Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I've been hosting games for people in an off site community for a while now. One thing I've noticed is that beyond the price tag (which is helped at least by the periodic discounts you guys offer), the biggest reason people post about not buying the game is they literally don't want to wait for it in the mail and would prefer to download it.

Dominions is a great series (been playing since the second one) and it sucks that more people aren't exposed to it. Have you guys considered getting joining up with steam or offering your own download service?

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I've said the same thing before.

I would *really* like to see this game out on Steam. D:

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

*sigh* Not again... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

We do offer digital downloads. Not Dominions 3 though.

And really, what's the big deal about waiting a couple days to a week for it? They don't have it now, right? Is an extra seven days of not having it really going to make a difference?

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

The thing is that you are missing out on the impulse-buying market. Occasionally I will just sit down in an evening and think "I'm bored. I haven't spent any money for a bit - I should treat myself", and then go and do something like buy the latest GalCivII expansion, or Portal, or something else like that. Since people can't do that for Dominions the decision has to be a more considered one. Upon further consideration, buying games often seems far from essential, so they just won't do it.

If you really wanted to sell more copies of Dominions, there is a lot you could do. Imagine a website with descriptions and backstories for all the races. You'd get people frothing at the mouth.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

You are kidding, right? Of course it's going to make a difference. That's why people offer digital distribution. The manual could be given out on PDF, and the game downloaded the same day. I really like the sales model this guy uses. I bought the game, and when you purchase it you download everything right away. You could even make corrections in the PDF, add player made content to the PDF, and/or add player made content to the game by bundling it with the download. It would reduce overhead and increase revenue at the same time. How cool would it be if you could download all the nice, polished mods when you bought DOM3 straight from the website?

http://www.basiliskgames.com/

It might be seven days in the states, but it's much longer for people outside of the US. I know some person had to wait a month+ for their game. Digital distribution would solve all of that.

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Even though alot of people seem to be against it, I support this too. I've spent plenty of money that I probably wouldn't have on things that couldn't be downloaded.
Digital Distribution is so much fun n_n.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

With Gal Civ 2 I was able to Download the game/cd key online and pay an extra 5 bucks to get the CD's shipped to me. Perhaps with Dom3 they could do it where you could download the game and get a password for the "I want to play now" aspect and then the person would get the actual CD/manual in the mail a week or two later.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I may be wrong here (and feel perfectly free to tell me so) but I think Shrapnel is very sensitive to piracy, far more so than some companies. Digitial download opens the dark door to the scary place. Some companies believe that the increased sales outweigh the small percentage of pirated copies, but I have never seen any hard numbers on this subject.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I got it the usual way. I also got DomII usual way, but I had to wait for more than 6 months for that, because I couldn't order it on my own and my parents thought it would have a negative effect on my grades.

That reminds me, even though the Shrapnel stuff probably knows the numbers a bit better then me, I'm pretty sure if you sold Dominions 3 on retail you'd have even more buyers! All those impulse-buyers who wander around in PC shops looking for something to buy would see it and buy it, because Dominions is so well known. Also, there are a lot of people who can't or don't want to buy games online, and I bet they'd all buy Dominions as well. Also, translating the game and the manual to multiple languages would be great. Something like esperanto would be perfect - there are probably speakers of esperanto in all countries of the world, which would be a huge boost in your market when compared to just those who understand English. Also, it would be so cool to buy Vatican-version of Dominions to play Marignon. Latin for the win!

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I always find this type of argument very silly. Steve Jobs wrote an interesting piece talking about how the vast majority of music sold by CD-labels is sold DRM free, or with DRM that is so easy to circumvent that it might as well not even be there. CD ripping software is easy to use, and convenient.

On the flip side, said Jobs, the DRM you buy from digital downloads is atrocious.

Why then, if the vast majority of your output is unprotected, do you mire a rather small proportion of it in this draconic, DIVX style, DRM? The answer is, you shouldn't be.

So to make the comparison complete, the DRM on Dom 3 (CD-key) is relatively trivial. Pirated copies are out there on the internet, available with CD-keys. This is a reality of modern gaming that applies readily not just to Dom 3, but to all games.

So the idea that releasing it into a format with digital downloading would somehow increase piracy, when the game is already readily available in pirated form, is just silly. The genie is already out of the metaphorical bottle. By making the game available for download on say, Steam, which has decent DRM in place that would not require any more work by the illwinter staff AFAIK, they'd be able to reach a whole new audience.

