Beamer wrote on Mar 9, 2019, 09:29:
Quinn wrote on Mar 9, 2019, 02:45:
I feel like Epic thinks they can rule the world with their lucky Fortnite success. Don't they yet realize Fortnite is in its death-throws being murdered by Apex Legends, I wonder?
Isn't this the opposite of that? Isn't this them moving very quickly, and very aggressively, because they know that Fortnite money could dry up as quickly as it appeared? Isn't this them trying to shore up another line of business, and one that can have a much longer tail, while the money is flowing in and they have the resources to do so?
Still don't fully get all the anger at them, but whatever.
I can't speak for everyone, but for me the anger is being caused primarily for two reasons.
1. This smacks of EA tactics. If you can't compete because the other companies have a better product, spend a fuckton of money to simply bar those companies access. It creates a monopoly situation, kind of like what happened when EA felt threatened by some new football games so they simply bought exclusivity to the NFL license.
2. This is the second store attempt to limit access to games based on which service you prefer. It is the consolification of computer games. Don't like service X? Too fucking bad, if you want game A you will use them. EA started it with their store and refusal to sell any of their games anywhere else, which has led to some gamers simply giving up on games because they don't want to support that model. I skipped the new Battlefields and Mass Effect because of that. Now Epic is doing the same fucking thing, except they at least are only holding it exclusive for a while. So a year after release I can get the game elsewhere.
I guess people used to console games won't be bothered by these developments, but I find it disturbing since I am older and grew up when PC was king. I don't want to be forced to use a specific service to get a game, I want to go to whichever one I want. Now with two stores playing the 'you can only get it from here' game, we are forced to make a choice. Sacrifice our beliefs or hold firm and skip playing games we have been waiting for.
Besides, no one should be gullible enough to believe that Epic is doing this out of the kindness of their hearts for devs. Once they feel they are established enough, you can bet either the percentage will rise on what they charge or they will try to monetize it some other way. Maybe by asking games to add pay for decor like dances.