Digital Download Version? - Page 2

TheBigBlueBox · #11 October 2nd, 2006, 03:17 AM

Well I guess there's one thing that you wouldn't get if dominions 3 had a digital download version... the whopping 300 page tome of a manual that I'm looking forward to almost as much as the game

I miss the days when nearly all PC games came with thick manuals!!

Theonlystd · #12 October 2nd, 2006, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Rogue said:
Bah, if I might add some thoughts here--D2D is horrid (imho). I snagged Temple of Elemental Evil with "hit points" from D2D and it's un-playable (can't loot bodies with DirectX 9.0c). Seems it won't work unless you patch with the most current patch....

....which Atari has on their site but is NOT compatible with D2D games (security thing with the way D2D is set up). I opened a D2D ticket on this to request support (and patch)--they sent an automated response back telling me to patch the game....

I pressed the issue and they closed the ticket saying to please down the patch when it's available. Well...the patch isn't out there on the D2D site and you can't get ToEE from D2D anymore either now....

I also saw some posts stating "Sword of the Stars" had this issue too--the D2D patch lagged badly behind the retail "boxed" versions out on the net. Give me a boxed set with printed manual any day!!!!

Ahem, sorry...I'll drop off my soap box and back to lurking--just saw D2D and starting having an eye twitch!

Aye D2D is pretty crappy.. But that was mostly just an example..

Steam is pretty solid i've gotten 6 or so games threw there with no problem, And i've gotten a couple threw GamersGate..

Caduceus · #13 October 2nd, 2006, 05:22 PM

D2D seems to not support updates and patches, from what I have seen - Oblivion is another example.

Gandalf Parker · #14 October 2nd, 2006, 05:35 PM

There are some great examples out there. Its like the early days of BLOGs. Many great ones. But until there was a "download and install this to provide your customers with blogs" it wasnt able to take off.

Ive helped design some services for internet providors. Digital Download is one of the scariest Ive seen. Real potential there for a bad headlines type of disaster. It seems simple but the details kill you.

Kurgan · #15 October 3rd, 2006, 11:22 PM

Then why is it that some games are available for digital download but not this one?

Caduceus · #16 October 3rd, 2006, 11:23 PM

That's been talked about in other threads, but essentially 1.) assuring good support and 2.) piracy issues.

Kurgan · #17 October 3rd, 2006, 11:36 PM

Ok, but....
1) good support? do you mean patches? these are downloadable as well?
2) just as easy to copy a disc so should not be an issue?

Gandalf Parker · #18 October 4th, 2006, 12:33 AM

There are many factors. I cant speak for this one but at other places it was

A) small free programs vs major products

We had a heck of a time downloading this game for beta tests. People can stand problems in downloads of patches or demos that they wont stand for in something they paid for.

Also the beta team heavily impacted the server doing the downloads. Can you imagine what the delivery of this game would do to a server? Buying bigger better servers in advnace for digital download is a gamble on possible profits that DD can bring. And outsourcing to companies that have huge server farms all over is not a cheap thing. And digital download is not likely to actually sell lots more copies

B) controlling the copies

Server crashes or using multiple servers causes a headache in the tracking of downloads. Verifying that a person has purchased the game and is resuming a download rather than grabbing a second copy

Doing it with no control of the software and only controlling the serial codes is an option but it needs to be setup that way from the beginning

C) integration

tying purchases thru some installable shopping cart package into an in-house written control of copies without compromising personal information

D) test runs

Everyone is trying out Digital Download but most of them are trying it with programs that wont kill the company if it messes up.

Some developers are more willing to be test runs than others are.

BigJMoney · #19 October 4th, 2006, 12:45 AM

I might be dead wrong on this, but I can imagine that it's not necessarily that digital distribution is not cost effective, but that trying to do both digital and classic distribution together incurs too much cost; at least right now for some conpanies. Managing cost and risk is a large enough task with one distribution model, and it doesn't surprise me if trying to tackle another model makes it unprofitable.

=$=

Terl · #20 October 4th, 2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Caduceus said:
D2D seems to not support updates and patches, from what I have seen - Oblivion is another example.

They do but it takes a while. I have purchased a few games from D2D and have been pleased. I do not purchase new games from them though because of the delay in patches.

Of course, Matrix games offers digital downloads of their games (I have a few of their titles too) and it works quite well. I like digital downloading. I also have bought through GamersGate (Paradox and others) and it works well.

I know Shrapnel has a couple on digital downloads. I am surprised they do not have more. As someone else noted in this thread, the process opens up more potential for problems but I think it would be worth it especially with so many other outlets available.