{"id":27568,"date":"2015-07-12T05:26:47","date_gmt":"2015-07-12T10:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/?p=27568"},"modified":"2015-07-12T06:31:08","modified_gmt":"2015-07-12T11:31:08","slug":"the-network-effect-mp3-versus-ogg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shamusyoung.com\/twentysidedtale\/?p=27568","title":{"rendered":"The Network Effect: MP3 versus OGG"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago Peter H. Coffin asked how many people downloaded the podcast as MP3 compared to the number of people who chose OGG<\/a>. Normally these numbers are greatly distorted by the fact that Google Chrome (and possibly other browsers) will auto-load the MP3 whenever the page is viewed, even if the user doesn’t explicitly try to download or play the file. <\/p>\n

But the following week I used a quick work-around. The embeded player used a different file name, so we can have a proper apples-to-apples comparison. We can compare people who downloaded each file by clicking on the link, and filter out everyone who used the embedded player. Of people who deliberately clicked on the download links to save Diecast #109<\/a>, 9,244 chose the MP3, and only 240 chose OGG. <\/p>\n

If you’re curious, OGG files use an open-source file formatMP3 is licensed or proprietary in some way that I’ve never bothered to investigate.<\/span> and it usually has a much smaller file size for the same audio. In this case, the MP3 version of Diecast #109 was 57MB while the OGG was just 31MB. That’s a pretty huge savings for what audiophiles assure me is “the same quality”.<\/p>\n

This is a great example of how powerful the network effect is. OGG files are faster to download, equal in audio quality, and the software to encode and decode them is free to all. It’s a superior system in every way, but it’s not widely supported because people are in the habit of using MP3. Their collections are already in MP3. MP3 is widely available. It’s simply more convenient for people to keep doing what they’re already doing, even if the alternative is objectively better.<\/p>\n

This should terrify the folks running Uplay, Origin, and even the awesome folks at Good Old Games. Being “just as good” as Steam isn’t good enough. Being “slightly better” than Steam isn’t good enough. You need a product that is irresistibly better if you want to lure people away from their comfort zone. EA should be driving prices down in an attempt to lure people to their platform. They should be giving away free games. They should be making their client lighter, faster, and more responsive. <\/p>\n

EDIT: Actually, EA IS<\/strong> giving away free games. I downloaded one just two days ago. Okay, it was a Zuma<\/a> game, which is probably why it slipped my mind. Still, credit where it’s due: This is the kind of tactic they need to be using.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And they should definitely not be doing stupid stuff like this:<\/p>\n

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I should buy the Kasumi DLC for Mass Effect 2. Oh. I can't use real money? I have to buy bullshit @BioWare<\/a> points and use them? NEVER MIND.<\/p>\n

— Shamus Young (@shamusyoung) July 9, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n