For EA haters out there.... Sign the petition!!

[phongn]

I don't know the details of Antitrust Law, but wouldn't it be considered monopoly when a particular company keep acquiring the smaller ones on the same business field? Isn't the Antitrust Law the one keeping Microsoft from acquiring Linux companies?

Just because you are a monopoly does not mean you are violating antitrust laws. The government also has to show that your actions will be anticompetitive and harmful to the industry as well.

Microsoft could acquire those Linux companies if they wanted to.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

I don't know the details of Antitrust Law, but wouldn't it be considered monopoly when a particular company keep acquiring the smaller ones on the same business field? Isn't the Antitrust Law the one keeping Microsoft from acquiring Linux companies?

Just because you are a monopoly does not mean you are violating antitrust laws. The government also has to show that your actions will be anticompetitive and harmful to the industry as well.

I understand now. So it has to be taken case-by-case instead of "you cannot do this and this", quick 'n dirty rules.

So I guess the more effective way is to sue EA, Infogrames, and other vampires of monopolizing the gaming industries, although I haven't the slightest idea who would bother (or have sufficient capability) with such attempt.

Hmmm... Probably the "EA sucks" petition would be futile after all... Now, if we could have "anti gaming monopoly", would it be effective, or just another wave on the ocean?

Microsoft could acquire those Linux companies if they wanted to.

*masturbates in despair*

[phongn]

I understand now. So it has to be taken case-by-case instead of "you cannot do this and this", quick 'n dirty rules.

Precisely. AT&T was broken up not because it was a monopoly but because her actions were deemed to be anticompetitive.

So I guess the more effective way is to sue EA, Infogrames, and other vampires of monopolizing the gaming industries, although I haven't the slightest idea who would bother (or have sufficient capability) with such attempt.

You must first demonstrate that they are being anticompetitive. You have not done so. Merely whining about how much they suck or how they are vampires is worthless. Consolidation of the gaming industry was inevitable, made all the more important with the increasing costs of development. Large studios such as EA Games can absorb a $10 million dollar flop. Small independant ones cannot.

Hmmm... Probably the "EA sucks" petition would be futile after all... Now, if we could have "anti gaming monopoly", would it be effective, or just another wave on the ocean?

What are you talking about?

Microsoft could acquire those Linux companies if they wanted to.

*masturbates in despair*

Do you have anything better to do than post nonsense like this?

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

So I guess the more effective way is to sue EA, Infogrames, and other vampires of monopolizing the gaming industries, although I haven't the slightest idea who would bother (or have sufficient capability) with such attempt.

You must first demonstrate that they are being anticompetitive. You have not done so. Merely whining about how much they suck or how they are vampires is worthless. Consolidation of the gaming industry was inevitable, made all the more important with the increasing costs of development. Large studios such as EA Games can absorb a $10 million dollar flop. Small independant ones cannot.

From my previous posts, note that I did not whine about the monopoly *itself*, but the act of McDonaldizing of computer games, limiting the gamer's choice thanks to the fact now there's no other companies left. Not to mention those big boys simply killing many titles following the acquisition.

Look at what EA did after it gained complete domination on Origin. Granted Ultima IX was a failure, but Wing Commander? And what happens to Privateer series? I still remember the day when we see nice gems like Wings of Glory, or unique, innovative RPG like Windwalker.

Last visit to Sierra website was not satisfying either. I still remember the day of entertaining innovation like Quest for Glory series. Now all I see is Barbie this, Barbie that, while other "real" games are mostly FPS and RTS. Now there are still entertaining FPS and RTS out there, but IMHO games become more and more generic today. And what happened to Red Baron? At least based on my own experience, Red Baron 3D is still the most sought games on eBay, and still discussed in various forums. Still, they choose to kill it for more generic titles.

And speaking about increasing cost of development, there's still people like Oleg Maddox, who made IL-2 Sturmovik, and publishers like UbiSoft who still have the guts to publish it. And it turned out to be a success! IIRC it Sturmovik didn't put Ubi on disaster the way Ultima IX did to Origin. And how about Firaxis? They still made excellent titles despite the "increasing cost of development". Am I wrong if I'm starting to suspicious that what really happens is the increasing cost of marketing???

And flame me if I'm wrong, but most large vampires tend to disregard the so-called "marginal" demographic (people who want to play "real games" with deep and immersive gameplay, instead of generic afternoon diversion). They are more interested in what the "average" person wants, because they're the "easiest" consumer for *generic* products.

At least you stereo geeks are much luckier, there's still companies like Klipsch or Adcom which provide your high-end needs never provided by Sony. But how about games? I read recently that EA plans to take over UbiSoft. Flame me if I'm wrong but wouldn't you call it "anti-competitive"?

I won't put my hope too much on those vampires to create "real" games, but am I wrong to say that gaming industry need to be regulated? To keep small (well, probably not so small) publishers *alive* instead of having their games being killed after they're devoured by the "big boys"?

What would you feel if more and more companies like Paradigm are getting devoured by the likes of Sony, while the devourers themselves simply killing off the products of the companies they've acquired; offering nothing than integrated, average stereo system as the only choice on the market???

Yes, merging is inevitable, and the cost is getting higher. But at least audiophiles still have Klipsch instead of Sony, car fanatics could still buy Dodge Viper or HumVee to satisfy their non-average tastes, even music lovers could still enjoy Basement Jaxx or Moby instead of *conforming* themselves to generic boys band. But what will happen to gamers?

The way I see it, the future of computer gaming is the bleakest compared to other entertainments. Computer game is dying.

Hmmm... Probably the "EA sucks" petition would be futile after all... Now, if we could have "anti gaming monopoly", would it be effective, or just another wave on the ocean?

What are you talking about?

I forgot the last word. What I mean is "anti gaming monopoly" petition, although frankly I couldn't be sure whether it'll be effective or not. At least it addresses the issue better than any "boycott" petition. Note while I won't put my gaming fate on the EA Sucks, it won't hurt me either to sign the petition, so there.