Steam Greenlight
 

Hello. I've played Dominions 3 on and off since it has come out and have always suggested it to friends to buy. Lots of them were interested but the fact they had to order it online and also the price tag on it really turned them off to the game.

Now just recently Steam released this feature where game developers can submit their game on this and have it liked or disliked by people with steam accounts whether they support it being on steam or not. I always loved this game and wished more people bought it so I could play multiplayer with other people more easily.

I simply want more people to know about this great game and think this is an opportunity to make this game more well known and help it live on and maybe even expand the modding community. I hope shrapnel will see this and take it into consideration. I want to help in any way I can to spread the word of this amazing game.

Here's a link to what exactly Steam Greenlight is: http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/a...65&section=faq

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

unfortunately shrapnel have no interest in marketing the game any further, people have suggested this sort of thing in the past and they've always responded with pithy excuses about how niche their market is. they say the same thing whenever someone suggests lowering the price of a game released in 2006.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Steam turned down Illwinter on their new game Conquest of Elysium 3. So it might help there. Maybe Steam didnt know who they were turning down so this campaign might help

As far as price drops, maybe Dom2 or Dom1. Heck Conquest of Elysium 2 is one of the free download games from Shrapnel.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

yeah I don't know if there is a way to contact them directly but this is the best alternative I could find. Hopefully this is taken into consideration to breath new life into the game. I seriously would love to see the modding community for this game spring up again and I think Steam distribution/advertisement would be the answer. If anyone knows a way to get this message to the guys behind this then please help. Thank you all for taking the time to read my topic :)

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

That said Dominions 3 is a ton better game than Conquest of Elysium 3. I am not surprised at all Steam didn't accept CoE3. It's a cool concept but a very flawed game (I haven't played in ages though, but I doubt patches overhauled pretty much everything.) Though while I believe Dominions 3 would have fair chance of being accepted by Steam, the current pricing is so ludicrous that there is no way that would happen.

*edited out*

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

@Drok'Slit consider it passed on. And yes they do appreciate efforts like this from the community.

@Elmokki Isnt that what this effort is about? To convince Steam. There are great games on Steam. And there are cheap games on Steam. There are even some great cheap games on Steam. And altho some people may think that defines Steam it does not seem true. There are games on there which are more expensive than Dom3, and there are games on there which are crappier than Coe3.

So maybe just telling Steam that they should look past their initial impressions of those games, and there there is a dedicated following, might be enough to get ours listed there also.

Altho personally Im more interested in whether they are listed on Amazon.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

concvincing steam won't do anything if shrapnel don't allow further disribution.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Im not sure of the particulars on how things like that work. Maybe Steam could still sell it but just no going on sale.
Dom3 is on Amazon

Besides, it would still help CoE3 get on there

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

There are games on steam more expensive than 55 dollars? I'm gonna have to ask you to show me one. iirc steam has a max of 50 bucks.

Edit:

Right, after doing my own homework, I see that call of duty: black ops 2 is 60 bucks. Link: http://store.steampowered.com/search...rt_order=DESC&

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

More than that. Not a lot but there is more
http://store.steampowered.com/search...&category1=998

But that wasnt the point. The point I was making is that the impression of Steam some people have of a bargain basement site. As if all of the games are under $20 and often go on sale for 10 or 5 or 2. Its not that way for all of the games. It doesnt look like Steam is turning down Illwinter based on price or quality. I think they just dont know Illwinter

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Oh seriously. They might turn CoE3 down very easily even if it was free. While the game is not THAT bad, the terrible UI (and actually fairly plain graphics) make it seem quite crappy.

When it comes to Dominions 3, I would definitely not see it as a $50/50€ game and would definitely turn it down if the developer insists on that price. It's a fairly hard to access indie strategy game with fairly plain graphics. Does not matter whose fault it is, but the market for such probably just does not have enough demand at $50, especially when it would be sold next to all the AAA titles at the same price.

Of course Valve most definitely has a better clue than I do when it comes to demand curves of digital download games.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Did you look at some of the games on there? If I remember that Transformers game is more than Dom3 and it seems like its just an eye-candy item

IN any case, whether Steam goes for it or not I would think that at least the various splintered communities would agree that telling Steam they should try to add Illwinter is something we all should think about doing. I thought that the big noise of the cry-stupid crowd was that Steam wasnt carrying the game? Now it comes down to something we can do.

But I should stop replying. Like I said I really dont care if Steam carries it or not.
I want Amazon to.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

The question is if there is any real possibility of getting Dom3 on steam? If valve decided they want to distribute Dom3, could they do that without Shrapnels consent?

I will push for CoE3 going steam if it paves the way for Dom3, otherwise I don't see the point.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

In the past couple of months I've noticed a lot of indie games appearing on GOG. Seems like that could be a good outlet for IW games. Steam undoubtedly has a larger audience but GOG may have a more targeted audience with a tolerance for non-cutting edge graphics.