Personally I'd /love/ to see Dom 3 turn into a block buster multimillion dollar product for the designers of the game. That way they could actually hire some people, and churn out Dom 4 with all sorts of neat goodies. Of which I would be first in line to pre order the gold version http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Just to nip this in the bud, I have both a legitimate copy of Dom 2 and 3. I was thinking about taking a photo with my copy of the Dom 3 manual, but I seem to have misplaced my digital camera during the move =\

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Are you serious saying you would rather have Steam DRM'd version of Dominions III than version we have now?

Sorry, but this is nuts! From Steam, I get only games that I cannot get in a box and a CD, and then I play them only on my home desktop. I play Dominions III from two computers day to day, and two others when I move around. Can you even play Steam locked games without Internet connection?

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

*blinks* Uh....Yes.

In today's instant gratification culture it makes very good sense to offer it online. I almost didn't bother it because I had to wait on it to ship. There are lots of good games out there I can download immediately - it took a lot of will power for me to invest my time in waiting.

This is ESPECIALLY true for a game you also can't find on store shelves.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

No, I'm saying that there is no digitally distributed version of DOM 3 and that Steam would be a potential candidate as a method of distro (NOT that a digitally downloaded version should replace the CD-only hard copy distro). Personally I don't care how they do it, I was just trying to refute the argument that "making something available by digital distribution = more piracy".

Also, I really like Steam. I would never buy a game off Steam I plan to install on multiple computers, but I do not have a laptop that is strong enough to run TF2, or HL2, or Portal, nor would I want to drop the grand or two that would be required to get good FPS.

I bought Orange Box on Steam, and I'm very happy with it. It installs itself, downloads its own updates right away, and I don't have to keep track of a serial # or a DVD.

FYI, Steam does allow you to play games offline as long as they're not in the middle of upgrading.

http://support.steampowered.com/kb_a...3160-AGCB-2555

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Nikolai:

That isn't about you, me and many other people. But for many people it is hard to buy it. They have to pay S&H, wait for it to be shipped etc. And they would prefer to have it now, even if it means no pretty manual. Most people that have it here probably live in US and they can order it from Amazon with free shipping.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Analyzing the introductions thread:

59 from Europe

19 from Scandinavia (didn't count the Dutch in), the most important http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif European sub-group. I didn't count UK people because UK isn't as important as Scandinavia, but there were well over a dozen from there as well.

66 from USA/Canada

9 from somewhere else (5 from Australia, and single ones from from Solomon Island, Mauritius, China, Argentina)


So while the US is the biggest market, at least judging by those who register at this forum Europe is at very nearly the same numbers. It should also be remembered that there are at least French language forums with Dominions discussion, and those who aren't native English speakers tend to favour forums in their own languages (except for Finns, who flock to these forums). I don't remember where I saw them. Probably after I read a Dom3 review published on some French site. It was maybe a year ago or something, but they had games going on back then.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Don't forget that a nice portion of the Dominions III "DRM" is The Manual.
Aside from legalities, The Manual is a very good reason to choose a legal copy of Dominions III over a pirated one.
Selling Dominions III online would require either supplying the manual as a PDF (which would then be instantly pirated and spread through the internet, ruining the current "DRM"), or allowing a download and sending the manual by mail, which would actually be more expensive to do.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Agrajag:

Nah, manual is rather a nice addon. You want to buy Dom3 because of patches and MP. Some bugs looks like created to be fixed with a first patch so pirated versions are broken http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Seconded.
In fact I think I will pay for another copy if an updated manuel can be delivered.
Even if the E-Manual is available, I still perfer using paper book, which is much more convenience.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I'm not sure most people consider $55 an impulse purchase. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

One thing I hate about steam, you cannot mod the games. They are in one or two different files and no modding is possible. This would be pretty big downside for Dom3. I know this because I got Medieval 2 Kingdoms on steam, and I cannot use any mods made by the community.
Also the internet access is a huge down side.
I dont think that its a big bonus.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

And just to reiterate something...*if* it was ever sold as a download it would be through us. It seems like every time this subject comes up you have people talking about Steam when there's no reason to put it on Steam since we're already set up.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Except for the fact that it still isn't offered through digital distribution. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

I don't know why you seem so hostile to the idea of digital distribution. If customers are asking for it, the correct response is "we'll get it as soon as we can, if possible" not "our current service, which doesn't even compare to most online retailers, should be good enough for you people".

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Any perceived hostility arises not from the idea, but from the fact that we've been selling the game since September 2006 with no current plans for digital distribution, and even though we continue to say that this keeps coming up.
Could that change in the future? Sure, anything is possible. But as of right now there is only one way to purchase the game, and that's as a physical copy. Why this is such a point of contention for some people, I don't know. What I can tell you though is that the game has sold quite well since release, and continues to sell quite well, as a physical product.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

OT: I'm happy to hear that sales are good... this makes it very likely that Illwinter will make more games.

