It absolutely would stop anyone from releasing it as proprietary software. You cannot have GPL'ed proprietary software. You can sell GPL code, you can use it in proprietary platforms, but by definition the software itself cannot be proprietary. If it's GPL'ed, other people can sell it, modify it, distribute it, and use it for their own purposes.
I get that, hence me saying "they would be obligated to release the source code." My point is that has little or no effect on the actual sales of the program (since the parent post was primarily about money.)
There are reasons to prefer GPL over MIT, and other reasons to prefer MIT over GPL, but money isn't one of them...
I don't think so, it was about making money through selling it as proprietary software.
Upon request, and it just can't be less accessible than the binaries. You can charge for the source - just not more than what the binaries cost.
> The only difference is that they would be obligated to release the source code.
If they release the source code it's not proprietary software anymore - by definition - and GPL achieved its goal.
> the GPL and MIT licenses are orthogonal to making money
The GPL allows selling modified (FOSS) versions with extended contents e.g. artwork, music.
But it also allows the original author to do so without succumbing to the competition from companies that leverage their dominant market position.
With MIT freeloaders win.
i'd say MIT license wouldn't impact the sales outcome at all.
The only difference is that they would be obligated to release the source code. Given that the list of folk who can compile for consoles is very limited, this would not be an existential burden for them.
Indeed, even if they targeted a common development platform, like a PC or Mac, they would still be able to offer lots of value, and easily sell copies if there was a market for that. The vast majority of players would happily pay $49 for a compiled version of the game rather than go to the effort of compiling themselves.
In other words, the GPL and MIT licenses are orthogonal to making money - making money selling compiled GPL programs is not hard - assuming the program has some value to someone.