Downloadable retail needed?

[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.

[calmon]

Endoperez said:

"Physical books are history.

The future is electronic books, end of story."

Things aren't as simple as they seem.

In moment noone will read e-books on pc or notebook. I'm just waiting for the right hardware. Sony will come out with some cool light e-book reader.

But back to topic

[Archonsod]

Electronic sales (whether download or shipping, as in Shrapnel's case) still make up less than 10% of the market as far as software retailing goes. Your not likely to see electronic distribution becoming the norm for a while yet (at least, not until the scaremongering about ID theft or Credit Card scams dies down).

Personally I prefer a CD (I even bought Gal Civ 2 on CD rather than online). Simple reason - if the company selling the game goes out of business, then I can still play the game without needing to worry about online activation or similar crap. I've seen far too many companies go under to put my faith in a developer, even EA....

[PDF]

Archonsod said:
...
Personally I prefer a CD (I even bought Gal Civ 2 on CD rather than online). Simple reason - if the company selling the game goes out of business, then I can still play the game without needing to worry about online activation or similar crap. I've seen far too many companies go under to put my faith in a developer, even EA....

You're citing "unfair", abusively restrictive d/l systems that don't allow you to make a CD yourself or limit your freedom to use the game in a way or another.
But if you buy and d/l from Matrix, Stardock or Ageod , you'll get a "normal", unrestricted install file that you can backup and don't have to worry for online activation or special upgrade system.
So it's not really an argument against game d/l...

[B0rsuk]

"Physical books are history.

The future is electronic books, end of story."

Things aren't as simple as they seem.

Just like someone above, I'm waiting for the right hardware. I'll still be reading paper books for a while, but only because of their present availablity.
As soon as I bought my music player (I refrain from using mp3 because I bought mine for oggs and Linux support) I said all cds goodbye. I only buy music cds when it's the only way to get the music I want, or I particularly respect the band. The device would fit in my mouth assuming I'd want to put it there. And it easily holds equivalent of 10 audio cds at a time. No one wants plastic, fragile and vulnerable to oxidization cds. No wonder recording industry is so desperate.
The funniest of all, sound quality is damn good, significantly better than on my PC's ac97.
---------------
Now back to topic.

Some people make it sound like putting Dominions3 on torrent and selling only patches* err I mean cdkeys would help piracy.
Don't delude yourself. It took my friend one day to find and download full version of Dominions3. Yes, I know this post will be edited soon, but it had to be said.
If Dominions3 was available for sale/download, people who pirate it could buy it instead.

I'm still waiting for my copy of Dominions3 to arrive. I paid for it on 17th, and Tuxgames is supposed to have it on 13th. All excitement is long gone. Blood and souls for round pieces of plastic !@ YeEeeaaH !
---------
Additional benefits of electronic selling:

- no need to manufacture cd's. (result: the game is cheaper)
- no need to store cd's. It costs money, too (result: the game is cheaper)
- you need electronic activation anyway (correct me if I'm wrong, but you couldn't patch Dominions2 offline).
-----------

Ultimately, it's convenience for seller versus convenience for customer. Download is convenient for customer. Shipping is convenient for seller, it seems. I suppose making customers happier doesn't pay off.

As for the manual, as someone already pointed out, hybrid solutions are possible (pdf early, just manual sent later).

------------
* a typo caused by being lost in thoughts, but EA Games actually makes you pay for patches. With money and sanity.

[Archonsod]

PDF said:
You're citing "unfair", abusively restrictive d/l systems that don't allow you to make a CD yourself or limit your freedom to use the game in a way or another.

I mentioned Star Dock

Even so, a file I can make a CD from is fair enough, assuming I have a CD burner. The problem is not so much the download itself, as the protection methods in the Download - you can make a CD copy of HL2, but your still dependent on Steam being up to actually activate it.
There's also the whole ownership thing. I'd rather have a nice CD case, with a manual I can flick through on the train and whatever other goodies are shoved in there than a bunch of binary any day.

Theft is the act of taking something from someone unlawfully. When I take something from someone, he loses it. That's not the case with unathorised copying.

How about the developer who doesn't get paid because the game isn't selling? Or his kids & wife who lose their home because he lost his job? Like it or not, the second you pirate the game, your making yourself implicit in those kind of effects.

[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 )