And I don't see anyone crowing. This is the siege of Troy with the Acheans arrayed outside the gates, nobody really wanting to do battle but the prize worth fighting for. The prize is our right to be Customers with a capital C, the reason for the gaming company's existence, boss of their being, honored as the true fans, supporters, defenders of the franchise.
Ubi thinks THEY are the reason for their own existence, that they will dictate the terms of engagement and we are criminals, against whom they must defend with great prejudice. They believe they call the tune and we dance. In fact, they are utterly defenseless and completely at the mercy of the market, their delusions notwithstanding.
Customers with a capital C call the tune. We play the tune. We dance to our own tune. If they wish to meet our needs, fine. If not, another will be happy to. Somebody play "Free Bird!"
A Tale
Once upon a time, a behemoth monster named Wal-Mart espied Germany and counted the spoil. Just as they did in other lands, they would invade, subjugate and plunder at will because they were the mightiest corporate entity in the world, unvanquished on the plain of commerce. Launching an awesome assault, spending billions of dollars, they asserted their dominance in this quaint little land, shining power and majesty on all, commanding obedience to their higher power.
But little Aldi commanded no one. They merely asked what the Customer, their lord, wished and could they be so honored as to serve him. Where Wal-Mart saved the Customer 20% from the market if they would pledge their fealty and bow down at the altar of Walton to receive what Wal-Mart deemed they might receive, Aldi asked the customers to command them, and saved them an additional 20% over Wal-Mart's not so generous prices. Wal-Marts all over the land stood empty, their coffers bare, their stores bulging with inventory. They had deep pockets. They would force the people to obey.
But the people did not obey. Aldi had earned their loyalty by serving the Customer. The Customer had no need or desire to serve Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart quietly closed all their stores, sold their assets at an astounding billions of dollars loss and slunk out of Germany with its royal tail between its legs. And little Aldi prospered, quietly gathering momentum for its assault on the home of Wal-Mart, the United States of America. Now, without fanfare, after careful study of the American market so they can serve American needs, not German ones here, Aldi is advancing. Wal-Mart is very afraid, and they should be. At Aldi the Customer is King.