3 ms·

>The biggest problem is that there is virtually no piracy possible on the iOS platforms, and even on Android people don't install shady cracks because they've b

>The biggest problem is that there is virtually no piracy possible on the iOS platforms, and even on Android people don't install shady cracks because they've been bitten by premium-calling trojans. Ironically, game publishers have turned to the freemium model because it's one of the few models that's both profitable and resistant to today's ubiquitous piracy. >Also, with a PC or console game I feel I have something valuable - not just the look and feel, where no tablet game can ever beat a real console, but also a physical medium where I know that I can reinstall the game even a decade in the future... Not really. If/when the services for your PC or (particularly) console game go away, your ability to access patches, including the now de rigeur day one patches to fix last minute bugs, as well as DLC goes away with it. Online service for the Sony PSP and original Xbox have ended already, for example. It's one of the reasons I'm very particular about buying games from GOG whenever they're available there vs. other services, since those games are DRM-free.

tetraodonpuffer 10y ago
> ubiquitous piracy. I disagree on "ubiquitous piracy", as much as there will always be people pirating just because, with steam and the much higher risks in terms of malware for pirated games, I doubt piracy is anywhere near as high in percentage terms as it used to be way back. Not to mention that anti-piracy software these days (Denuvo) seems to be extremely resilient. (some) game publishers have turned to freemium because it makes more money with less risk: would you risk spending many millions of dollars to compete with something like Witcher 3 (lots of risk, uncertain rewards) or spend a LOT less and float several different "freemium" balloons and then invest in marketing for what seems to have traction? (very little risk, very certain rewards)

tetraodonpuffer 10y ago

> ubiquitous piracy. I disagree on "ubiquitous piracy", as much as there will always be people pirating just because, with steam and the much higher risks in terms of malware for pirated games, I doubt piracy is anywhere near as high in percentage terms as it used to be way back. Not to mention that anti-piracy software these days (Denuvo) seems to be extremely resilient. (some) game publishers have turned to freemium because it makes more money with less risk: would you risk spending many millions of dollars to compete with something like Witcher 3 (lots of risk, uncertain rewards) or spend a LOT less and float several different "freemium" balloons and then invest in marketing for what seems to have traction? (very little risk, very certain rewards)