undefined | Better HN

0 pointsqualeed8mo ago0 comments

I'm curious, what do you imagine as the better alternative?

I guess every publisher could just sell direct to customers on their own website, but that wouldn't address this issue at all (it would make it even easier for payment processors to abuse their duopoly), while also severely damaging the discoverability of games.

And, considering that companies can already do this if they want but still choose to sell via a platform, I'm guessing there are several benefits beyond discoverability that I'm not thinking of.

0 comments

crinkly8mo ago

Well we have a couple of problems on the table at the moment. Stop Killing Games is a good exemplar of one so I won't go there. But the other is "what happens if Steam goes evil?". Remember Google's old motto?

The only solution is you download stuff and it remains runnable and usable without any connection or authorisation to any service. The distribution of it can remain wherever and you can go via a side channel if you want. But being tied to a platform is utterly wrong.

If the payment processor shuts your revenue down you can move elsewhere. With Stream as the distributor, you can't. It's a single point of failure.

qualeedOP8mo ago

>The only solution is you download stuff and it remains runnable and usable without any connection or authorisation to any service.

I agree, but that could still be done even when using a centralized distribution platform. I would say those are two separate issues. I think (not positive) that's the whole premise of GOG, isn't it?

>If the payment processor shuts your revenue down you can move elsewhere.

Not really, though. If the payment processor stops doing business with your company, your shit out of luck. Instead of pressuring steam or whoever, they just pressure you directly. The single (well, double) point of failure always chains up to the payment processors.

burnt-resistor8mo ago

How exactly does an independent developer have more choice or power against credit card processors alone? That's not how it works. Mega platforms have more power and still get pushed around. Indies are completely beholden to the whims of the payment platforms unless they opt out and accept crypto instead. Mega platforms could also accept crypto for controversial or all content too.

johnnyanmac8mo ago

I guess the GP's plan is a scatter approach. 1 indie has no power, but if for every banned indie you have 10 more setting up payment, it becomes financially untenable to go after them all. Compared to, say, making one or two calls to Gabe. Turning it from a game of corruption to one of whack-a-mole.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse