5 ms·

Apple Arcade developers say working with Apple is like in 'abusive relationship'

57 points by ksec 2y ago

lotsofpulp 2y ago
I find Apple Arcade very useful for finding games for kids that lack gambling mechanics. It's a shame Apple doesn't take it seriously.
- minimaxir 2y ago
  The funniest class of games in the Apple Arcade are games which had gacha mechanics but then had them stripped out so that there is no IAP at all and can operate offline, so the entire game economy has to be rebalanced around that fact. Success is mixed.
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not_your_vase 2y ago
But they stay. What do they expect? Very clearly, it is working perfectly for Apple. It would be quite irrational to give any unnecessary extra to the 3rd party devs, when they are happy to develop without that too. (Oh, are they unhappy? Then do something about it, instead of posting anonymous quotes on a 2nd grade Apple tabloid)
- zibzob 2y ago
  They have no leverage against Apple, so I'm not sure what options they have. They can drop off the service and lose all revenue, while affecting no positive change. Other struggling developers will just take their place.
  - not_your_vase 2y ago
    > They have no leverage against Apple, so I'm not sure what options they have This problem has been solved so many times, but still, developers hate it (which is quite baffling in this case), and companies also hate it (which is very understandable). The solution is called workers union. It pains me to write this, I'm not a big fan of them, but this is the very purpose of workers union, to avoid such blatant exploitation of workers. Of course it only works if it exists.
- jayd16 2y ago
  > Then do something about it, instead of posting anonymous quotes on a 2nd grade Apple tabloid They're posting about it in a litigiously safe way to spread awareness.
- lapcat 2y ago
  > It would be quite irrational to give any unnecessary extra to the 3rd party devs, when they are happy to develop without that too. It's not irrational to be pleasant to your business partners. In fact, I'd say it's irrational to pursue unfettered profit maximization over all other values in life, no matter the costs to others. Anyway, such an attitude is likely to come back and bite one on the ass eventually. It may work while you're on top, but if you ever have a rough patch, you'll suddenly find that you have zero friends or supporters. Apple has been so abusive that they're practically begging the governments of the world to bring down the hammer. > Then do something about it, instead of posting anonymous quotes on a 2nd grade Apple tabloid The original story was on mobilegamer.biz, which I don't think is Apple-specific.
- hakdbha 2y ago
  “Then do something!” does something “No, not that!”
- ENGNR 2y ago
  I mean, the poor state of apps on the vision pro suggests there’s not a huge pool of devs left ready to invest into Apple’s grand monopoly
seydor 2y ago
Apple has made it very clear to everyone for many years that any relationship is going to be abusive, so this case should be classified as BDSM/fetish
RobRivera 2y ago
Whats stopping gamedevs from publishing outside the arcade? I'm unfamiliar with the Apple ecosystem.
- minimaxir 2y ago
  Apple Arcade (and similar programs like the Xbox Game Pass) pays developers to feature their games, often with a guaranteed payout which derisks the increasingly-risky process of game development, and for indie developers specifically this payment can be more than what the game would make if released naturally. Otherwise, games are normal apps.
- chrisBob 2y ago
  It is hard to make and market a game. Apple Arcade is a system where Apple helps as a "Producer", and then you get part of the subscription revenue from people who pay for the Apple Arcade subscription and then play your game.
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57 points by ksec 2y ago

I find Apple Arcade very useful for finding games for kids that lack gambling mechanics. It's a shame Apple doesn't take it seriously.

minimaxir 2y ago
The funniest class of games in the Apple Arcade are games which had gacha mechanics but then had them stripped out so that there is no IAP at all and can operate offline, so the entire game economy has to be rebalanced around that fact. Success is mixed.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

not_your_vase 2y ago

But they stay. What do they expect? Very clearly, it is working perfectly for Apple. It would be quite irrational to give any unnecessary extra to the 3rd party devs, when they are happy to develop without that too. (Oh, are they unhappy? Then do something about it, instead of posting anonymous quotes on a 2nd grade Apple tabloid)

zibzob 2y ago
They have no leverage against Apple, so I'm not sure what options they have. They can drop off the service and lose all revenue, while affecting no positive change. Other struggling developers will just take their place.
- not_your_vase 2y ago
  > They have no leverage against Apple, so I'm not sure what options they have This problem has been solved so many times, but still, developers hate it (which is quite baffling in this case), and companies also hate it (which is very understandable). The solution is called workers union. It pains me to write this, I'm not a big fan of them, but this is the very purpose of workers union, to avoid such blatant exploitation of workers. Of course it only works if it exists.
jayd16 2y ago
> Then do something about it, instead of posting anonymous quotes on a 2nd grade Apple tabloid They're posting about it in a litigiously safe way to spread awareness.
lapcat 2y ago
> It would be quite irrational to give any unnecessary extra to the 3rd party devs, when they are happy to develop without that too. It's not irrational to be pleasant to your business partners. In fact, I'd say it's irrational to pursue unfettered profit maximization over all other values in life, no matter the costs to others. Anyway, such an attitude is likely to come back and bite one on the ass eventually. It may work while you're on top, but if you ever have a rough patch, you'll suddenly find that you have zero friends or supporters. Apple has been so abusive that they're practically begging the governments of the world to bring down the hammer. > Then do something about it, instead of posting anonymous quotes on a 2nd grade Apple tabloid The original story was on mobilegamer.biz, which I don't think is Apple-specific.
hakdbha 2y ago
“Then do something!” does something “No, not that!”
ENGNR 2y ago
I mean, the poor state of apps on the vision pro suggests there’s not a huge pool of devs left ready to invest into Apple’s grand monopoly

seydor 2y ago

Apple has made it very clear to everyone for many years that any relationship is going to be abusive, so this case should be classified as BDSM/fetish

RobRivera 2y ago

Whats stopping gamedevs from publishing outside the arcade? I'm unfamiliar with the Apple ecosystem.

minimaxir 2y ago
Apple Arcade (and similar programs like the Xbox Game Pass) pays developers to feature their games, often with a guaranteed payout which derisks the increasingly-risky process of game development, and for indie developers specifically this payment can be more than what the game would make if released naturally. Otherwise, games are normal apps.
chrisBob 2y ago
It is hard to make and market a game. Apple Arcade is a system where Apple helps as a "Producer", and then you get part of the subscription revenue from people who pay for the Apple Arcade subscription and then play your game.

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