by in When playing games of any kind, most of us just want to get started as quickly as possible. The loading screens, opening cutscenes, tutorials, disclaimers, and the T&Cs can all seem like cumbersome impediments to us getting our game on, which is why we tend to skip all of these if we can. However, you might want to think twice before skipping the terms and conditions for your next game.
The T&Cs often contain vital information about your rights as a consumer of a game, as well as the terms for any in-game content such as bonuses. With that in mind, here are our top reasons why you should always read the T&Cs before playing a game.
Know if you can play
The most important reason to read the T&Cs is to see if you are actually allowed to play the game in question. Many popular video and online games, for instance, have regional bans in place, restricting access for players in certain countries. This is the case, for Battlefield 3, which is banned for players in Iran according to https://www.pcgamer.com/. The T&Cs should always outline any regional content restrictions that might apply.
Claim your real-money bonuses
If you are playing real-money games such as slots or poker, then you should definitely read your T&Cs. If you click here, Bonusfinder explains that these will provide vital information about any free games you might be offered. Importantly, casino bonus T&Cs will outline any “wagering requirements” that players might be subject to, which stipulate how much a user must wager before they can withdraw any winnings from a free game. They will explain if you are actually eligible for the offer, how much of your own money you might have to deposit to access the bonus, and which games you can use your bonus on. ‘
Understand your data rights
Unsurprisingly, data privacy concerns remain at the forefront of the digital debate. While much of the airtime around this topic is devoted to social media giants, video games also have a role to play. You should always read the terms and conditions to determine what your data rights are and how a particular game is planning to use your data. You’d be surprised at the extent to which your personal data is mined by some video game companies.
Interacting with others
Many of the most popular games today are inherently social experiences, with the likes of Fortnite, CS:GO, and League of Legends rising to global dominance precisely because they are based on interactions with other players. As a player, you have a responsibility to follow the rules of engagement when interacting with other players, including refraining from any offensive or abusive behavior. Read the T&Cs to find out exactly what kinds of interactions are expressly forbidden.
But what if the T&Cs are too long?
If this article has convinced you that reading the T&Cs is important, but you don’t want to peruse through a 100-page user agreement, there is no need to panic. For lazy but legally-mindful gamers, you can use all sorts of free plug-ins like https://tosdr.org/downloads, which will distill all of the essential information from a game’s T&Cs and present it to you in short, succinct bullet points. This is a helpful way to make it easier to know your rights and obligations.
T&Cs are annoying, but they are there for a reason. Consider reading your T&Cs the next time you boot up a game so that you know where you stand.
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