Audience’s Rights Reform #12: Removal of unpopular game features
If a specific feature in a video game is rejected by the fans, it should be edited. Video game sequels and updates should only be allowed to introduce positive changes, and never negative ones. All existing negative changes should be edited out.
While we are here, I should note that dividing my original category of “quality-of-life edits” into seven categories made it easier to define the ideal amount of editing. Video games should not make edits that disrupt their themes, core narrative arcs (e.g. reworking storylines), or challenge integrity (e.g. adding level skips).
Example A: Pokémon GO
In 2023, Pokémon GO made the controversial move of doubling the price of its remote raid passes. It is an absolute outrage that, to date, no country has passed a law forcing the price to revert. Ideally, the price increase would be reverted retroactively, complete with refunds for past buyers.
Note that while I myself have purchased only a few raid passes since the hike, at least five of my close friends have continued to spend hundreds of dollars on passes. In short, I am motivated by my sense of justice, rather than personal gain.
More recently, there have been other blatant negative changes in Pokémon GO. Notably, in 2025, they decided to discontinue remote raid invites from in-person events, with no notice. This left thousands of GO Fest attendees blindsided, to say nothing of their friends back home. (And yes, two of my own friends found out firsthand at the in-person event in New Jersey.)
This argument fits well with my greater opinion that wealthy individuals and corporations should not have more rights or privileges than everyone else, but should instead have more responsibilities.
Example B: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door should be edited in two ways. First off, the “bingo” feature should be either removed or changed to an option that can be turned off. Secondly, and more notably, the game should be edited so that either a Game Over only happens when both Mario and his partner are defeated, or so that Life Shrooms work on Mario only. Because Paper Mario 64 partners don’t have HP, this is clearly a simple oversight on the part of Nintendo rather than an intentionally negative change. (The hack Paper Mario TTYD64 goes the latter route: it adds many TTYD features including partner HP, but still has Life Shrooms work only on Mario.)