Nintendo demanding Ad money from Youtuber LPs

edited May 2013 in General Chat
http://www.develop-online.net/news/44202/Nintendo-chases-ad-revenue-from-YouTube-content
Nintendo is starting to get a bit desperate for money now aren't they...
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Comments

  • edited May 2013
    Kinda sucks, but they're kinda right.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited May 2013
    See what happens when the actual gameplay is not regarded the fun of games any more? :p

    However, WTF is that dying company doing. Antagonizing fans over what could possibly be considered fan art, but certainly is an act of straight devotion to the company. There's nothing more dangerous Nintendo could do to its reputation. :eek:
  • edited May 2013
    I mainly watch Lps because of the Youtuber not the game...

    To be fair I even watch one person watch Minesweepr because he does it in such a special way...

    This is pretty stupid trying to steal money from people who are basically offering free advertising...
  • edited May 2013
    Dying company? That's a lulzy exaggeration.
  • edited May 2013
    DAISHI wrote: »
    Dying company? That's a lulzy exaggeration.

    Out of all the gaming companies, Nintendo is probably one of the most financially secure by far.
    (Only recently have they actually lost any money at all, and even then its was pretty negligible)

    This kind of sucks but I can see why Nintendo is focusing on this, considering their slanting themselves increasingly as a social standalone experience.
    (They might have their own YouTube like service for game videos like let's plays at some point)
  • edited May 2013
    On the one hand, I can see how this is a bad PR move, since people will be mad at them for it.

    On the other hand, the people that are mad at them are wrong.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited May 2013
    DAISHI wrote: »
    Dying company? That's a lulzy exaggeration.

    I'd say "mark my words", but all right, I won't. :o
  • edited May 2013
    LuigiHann wrote: »
    On the one hand, I can see how this is a bad PR move, since people will be mad at them for it.

    On the other hand, the people that are mad at them are wrong.

    How are they wrong they are trying to take money away from people giving them free advertising...
    Is it wrong to be mad at a company that is trying to grab money from hard working people whilst still wanting people to give them the free advertising but also want to be paid for the right to give the game publicity...
  • edited May 2013
    Yeah, mark his words! After 40 years, when their funds have finally run dry, Nintendo will be dead!

    Also, first of all, it's not an active move, it's a passive one. Second, at least Nintendo isn't blocking the videos.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited May 2013
    Well, I know of a certain game company with practically unlimited funds which had been dead for almost 20 years before it was finally closed this year. :)
  • edited May 2013
    Which company is it then, and perhaps after 20 years, their funding finally died out?

    Wait, was it LucasArts? That one wasn't closed down because it did poorly, in fact, it didn't close down at all. Technically.
  • edited May 2013
    Nintendo is perfectly within their rights to do this. They're still stupid for doing it. The big youtubers simply won't play Nintendo games anymore, and Nintendo will lose way more in free advertising than they'll gain from ad revenue. Not to mention that they'll piss a lot of their customers off.

    Does Telltale have an official stance on LPs?
  • edited May 2013
    Telltale is cool with LPs. They may flag your video and appropriate it into some weird content claim of theirs that still allows you to show them, but they're cool with it.

    And yes Nintendo is dumb for this, it's bad PR. Nobody watching these videos on YouTube is going to mistake PewdyPie's commentary for an official Nintendo video.
  • edited May 2013
    I personally feel like it's a positive step if they influence other major companies to not block such videos, to not get people banned from youtube. I think it's upsetting that companies are so quick to block fan-games and fan-edits of films and anime music videos and other gray-area derivative creative works, and it makes me much happier to see a company allow that type of thing to exist.

    Granted I'm coming at this from a means-of-expression perspective and not from a making-a-living perspective, but usually when copyright issues come up regarding making art using someone else's media, the people arguing that it's "fair use" tend to include the fact that it's a non-commercial use as part of that argument.
  • edited May 2013
    Also, they use a certain system that analyzes video and then does something to see if it contains a portion of something that is something I don't know how the fuck it works, but anyway, fanworks are perfectly safe. It's only LPs that get "targeted", and it's an automated process, using computers and shit.

    It sure beats the shit out of situations like Shining Force III.

    Also, what LuigiHann said.
  • edited May 2013
    It will be interesting to see if reviews start getting targeted as well.
  • ProfanityProfanity Banned
    edited May 2013
    mosfet wrote: »
    It will be interesting to see if reviews start getting targeted as well.

    I don't think they can touch reviews.
  • edited May 2013
    LuigiHann wrote: »
    Granted I'm coming at this from a means-of-expression perspective and not from a making-a-living perspective, but usually when copyright issues come up regarding making art using someone else's media, the people arguing that it's "fair use" tend to include the fact that it's a non-commercial use as part of that argument.

