Batman Arkham Collection is free via Epic Games for a limited time

[Ttaskmaster]

A monopoly is defined as "the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service" and that is exactly what they are doing...

This is more like monopolistic competition in an oligopoly, innit...?

Besides, it's not that exclusive - Epic are just first to sell a particular game... It will become available on Steam and they've already said so. Kinda like games being released exclusively on XBox first, but with PC versions to follow later.

Presumably you have a similar perspective on all the Sports Channel 'exclusive' coverages of matches and races, even though they'll be available on catchup or YouTube shortly afterward?

I don't think you're missing much with this Batman stuff though. I played 2-3 hours of Arkham Asylum, and so far it's very hand-holdy QTE-ish with very easy combat (Bat, geddit) and lots of cutscenes.... I think I know why this one was free!!

[Spud1]

Besides, it's not that exclusive - Epic are just first to sell a particular game... It will become available on Steam and they've already said so. Kinda like games being released exclusively on XBox first, but with PC versions to follow later.

Presumably you have a similar perspective on all the Sports Channel 'exclusive' coverages of matches and races, even though they'll be available on catchup or YouTube shortly afterward?

Yes actually, although it's less of an issue given that it's been that way for as long as I can remember with PayTV. I don't like it, but it's established. Much as I really hate the console exclusivity thing but again, it's too late.

With the PC market, it's not yet too late to stop the decline into that sort of market - it's painful when you are used to an open market and that how it works right now, but you get this competitor with a - lets be honest, awful - platform that rather than chucking money into building a better platform that can compete in the current market, seeks to destroy it and make the situation worse for all consumers.

I don't dispute for a moment that other markets have this problem, or that I can't really do anything about it... but that's not a reason/justification for it happened to the PC gaming market too

[Ttaskmaster]

But what would make any other platform 'better', though and by whose standards?

I don't dispute for a moment that other markets have this problem, or that I can't really do anything about it... but that's not a reason/justification for it happened to the PC gaming market too

Debatable... I'd put forward my museum season pass analogy, but this element of the discussion probably belongs on the other thread, especially since it is still live.

This is more a thread for free Batman games.

[shaithis]

With the PC market, it's not yet too late to stop the decline into that sort of market - it's painful when you are used to an open market and that how it works right now, but you get this competitor with a - lets be honest, awful - platform that rather than chucking money into building a better platform that can compete in the current market, seeks to destroy it and make the situation worse for all consumers.

When most people started crying that game x wasn't on steam, it was too late.

I use Steam, Origin, Blizzard, Epic, GMG, GoG and the Microsoft Store. If everyone had embraced multiple games stores from the beginning, rather than the constant moan about the "I want it on steam", then we may not be where we are today.

Epic absolutely need to be aggressive now, they have no other choice unless they want to bend to the will of steam.

[Ttaskmaster]

If everyone had embraced multiple games stores from the beginning, rather than the constant moan about the "I want it on steam", then we may not be where we are today.

I doubt that - Steam simply created a feature to let you add a non-Steam game to your Steam launcher library, which I think they'd have done regardless.

[shaithis]

I doubt that - Steam simply created a feature to let you add a non-Steam game to your Steam launcher library, which I think they'd have done regardless.

My point was that the people who wanted everything on steam, want it for their own convenience. They don't know/care about the implications of their actions and the monopoly they are creating.

UbiSoft haven't helped with their double-launcher setups when you buy their games from steam but then do you expect every developer to add extensions for every content delivery system out there? The future is multiple stores, games SHOULD be cheaper if they are launched on the publishers store....the problem is getting people to use anything other than steam.

[stevie lee]

briefly back on topic:

Batmans not free anymore. currently free is Everything.

and metro 2033 redux.

[AGTDenton]

briefly back on topic:

Batmans not free anymore. currently free is Everything.

and metro 2033 redux.

Thanking you please!

The site is running dog slow and yes I believed you meant they made an error and everything was for free...

[Ttaskmaster]

The future is multiple stores, games SHOULD be cheaper if they are launched on the publishers store....the problem is getting people to use anything other than steam.

That will never happen, though.

Why would you go to the Wallace Collection to see The Laughing Cavalier, then to the MMA to see The Starry Night, then the Convent of Santa Maria for The Last Supper, then the Uffizi Gallery for the Birth of Venus, then the Louvre for Mona Lisa, then back to the Wallace for The Good Samaritan.... if you were instead able to just go up the Tate and see all of them at once?

Right now you have to do the former, because you're forced to by the exclusive custodianship.