I'm not against the Epic Store, but flipping things like this when your backers gave their money in expectation of a certain result - Steam and GOG - is really lame.
Now that we think about it, this might potentially hurt other crowdfunding projects from other studios as well.
I don't believe that people will hold a grudge to that extent unless they pull this same shit twice. I can't think of a boycott that lasted over 2 years and into a dev's next game and major enough to threaten sales.Yeah it must have been a big load of cash for them to make this decision. They have secured their immediate future for the next year or two at the expense of some fanbase negative opinion. The problem then is hoping that the next game will sell and that their audience forget/forgive/don't care about this current turn of events. I've gone from 'buy on day one' to 'probably wait for a good sale price'.
This will have to be a disclaimer on any potential crowdfunding project.Now that we think about it, this might potentially hurt other crowdfunding projects from other studios as well.
What's the assurance that people will get what they back for? Everything can be snagged by Epic now.
I'm glad I never bought anything in Fortnite.I suddenly realized that Epic is buying exclusivity using the money everyone gave them for Fortnite battle passes and cosmetic mtx
It isnt about Steam features or how easy is to set up Epics Store, its about anti consumer practices by Epic and some devs/publishers. I dont put consumerism above my own principles.
Eh.Great, but is it possible to do that without the insults and passive aggressive attitude towards others by implying everyone has a memory of a goldfish?
It's definitely disappointing given the previous RPS article that took a very critical look at the situationNah. The dark years where really the "piracy panic and 'PC Gaming Alliance" of the mid to late aughts.
Epic Games store won't be able to even scratch the surface of my enjoyment in regards to pc gaming. PC gaming is incredibily resistant to walled gardens.
I like it. It clears the air and everyone knows where everyone else stands.
Makes that joke of an RPS article look even worse though.
That is the sum total of it. But again, security is a helluva drug, fleeting around this industry in general. Can we really blame an indie dev for choosing security with conditions for the next X years? Knowing what the casualty rate of indie developers is? Your families can't eat honor and integrity, and while I'm sure they would have preferred keeping it (this may have ramifications for future crowd-funding attempts), this time the bag was really just that big.
I suddenly realized that Epic is buying exclusivity using the money everyone gave them for Fortnite battle passes and cosmetic mtx
It's definitely disappointing given the previous RPS article that took a very critical look at the situation
Great, but is it possible to do that without the insults and passive aggressive attitude towards others by implying everyone has a memory of a goldfish?
Now that we think about it, this might potentially hurt other crowdfunding projects from other studios as well.
What's the assurance that people will get what they back for? Everything can be snagged by Epic now.
Integrity and honour aren't fungible, but there is a reason companies factor in goodwill in their financial statements. Building a loyal customer base provides security.That is the sum total of it. But again, security is a helluva drug, fleeting around this industry in general. Can we really blame an indie dev for choosing security with conditions for the next X years? Knowing what the casualty rate of indie developers is? Your families can't eat honor and integrity, and while I'm sure they would have preferred keeping it (this may have ramifications for future crowd-funding attempts), this time the bag was really just that big.
I wonder what's the endgame for Epic here? they can't moneyhat every game forever. Seems shortsighted business-wise. They have to attract people with new games from the studio itself (like Fortnite) or fund a project from another developers. I can't see them doing this for more than a year or two imo.
Eh.
Epic is treating consumers like cattle. Would it be better to call people Bovines?
The thing is that people stay loyal customers by positive reinforcement. Forcing people to go to your store by exclusivity is using the stick, not the carrot. You also have to give people reasons to stay, which they don't seem to care one bit about doing.I assume they want to use moneyhats to build up a userbase, and then get a reputation as the store on PC with all the great exclusives and none of the stream of shit you find on other stores, then eventually end up with enough pull and prestige that developers are happy to go to them without a moneyhat being required
That's not to say I think that will work, but I can't think of any other way they expect this to play out
That is the sum total of it. But again, security is a helluva drug, fleeting around this industry in general. Can we really blame an indie dev for choosing security with conditions for the next X years? Knowing what the casualty rate of indie developers is? Your families can't eat honor and integrity, and while I'm sure they would have preferred keeping it (this may have ramifications for future crowd-funding attempts), this time the bag was really just that big.
