Who else pre-ordered...
 

...as soon as it was available from Shrapnel? I know personally I have alot of faith in Illwinter and their game design vision as shown in Dominions 2. As soon as I found out about Dom3 coming out and looked over the planned feature-list, I was hooked and pre-ordered immediately. Anyone else do the same?

I know I'd much rather spend 50$ supporting an indi game company that focuses on depth of gameplay as opposed to sparkly graphics and mass appeal. Too many developers are afraid of the cost-to-return ratio on making niche market games without broad appeal. So we end up with alot of generalized game titles that are trying to appeal to far too many people and thus lack depth in their core gameplay.

Anyway, I'm rambling... my main point is to show my support for Illwinter and ask if anyone else has the same feelings. Call me a fanboi if you want but I feel quite strongly about supporting Illwinter by pre-ordering and having confidence in their next step forward in the vast and complex Dominions world.

All in all, much http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/heart.gif for Illwinter and really looking forward to the release.



Resok

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I did of course...but as we know, Doms3 preorder broke the old preorder record at Shrapnel, so I guess, the game will sell very good.
I have the same feelings like you btw, I always prefer gameplay over gfx and such stuff. Doms2 got awesome gameplay, and that is what matters. Some ppl here says that "Doms3 looks like an expansion pack for Doms2." This is definitely not true, there will be tons of new content, AI fixing, great modability etc.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I did. Thanks for the reminder since I have more I need to order also and I wanted to spread them out on the credit card. Its time for me to order another.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I will be pre-ordering soon... the game will most likely be very good.

The only thing us gamers have to worry... is if some bad feature was introduced into DOM_3... such as the 'auto_surrender' seen in AOW:SM. Luckily the AOW community pulled together and convinced the developers to move this into being an option.

If one or two nations are much stronger... I see this as a good thing because it will provide more challenging SP games and new gamers would have a better chance in MP.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Of course one or two nations will be much stronger. Dont you remember the early days of Dom2? What we all saw later in new players, all the players went thru at the same time in early Dom2. We all, at the same time, decided that Ulm was too powerful. Then we all decided Ermor was unbeatable. Then Arcos had too much magic. It took forever for us to get thru the whole list to figure out that there was some balance. Then years more to pin down some imbalances we could actually agree on.

And Dom3 will have at LEAST 3 times as many nations?!?
Of course one will be too powerful, and then another, and then another http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I have much faith in IW and I've preorderd as soon as it was possible http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I am sure there will be few nations that are much stronger. And there will be a lot of arguments in this forum about which are those nations http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I preordered and I can't wait to get Biblical on someone, fire and brimstone style http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I preordered http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

It would be nice if those who preordered (like me ;-)) would be part of an open betatest.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

An open beta-test would happen after the beta group felt it was ready for release. It would fall between the closed beta and offering it to the public. Do you feel there is an advantage to putting off the general release for that? It would be cool but I cant really come up with a justification other than that.

Personally, I felt that Dom2 was in "public beta-test" right up until the point that Illwinter started working on Dom3. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Ordered day of. I still lurked here from time to time reading posts (my disc is scratched beyond recognition due to the move to Atlanta, meaning no more Dom2 for me) but I was clicking to order as soon as the link was announced on Blues News. A good day. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

If you felt like it, you could probably get a replacement cd from shrapnel for a small fee. I've seen other people get one, they are good about that.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Nah, open beta for Doms3 is not necessary imo. IW got his beta testers, and Im sure that they gonna do a decent job.
Also if there will be any bugs left, those can be fixed in the first patch.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Yeah Im sure they will release it as soon as they finish Debating the balances. With Dom2 it only took.. 1 year.. 2 years.. wait a minute, wasnt that going on last week? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Hopefully they will just get it useable and release it. Im not sure if I want any group agreeing on the balances before I get it. If thats even possible.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

A little OT, but...

Hey, another Atlantan? We're always looking for more board wargamers to join our group (plays in East Cobb/Roswell), and soon our RPG group (which comprises different folks, probably will end up playing in Canton) will be starting up a C&C campaign.

