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What we've learned from Steam and Apple's app stores is that users will make a Faustian bargain if they see the terms as favorable enough, especially when it lo

What we've learned from Steam and Apple's app stores is that users will make a Faustian bargain if they see the terms as favorable enough, especially when it lowers prices. This in turn attracted developers. However, with the history of PlaysForSure, Zune, Games for Windows, Windows Phone, and the Windows Store, I don't have much confidence that Microsoft will win the hearts and minds of users or developers this time around.

kabdib 11y ago
Microsoft might try to make an open system. But over the long term, they just won't be able to. Open is not in the Microsoft DNA. "Whatever can be controlled, must be controlled." It might start open-ish. But then some PM will notice that users can post content that is objectionable, or that there are such things as "porn mods" for Skyrim, or whatever, and then the lid will come down. Xbox Live Arcade started out as a way for indie developers to get their games into the Xbox market. Over time XBLA reached the point where only deep pockets could successfully navigate the TCRs and multiple verification passes needed to ship. Indies got frozen out. Let's not even talk about XNA, or Games for Windows Live (shudder). Whatever hardware Microsoft offers a gaming platform on, it won't be left uncontrolled for long.
- Jordrok 11y ago
  As a primarily PC gamer, there was a period around 2008-2010 where XBLA seemed to be flourishing and it was seriously making me consider buying an XBox. There seemed to be a lot of really good indie games suddenly popping up which were XBox exclusives. I never quite reached the tipping point though, which is probably for the best because as far as I can tell, the current incarnation of XBLA is a shadow of its former self. As an outsider I'm not really sure why that is, but it certainly hurts my confidence in Microsoft's ability to manage an open video game ecosystem. Valve and Steam on the other hand (though still not perfect) have only grown and gotten better in the meantime.
  - chokolad 11y ago
    > which is probably for the best because as far as I can tell, the current incarnation of XBLA is a shadow of its former self. As an outsider I'm not really sure why that is, but it certainly hurts my confidence in Microsoft's ability to manage an open video game ecosystem. I am not sure why you say that. There is significantly more Indie games being released for Xbox One right now than it was for Xbox 360 and XBLA. There are also early preview releases similar to Steam EAPs, etc.
mwfunk 11y ago
Not sure what's Faustian about it if every participant is perfectly happy with the terms of the bargain.

kabdib 11y ago

Microsoft might try to make an open system. But over the long term, they just won't be able to. Open is not in the Microsoft DNA. "Whatever can be controlled, must be controlled." It might start open-ish. But then some PM will notice that users can post content that is objectionable, or that there are such things as "porn mods" for Skyrim, or whatever, and then the lid will come down. Xbox Live Arcade started out as a way for indie developers to get their games into the Xbox market. Over time XBLA reached the point where only deep pockets could successfully navigate the TCRs and multiple verification passes needed to ship. Indies got frozen out. Let's not even talk about XNA, or Games for Windows Live (shudder). Whatever hardware Microsoft offers a gaming platform on, it won't be left uncontrolled for long.

Jordrok 11y ago
As a primarily PC gamer, there was a period around 2008-2010 where XBLA seemed to be flourishing and it was seriously making me consider buying an XBox. There seemed to be a lot of really good indie games suddenly popping up which were XBox exclusives. I never quite reached the tipping point though, which is probably for the best because as far as I can tell, the current incarnation of XBLA is a shadow of its former self. As an outsider I'm not really sure why that is, but it certainly hurts my confidence in Microsoft's ability to manage an open video game ecosystem. Valve and Steam on the other hand (though still not perfect) have only grown and gotten better in the meantime.
- chokolad 11y ago
  > which is probably for the best because as far as I can tell, the current incarnation of XBLA is a shadow of its former self. As an outsider I'm not really sure why that is, but it certainly hurts my confidence in Microsoft's ability to manage an open video game ecosystem. I am not sure why you say that. There is significantly more Indie games being released for Xbox One right now than it was for Xbox 360 and XBLA. There are also early preview releases similar to Steam EAPs, etc.

mwfunk 11y ago

Not sure what's Faustian about it if every participant is perfectly happy with the terms of the bargain.