SEIV GOLD Rebate

Spoo · #1 December 5th, 2001, 09:17 AM

I'm somewhat torn. On one hand I'll be getting several new features and continued support for the best 4x game ever (I've already ordered SEIV GOLD). On the other hand, it seems that Shrapnel and MM are trying to componsate for the lost income from illegal copies - which I think they are entitled to. However, how far will this go? Releasing a new CD will not stop illegal copies. Is there going to be an SEIV PLATINUM next year? Sure no one HAS to buy anything else, but the fact of the matter is a game like this is at its best when played with other people. Older Versions are not compatable with newer ones. In order for people to stay with PBW (or the new TCP/IP), they have to buy the new Version. It's not really a question of "Do you want drones?" it's a question of "Do you want to keep playing SEIV?" I do. However, some people might just find it easier to get an illegal copy of SEIV GOLD. After all, they already paid for SEIV once... And all of the other patches were free... (And no, I'm not suggesting pirating is at all appropriate, but I know how people think.)

You can declare me a heretic if it makes you feel better, but you have to consider the fact that the new features don't need a new CD to work. This is simply a case of Shrapnel and MM asking for more money. But that's what businesses do. And they'll get my money, and I imagine the money of many others on this forum. It's just that I'd hate to think that those of us who paid for SEIV and will pay for SEIV GOLD are being used to cover the losses for the people who have, and will continue to, pirate the the game.

Yin · #2 December 5th, 2001, 09:55 AM

I would say that if MM hadn't been attentive to the fans in the first place, then they deserve to be criticized. However, they seem to have more than listened to and tried to please the gamers here, and they also have the insight into the community to understand that modding is crucial ... SE4 seems to be one of the easiest to mod games ever made!

It is unfortunate that they brought up the pirating, issue, however. Honestly, while that may be of a 'business' concern, the fact is that MM despite 40,000 pirated copies out there has earned your money for the Gold Edition.

And earned it many times over. Please try to think of it that way. Yes, the pirates still 'win' you can say and the good guys pay more money, but the good guys are getting the best entertainment value in gaming, I would think, and the pirates are hopefully lined up to get caught somehow, some way in my Utopian Future.

CW · #3 December 5th, 2001, 03:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Puke:
I say you should offer either a credit or nothing. if you are offering a credit, you might be able to do it without any proof of purchase, thus all the non-cd-breaking people can be happy. that will also increase exposure to other shrapnel games, and encourage many of us here in the 4x comunity to branch into real mans games. like battletech you WUSSY WARHAMMER PLAYING ENGLISHMEN! PLAY A REAL WARGAME GODDAMMIT!

On the same line of thinking (more of less), if I only get a credit and not hard cash it will probably not provide enough motivation for lazy people like me to upgrade to the gold Version. Given that the gold upgrade or any Shrapnel games for that matter will actually cost me MORE than a brand new off-the-shelf game here in Australia; and that the gold Version only adds a few features; AND the fact that there are other off-the-shelf games that I'd like to get my hands on, I'm pretty sure what decision I'm going to make.

My point is a credit won't provide me with much benefit, since it will hardly be enough to pay for the postage to ship a game to Australia.

Richard · #4 December 5th, 2001, 03:32 PM

I can guarantee you that there will not be another SE:IV Gold or Platinum or whatever.

Mephisto · #5 December 5th, 2001, 04:23 PM

But I very much hope for SE5.

quote:
Originally posted by Richard:
I can guarantee you that there will not be another SE:IV Gold or Platinum or whatever.

WarChild · #6 December 5th, 2001, 04:36 PM

Since the "Gold" edition is just an extension of the current game that we all originally purchased, why not dispense entirely with the rebate issue by using a form of electronic distribution?

Make the "Gold" edition into a patch of the original game which adds all of the features/improvements and includes a .PDF Version of the new manual. Distribute it as an electronic download that can be purhased for $20 (and could even include some form of activation/registration code delivered via e-mail to combat piracy).

This avoids customers destroying the original CD and shipping it back, Shrapnel from wrestling with credits/rebate checks especially for customers overseas, and saves money for Shrapnel by not having to manufacture CD's for people who have already bought the original game, nor does Shrapnel have to print the new manual.

Many have written about their hesitancy to destroy the original CD, or even just the bother and cost, however minor, of sending it back. Overseas customers have clearly written that the costs involved with cashing checks from the U.S. hardly makes the rebate worthwhile. Shrapnel has written that credit card credits encur them a fee. Some customers are not interested in Shrapnel store credit.

We all love this game, and have always been overwhelmed by the level of attention and support provided by both Shrapnel and MM. We appreciate the attempt by Shrapnel to provide a savings in the form of a rebate to existing owners of the game.

Hundreds of companies distribute upgrades or even entire programs electronically in downloadable format, many with a form of piracy protection or registration process involved. I would think that employing this type of distribution has considerable advantages across the board for Shrapnel and only minor disadvantages for the customer. The customer does has the burden of printing the manual, of having an e-mail account to receive any activation code, and of the download itself (which could be somewhat cumbersome to those with modem connections, but high-speed Subscribers would not be inconvenienced at all.)

I think most existing customers would readily pay for this electronic upgrade, (even if the download took some time; i.e. over a phone modem) in order to dispense with the rebate hassle. Others who do find this upgrade process inconvenient, or for newcomers to SE4, could purchase the CD by the standard method.

zen. · #7 December 5th, 2001, 05:52 PM

I was one of the first to express concern about the rebate, the CD destruction, etc. But you know what? Never mind.

Reading this thread and the others has convinced me that Shrapnel and Malfador do deserve every penny. Like most other people, after finishing a game or three of any given game, I shelve it. SEIV is the ONLY game I keep coming back to. Why? Because it's constantly being improved. New stuff is added, whether by the community or the creator, that makes it worthwhile to experience again and again. No other game is as customizable...you don't like something? Mod it!

Which brings me to my point of why I'm going to purchase the Gold and forget about the rebate. What other genre of game does SEIV resemble? Massively MultiPlayer Online Games. MMPOGs. To highlight, MMPOGs are the only games that have a constant development cycle; they are constantly being patched and prodded and tweaked. Similarly, SEIV added Play-by-Web, for pity's sake. Most other games on the shelves are obsolete in the year, and their support is dust soon after release (sometimes the companies themselves fold). The only way MMORGs sustain the support is those annoying little '$9.95's or whatever they charge every MONTH.

Now, considering that there is constant support for the community, and I've been playing this for well over a year, it's not too unreasonable to ask for a little bit more with a new release. I have definitely gotten my money's worth from the initial purchase. I've certainly paid more for lesser games, too. If the Gold Version gives me another year of playability and helps development of SE5, I'm in.