Downloadable retail needed?

Shovah32 · #1 November 6th, 2006, 12:52 PM

So just imagine where it could be with a downloadable version

Honestly i can see the pro's and cons of both sides so i think i better not stress out my little mind by getting involved.

Nerfix · #2 November 6th, 2006, 01:06 PM

Yeah, I know the download version would boost the sales but the "OMU DOMINIONS IS NOT SELLING!!!1" doom and gloom tires me.

Agrajag · #3 November 6th, 2006, 01:56 PM

Do you realize how much it costs to develope on online distribution system that will actually work well?
Or even just "renting" an existing one.

If you feel like donating a few mil to shrapnel, I'm sure they'll see things your way

PDF · #4 November 6th, 2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Agrajag said:
Do you realize how much it costs to develope on online distribution system that will actually work well?
Or even just "renting" an existing one.

If you feel like donating a few mil to shrapnel, I'm sure they'll see things your way

No, renting doesn't cost much, there's a good choice of professionnal e-solutions vendors.
Not making Dom3 available by download is Shrapnel's choice, but it hasn't to do with cost- it'll be less costly than printing the CDs and manuals.

Folket · #5 November 6th, 2006, 02:10 PM

Gamers front have a download service. But I think the manual to dominions 3 makes the game. At last a manual that tells something about the game.

reverend · #6 November 6th, 2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Folket said:
But I think the manual to dominions 3 makes the game. At last a manual that tells something about the game.

Exactly. You could include it as a .pdf, but I take any bet that THEN, people would complain that they had to print such a large manual.

Also, like Agrajag said: Bandwidth, server maintenance, the admin that wants to be paid... Online distribution (or online presence in general) is not as cheap as many people would like to think.

Maltrease · #7 November 6th, 2006, 03:51 PM

It doesn't have to be a choice between downloadable and not downloadable. I think the biggest draw is simply "I want more right now!" And if you have to wait several days it is a lot easier to just wait and not buy it.

If you've in a hot demo game, hit turn 40, and continuing the game is only $60 and 15 minutes away (with a fast connection) its very easy to drop the cash.

I'd say you still purchase the game, manual and pay shipping as normal. Then you are able to download the CD immediately. The only real copy protection is your CD-KEY. They could zip up the install CD for download and it would work fine.

I've bought a couple games this way (after being sucked into a demo) that I wouldn't have bought if I had to wait... and some frankly I shouldn't have bought... but immediate gratification is so tempting!

Agrajag · #8 November 6th, 2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

PDF said:
Not making Dom3 available by download is Shrapnel's choice, but it hasn't to do with cost- it'll be less costly than printing the CDs and manuals.

Don't underestimate the cost of bandwidth

PDF · #9 November 7th, 2006, 07:46 AM

Well, I've talked out of experience, as I happen to be a partner in AGEOD (the guys who've made Birth of America).
It's a micro company (approx 3 full-time guys + some others helping !), still we were able to offer a download option (it was CD or download however) without investing in developing our system, we've just rented a solution.

Technical problems were few, and the cost was not high enough to make the deal worse for us than normal CD delivery.

In the case of Dominions I agree that the best solution would be to allow immediate d/l and still send at least the manual. There's even no need to d/l a full CD as it's in fact made of 3 (or is it 4 ?) different 120Mb installers for different OSes...