Epic Games Store

Paulina Ambrasaitė, Agnė Smagurauskaitė

When Apple Store was launched, there were 500 applications available for iPhone users. Since then, the number of applications in the App Store skyrocketed and in 2017 reached around 2.2 million. In recent years, the number of apps in the App Store is steadily declining, due to Apple’s decision to remove old apps that do not function or the apps that do not follow current app guidelines. The distribution of the apps is only available through the App Store, where the only available payment processor is controlled by Apple. That places Apple in a unique position.The case Epic Games v. Apple raises a broader discussion, whether Apple as the “gatekeeper” of Apps can restrict distribution and access to the apps in the iOS operational system, and whether that kind of activity can be deemed as a monopolist and restrictive competition in App distribution market. This paper will analyze and critically evaluate the recent lawsuit that was brought up against Apple by Epic Games. The main aspect of this analysis is whether Apple can legally restrict the developer’s ability to distribute the applications through the App Store and if it does not restrict the competition. This article is composed of several chapters. Chapter one will examine the relevant facts of the Epic and Apple lawsuit and will summarize the key arguments of this case. The second chapter will explore the relevant legislation and the relevant market related to previously mention proceedings and will explain how the doctrine of the essential facility might affect the case. Chapter three will delve into similar cases brought up earlier and will cover the distribution of digital goods. Chapter four will provide conclusions and the paths moving forward.The object of the paper is to perform a detailed analysis of the case. The purpose of the paper is an assessment of the relevant facts and legal framework regarding Epic’s claim, as well as analyze the topics of foreclosure and dominance in the market. To write this paper several academic writing methods such as descriptive to provide readers with relevant legislation and inform them about relevant facts of the case, also analytical to form the readers’ opinions regarding the recent events and activities of both sides of the suit, also a comparative to compare different legal frameworks in the United States of America and European Union regarding the regulation of monopoly were used. There is no doubt this topic has enormous relevance because of its’ possible after-effects. Epic’s claim already has an impact not only on Apple but also on the whole app development and distribution industry of digital goods and might create a precedent to the similar cases. Currently, this claim is only discussed in the media, and there is no precedent. This article will not give a clear answer to how this lawsuit will be resolved, because it mainly depends on court interpretation of the relevant market. We would rather give a few alternative solutions to this case.

Cahyawati Diah Kusumarini, Caesario Dwinathaly Ansi

Application-based game stores are on the rise recently, so there is a tight gap between Steam and the Epic Games Store. This research provided a description of user satisfaction level towards the two applications and served as a measure of the success of these two applications. The type of research conducted was quantitative research that analyzes data collection from a Likert scale questionnaire instrument. The method used was a descriptive analysis of user satisfaction level on both applications using the PIECES method. This research showed that both applications get satisfaction level results of "Satisfied" category in all variables of the PIECES method. Based on each variable value, the Epic Games Store application was superior to the Steam application. Epic Games Store exceled in four variables, namely Information, Economics, Efficiency, and Service, while the Steam application exceled only in Control & Security variable. Performance variables in both applications got the same value.

Hartanto Jahja, M. Isnaini

Eksklusivitas merupakan hal yang sangat langka di komunitas game PC, dan langkah yang dilakukan oleh Epic Games, menciptakan konflik yang baru di platform PC. Karena Steam memiliki user mayoritas di platform PC, banyak PC Gamers yang tidak dapat membeli gim baru yang mereka inginkan di dalam aplikasi store yang mereka sudah pakai sejak lama dan sukai, karena banyak yang beralih eksklusif ke Epic Games. Forum diskusi dan halaman ulasan yang seharusnya membahas hal seputar gim tersebut menjadi platform untuk menyampaikan kritik dan amarah para PC Gamers karena mereka tidak setuju dengan langkah penerbit dan pengembang. Dengan Maksim Percakapan Grice dan metode Analisis Percakapan, peneliti ingin melihat ragam jenis pelanggaran dan implikasi yang muncul di dalam percakapan forum di Steam Discussion HITMAN 2. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa setiap maksim yang dilanggar memunculkan implikasi tersendiri dan percakapan pun berubah menjadi perdebatan yang toksik diantara para pengguna yang pro dan kontra. Selama Epic Games masih membuka pintu bagi para pengembang gim untuk release eksklusif di aplikasi peluncur mereka, perdebatan toksik tidak akan berhenti.

Muhammad Abel Abdullah, Muhammad Rafi Jaseli, Pria Rafif Daffa Arya Putra, Anggis Rizky Wiyaringtyas

Steam dan Epic Games Stores merupakan penyedia distribusi game digital yang terkenal di dunia. Kedua platform ini sering menjadi bahan perdebatan di forum diskusi dikarenakan fitur antarmuka pengguna dan pengalaman pengguna yang diberikan oleh kedua platform distribusi game digital sangat berbeda. Beberapa pengguna menyebutkan jika fitur UI/UX yang diberikan oleh platform Steam lebih nyaman dan desain yang simpel bagi penggunanya, berbeda dengan Steam pengguna platform Epic Games lebih menyukai platform tersebut dikarenakan game gratis yang diberikan oleh penggunanya. Sehingga, perdebatan ini membuat perbandingan akan UI/UX dari kedua platform tersebut untuk mencari data. UI/UX manakah yang lebih diminati oleh para penggunanya. Hal ini dapat menjadi rekomendasi bagi para pengguna barunya dan dapat memberikan rekomendasi untuk pengembangan UI/UX terhadap para pengguna kedua platform distribusi game digital tersebut.

I. Firdaus, Kemal Ade Sekarwati

Dalam evolusi industri digital saat ini, aplikasi permainan telah merevolusi bagaimana manusia berinteraksi dan menghabiskan waktu luangnya. Salah satunya, Epic Games Store, yang telah muncul sebagai platform distribusi permainan digital utama, memberikan berbagai konten berkualitas untuk komunitas global. Akan tetapi, agar tetap unggul dalam industri yang cepat berubah, pengalaman pengguna harus diperhatikan dan dioptimalkan. Dengan latar belakang ini, sebuah penelitian diinisiasi untuk mendalaminya dengan memanfaatkan metode User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). Mengambil sampel sebanyak 100 responden, penelitian ini berupaya untuk menilai keandalan dan validitas pengalaman pengguna. Hasil analisis menunjukkan skor rata-rata untuk: Attractiveness (1,460), Perspicuity (1,343), Efficiency (1,168), Dependability (1,200), Stimulation (1,305), dan Novelty (0,985). Hasil-hasil ini mencerminkan bahwa pengguna secara umum merasa puas dengan Epic Games Store. Namun, meskipun ada respons positif, masih ada peluang untuk meningkatkan aspek-aspek tertentu, khususnya dalam hal inovasi dan kreativitas, untuk memastikan platform ini tetap relevan di masa mendatang. Setelah melakukan perhitungan rata-rata didapatkan hasil nilai perbandingan aplikasi Epic Games Store berada dalam kategori Above Average pada setiap variabel.