It isn't just the manual, or the modding, or the patches, or time spent on the forums, it's the whole package, at the forefront of it all being the atmosphere that Illwinter cares about the game.

On more pragmatic terms, is there even a significant market that somehow is 'kept out' because they can only purchase it online? (Most of my purchases occur in physical game stores, but that's hardly less of a hassle than ordering online and then waiting for a delivery.) I know Dominions is great and all, but who can't wait a week or two, for what is, in the end, just a game?

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Yeah, I'm all for digital distribution. Use the Stardock model. Heck, even just use Stardock (no offense intended Shrapnel). I've bought all my Galciv games and expansions via their digital sales.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I can understand some hostility on the part of Shrapnel, half the people in this thread are talking about using steam, a completely different distributor. While it would almost certainly sell more copies on steam due to the added exposure, it's pretty darned likely that Shrapnel already has Dominions 3 locked up on the distribution front with binding legal documents and whatnot. Not that I blame them, they've got a business to run and Dominions has a pretty good following for an Indy title.

I've also got a gut feeling that tells me they don't want to go to digital distribution because either they have a large stockpile of printed CD's/Manuals in backstock that are far less likely to get sold that way, or they have their own printing setup which lets them in on an extra sliver of profit through publishing costs. Either way, I think it's obvious that if they felt they could make more money through Digital Distribution right now, that's the route they would go.

On the other hand, the digital distribution topic is going to keep cropping up because, lets face it, Dominions 3 costs a pretty penny for an indy game, and digital distribution is cheaper. Especially since the most commonly given reason for it's high price tag (highest on shrapnel?) is printing costs for the manual.

Personally, I feel far more money could be made by dropping the price tag and selling that many more copies of the game. Especially if you could get some exposure on some gaming websites like Penny-Arcade or TheEscapist or something. But Shrapnel games knows everything I know, and they're the ones successfully running a business so meh, maybe I'm missing something.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Really? I have a number of mods on various games I've bought over steam and they seem to work just fine.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Haha, not many games with more mods than Half-Life or Half-Life 2, and they've been Steam games for ages.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

What we can't understand, S.R.Krol, is what the disadvantages of offering digital distribution are? Okay, so the game has been selling well - excellent, I think we're all very pleased to hear that. But that doesn't mean there isn't potential for it to sell better, and definitely isn't an argument against looking for new ways to increase sales.

The reason most of us have piled into this thread is not to be annoying, but because we love this game, and want it to do better.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Personally I'm not a fan of digital distribution, but when I bought the game I was living in China and the postage was pretty hefty/incovinient. Especially considering I don't even use the manual.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I don't understand how you can run a company and say "Ah, well, we're doing good enough, no reason to look into establishing digital distribution, something we do for all our other games, for our flagship product. No, we have no plans for that in the future."

That's just silly. If I were an investor, I would be furious D:

Especially in lieu of actually listening to your customers.

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Here's a list of reasons why Digital Distribution is bad.
I don't work for Shrapnel Games, so I'm making all sorts of assumptions.
1) If you want the manual shipped to you after you download the game, it becomes more expensive than just shipping the game and manual, because no costs are saved on production, and bandwidth costs are added (and bandwidth is not cheap.)
2) If you don't want the manual shipped to you, then there will be a sizable amount of players that will play the game without a manual. These might enjoy the game less, since they will have a weaker understanding of it, and they will give the game a bad name.
3) Furthermore, there will now be an excuse for not having a manual, so all the pirates that "lost their copy" won't be immediately spotted on the forums http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif
4) Without a physical manual, the CDKEY is just a number transmitted to you once, with no backups. Suddenly Shrapnel has to deal will all sorts of people that lost their CDKEYS and ask for new ones (expecting one since Shrapnel has to track their sales on their website) and potentially leading to all sorts of CDKEY scammers.
5) They will have to modify their entire CDKEY tracking model. They are no longer guaranteed that each copy of the manual corresponds to one CDKEY, that is printed on it.
They will have to either modify their production line to produce CDKEY free manual but store CDKEYS in some sort of other database or find some model where they print your manual with the code, and send the code to you before the manual is shipped (which creates problems for backorders.).
6) There are probably some costs involved in uploading the game to the digital distribution service, plus increased maintenance.

Some of these reasons are probably wrong.
Reason 5 is poorly explained.
There are probably more reasons that I can't think about.


Either way, if you really must play Dominions III now, just play the demo until the game arrives.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Many points to address...

