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Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

cnbc.com

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Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#21

Post by scarface74 »

wtracy wrote: post #14
swiley wrote: post #3

Building a business that relies on a platform you can’t function without is irresponsible. It’s not just bad for you because of how fragile it makes your business but it’s also bad for everyone else because it normalizes it and makes building stable businesses harder.

What's the alternative for native mobile apps today? Roll your own smartphone OS? And yes, I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens.

Because I know if it weren’t for Apple I would be downloading Random software from the Internet from an unknown developer and giving them my payment information.....

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#22

Post by tomc1985 »

scarface74 wrote: post #21
wtracy wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the alternative for native mobile apps today? Roll your own smartphone OS? And yes, I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens.

Because I know if it weren’t for Apple I would be downloading Random software from the Internet from an unknown developer and giving them my payment information.....

What's wrong with that? Much excellent software is still purchased in just this way

Or is trust a forgotten skill nowadays?

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#23

Post by wtracy »

BlueTemplar wrote: post #18
wtracy wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the alternative for native mobile apps today? Roll your own smartphone OS? And yes, I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens.

And what are you going to do about it? I'm researching Google-free LineageOS and checking out Librem's smartphone...

If you think there's ever going to be enough people flashing their phones with custom ROMs to support an industry of consumer software developers, I think you're going to be very disappointed.

Now, if we could get some major carriers and/or retailers backing Librem, that could be interesting. I'm not holding my breath, though.

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#24

Post by scarface74 »

tomc1985 wrote: post #22
scarface74 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I know if it weren’t for Apple I would be downloading Random software from the Internet from an unknown developer and giving them my payment information.....

What's wrong with that? Much excellent software is still purchased in just this way Or is trust a forgotten skill nowadays?

I don’t know - adware, viruses, etc.?

With the tight security of iOS and to a lesser extent Android, I know a random app can’t do anything except what I give it permission to do.

I’ll download and try any random crap on my iOS device, I’m very careful about what I install on my computer. Right now, my home computer has nothing more than the standard development tools. My other computer has Office, Vuze (for uhh downloading Linux distros), and a Plex server.

When you can’t even trust the competence of companies like Google (https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/15235262?hl=en) not to screw up your computer or well known companies like Zoom not to install an auto reinstalling backdoor in your computer (https://www.zdnet.com/article/zoom-defends-use-of-local-web-...), I’m very wary of installing anything unnecessary on my computer.

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#25

Post by DaiPlusPlus »

tomc1985 wrote: post #22
scarface74 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I know if it weren’t for Apple I would be downloading Random software from the Internet from an unknown developer and giving them my payment information.....

What's wrong with that? Much excellent software is still purchased in just this way Or is trust a forgotten skill nowadays?

It’s not us I’m worried about - I remember getting software for my PocketPC in *.cab form from PocketGear.com some 18-19 years ago (wow...)

The problem is everyone else: the non-experts. People pay Apple and Google (indirectly) to curate and moderate their respective app-stores.

Remember how about 10-7 years ago the web was covered in ads for various DVD/video/movie conversion software? A small number of companies selling thin wrappers around ffmpeg or DirectShow (often but not always bundled with spyware or other crapware even if you paid for it) that only did one specific conversion (e.g. “DivX to H.264 Converter Pro 2009” and “WMV to MPEG-4 Converter Ultimate 2010” etc). I’d really rather not go back to those days for apps for my phone - or anyone else’s phone because then I’ll be roped into fixing people’s phones (instead of their desktops) and Apple will be there laughing all the way to the bank after they get rich selling a phone platform that’s stress-free to consumers because they moderate and curate their App Store.

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#26

Post by albertshin »

iotku wrote: post #13
speedgoose wrote: post #2

I don't feel bad for the game developer. Its business model is to publish simple classic games, but with ads.

>Its business model is to publish simple classic games, but with ads. Is this not precisely what Microsoft is doing? I haven't played game of solitaire since Windows 7 because I'm not going to watch a 15-30 second preroll video advertisement in order to play the Microsoft Solitaire Collection. And I'm certainly not going to pay monthly to avoid ads for games that used to be included with the OS without advertisements…

Have you considered that perhaps it's not the ad itself but that it just takes a 15-30 seconds of a delay to maybe realize that you're about to waste your time / ease your boredom that maybe keeps you from playing?

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#27

Post by Fjolsvith »

albertshin wrote: post #26
iotku wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Its business model is to publish simple classic games, but with ads. Is this not precisely what Microsoft is doing? I haven't played game of solitaire since Windows 7 because I'm not going to watch a 15-30 second preroll video advertisement in order to play the Microsoft Solitaire Collection. And I'm certainly not going to pay monthly to avoid ads for games that used to be included with the OS without advertisements…

Have you considered that perhaps it's not the ad itself but that it just takes a 15-30 seconds of a delay to maybe realize that you're about to waste your time / ease your boredom that maybe keeps you from playing?

Every ad on YouTube makes me reconsider how badly I want to watch the video. Lots of times I just close YouTube and pull up Bitchute.

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#28

Post by chrismcb »

swiley wrote: post #3

Building a business that relies on a platform you can’t function without is irresponsible. It’s not just bad for you because of how fragile it makes your business but it’s also bad for everyone else because it normalizes it and makes building stable businesses harder.

Almost everything is built on a platform that you can't control, but need. Trying to build a business without would make building a business harder. You have to take into consideration what your business relies on, and what are the odds of sticks around and plan accordingly. Doesn't mean your business is irresponsible

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#29

Post by desc »

"People don't consider my games worth what I spent to make them, so I'll sneak in adverts too so I don't have to charge them more and pop their little bubble, so they can continue thinking games are this cheap because the sticker price is still low."

No, this is not acceptable, and holding it up as a Good Thing that it's being perpetuated is stupid.

Microsoft have seen the writing on the wall (because it's been there for, I dunno, at least a decade?) and are saying 'you have to have an actual workable fucking business model now, k?'

Re: Microsoft cut off game maker's revenue stream, so he built his own replacement

#30

Post by throway1n »

desc wrote: post #29

"People don't consider my games worth what I spent to make them, so I'll sneak in adverts too so I don't have to charge them more and pop their little bubble, so they can continue thinking games are this cheap because the sticker price is still low." No, this is not acceptable, and holding it up as a Good Thing that it's being perpetuated is stupid. Microsoft have seen the writing on the wall (because it's been there…

Sounds reasonable to me - how else is he going to pay bills if not through some ad revenue? You know glorified 9 to 5 jobs are cool, but some of is indies prefer freedom - and that costs money.
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