This is an issue with open source app/resource stores that to my knowledge no one has solved. If you stay true to the Free (as in freedom) software philosophy, then you can't really put anything in to enforce paid access to something, and even if you do, anyone with a text editor can just take that code out. But if you just let anyone who buys it redistribute it for free, you're not going to attract many sellers because they wouldn't trust their content to remain paid access only. Add to the fact that paid content is inheretly proprietary, or at the very least, the author certainly wouldn't choose to put Free as in freedom licenses on their content because that would literally legally allow anyone to redistribute it for free.

[+] notfromhere@lemmy.ml -12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Begun, the enshittification has.

[–] Burghler@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Since when has an asset store been detrimental?

[+] notfromhere@lemmy.ml -10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Monetization Strategies: If Godot's asset store adopts aggressive monetization strategies similar to those seen in other platforms, it could alienate developers and users. This includes high fees for asset sales or restrictive policies that limit creators' earnings.
Quality Control: A decline in the quality of assets available, either through a lack of curation or an influx of low-quality submissions, can diminish the value of the asset store. This could lead to frustration among users seeking reliable resources.
Community Trust: The perception of a platform's integrity is crucial. If developers feel that the asset store prioritizes profit over community support, it could lead to a loss of trust and engagement.
Comparison with Other Platforms: Observing the trajectory of other game engines, like Unity, can provide insights. If Godot's asset store begins to mirror the negative aspects of those platforms, it could signal a shift in its community dynamics.
Feedback and Adaptation: The response of the Godot community to the new asset store will be critical. If the developers are responsive to feedback and prioritize the needs of their users, it may mitigate concerns about enshittification.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You know Godot is an open source community developed game engine right?

[–] notfromhere@lemmy.ml -4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The asset store obviously isn’t, so I feel these concerns are valid. I don’t want Godot to end up like Unity 5-10+ years out.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I would assume that the actual infrastructure of the asset store is also open source. But even if not, forking Godot is very possible. It's not like there is a megacorp making most PRs. It really is a community project.

[–] Ferk@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I would assume that the actual infrastructure of the asset store is also open source

The only repo I've found about the godot store is a sad readme.md used for issues, like many proprietary projects do when they want to make use of github as issue tracker without actually releasing code.

Also it's a web service that's privately hosted, so they can use that as a loophole to not release any changes in the code. The only way to ensure freedom there would be with AGPL license (lemmy for example is AGPL).

For their website homepage they do release the code as MIT, but not the store.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago

I don’t want Godot to end up like Unity 5-10+ years out.

I'm sure your whining and moaning are certainly helping enormously.

[–] monkeyslikebananas2@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

If someone is creating assets, they should be compensated. This is also good for getting high quality assets. Are people just supposed to do everything for free? Maybe the game should be free too right?

The Engine is still open.

[–] Ferk@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

free as in freedom != free as in 'free beer'

I feel the issue is not so much that you can buy/sell software, but that the Godot Asset store is proprietary, and being advertised alongside a project that was attractive for being "free and open source".

This also potentially could cause a conflict of interests when it comes to making improvements / promoting the previously existing Godot Asset Library (which was FOSS).

Maybe the game should be free too right?

Well, the more of it you make it FLOSS the further away from enshittification you get.

I've purchased every free and open source game on Steam that has been put there with a price tag precisely because I do prefer when they are open.. in the same way that I prefer Godot over Unity because of being open, in the same way I would prefer an open source Steam alternative if it truly existed (and I don't mean a repo to download games.. that's not what steam is.. I mean a store with support for purchases too, one that can be navigated from the couch, with controller support, with cloud saves, with input API and controller remaps per game, with friend group integration and chat, etc etc).

It's also a matter of perspective.. you'll see complains when something gets shittier and you'll see praise when something gets less shitty.. but just because there are complains in one place and praise in another does not necessarily mean the one getting praised is in a better position. I may complain about an additive added to my juice, and I may praise if the flour used in highly-processed mcnuggets is organic, but that does not mean the juice is worse than the mcnugget.. it just means that the juice is getting shittier and the mcnugget is getting less shitty.

[–] monkeyslikebananas2@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

bro… that’s a lot of words for a bad take. They aren’t going to stop you or anyone from making your own store and making it all free = freedom. You can also make your own steam. Point is, the engine is free both in beer and freedom.

This is a way to make it MORE popular by allowing better assets and for people to be able to make a living making assets.

Again if you want to make a FLOSS alternative nobody will stop you and the license allows it.

[–] Ferk@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

They aren’t going to stop you or anyone from making your own store and making it all free = freedom. You can also make your own steam.

We agree there. I never said otherwise. But just because people can make an alternative to Steam, Google, Facebook or whatever doesn't mean that Steam/Google/Facebook/whatever can't be shitty/closed. You missed the point.

I already wrote a lengthy explanation, I don't think writing more would help clarifying. If you don't see my point, or at least talk about something I actually said, then I think that's not on me.

This is a way to make it MORE popular

I'm not looking for popular, I'm looking for free. You know what's popular? Unity. Or even Unreal Engine.

Of course popular is nice.. but with approaches like this you put enshittification on the other side of the balance. You can get some popularity while compromising freedom (and it's ok to admit that), but don't be surprised when people who value freedom complain.

the license allows it.

Can you link to the license and source code of the store? I obviously wasn't talking about the engine, that one already has forks (redot, blazium ...I'm also eyeing bevy, though it's something else entirely).

Also note that even if there would be free alternatives, that doesn't make proprietary software immune to being called out. Linux existing does not make Windows immune to critics.

[–] notfromhere@lemmy.ml -2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Seems I struck a nerve. See my other response in this thread for my concerns.

[–] monkeyslikebananas2@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Indeed you did. There is nothing wrong with trying to make a living off your craft. And one of the reasons that people go with the other engines is precisely because of high quality assets. I saw the post seems like it was written by ChatGPT.

[–] notfromhere@lemmy.ml -3 points 1 month ago

I’m not sure why you’re beating up a strawman so hard. I never said anything remotely close to that.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Seems I struck a nerve.

no, you pissed and moaned about something that's hardly an issue. Godot isn't going hard commerce, the idea that it would is patently stupid. fuck there's nothing even on the store that you can buy atm.

reserve your vapors for when shit gets worse, this is ridiculous.