The rumours that Microsoft is poised to purchase EA.
Wow. Just wow.
@sonicbooming Fuck EA, fuck Microsoft, and fuck the US government if they don't smack this down on antitrust grounds.
@sonicbooming @starbreaker I don't see how it would be antitrust? Microsoft is already a games publisher, and there's dozens of competing games publishers. I mean yes it would form one very large games publisher but I'm not sure that would give them an advantage over say Activision Blizzard?
Microsoft isn't just a game publisher. They also make consoles, and are a convicted monopolist.
Right now, EA games aren't necessarily tied to a particular platform. Most EA titles eventually come out on Windows as well as Xbox and PlayStation. I suspect that would change if the merger were permitted to go through.
That doesn't bother me much, but it might upset PS4 owners who want their annual Sportsball 20XX fix.
Also, both corporations are too fucking big already.
@sonicbooming @starbreaker I'd argue that EA is already in monopoly within the sports arena due to its control of all the popular licenses, and that that monopoly should be broken up. however every console maker is also a games publisher. Sony and Nintendo both have in-house game development and publishing as well.
Microsoft already has in-house game developers. Who do you think paid that no-talent assclown Peter Molyneux to inflict the Fable franchise upon the world?
@sonicbooming @starbreaker exactly so I don't see what the problem with him having more in the house game developers in provided they still have plenty of competition. however I do have a problem with one company controlling an entire genre of games, but I think the only way to do that would be to legislate that the NHL can't sign exclusive contracts with people, which I'm not even sure would be legal to do.
Then don't mind me. I just want to see every big corporation broken up until they're as small as Grover Norquist thinks government should be.
IMO, the ideal corporation is one that's small enough to drown in a toilet.
@starbreaker *tips hat* excellent imagery, sir!
@MissSnarkerson It's only fair, IMO. Capital should be subject to the rule of law under a democratic republic. When capital can subvert law and democracy, you end up with a shithole country like the United States.
@starbreaker you're not wrong....corporations having the same rights as individuals is literally nauseating...
@MissSnarkerson @starbreaker how's it nauseating? corporations should have the same rights as individuals...
and by that, I mean we shouldn't have them, and they should be made of a single individual. this means you can sue specific individuals.
@SoniEx2 @starbreaker I don't think I understand your point....
my original comment was from my personal frame as a cis woman and corporations (i.e. Hobby Lobby) being granted the right to "sincerely held religious beliefs" that deprive women employed by them of (what I consider) basic preventive/basic health care...
@MissSnarkerson @starbreaker just remove corporations. instead, you should have direct contracts with individuals.
@SoniEx2 @starbreaker huh.....I admit I tend to be ridiculously detail-oriented....so I think about the goods & services I procure in my own life and try to think about how I would procure them from an individual as opposed to a corporation...................and I really don't know how that would work....
@MissSnarkerson @starbreaker when I want a drawing I find myself an artist. when I want programs I find myself a programmer.
alternatively I find someone who knows/hires programmers/artists.
those are all ppl. currently the latter works for a corporation, but a corporation is not necessary.