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Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

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Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#51

Move over Netflix, this Apple vs Epic is the shit worth watching. Your move Apple.

Not really. It's basic contract law versus some small game company lawyers (compared to Apple's). Also, putting out parody ads and making fun of the whole thing will get you zero points in any court. Even if a court accepts this at all it will take years to finish. Meanwhile Epic is out of luck.

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#52
post #36
post #15

I don’t care about Fortnite, but I would love to have the option to install alternative apps stores on iOS. This has to be the most dramatic example of “running to the press” to date, which I’m sure Apple loathes. If nothing else it’s entertaining.

I'm curious as to why as a user you want alternative app stores? I understand as a developer why you would but it is less obvious to me how it would improve the experience for users.

>It's hard to understand why as a user you want alternative app stores?

I, for example, want to be able to install things like the HK protest apps if I want

Or better yet, just to have the choice beyond Apple's overly Christian/American censorship of apps that _might_ have porn on it.

How is it hard to understand why a consumer would want a third party store? Is it hard to understand why people want choices when selecting an internet provider as well?

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#53
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious as to why as a user you want alternative app stores? I understand as a developer why you would but it is less obvious to me how it would improve the experience for users.

Getting the app for 20-30% less money would seem to be desirable for the users.

There is no way companies are passing that 20-30% to the consumers.

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#54

The whole strategy here feels pretty unprecedented. Usually these kind of lawsuits happen in the background but Epic seems to be going full force with making it a public campaign. > Apple is blocking your ability to get the latest Fortnite updates! All players should have a choice in payment providers and save up to 20%. Apple wants to limit your payment choices! Join the fight against @AppStore on social with #FreeF…

I'm not a fan of what Apple is doing, and am happy to see it be tested in court.

But, I'm not a fan of another multi-million dollar company making such a blatant appeal to emotion, as if Fortnite needs to be "freed", to the common person who has no concept of how nuanced the legalities of this entire thing are.

I'll be happy when the theatrics are over with, and we can simply view the outcome of the legal precedent that is about to be set. This is a battle for the courts, not Twitter.

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#55
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They not only had the lawsuit in hand and ready, but an ad and a deployment strategy to get it launched in game. Epic was clearly planning to go fully public at scale on this issue.

The Apple fees must be in the order of a million dollar every couple days for Epic Games. Expect a full-on battle of the same magnitude. It is well worth it.

Still, they are unlikely to be the real issue for Epic. I'm fully expecting some anti-consumer behaviour from them if they get away with their own payment system, like difficult to cancel payments, gambling or similar.

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#56
post #16

Apple is providing the platform that enables Epic to distribute their game for FREE to a billion+ users. Why shouldn't they take a cut from the in-app purchase monetization? It costs Apple server hosting, bandwidth, engineering to provide this service. Providing an alternative payment method at a discount is not the answer here, obviously players will choose the cheaper option. If Epic wants more money, maybe they sh…

That’s exactly what Epic is trying to do. Their point is that the cut is too big, yet Apple refuses to negotiate.

Any cut apple makes is too big in a corporation’s view. Even at 5% they will look to get it down to zero

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#57
post #48
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple is providing the platform that enables Epic to distribute their game for FREE to a billion+ users. Why shouldn't they take a cut from the in-app purchase monetization? Then they should charge the developer for install costs + profit, not charge for all transactions happening in the game that have nothing to do with Apple and impose no cost on them . That's retarded. It's like a landlord taking 30% of sales fr…

Except the game is free, so all free games can freeload?

The game is free to users but that doesn't mean Apple can't charge the developer for installs, especially if the developer is making a profit through in-app sales.

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#58

Move over Netflix, this Apple vs Epic is the shit worth watching. Your move Apple.

Netflix and Amazon make you carry out purchases offline, and then they don’t pay for the store fee.

Why doesn’t Epic just have a subscription model, wouldn’t that circumvent the App Store?

Credit card companies charge 3% just to swipe a credit card (and fixed fees can make small transactions 10-15%) — Apple is charging for hosting the game, certifying and ensuring security for its user base, and carrying out the financial transaction. What would be the appropriate percentage?

Re: Epic Games releases "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite" ad

#60
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious as to why as a user you want alternative app stores? I understand as a developer why you would but it is less obvious to me how it would improve the experience for users.

Getting the app for 20-30% less money would seem to be desirable for the users.

Yeah that is fair. That assumes that the developer passes the cost on to the user and the alternative app stores take 0-10%.

Here is my fear. I like most, not all, of the restrictions the App Store puts on apps. If there were alternative app stores developers might only provide their apps on those stores that don't provide the same user protections I value. This is why I would prefer Apple to resolve this without allowing other app stores. I think this could be done by adjusting their rules and reducing the amount they take.

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