One thing is for sure: if your anti-piracy protection makes life miserable for your actual paying customers, you're shooting yourself in the foot.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/12/03/pixel-piracy-devs-pirate-pixel-piracy/

Original idea and is probably very good if it works, you gain both publicity and supporters with almost zero cost. I personally am a big fan of this strategy and if I ever come around to release my own game I am hopping to go a similar way.

Best laugh I've had in a while… this pretty much sums up my MS feelings.

I guess there are pros and cons to any situation. The XBOX market (as well as the Windows phone markets) were kind of a bonus as I had planned on producing mostly for the PC. The lure of their user base is quite strong though and I figured it wouldn't hurt to release there. If they've truly done away with the 60% then it might still be feasible.

I think for the time being however, that PC will be the main focus. Then when I'm a multi-billion dollar corporate entity, they can come crawling at my feet to have it ported…. for 60% of sales.

With the games that I've made, I've planned on a primarily Windows target, and throw in any other platforms that make sense after the game is made. It gives you a lot more control over how to sell your game (at the cost of having to do your own marketing and everything), you have more options in terms of the price point you put your game at, and you probably have more options from a technical standpoint. (For example, your networking options on the Xbox is fairly restricted, because you have to use Microsoft's network somehow.)

So I wouldn't blame you for focusing on Windows, that's for sure.

“Transaction Fee” means a percentage of Net Sales of the Game retained by Microsoft as a fee for distribution of the Game. Using automated tools, certain games will receive prominent placement on Xbox LIVE Marketplace or will otherwise receive marketing and promotional support from Microsoft (a “Featured Game”). The Transaction Fee for each download of the Game sold while it is a Featured Game will be at Microsoft's sole discretion, up to a maximum of 60% depending on the level of marketing and promotional support as further detailed in the Xbox LIVE Indie Games Guide. The Transaction Fee for each download of a Game other than while it is a Featured Game will be 30%.

4.5 Statement. After the end of each calendar quarter with respect to which Microsoft owes you at least USD $150, Microsoft will provide you with a statement and the amount owed. If Microsoft does not owe you at least USD $150, Microsoft may carry forward the amount owed until such time as Microsoft owes you at least USD $150. In the event Microsoft ceases distributing your Game and owes you less than USD $150, you agree that, as a result of the cost involved in payment processing for such small amounts, you waive your right to payment of this balance.

So, the payments are in increments of $150, but the fees can be up to 60%, solely at their discretion.

60%

60%

I had to read that several times.

Oh, and the 'review' process is a peer-review from other devs.

(30% seems kind of high to me.. if that turns out to be true, might end up saying screw them and sell only on PC)