I bought AW for the single player to see digital Kevin Spacey’s performance. The online multi-player for all COD’s on PC these days is the same hack-fest shit-storm. Oh, and no dedicated servers, so it’s laggy, has host-advantage issues, and is just all around shit house.
Actually guys, could one of you go ‘undercover’ and just do an article about paid multi-player hacks in FPS games? There are a stack of companies out there where you can purchase hacks from, as well as free ones from places like http://www.unknowncheats.me/forum/
You poor soul. I topped after COD:2… lol
But 4 was actually really really good.
That’s where I called it quits. After that it just seemed like the same shit recycled over and over again.
Dude I don’t get how people find it fun hacking a game like that. If you know you’re always going to win what’s the point?