Are we paying more for less?

[Talleyrand]

Does anyone else have a problem with the prices here at Shrapnel Games and for the Dominions series in particular? I want to have a serious discussion here. I hate being negative but the business model here just really blows my mind. Years ago I played the Dominions 2 demo and enjoyed it moderately. The graphics were terrible but the game appeared to have depth to it, something that is seriously lacking in today's strategy genre. I was however put off by, what seemed to me to be, exuberant pricing. I was torn by the desire to support an independent developer and publisher making good strategy games, but also not feeling the parties were justified in charging so much for their product: a product with such poor production values. So I would check in every couple of months or so just to see if Shrapnel had lowered the price, so I could finally purchase it. Did they ever lower it? No, and now Dominions 2 has disappeared from their online store, to be replaced by the even more expensive Dominions 3.

I genuinely want to understand this. Practical business says that you charge what the market will bear for your product. Demand is higher upon initial release so you are justified in charging a higher price, but after some time you try to cater to those customers who were on the fence and will only purchase the product when the price comes down. Dominions 2's price never came down, except for one very short-lived monthly special, now it's gone, and once again I as a perspective customer am stuck with the dilemna of wanting to play a strategy game with lots of depth and choices, but not feeling the production values warrant a $55 price tag. Am I alone? I see a lot of people clamoring for the Dominions 3 demo. Obviously you guys don't feel $55 + shipping is reasonable until you actually play the game. That in and of itself says something considering most of you are Dominions 2 fans and familiar with the series.

I just want some type of compromise. You know you have a good thing here with Dominions but you also have to look realistically at the production values of your game over others, along with the standard pricing policies of the industry, and come to the conclusion that maybe you might be even more successful if perhaps you didn't demand so much "loyalty" from people who enjoy your games and want to see good things happen for you and your companies. Charging so much for this series is really just a lose/lose situation. You don't get my money, and I don't get a good game.

Help me help you!