    Don't LPs fall under the "fair use" thing because of commentary? I don't know anything about these kinds of laws, so maybe they're not protected if they monetize their videos.

    Reviews certainly shouldn't be targetable because of this...right?
  • edited May 2013
    Mornai wrote: »
    Don't LPs fall under the "fair use" thing because of commentary? I don't know anything about these kinds of laws, so maybe they're not protected if they monetize their videos.

    Reviews certainly shouldn't be targetable because of this...right?

    False.

    I'm no super expert, but I had to work on copyright issues for the University of Berkley and University of Texas San Antonio. LPs extensively use video and audio from the games to the degree that it can be considered profiting off the original work. Samples have to be limited or of a demonstrably inferior quality. You can't use certain images under fair use, for instance, unless they're low res to the point of almost being unrecognizable.

    Or to be more relevant, I don't think Nintendo would pursue most of these if the video was being recorded off a Nokia RAZR video recorder instead of being high quality recordings through a video card.
  • edited May 2013
    Guys, why in God's name is this being seen as NEGATIVE?! They're just having YouTube put ads before LP's with Nintendo games. Is that not far more preferable to Nintendo going evil and requiring YouTube to REMOVE said videos?! As copyright holders, they would be well within their rights to do so!
  • edited May 2013
    I like this quote from the comments at screwattack;
    When Microsoft claims third-party content, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan". But when Nintendo starts doing it, well then everyone loses their minds!
  • edited May 2013
    Hudomonkey wrote: »
    To be fair I even watch one person watch Minesweepr because he does it in such a special way...

    Nilesy?
    Guys, why in God's name is this being seen as NEGATIVE?! They're just having YouTube put ads before LP's with Nintendo games. Is that not far more preferable to Nintendo going evil and requiring YouTube to REMOVE said videos?! As copyright holders, they would be well within their rights to do so!

    You are right. In terms of people just posting random Nintendo videos just because, there is nothing wrong and nothing bad will happen, however that isn't all that is being affected. Youtube partners that do video game commentary(and some do it for a living strange as it sounds), don't get money for their commentary. If someone focused a channel around Nintendo and made it their living, they better hope their fans like other stuff or they have to go down a different career path.

    And then there is the fact that this is all automated so some poor reviewers are going to get caught in this too most likely.
  • edited May 2013
    Pretty stupid of them, to be honest. It will make Let's Players less likely to feature/play Nintendo games on their channel since all the Ad revenue made on that video will all go to Nintendo instead of a fair split or some sort of monetization. Hopefully they'll go for some kind of revenue split option instead...
  • edited May 2013
    I use Adblock Plus, so I don't see Youtube ads.

    I don't care if people can't make money off me through my Youtube activites. Google can afford for me to not see ads.

    This really is just a dumb move by Nintendo. I know people here are saying that they're as solvent as can be, but I was under the impression that the WiiU is doing terrible in sales and third party licensing.
  • edited May 2013
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    I use Adblock Plus, so I don't see Youtube ads.

    I don't care if people can't make money off me through my Youtube activites. Google can afford for me to not see ads.

    This really is just a dumb move by Nintendo. I know people here are saying that they're as solvent as can be, but I was under the impression that the WiiU is doing terrible in sales and third party licensing.

    When you block those ads you block revenues to the individuals trying to make the videos for public consumption as well. Google can afford it, but can PewdiePie?
  • edited May 2013
    Gman5852 wrote: »
    Nilesy?

    Of Course...
  • edited May 2013
    DAISHI wrote: »
    When you block those ads you block revenues to the individuals trying to make the videos for public consumption as well. Google can afford it, but can PewdiePie?
    Making LP's should not be a day-job. It's a hobby.


    I understand that my Ad blocker also blocks revenue to actual Youtube shows like Revision3, but I'd still rather not watch a 30 second long commercial every time I click on a 3 minute video.
  • edited May 2013
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    I use Adblock Plus, so I don't see Youtube ads.

    I don't care if people can't make money off me through my Youtube activites. Google can afford for me to not see ads.

    This really is just a dumb move by Nintendo. I know people here are saying that they're as solvent as can be, but I was under the impression that the WiiU is doing terrible in sales and third party licensing.

    I was under the impression that the Wii U is doing fairly decent and the only main developer to do a total 180 on their stance on the Wii U was EA, which...come on. Not a surprise. EA = worst gaming company EVER.
  • VainamoinenVainamoinen Moderator
    edited May 2013
    DAISHI wrote: »
    False.

    I'm no super expert, but I had to work on copyright issues for the University of Berkley and University of Texas San Antonio. LPs extensively use video and audio from the games to the degree that it can be considered profiting off the original work. Samples have to be limited or of a demonstrably inferior quality. You can't use certain images under fair use, for instance, unless they're low res to the point of almost being unrecognizable.