@Cheezeninja: "...don't want to go to digital distribution because either they have a large stockpile of printed CD's/Manuals in backstock that are far less likely to get sold that way, or they have their own printing setup"

We've gone through many, many print runs of the game and never have it collecting dust, so that's not an issue. And no, we don't have our own print setup.

"...Dominions 3 costs a pretty penny for an indy game, and digital distribution is cheaper"

Digital distribution is cheaper? No, because it's entirely up to the seller. My favorite example is Distant Guns, which sells for $90 as a download. Or Steel Beasts Pro for $125.

"Especially if you could get some exposure on some gaming websites like Penny-Arcade or TheEscapist or something"

Go to the Dominions 3 product page and click on the "What They're Saying" link. That's just a small smattering of recognition. Not saying it doesn't hurt to get even more exposure, but just pointing out that it's not like the game has been underexposed.

***

@llamabeast "...but because we love this game, and want it to do better."

And what's to say it's not doing perfectly fine as it is? We don't give out sales figures, and you won't find it on the NPD, but how do you know it hasn't sold like fifteen million copies? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Maybe half the population of India plays it. And sure, getting more people to buy it is always desirable, but sometimes I read these threads and get the sense that for whatever reason people think that only a 100 people on the planet are playing Dominions 3, which is far from the case.

***

@Jazzepi: "Especially in lieu of actually listening to your customers."

Come on, don't you mean because you don't get the answer you want?

Let's see, just in this thread Saulot said, " I know Dominions is great and all, but who can't wait a week or two, for what is, in the end, just a game?" So is his view any less valid than yours?

According to your way of thinking if some folks said that Illwinter should hand deliver the game with a basket of cheese and ale, then by God, that's what should happen because someone on a forum requested it. And if we the publisher aren't bending over backwards then we must not be listening to the customer, and we're a bad, bad company.

Why is it so hard to simply accept our answer? How about our customers actually listening to us?

As I've said multiple times, it doesn't mean that in the future it won't change. Heck, tomorrow we could go digital distribution. But today we're not.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Sorry, I phrased that poorly. What I meant was "even better". I know this game has done very well, very deservedly. I just meant that if it were possible to extend the audience even further then it would be good to do that.

Of course not. But let's assume 8 out of 10 people think like Saulot, and 2 in 10 like Jazzepi (I suspect it is a more even split than that). Well, even then you could gain a 25% sales increase by offering digital distribution! That's huge.

Personally I think a more extensive website with exciting descriptions of races and units, and links to AARs would also make a huge difference. Not many strategy fans could read a Dominions AAR and not want to buy it. Brad Wardell does AARs a lot for GalCivII, and they always go down very well. Here of course, the community can provide them.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Please save the hyperbole for someone else. You yourself, in your first post said "Here this goes again with the digital distribution." If you can't tell that a feature, which is becoming a widely accepted aspect of new releases (read direct2drive.com, or Steam, or even your own digital download distro system), is wanted after, by your own admission, it's been requested multiple times, by multiple people, over a long period of time, then it's clear to me that the problem lies with your perception of how many people desire and could use the digital distro, not with the customers' demands for a "basket of cheese and ale" with dominions 3.

Lastly, "Why is it so hard to simply accept our answer? How about our customers actually listening to us?" because you're not paying the customer to come to your website. You work for me, however indirectly, because I, and everyone else who patronizes your distro center, pay your bills. You are in the very end beholden to the person that puts the food on your table. Just as the butcher is beholden to his customers. If they start asking for foie gras, and are willing to pay the price he charges for it, then he should start selling it. This isn't a complicated concept, it's simple economics. In the end, the customer really is, always right.

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Exactly. And it's not like offering digital distro damages the physical distro for those that want it. Basilisk games, another indy developer, actually it's just one guy, has the perfect setup. You can buy the physical copy, or you can buy the digital copy. In either case, you can download the game right away and start playing.

http://www.basiliskgames.com/order.htm

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

> In the end, the customer really is, always right.

No way, you capitalist swine!!! I'm always right http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Actually, there is no law that forces anyone to make money. I'm making enough being a teacher. Just because someone is willing to pay me for making computer games is no reason I should.

I don't have any problem with shrapnel not using downloads. I quite like it. Then there will be less morons playing my game. Since my game is a masterpiece only ace-players should play it. With downloads there is no way to ensure that the potential player is not afflicted by short attention span.

Hmm, I'm loosing focus.

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

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

KO, I always love your posts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Time to lock this one and move on folks while only feelings are hurt.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Oh, Lord, PLEASE, save Ilwinter from "The Customer is always right!" mindset. As a selfish, elitist bastard, I certainly do not want the game "streamlined" to appeal to the masses. I'm happy with the way this series evolves, and if the developers are happy with the profits, why change it?