I know I've seen other people mention they're now in Atlanta so anyone looking for some tabletop gaming please feel free to drop me a line.

Back to our regularly scheduled forum now!

-Scott

skrol@shrapnelgames.com

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Um, surely that's better than a group disagreeing on the balance? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Open beta tests are not about finding bugs (well, maybe a bit), they are about me playing the game as early as possible http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Hehe. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I agree "open beta test" means something like here is the game, bugs and all. By accepting it you take all risks for a destroyed system. See you when the real game is done.

GIMME GIMME GIMME

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I'm in, just pre-ordered.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I pre-ordered on day 1.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

also pre-ordered. First time ever.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I pre-ordered mine earlier this week.

So I guess we'll be getting our copies sometime in June, but if Illwinter needs more time to add more content or fix bugs or add a new feature that's totally fine. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Yes, please don't release a broken product. We've been through that with other products released on the mass-market recently.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Dom-III is scheduled to start shipping at July/August.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

That's good to know!

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

yet we have to pay more by May 20. That's really gay.

NICE WORK! damn shrapnel. Being over $50 is really pushing it. Not even the highest budget games goes over that, but they know us fans will pay it. That really pisses me off. F*** you shrapnel.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Shrapnel Games stays in business, and continues selling games. They have to keep high prices. Have you read their blogs?

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/blo...mes-dont-work/

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/blo...mes-dont-work/

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/blo...-niche-retail/


Those are more about games being sold on the shops than games sold on the Gamer's Front (or was it Gamers' Front?), but they still points out some interesting things.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Ok, I read all 3 to a pretty good extent, and I understand that niche games are hard to sell... so you're saying Dominions III is hard to sell so they had to push the price over the common limit? That's not very justifiable if the pre-orders are breaking its record, unless they are trying to make up for lack of sales elsewhere... but the blogs never said anything about that.

Hey, all I know is that I wouldn't even be complaining if they gave us mnore time to pre-order at a lesser price. "Pre-order for a reduced price" they say... yet in a few days it will just say "pre-order now!"

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

The price diffrence between pre-ordered and ordered game is quite trivial.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Well I was a bit surprised about the game's price [around 50 euros], but your last sentence was harsh. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

IMO Shrapnel are publishing quality games, for me the attached price tags are well worth it.

My opinion again - Trashy games you can find by the droves and they cost 30-40$ for worth of 0$.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

It will make it hard to recommend, but wont matter as far as my ordering it.

But on the other hand I have often spent that much on games that had obviously more production and marketing, but I ended up with far less replayability

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Makes it easy for me to not pre-order : not that I won't undoubtedly get the game, but I don't see the need to put down $47.50 for something that may ship in July/August, or may not ship until later.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

My lack of way to pay to game makes it easy for me not to preorder it. [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif[/img]

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Nay man, you speak like a fanboy. Open your eyes, EA publishes some very fun games. So they are... EA... Being a fanboy is never a good thing. Accept the big as well as the small. Battlefield 2142 looks great and so does Enemy Territory Quake Wars by id, just to name a few. Oblivion, maybe Spore (I'm skeptical with that one) I've been playing BF2 for a while and it was quite fun. Dominions III in terms of "fun-ness" will be right up there, but no game is perfect.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I'm probably fanboy too (of both Shrapnel Games and Illwinter). Still, I'd like to say this:

Dominions has better money/enjoyment ratio, if you factor in the playing time, even neglecting the early "how am I supposed to do anything" period. If someone got into the game, it lasted more than "a while".

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Havent looked at Battlefield 2142.
Quake Wars looks like a temporary enjoyment.
Oblivion is a possible but Im still trying to figure out if it has the long-term play that Daggerfall did or another disappointment like Morrowind was.

Now SEV might be a contender for long-life on my computer but we will have to see about that.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I see Dominions_3 as definitely worth it's value... even the AI has been significantly improved having 3 different settings:
Defensive, Standard, Aggressive.
(and maybe the option for the selection to be randomly chosen)

Maps have tripled in size, new random map generator, tons of new nations, items, and spells. Graphics have also been slightly improved. The game will also have greater modding capabilities.

