Topic: The game company apologist ("Companies Exist to Make Money" excuse)

[Gunlord]

Some really fascinating discussion here...while it's been a while since I played an FF game, I do have something to say about the article in Jorge's post. While the article *that* links back to is somewhat overblown (unethical videogame companies aren't exactly on the same level of harm as, say, unethical pharmaceutical companies), it raises fair points. However, I'd say that even if companies exist only to make money, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll abuse their consumers. I'm not the naive sort who believes that nice guys always finish first or that underhanded business strategies can never work, but some of the most moneygrubbing jerks in the industry have found themselves in dire straits as of late. Look at Zynga--run by a guy who once said, "I don't fucking want innovation," it started to slow down some in 2012, partially due to declining sales of its games. Bilking the consumer is not *necessarily* the best way to make money.

(BTW, Jorge, may I quote you, if necessary, in a blog post I hope to write soon? )

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I don't mind being quoted.

[Abnormal Freak]

So long as you cite him as Boy Jorge, Sex Kitten on the Prowl.

[Ratty]

While the article *that* links back to is somewhat overblown (unethical videogame companies aren't exactly on the same level of harm as, say, unethical pharmaceutical companies), it raises fair points. However, I'd say that even if companies exist only to make money, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll abuse their consumers.

Yeah I don't think the argument intended to suggest that unethical game companies are as bad as an unethical pharmaceutical companies. But that doesn't mean it isn't still bad to treat your consumers as antagonistically and with as little respect as big companies like EA and Activision are often want to do. The existence of companies like Valve show that you can still make loads of cash without treating your customers like shit. Speaking of shit Jim Sterling (who wrote that original article) started off his video blog about this subject with a strange bit of poop-centered Dead Space fanfiction. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/6814-Companies-Exist-To-Make-Money