I have joined this forum only recently, but I have been collecting strategy tips for a while. Can we go back to "Nation X is under/overpowered", and "Strategy Y is abusive" threads? We have the game, and I, for one, have always been in more games than I should be playing. Digital distribution, price cuts... blah.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

When can we expect this upgrade in service?

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Customer demand is not a coercion. Just because some customer wishes for some service it does not mean that there is an obligation for a service provider to provide that service. In your butcher example, if the butcher think foie de gras is unethical, or that the logistics to carry it would be to costly the butcher is entirely free to not carry it. Apparently shrapnel feels that providing digital download would not be to their advantage, you might second guess their assesment but you will have to concede that they likely posess both more data and experience in making this assesment than you do, obviously they might still be wrong, but shrapnel is acting according to their percieved best interest, trying to maximise their revenue.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I have to agree that I'm definitely against commercial pressure coming anywhere near Dominions. The way in which it is written simply because of a love for the game rather than a mind for profit is wonderful.

The only reason I want more people to buy it is because I want to share the fun! I think of those poor people out there, playing crappy strategy games and not even knowing about the revelation that is just around the corner!

Caduceus, Don_Seba (and indeed S.R.Krol), very sorry if I've worded my posts too strongly. Obviously we're all very happy with both the game and the publishing service. I guess I just wanted to highlight the opportunities for increasing sales.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Llamabeast: No worries, I don't think any of your posts were too strong.

Jazzepi: *sigh* We keep going around in circles. You're entitled to your opinion, but it's not going to change our opinion. Agree to disagree.

And I don't even know where you get that butcher example from, but tell you what, go into your local supermarket and demand they start selling Ferraris. Sure, they're a supermarket and not an exotic car dealership, but if a customer wants something and they are willing to pay for it, they should always get it, right? Come on.

***

Funny thing about when these digital distribution threads crop up, it's always from folks who own the game already. Since its release I don't think we've gotten a single email from someone saying, "I will ONLY buy the game if it's available as a digital download." It's such a non-issue for the majority of gamers.

Anyway, it's been fun, and let's hope everyone hasn't gotten too worked up. Now let's get back to putting all this energy into playing the game.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

S.R. Krol:

Make AI better! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

We do keep going around in circles. I give a reasonable example (IE a butcher providing a different type of meat, since he's, you know, a *butcher*), and you distort it into something ridiculous that is completely off topic, IE the example you just gave. I mean, I know it's convenient for you to throw out these whacked out examples like someone trying to buy a Ferrari from a supermarket, but that's just intellectually dishonest.

Here, let me offer you this so that you have an idea of why you should add digital distro.

If I could buy this game through digital distro with the same DRM currently in place, I would have, and it would have added value to the product while cutting the amount of money it cost you to sell the game, thus increasing your profits.

Jazzepi

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

I'm not sure what circles you're seeing. I'm seeing something like this:
Jazzepi: you should have digital distribution for x, y, and z reasons.
S.R. Krol: we don't want to.

That's not a circle, that's just you plugging your ears saying "la la la la." I'm not saying you're right or wrong, I'm just saying that that answer isn't going to satisfy anybody.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Jazzepi -

You are wasting your time. They don't really care about getting the game out to more people or increasing sales. The creators said it themselves in this thread (in so many words) and in other places.

While this concept is bizarre to most people (i.e. us) it is their purgatives.

It's the same reasoning that leads to the creators saying they don't want a save game feature and why glaring interface/ai issues exist but we get more expansion nations. It's also the one of the main reason why dominions will never get above the reputation that it is just an eccentric niche game for "hardcore" players.

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Obviously because its much more fun to make new nations than to fix small, complicated AI problems. :p

And the reason it will be a niche game is because its too much complexity for a vast majority of our last generation to wrap their mind around. This game is a LOT of work. For me, a huge part of the depth and greatness comes from all the amazing unit descriptions. most people dont have such a creative imagination, that would take "work". TV's just feed your entertainment to you. Im not saying this is any of you, but it is a vast majority of the population.

I have no problem being a gaming elitist. :p

Re: Why Not Digitial Distribution?
 

Of course! But the interface/ai problems are what ultimately detracts from the game - not the lack of playable nations.

I find this argument lacking. There plenty of complex games that are very detailed and complex but still very popular - Civ4, GalCiv2, etc... Dominions is a fine strategy game but it's players are not uber-gamers anymore than Civ4 fans are uber-gamers.