I would recommend buying the game now and saving $7.oo.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

*shrug* I've worked in the gaming industry, albeit pen and paper RPGs, and the one thing I truly love about the industry across all spectrums is the creativity and resilience of the small press.

Whenever I see an outstanding computer/board/pen-and-paper RPG game from a small-time developer, I try to pick it up. Yes, the EA's and Wizards of the Coast's of the world make some fantastic products -- and I support them too. But I guess rooting for the underdog, particularly the one who loves his craft and pursues it with all his spare time energy, is just that much more enjoyable. What I lose in the graphical flash of the bigger companies, I get back in terms of my satisfaction in a broader marketplace and a certain "labor of love" quality within these games that makes them unique.

So, yeah. The price tag really doesn't phase me, even though I think it's about as high as a game of this sort should ever go in the current market.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Thank you.
Naa, these games can only be appreciated fully if you are in a clan with teamspeak and play everyday as a team with the occasional clan VS clan competitions. This is where the value is and it will not be worth as much as Dominions III if you do not play these games to their fullest ability. You, Gandalf Parker, do not have time to commit to a clan and so I understand if you never care for these games.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Argitoth you also frgot that Gandalf is 50 years old. How could he be in an FPS gaming clan? At least 90% of those players are 16-24 years old.

Back to the topic again.. The game's "high" price is only bad because of 1 thing. It might scare away customers, in fact I am pretty sure that xy number of people just wont buy it, because Doms 3. gonna cost more then a high end product with directx 10. gfx. Mostly the hardcore Doms 3. fans will buy the game probably. The question is, what is better for Shrapnel? 1. Sell less copies for a higher price, or 2. sell more copies for a lower price. Their choice were option #1. Personally I dont really care about the price. I would order it for 100 euros even...but it is me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Gandalf is also retired, retired military in fact, and he gets to do nothing but play games all day. The clans I am part of tend to kick ***. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Im just rarely interested in PvP play, even with dominions I rarely MP'd.

But as to the price, I have to admit that its too high for me to recommend the game. Even with Dominions2 I never recommended the game. I always STRONGLY recommended the demo. I was willing to swear to people that IF they could get thru the demo THEN the game would be long time worth their purchase. But until I see how Dom3 has improved its learning curve for new people, and how good the demo is, Im afraid Im being careful in "sales pitches" in the newsgroups.
It doesnt matter anyway.
We all know that hooked is hooked either way. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

I'd buy the game at $1,000 without batting an eyelash. Hell, I'd pay $10,000 for it. I would think twice at $100,000 however. I guess every man has his price.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

ioticus, if you seriously believe that, you... well everyone can come up with their own words.

BTW Gandalf, my clan beats your clan any day. [760]Clan, man. 760clan.com

beats yours. any day. of any week. of any month, on any planet in this solar system except pluto and jupiter. we... uhh... we just don't like pluto and jupiter much. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/yawn.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Yeah, and my daddy is stronger than yours http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Anyway, Me and my roommate have both bought Dom 2, but I don't think he will buy Dom 3 that looks more like an update than a completely new game for so much money. I'll do it because I'm crazy, but this price tag will hurt the sales up to a degree where the increased cost won't compensate for the decrease in sold copies

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

Just because it looks the same doesn't mean the game won't be revolutionary to its predecessor.

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

You ever heard of the game Call of Duty? I was in one of the best clans in Europe, we were www.clanbase.com ladder leaders for 6 weeks, also we were second placed in the Eurocup, and won many national awards. Now I am playing Call of Duty 2., but I am not that active atm, because of school exams. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Who else pre-ordered...
 

The only clans I put time in on are for MMOs such as Star Wars Galaxy, or City of Heroes, or Ultima Online. Places where there is more to go with clan support than just killing other clans. Like most ex-military I am willing to provide my expertise to defend a clan but I have no desire to live it full time online.