Hello, new guy here...

[Korpus]

Hi,

Sorry to look like a total idiot, but I did do a little searching, and couldn't find a definate answer. So, I'm hoping one of you nice people can answer it for me.

From what I gather, you can't buy this game at any retail outlet. So, you have to order it Online. Am I right or wrong? If you do that's ok, I'm just wondering.

Second, if you can't buy it in a retail store, do you think it will ever be available that way? Just curious.

Thirdly, I have played the demo, and I am impressed. While it is difficult to get used to the interface, and the graphics and sound aren't great (I do thoroughly enjoy the music, however) I had a bLast playing it. I actually got mad when my turn limit was up, and have played a few of the different races and gods.

Very cool game, and I hope you can put out an Dominions III with some nice graphical additions. It's really not needed, but would help with your sales to the general public. I'm sure you know that already, just saying it out loud.

Anyway, I hope to buy your game soon, after I get tired of having my turns end just when it is getting good.

Thanks for a highly original game. Keep up the good work.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Korpus:
Sorry to look like a total idiot, but I did do a little searching, and couldn't find a definate answer. So, I'm hoping one of you nice people can answer it for me.

Thank you for searching first.

From what I gather, you can't buy this game at any retail outlet. So, you have to order it Online. Am I right or wrong? If you do that's ok, I'm just wondering.

Yes only Online. A few places but usually sending people to www.shrapnelgames.com takes care of it.

Second, if you can't buy it in a retail store, do you think it will ever be available that way? Just curious.

Its not all that unusual. A garage-project game is usually only available from the guys who make it (Dominions 1 was that way). Most dont get the attention of a publisher on their 2nd Version. A publisher like Shrapnel to take care of the CD's, orders, shipping, some advertising, etc. The way that the recognition is climbing a box on the shelves might happen with #3. That would be a very uncommon event but then Dom has been has been doing uncommon events.

[Unwise]

I dunno - Combat Mission was orginally only available on-line, but after word-of-mouth and positive reviews drove the demand through the roof, it made its way to the retail shelves.

That said, an actual box is a fairly big investment - though I suspect the manual wasn't cheap - and Shrapnel might not be willing to take the plunge, resoning that the wave of new players from the reviews might have reached its peak anyway.

[Targa]

Yeah, I imagine it's a balancing act trying to figure out cost effectiveness with boxing and distribution. Also, there are some very bad things that happen to game developers (are you reading this, coders?) I have seen many cases where a couple (or a few) people developed a game, it became a hit, and they made a deal with a "big outfit" for their next sequel. Well, that changes the whole scenario. Now they get "pay advances" to keep food on the table while they develop the game, and the big company reaps most of the profits. Then, later on, the big company decides that the "ideas aren't fresh enough anymore", or "your current ideas aren't in line with what we're looking for", and effectively shutdown the small developer who has come to rely on them for food-money. Thief series (Looking Glass Studios ruined/shutdown by Eidos), Descent series (Interplay...Outrage/Ion Storm...Descent 4 was scrapped and you never saw another game from these guys), just to name a couple. It's a case of "Big fish eat little fish"...happens all the time.

So....stick to working in your garage and making quality games, and don't let a big publisher get their hooks into your flesh.