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Two points- (1) Presumably Apple wanted to try to send a very quick message to others to not try to make similar moves (and to reassure other developers that Ep

Two points- (1) Presumably Apple wanted to try to send a very quick message to others to not try to make similar moves (and to reassure other developers that Epic wasn't getting a special deal) instead of waiting 30 days. (2) I've said this before and it's important to understand this: just because a contract says Apple can do something (terminate the contract with Unreal Engine), that does not mean they can do it. If that were the case, the entire field of Contract Law need not exist.

echelon 6y ago
Per item 1, now would be a good time for every single developer on the app store to revolt in unison. Collective bargaining.
- dawnerd 6y ago
  and for every dev that left you'd have a shady one step in the fill the void.
  - meowface 6y ago
    "Apple: Think Moloch"
  - scarface74 6y ago
    You mean like all of the shady developers who are already in the App Store selling in app purchases for loot boxes, useless virtual currency and play to win games? I’m surprised (not really) that people are defending Epic but would never defend King (Candy Crush) or the makers of FarmVille. I would much rather see BaseCamp (Hey) or the company that was selling virtual workouts with real trainers take them to court. If Apple was really about protecting users and cared about the quality of the App Store they would prohibit in app purchases for games with consumables.
    - latexr 6y ago
      > I would much rather see BaseCamp (Hey) or the company that was selling virtual workouts with real trainers take them to court. I wouldn’t, because they’d be crushed. I’d rather that if someone takes Apple to court, it’s someone with the resources to make a dent. > I’m surprised (not really) that people are defending Epic but would never defend King (Candy Crush) or the makers of FarmVille. Even if you think they’re equivalent, the difference is the former is taking an action that—even if for selfish reasons—can have a positive impact on independent developers.
      - scarface74 6y ago
        Who has a better story to tell Epic “we want to sell useless virtual goods with 0 marginal cost” or BaseCamp - “we run a small business, pay our employees well, always sought to be profitable instead of VC funding, etc.” Everybody eats up the small business angle. Besides DHH is a lot less slimy than anyone who Epic parades out. If they started a GoFundMe, I would donate to their legal defense. What Epic wants will probably never happen. What BaseCamp wants - just basically to be treated like Netflix and the other “reader apps” is much more realistic and it’s fair to the actual indy developers of cross platform useful apps who could do their own marketing.
        latexr 6y ago
        > Who has a better story to tell Basecamp’s story is irrelevant if they’re forced into bankruptcy before they get the chance to tell it where it makes a difference. We’re not watching a feel good movie where the righteous little guy prevails. They’d get squashed and tossed aside, and they know it.
        scarface74 6y ago
        So it’s better to have yet another avenue for shady developers to take advantage of “whales” via loot boxes and in game consumables - the very thing that the government is going after? What jury is going to care that Epic can’t sell useless virtual currency and make a larger profit?
- cableshaft 6y ago
  I did my part. I haven't had my stuff on the app store for years! Although I was working on a small Swift game to refresh my mobile app dev skills, but it's on the backburner right now anyway.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- vaxman 6y ago
  Trust me, Apple does not care. When a company or government with centralized management like that makes a blow-it move, there is an army of people in place to reinforce their decision and attack everyone in opposition so as to maintain their own sense of self worth. You can’t bargain with that. HTML5 and WASM —and since you will need one for testing anyway, a Pixel 5/4a, S20 Ultra or Note S20 could be fun for learning Android.

echelon 6y ago

Per item 1, now would be a good time for every single developer on the app store to revolt in unison. Collective bargaining.

dawnerd 6y ago
and for every dev that left you'd have a shady one step in the fill the void.
- meowface 6y ago
  "Apple: Think Moloch"
- scarface74 6y ago
  You mean like all of the shady developers who are already in the App Store selling in app purchases for loot boxes, useless virtual currency and play to win games? I’m surprised (not really) that people are defending Epic but would never defend King (Candy Crush) or the makers of FarmVille. I would much rather see BaseCamp (Hey) or the company that was selling virtual workouts with real trainers take them to court. If Apple was really about protecting users and cared about the quality of the App Store they would prohibit in app purchases for games with consumables.
  - latexr 6y ago
    > I would much rather see BaseCamp (Hey) or the company that was selling virtual workouts with real trainers take them to court. I wouldn’t, because they’d be crushed. I’d rather that if someone takes Apple to court, it’s someone with the resources to make a dent. > I’m surprised (not really) that people are defending Epic but would never defend King (Candy Crush) or the makers of FarmVille. Even if you think they’re equivalent, the difference is the former is taking an action that—even if for selfish reasons—can have a positive impact on independent developers.
    - scarface74 6y ago
      Who has a better story to tell Epic “we want to sell useless virtual goods with 0 marginal cost” or BaseCamp - “we run a small business, pay our employees well, always sought to be profitable instead of VC funding, etc.” Everybody eats up the small business angle. Besides DHH is a lot less slimy than anyone who Epic parades out. If they started a GoFundMe, I would donate to their legal defense. What Epic wants will probably never happen. What BaseCamp wants - just basically to be treated like Netflix and the other “reader apps” is much more realistic and it’s fair to the actual indy developers of cross platform useful apps who could do their own marketing.
      - latexr 6y ago
        > Who has a better story to tell Basecamp’s story is irrelevant if they’re forced into bankruptcy before they get the chance to tell it where it makes a difference. We’re not watching a feel good movie where the righteous little guy prevails. They’d get squashed and tossed aside, and they know it.
        scarface74 6y ago
        So it’s better to have yet another avenue for shady developers to take advantage of “whales” via loot boxes and in game consumables - the very thing that the government is going after? What jury is going to care that Epic can’t sell useless virtual currency and make a larger profit?
cableshaft 6y ago
I did my part. I haven't had my stuff on the app store for years! Although I was working on a small Swift game to refresh my mobile app dev skills, but it's on the backburner right now anyway.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
vaxman 6y ago
Trust me, Apple does not care. When a company or government with centralized management like that makes a blow-it move, there is an army of people in place to reinforce their decision and attack everyone in opposition so as to maintain their own sense of self worth. You can’t bargain with that. HTML5 and WASM —and since you will need one for testing anyway, a Pixel 5/4a, S20 Ultra or Note S20 could be fun for learning Android.