Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Where are you? Here in Canada, a lot of games are more expensive. USD 55 seems to be about an average price for the game, probably even a bit lower than average.

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Ok, now try to add to it hours you'll spend playing it (using formula time=money). You'll probably see that Dominions actually costs you something in 5 digits http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Talley,

Thanks for bringing this up, it was good to discuss this and let opposing views be heard. As Gandalf says, you can not expect to get much support on a forum associated with the game, but that does not mean your views do not have value.

I too will be waiting for the demo before making a decision.

On a lighter note, I know how Shrapnel can bring down their costs. Move the operation here to Kenya! We have very cheap labour, skilled computer and marketing people and an excellent postal system. And I can drive over and get a copy of Dom3, avoiding the shipping and handling costs…

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Do not try the demo!!!!
Afaik it is probably done in the same way as the Dom2-Demo, 40 turn limit, research limit at level 4, only a handful of nations playable etc. etc..

So in the demo Dominions doesn't really shine, because in the demo it feels not really different from other turn based games because of the limitations.
As an expert player you could of course do lots of tricks in these 40 turns, but if you are new and have never played Dom in MP you will simply play it like Homm or AoW and easily overlook that Dominions is much deeper than those games.

I think the dom2 demo is one of the 10 worst demos i ever played. The dom1 demo on the other hand was done extremely well imho.

This is only my subjective opinion though, but imho if the Dom3 demo is done like the Dom2 demo it will convince more ppl to not buy Dom3 as it convinces ppl to buy Dom3.

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Dom1 demo was way too limitless. People would DL the demo and never bother with the full game.

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Nah. Your best national mage was unpurchaseable, and research was capped at level 5.

Imho there was enough incentive left to buy the full version http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

IMHO there wasn't.

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Nah I think the Doms 2. demo was cool. It gave you nice examples about the final game content. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Personally I also wish it had more turns in it but I think the Dom3 demo is testable. It has the same limits as Dom2, but with added features such as the tutorial. We will need to see how well it does its job.

Oh and I agree that the Dom1 demo was abit too much playability but on the other hand thats not that unusual for a first-release game.

Re: Are we paying more for less?
 

Ok the only thing I will say about the MP aspect is this... I, like ~95% of the strat gaming community, do not play MP (http://forums.stardock.com/?forumid=162&aid=98074), I would rather have challenging AI with deep gameplay and various ways to achieve the same goal (i.e. being able to play two different nations off against one another whil selling each weaponary and supplies, and then using the money they are paying me to get rebel nations/states to secretly come over to my side and hitting them both when they are at their weakest rather than just turtling up and focusing up on military domination, or research) and the like, and then if MP is thrown in on top of that cool. That's just me, and I am DLing the Dom3 demo to see if perhaps it may be something that I will enjoy, but given the depth of upcoming games (i.e. GalCivII Expansion, SEV, etc.) it is going to be hard justifying spending ~$77 for a game including shipping when I can purchase other games for cheaper in the stores themselves or buy online with a DL package.