But I don't know that I've ever seen a game over $30 on GOG. So price could be an issue there just as it might be on Steam. It's not that I don't think Dom3 is worth it - I clearly do and my cost/hour played is the lowest of any game I've ever purchased. One of Dom3's strengths is that if it is the type of game you enjoy* it has tremendous replay value. But many (most?) people view the $50 price point as being one limited to AAA games. And it's tough to argue with a AAA title that combines nice graphics with solid gameplay. But many fall down on the second part of the equation. Personally, I don't care how much was spent on development or how nice the graphics are - if the gameplay isn't good then the game isn't worth much to me.

*Because people have different tastes I really recommend they try the demo before buying Dom3.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

I always thought the price of dom3 was set by shrapnel not illwinter. That probably means they have all kinds of contractual agreements about that. And knowing shrapnel, NDA's.

(I'll not start the rant about NDA's again :) ).

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

I'm expect you're right about Shrapnel having considerable input in setting the price but I notice CoE is $30, which is at the high end of the prices on Desura (there were some comments to this effect) and indie games in general. So it seems to me that is what IW considers a fair price point for their games.

But after that I start making some assumptions: namely that IW would view Dom3 as a more complex game that involved more effort to create than CoE and should therefore be priced higher (even considering it has been out for several years). So maybe it would be priced at $40 as a download? Too many assumptions, I guess. For all I know IW would price it at $30 just like CoE. Still at the high end of indie games but not an insignificant difference from current pricing.

Then I guess the question is, have enough potential players been put off by the current price that would give it a try at around $30?

Of course another option is the "Steam special" super discounted price but I haven't seen any indication IW would go that low on the price (they did have a considerable discount on CoE a couple of months that brought close to $20 but nothing like <$10).

It's pretty interesting watching the trends in computer gaming these days. On the one hand, digital distribution is a great opportunity for smaller developers to not have to fight for shelf space. OTOH there seems to be a consistent downward trend in prices along with new models (I think they're new anyway) like free to play (not a fan of that one at all).

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Dom3 would count as an old game anyway, they have games of a similar age on there.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

They have new release-date games too.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Well, I've started a new thread, but there is this is already.
Illwinter maybe "a dog on a hay", according to one russian proverb, but community needs the development of dominions anyway. I think it is possible to form a community on steam, to attract the attention to dominions gamestyle. Valve is a strong company searching for ideas, it can either buy out the entire title or make a similar one, wuth somewhat better grapnics. I am thankfull to makers and publishers of current dominions, but I need the development, including lesser micromanagement when it is stupid, and better AI. Show must go on even if someones whant to freeze it for decades.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Hmmm OK. Illwinter made it to Steam. Conquest of Elysium 3 is there (and instantly on sale). We will see how well that works out.

But apparently there is a problem with the MP part. I open one copy as a server, then open another copy as a client so I can play in my own game. But apparently Steam doesnt allow that. Anyone have any suggestions?

And Im guessing Steam would have the same problem with Dom3.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Dominions 3 is published by Shrapnel. Conquest of Elysium 3 is published by Illwinter (via Desura and whatnot and now Steam). I doubt Dominions 3 will see Steam. Sure, though, I doubted CoE3 getting to Steam too, but reasons were different.

Anyway, at least on Windows installations you can try just clicking the .exe file instead of using Steam to launch the game. That generally works with games that don't use the Steam DRM to it's full extent.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Will that create a game "on steam" for getting players?
That seems to be the desire.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

I have no idea since I don't own CoE3 (EDIT: on Steam), but if it works like that I suppose it might work if you launch the server process from Steam and the other one outside. Provided you can connect to it anyway.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Dominions 3 is now on Greenlight.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfile.../?id=123485567

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Damn Steam's browser for being so slow! I wanna vote for Dominions III, damn it

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

If I may state the obvious, the game is already available on desura for 20 euros.

What could you want more?

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Its never ending. :)
If they get it on Steam with $2.50 sales and all free updates & patches (like Illwinters other game) then they will ask for it to be free, free, free.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

hmm it's available on a crappy distribution service, why would people want it on the best one instead, i wonder

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

Admiral_Aorta, that is something that depends a little on the point of view. From mine, Desura is superior to Steam because while it has the option of running an automated client, it is not required. With Steam, I don't have that option. For others, Steam is superior because this particular issue is not a consideration.

That said, I would love to see Dominions 3 on Steam, because it would get more exposure to a wider audience and what Steam does and very well is provide ease of use for those who do not share my personal proclivities and preferences with regard to the distribution service.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

I don't know who "they" are, but as far as the MP community goes the reason why "we" would like the game on steam and affordably priced has nothing to do with wanting to buy the game ourselves, we already own the game so it doesn't matter if it's free or whatever.

The reason why "we" want the game on steam is to attract more players to play with, more modders to make mods, more new friends to be friends with and so on. I personally don't care that much, there is lot's of new players already since the desura move and I don't use steam. But more MP players is always nice, and steam availability would probably keep the game alive longer too.

Re: Steam Greenlight
 

That is true. We would benefit from the influx. Illwinters newer game Conquest of Elysium 3 is on Steam and it has already sold more units than all of the dominions put together. I look forward to the Steaming Horde.

But "keep the game alive longer"? Wow. In the case of Dominions 3 that brings a smile. It is already a surprise to people for maintaining such an active playerbase for so many years. There are not many games in the same class for longevity.