Downloadable retail needed?

[calmon]

Gandalf Parker said:
and I dont see where the benefit of it outweighs the chances they would take. Its not that kindof a game.

The biggest benefit is that we can get the game as soon as possible, regardless where you live.

[Maltrease]

Frankly, I'm not even sure that piracy is that big of an issue as long as people couldn't play multiplayer games with a pirated copy.

I found Dominions 2 on a "trial" game index website. Downloaded and liked the game. Downloaded the demo to play with the latest patched versions and promptly bought the game to play online with others and to get the full version with the latest patches.

A "trial" version on a game like this will never be up to date... or if it was Dominions would be so vastly more popular that I doubt shrapnel or Illwinter would be complaining.

And someone that is into the game is going to be dying to read through a huge list of patches and additions that they don't have access to.

If it wasn't for that "trial" site I may have never found Dominions and Shrapnel would never have got my $110.

Its kind of a separate issue, but if you take a reduced stance on piracy it can simplify an online distribution.

Basically you need to let anyone who has bought the game be able to download it (username and password login to a download site). Track how many times it was download... so you can cut them off at 10 or 20 times unless they send and email (basically in case the account was shared with others).

Then you just protect the serials numbers.

I haven't checked the "trial" sites for Dominions. But the last thing you want is someone that wants the game right now... and finds out that they can get a version immediately illegally versus waiting a week to buy it legitimately. But I suppose even in that case they will still eventually buy it so they can play multiplayer. What you wouldn’t get are people that ended up not liking the game enough to buy it later who might have dropped the money before they didn’t know they wouldn’t be in love with it (Sword of the Stars in my case).

[PhilD]

Maltrease said:
Its kind of a separate issue, but if you take a reduced stance on piracy it can simplify an online distribution.

This is basically what Stardock does. Shrapnel seems to take a mixed stance: no "please insert CD #x" nonsense, but, at least in the case of Dominions, at least the non-distribution of a PDF manual serves as a minor deterrent to piracy. Not a huge issue to me, and it's clearly their call.

[Maltrease]

Since I already have the game its not a big issue to me either. Before I had the game... it was more important.

[Gandalf Parker]

Reduced piracy stance was why I mentioned BitTorrent and serial tracking. The game could be made available for ANY site to offer as a download. Sell and track serial numbers only. If they were going to go that direction, Id say that might work well. Split the manual between a minimum keypresses and basic starting PDF, and a strategy guide hard print manual.

Even if they affered purchaseable serial numbers it would help since many of us have access to someone who has the CD. I ended up with more manuals than I needed.

But I wouldnt take a low piracy stance due to lack of multiplayer action. If the player base isnt big enough to support digital download then its definately not big enough for that since I see many who are solo players.

[Janster]

Cough, there is really no options.

The future is downloadable games, end of story

This is electronic media, why the heck is it being transported in ancient cd media????

Sure, some like the box, and I'm sure they can still order it.

I use.

Stardock , works like a charm
Steam , works like a charm, exept a bit slow.
Gamersgate (paradox et al.) works like a charm.

I think, saved cost on printing/cd's and retail outlets = more money for devs.

This is not an option for the future , get Dominion on DOwnload NOW.

Janster

[Endoperez]

Janster said:
Cough, there is really no options.

The future is downloadable games, end of story

"Physical books are history.

The future is electronic books, end of story."

Things aren't as simple as they seem.

[Agrajag]

Janster said:
Steam , works like a charm, exept a bit slow.

You must mean like the magical charms the lady across the street sold you. (ie doesn't)
I don't really think I have to mention what happened when HL2 came out...

Must I also mention the "Triton" game download service closing down and leaving thousands of Prey players unable to use their legally purchased product? (especially frustrating since people that bought a copy at the local store could still play)
(The link is in hebrew, so most of you shouldn't bother entering )

[alexti]

Maltrease said:
What you wouldn’t get are people that ended up not liking the game enough to buy it later who might have dropped the money before they didn’t know they wouldn’t be in love with it (Sword of the Stars in my case).

I would argue that it is a good approach. If you buy some product and you realize you don't like it you can return it back to the retailer. Computer games somehow are exception from that (ok, usually you can return them back, but it's a bit of a hassle). So if the publisher/developer don't mind not getting money from people who tried the game and didn't like I support them in that decision.

[Tim Brooks]

Hi all.

It is always interesting to read threads like these. you know, we have a very different philospohy on our games than most. But we analyze what is happening, what people are saying and then we look at the reality. So far, we haven't seen that making a game downloadable adds to sales, at least not in the way you hope it would. Janster, don't you miss out on games if the only way you would buy them is by download? Someone here (wait, that was me!) said that if you had bought the game the day you started this thread, you would be playing it now. I guess to each his own and I don't fault you for your dl fanatacism, but Dominions 3 won't be available in a download version as there are no plans for that at all.

Happy Gaming!