Wait, they're actually still doing the AMA?!
That's like SEEING the firing squad before you get there, having the chance to get a full pardon, and just walking up anyway
I assume they want to use moneyhats to build up a userbase, and then get a reputation as the store on PC with all the great exclusives and none of the stream of shit you find on other stores, then eventually end up with enough pull and prestige that developers are happy to go to them without a moneyhat being required
That's not to say I think that will work, but I can't think of any other way they expect this to play out
The thing is that people stay loyal customers by positive reinforcement. Forcing people to go to your store by exclusivity is using the stick, not the carrot.
Them announcing this a day before the AMA just astonishes me. It's like they're actively trying to harm themselves further.Wait, they're actually still doing the AMA?!
That's like SEEING the firing squad before you get there, having the chance to get a full pardon, and just walking up anyway
Them announcing this a day before the AMA just astonishes me. It's like they're actively trying to harm themselves further.
According to Bloomberg, as of 2019 he has a net worth of $7.18 billion
Stolen from reddit
On the one hand, this is refreshingly honest
On the other hand "We knew our supporters would hate it, but we did it anyways because $$$" is a very encapsulating statement of why I shouldn't give a shit about indiedevs well being.
That is exactly what EGS is doing. Complete hypocrite that Sweeney is.Man, that Tim Sweeney is a bit of a hypocrite..
"Well, I should be very clear," Sweeney said. "The thing that I feel is incredibly important for the future of the industry is that the PC platform remains open, so that any user without any friction can install applications from any developer, and ensure that no company, Microsoft or anybody else, can insert themselves by force as the universal middleman, and force developers to sell through them instead of selling directly to customers."
Tim is just being misquoted I'm sure
They better hope Epic cuts a new shitty deal then, otherwise theyll be the punching bags for a while.I guess they want go through the storm as soon as they can so they can leave this behind. Better face the fury upfront that let it keep dropping bit by bit for months.
Paths? Why would you think kindly of others who support anti-consumerism? We are all consumers, why side with anti-consumer corporations?I guess it's impossible to stand up for your beliefs on your own and not think kindly of everyone who doesn't follow the same path.
They better hope Epic cuts a new shitty deal then, otherwise theyll be the punching bags for a while.
Too busy counting money to think about that.That screencap, uh
That's definitely something they should've checked on
Screenshot by one of the devs, about the conversation they had about providing Steam/GOG keys after the exclusivity has ended.
They hadn't even checked this before the announcement, and went ahead believing that they would not provide keys for Steam/GOG at all.
"We can probably do that" is a quote I will associate this game with from now on.
Yeah they will struggle to get through another crowdfunding campaign at least, for future projects. That's a door they have closed with this.
Epic here making games profitable without selling any copies, guess no one should feel bad about requesting refunds thenStolen from reddit
On the one hand, this is refreshingly honest
On the other hand "We knew our supporters would hate it, but we did it anyways because $$$" is a very encapsulating statement of why I shouldn't give a shit about indiedevs well being.
Epic here making games profitable without selling any copies, guess no one should feel bad about requesting refunds then
It's fair to say that, at this point, the only difference between your average starving indie dev and multinational publishers are a couple of billions in the bank account. Not that I blame them, I like money too and would love to get more, but they can miss me with their sob stories.It's a bold strategy indeed. Telling your core audience and supporters that they can go jump off a cliff because yay $$$. But then again integrity has always been for sale. It is refreshing to see indies being so upfront about how little they actually care about their audience once somone dangles a big ol' bag of money in front of them.
We all know how it went.Like did they thoroughly read the deal. That's very concerning if they didn't even know what they can or can't do.
It's pretty ironic that we are expected to support a shitty service because of the poor widdle devs while those same devs tell us to eat shit.It's fair to say that, at this point, the only difference between your average starving indie dev and multinational publishers are a couple of billions in the bank account. Not that I blame them, I like money too and would love to get more, but they can miss me with their sob stories.
Epic here making games profitable without selling any copies, guess no one should feel bad about requesting refunds then
Stolen from reddit
On the one hand, this is refreshingly honest
On the other hand "We knew our supporters would hate it, but we did it anyways because $$$" is a very encapsulating statement of why I shouldn't give a shit about indiedevs well being.