    Or to be more relevant, I don't think Nintendo would pursue most of these if the video was being recorded off a Nokia RAZR video recorder instead of being high quality recordings through a video card.


    Legally, a lot of this stuff could be targeted, that is true.

    Mere excerpts of those games can't cause legal problems, but seriously, what's a 30 minute review of a game on youtube but 30 minutes of high res gameplay with added reviewer's comments?

    Legally, it is completely comprehensible for a company to state that random popular LPers are essentially making money with their IPs.

    From the standpoint of advertising and company image, however, this really isn't such a great idea. Absolutely every video game company which risks to suggest that just watching their game would give the spectator even 1% of the fun than actually playing it damages its reputation in a great way.
  • edited May 2013
    I was under the impression that the Wii U is doing fairly decent and the only main developer to do a total 180 on their stance on the Wii U was EA, which...come on. Not a surprise. EA = worst gaming company EVER.
    WiiU did move 55,000 units last month, yes. But then the Wii sold 75,000.

    So, Nintendo is selling consoles, but while they continue to dominate the handheld market, the WiiU is a joke.
  • edited May 2013
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    Making LP's should not be a day-job. It's a hobby.


    I understand that my Ad blocker also blocks revenue to actual Youtube shows like Revision3, but I'd still rather not watch a 30 second long commercial every time I click on a 3 minute video.

    That is like saying being on television should be a hobby...
  • edited May 2013
    Except most people working on TV get a fixed salary.

    Seriously, though, and here's where I step in as someone who turned his hobby into a semi part-time job, mainly writing, but I couldn't give two shits if people just grab my novel for free. I actually should find a real job.
  • edited May 2013
    hey. 30 minutes on this topic.
    Totalbiscuit's Content patch video of the day.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yX4io2O4EI
  • edited May 2013
    He sums it up very well
    Lpers have their own following and will watch any game they play and the content is not all about he games

    A great example of this is Minecraft as the game itself is not necessarily the most entertaining but youtubers such as the yogscast have found a way to make it work and the idea of Notch trying to take ad money from these people when people are really only watching for them...

    Nintendo games generally aren't the most story focused and I don't see many people watching an LP and then feeling as if they no longer need to play the game...
  • edited May 2013
    DAISHI wrote: »
    Google can afford it, but can PewdiePie?

    Considering he's made a small fortune off of being fake scared and Happy Wheels, I think he can.
  • edited May 2013
    Legally, a lot of this stuff could be targeted, that is true.

    Mere excerpts of those games can't cause legal problems, but seriously, what's a 30 minute review of a game on youtube but 30 minutes of high res gameplay with added reviewer's comments?

    Legally, it is completely comprehensible for a company to state that random popular LPers are essentially making money with their IPs.

    From the standpoint of advertising and company image, however, this really isn't such a great idea. Absolutely every video game company which risks to suggest that just watching their game would give the spectator even 1% of the fun than actually playing it damages its reputation in a great way.

    Oh I completely agree. I think on a actual level, it's stupid by Nintendo.
  • edited May 2013
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    Making LP's should not be a day-job. It's a hobby.

    Ok so you want to deny someone money for their work because you don't like that they can make money? Even if you don't like it, it is still their job.
  • edited May 2013
    I feel a good compromise is for Nintendo to split the ad revenue with the video makers 50-50. But that won't happen, because that would require agreements with individual people and that'd be FAR too much work.
  • edited May 2013
    Gman5852 wrote: »
    Ok so you want to deny someone money for their work because you don't like that they can make money? Even if you don't like it, it is still their job.
    That's like if I invited people over to my house to watch me play a video game, and I charged by the head for it because people think I'm funny.

    How about if I got into building and flying remote controlled airplanes, and charged people for coming to watch me fly them? (by myself, not at an official event that actually cost someone money to organize.)

    It's a hobby, not a job. People play games because they are fun, and they make LP's because they enjoy it.

    In fact, I don't think I'd ever pay money just to watch a Rifftrax, either.


    EDIT: Okay, wait. My issue is actually that it's Youtube. Youtube is a community where Joe Blow can upload videos of his cat. I have no qualms whatsoever with Doug Walker (Nostalgia Critic) making money off people watching his reviews, because he has his own website dedicated to it. So yes, if people can make a Rifftrax and then sell it for money on Rifftrax.com, that's fine. I just wouldn't buy it.
  • edited May 2013
    Chyron8472 wrote: »
    That's like if I invited people over to my house to watch me play a video game, and I charged by the head for it because people think I'm funny.

    Yes. And if they are willing to pay you nothing is wrong with it.
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