[tanjtanjtanj]

Did I download the game from Dell’s servers? Was the game made using tools authored by Dell? Did the game go through a quality assurance process run by Dell? I know at one point they ran a digital distribution platform and I’d be highly surprised if they weren’t charging some sort of fee.

[alwayslikethis]

Any claim of fees for hosting a distribution platform is nullified by the lack of alternatives. I don't get to kidnap you can then charge you rent and food costs.

[ben_w]

The main thing that reduces the value of hosting is that it's become cheaper over the years. Back when the App Store was new, privately hosting shareware games on my own domain was a substantial cost, IIRC around 10% of my total income from those games.

But it's somewhat hyperbolic to compare a mandatory cost that you have to pay to someone regardless, to being kidnapped.

[inetknght]

> But it's somewhat hyperbolic to compare a mandatory cost that you have to pay to someone regardless, to being kidnapped.

It's not hyperbolic when you don't have a choice in who you're paying.

[ben_w]

There are many cases where I have no choice in who (or how much) I pay, that are not kidnapping.

Monopolistic practices are their own thing. Bad for very different reasons than kidnapping.

[eloisius]

Are you allowed to download a game from someone else’s servers or forego all the quality assurance that they’ve done?