Given that a game engine is the basis--the foundation--of a video game, it's something that both developers and players should find reliable and trustworthy; which is why many are concerned over Unity Software's new merger, with a company that has a track record of bundling malware and adware into their software installations. IronSource has been acquired by Unity for $4.4 billion, which further adds to the company's repertoire, after having bought visual effects studio Weta Digital late last year for $1.6 billion.

IronSource specializes in app monetization, usually advertisements, but they're also known throughout the tech world for having bundled sketchy downloads within their software. They were responsible for creating InstallCore, an open source SDK that served as a "cross-platform installer creation tool and ad-delivery platform" that packaged additional installers for software like RegClean Pro, DriverSupport and other toolbars, to the point that it was classified by a potentially unwanted application by antivirus software like Windows Defender and MalwareBytes, and was even referred to as full-on malware or a trojan. InstallCore was discontinued following the classification and controversy.

That isn't the only controversy that IronSource is behind, either; in 2015, Ben Edelman, an economist for web experiences, documented the insidious nature of InstallCore's programs, detailing another one of their releases, a fake Windows Snapchat client that installed five different adware programs and Android emulator Bluestacks. Unity's reasoning for the acquisition is to assist game developers with monetization, marketing, analytics, and discovery.

Our vision is to provide creators with a powerful, flexible engine that they can realize their visions through - quickly and beautifully - while introducing the tools that help them learn and better understand their audiences, helping them to more quickly iterate and improve to build a robust and scalable business from. As we move closer to this vision today, we couldn’t be more excited about bringing ironSource into the Unity family.

Source

 

[Ryab]

View attachment 317921​

Given that a game engine is the basis--the foundation--of a video game, it's something that both developers and players should find reliable and trustworthy; which is why many are concerned over Unity Software's new merger, with a company that has a track record of bundling malware and adware into their software installations. IronSource has been acquired by Unity for $4.4 billion, which further adds to the company's repertoire, after having bought visual effects studio Weta Digital late last year for $1.6 billion.

IronSource specializes in app monetization, usually advertisements, but they're also known throughout the tech world for having bundled sketchy downloads within their software. They were responsible for creating InstallCore, an open source SDK that served as a "cross-platform installer creation tool and ad-delivery platform" that packaged additional installers for software like RegClean Pro, DriverSupport and other toolbars, to the point that it was classified by a potentially unwanted application by antivirus software like Windows Defender and MalwareBytes, and was even referred to as full-on malware or a trojan. InstallCore was discontinued following the classification and controversy.

That isn't the only controversy that IronSource is behind, either; in 2015, Ben Edelman, an economist for web experiences, documented the insidious nature of InstallCore's programs, detailing another one of their releases, a fake Windows Snapchat client that installed five different adware programs and Android emulator Bluestacks. Unity's reasoning for the acquisition is to assist game developers with monetization, marketing, analytics, and discovery.



Source

Welp. Time to find a new engine I like.

 

[gnmmarechal]

Time to get the Yahoo toolbar.

 

[Ondrashek06]

Ironsource? The same ad company that makes interactive ads which redirects you to the playstore halfway through?

 

[AlexMCS]

And then the CEO comes and calls devs who don't monetize their games up the wazoo "Fking idiots"

https://www.pcgamer.com/unity-ceo-s...o-dont-consider-monetization-are-fing-idiots/

 

[Deleted member 546149]

Apparently if you don't destroy the play experience of your game in order to bleed every possible penny out of your customers, you're a fucking idiot:
View attachment 318047

What happened to real free to play?

 

[Deleted member 546149]

same ad company that makes interactive ads which redirects you to the p

Oh yeah those ads are so annoying, you know, some nonwifi games force you to keep the wifi on to play, ridiculous

 

[DEMONGreninjaPG]

are u kidding me

 

[phalk]

Unity always felt a bit like trash...

 

[Dimensional]

Is it true that the CEO of Unity today used to be President of EA? So that means they'll put MicroTransactions and "Surprise Mechanics" in everything, including their Development software too? "Spent 99 uPoints for a chance at something good, like a shader, but you can only buy uPoints in packs of 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000."

 

[BlusterBong]

Finally, the merger NOBODY asked for!

 

[Dimensional]

Finally, the merger NOBODY asked for!

And nobody need/deserved/etc. One of those meme quotes.

 

[Taleweaver]

IronSource specializes in app monetization, usually advertisements, but...

Phew... At least they'll contribute something good to the unity engine. That should offset the potential garbage you get with your installs. Money well spent, unity.

/sarcasm

(or... Was it IronSource who payed them that money?)

 

[Megadriver94]

Well, there's still Unreal Engine, CRY Engine,, Idtech 1 through 4, Torque 3D, Source, Renderware, Frostbite, Godot, Gamemaker, and Panda3D. Also, how long until this Merger finalizes?

 

[Inaki]

Sony installed malware and skyward on PCs in the 2000s

I see someone mention Sony, my thoughts, exactly, and I leave.

 

[Inaki]

Sony installed malware and skyward on PCs in the 2000s

I just entered to mention Sony, I ser you did, I leave.

 

[Schneiderus]

long live to godot

 

[Megadriver94]

I see someone mention Sony, my thoughts, exactly, and I leave.

At least back in the mid-late 2000s with Sony, they eventually openly acknowledged what was going on with the skyward and their rootkit crap with the malware shit and such. Plus they also settled it by recalled bout 10% of the CDs containing the Rootkit shit and literally suspended( for some time) their copy-protection efforts in the early days of 2007.