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When does a 'visual tour' (or whatever a virtual house showing is called) become a game? Collect all the coins? Use a crowbar to break up the crates in the gara

When does a 'visual tour' (or whatever a virtual house showing is called) become a game? Collect all the coins? Use a crowbar to break up the crates in the garage?

Topfi 3y ago
I agree with you that there is a lot of room for ambiguity here. I'd imagine their target are e.g. architectural studios and advertisers, but how much interactivity is too much or whether this is separated by the platform a UE project is distributed by are questions that need to be clearly answered. The fact that, after the recent communication issues/attempt to pull the rug over the entire industry (depending on whom you ask) by Unity, Epic didn't prepare a detailed and easy to understand page explaining this topic in detail, rather announcing this in a speech, is somewhat disappointing and shows an apparent unwillingness to learn from their competitors missteps.
- charcircuit 3y ago
  >Epic didn't prepare a detailed and easy to understand page explaining this topic in detail The pricing change hasn't been announced yet. This was an announcement of an announcement.
tormeh 3y ago
Is it sold on Steam? On Itch/EGS? Any of the consoles? It's very easy to figure this out.
- zo1 3y ago
  They can publish it as WIP/private/in-dev/not-entirely-pubic for 1 month on Itch/EGS/Steam, and then take it down after their client has seen it. Point being that it's not "very easy" to figure this out, as the individuals that want to skirt this rule will find a way that ticks the boxes but doesn't satisfy the intent.
- SquareWheel 3y ago
  Steam sells software and soundtracks, and previously sold movies. Epic sells developer asset packs. itch.io is even less discerning. I don't think that metrics holds well for determining what is a game.
  - totetsu 3y ago
    Seeing YNAB on steam taught me how to budget.
phire 3y ago
Epic will probably define it in terms of "purpose" If the purpose of the 'visual tour' is to showcase or advertise another product, then it will fall under the new rules, no matter how many gameplay elements you add. If the purpose is to be a standalone product, then it counts as a game.

When does a 'visual tour' (or whatever a virtual house showing is called) become a game? Collect all the coins? Use a crowbar to break up the crates in the garage?

Topfi 3y ago

I agree with you that there is a lot of room for ambiguity here. I'd imagine their target are e.g. architectural studios and advertisers, but how much interactivity is too much or whether this is separated by the platform a UE project is distributed by are questions that need to be clearly answered. The fact that, after the recent communication issues/attempt to pull the rug over the entire industry (depending on whom you ask) by Unity, Epic didn't prepare a detailed and easy to understand page explaining this topic in detail, rather announcing this in a speech, is somewhat disappointing and shows an apparent unwillingness to learn from their competitors missteps.

charcircuit 3y ago
>Epic didn't prepare a detailed and easy to understand page explaining this topic in detail The pricing change hasn't been announced yet. This was an announcement of an announcement.

tormeh 3y ago

Is it sold on Steam? On Itch/EGS? Any of the consoles? It's very easy to figure this out.

zo1 3y ago
They can publish it as WIP/private/in-dev/not-entirely-pubic for 1 month on Itch/EGS/Steam, and then take it down after their client has seen it. Point being that it's not "very easy" to figure this out, as the individuals that want to skirt this rule will find a way that ticks the boxes but doesn't satisfy the intent.
SquareWheel 3y ago
Steam sells software and soundtracks, and previously sold movies. Epic sells developer asset packs. itch.io is even less discerning. I don't think that metrics holds well for determining what is a game.
- totetsu 3y ago
  Seeing YNAB on steam taught me how to budget.

phire 3y ago

Epic will probably define it in terms of "purpose" If the purpose of the 'visual tour' is to showcase or advertise another product, then it will fall under the new rules, no matter how many gameplay elements you add. If the purpose is to be a standalone product, then it counts as a game.