I'm not really an ally here. I think that buying out exclusives like Epic is doing is exactly how you actually compete with a platform that has become as big and powerful as Steam.

It's just that you have to offer a product of comparable quality to the big guy if you are going to make any headway, and the problem is that the Epic store is extremely lacking compared to what Steam has.

I dont mind exclusives. I dont like epic game store since it is laggy and slow and if they forced me to use their shitty product, I dont think that would be good advertising, but as I said I dont play those exclusive games anyway. You can buy the exclusive rights to games that didnt get crowdfunded though.

Those games were funded by the community and the community doesnt want to download another launcher especially a shitty one.

^^^

In the end I dont understand why you guys are so opposed to monopolies. Sure they suck when they try to influence people like google, but when a company gets a monopoly or almost monopoly by just delivering the best and most convenient product... I dont see whats wrong with that. We dont need to prop up a bunch of shitty alternatives in the market just for the sake of competition. Compettition will happen on its own when the original product can be improved.

Because when a company gets to be a monopoly by delivering the best and most convenient product, they are no longer compelled to continue offering the best or most convenient product.

The cycle of life.

they are, since if they stop they will open themselves up to competition

Do you think that Google is continuing to offer the best and most convenient product?

thats why google has competitors, which I use

There is a certain point, usually achieved through government assistance but not necessarily, where a monopolistic company has achieved such market dominance that they can manipulate their prices, services and such in such a way that they can crush anyone smaller that presents a real threat.

That's like saying GOG is a competitor to Steam.

not because I dont want google to have a monopoly, but because googles product is no longer as good as it should be. If google would be perfect I wouldnt use duckduckgo and brave

Yeah, they both exist in the same market, but lets not kid ourselves into thinking that Steam is in any way threatened by GOG's existence.

They really aren't.

The other issue is that even if a new start up becomes a competitor, and weren't hindered it takes time for human habits to be destroyed.

If the habits are not worth being destroyed how much worse can the company with the monopoly really be compared to the competitor?

the truth is the average person doesnt care about google censorship so to them google is still providing the best product

And that's an issue.

to you and me not to them

Then they're wrong.

The core of all problems comes from apathetic, and lazy attitudes.

Lol

I dont agree. We are energized by politics. The people that arent are not lazy or apathetic they just care about other stuff. Its not their fault they dont care about things we consider important.

We probably dont care for things which they think are essential

maybe we are wrong who knows

Politics is a core representation of every citizens life whether they actively partake, or not.

preaching to the choir

:/

That's why I view them as wrong.

It actively affects everyone.

I agree I'm just not so sure of myself

And this comes from someone who used to ignore politics.

I do believe in a fine balance though.

Shits toxic.

I sometimes think I would be happier if I didnt care

*insert quote we all know*

Also, it annoys me that we as a species *have* to discuss shizz, and we are meant to be extroverted and communicators yet the idea of discussing "religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, etc" is taboo for most.

the decadence of our time allowes us not to waste thought on those things