...neither Pence nor his colleague, director of marketing Matthew Weissinger, could answer more direct questions about how many users were playing the game an unhealthy amount.
?We think it?s difficult to have a categorical understanding of what that is given it varies from time to time and person to person,? Pence said.
Weissinger declined to reveal the game?s average revenue per player, arguing that it was a trade secret, but then appeared to confuse himself over other data points. At one point, when committee chair Damian Collins asked how Epic defined frequent players, Weissinger said they were ?someone who?s played within the last two weeks, or 30 days?.
When Collins then asked how much time frequent players spent playing Fortnite, Weissinger said that it was ?difficult? to define a frequent player, leaving the MP baffled.
Collins declared his disbelief at Epic?s claims of ignorance. ?This is a game which makes money out of people playing it,? he said, ?and this sort of basic information is something that will be gathered and analysed all the time, so I don?t believe that you don?t know it. For me, it arouses the suspicion that this is not something we can discuss. Of course it will vary, but I?m sure you have an idea of what the answer to these questions are.?
The MP looked more surprised when Pence responded by taking issue with his choice of words. Pence said: ?I don?t think it?s accurate to define Epic as making money from people playing the game.? ?You?re not a charity,? responded Collins.
The Labour MP Ian Lucas pressed Pence on why the company did not collect dates of birth from its users.
?You don?t think it?s necessary to abide by data regulations by establishing the age of the people who play your game?? Lucas asked.
?We don?t,? said Pence. Later in the hearing, Pence denied giving that response, prompting Lucas to suggest he check the record of the hearing.