Why Not Digitial Distribution?

Jazzepi · #1 February 3rd, 2008, 06:21 AM

I've said the same thing before.

I would *really* like to see this game out on Steam. D:

Jazzepi

S.R. Krol · #2 February 3rd, 2008, 03:06 PM

*sigh* Not again...

We do offer digital downloads. Not Dominions 3 though.

And really, what's the big deal about waiting a couple days to a week for it? They don't have it now, right? Is an extra seven days of not having it really going to make a difference?

llamabeast · #3 February 3rd, 2008, 04:01 PM

The thing is that you are missing out on the impulse-buying market. Occasionally I will just sit down in an evening and think "I'm bored. I haven't spent any money for a bit - I should treat myself", and then go and do something like buy the latest GalCivII expansion, or Portal, or something else like that. Since people can't do that for Dominions the decision has to be a more considered one. Upon further consideration, buying games often seems far from essential, so they just won't do it.

If you really wanted to sell more copies of Dominions, there is a lot you could do. Imagine a website with descriptions and backstories for all the races. You'd get people frothing at the mouth.

S.R. Krol · #4 February 4th, 2008, 12:33 AM

Quote:

llamabeast said:
The thing is that you are missing out on the impulse-buying market.

I'm not sure most people consider $55 an impulse purchase.

Cerlin · #5 February 4th, 2008, 01:08 AM

One thing I hate about steam, you cannot mod the games. They are in one or two different files and no modding is possible. This would be pretty big downside for Dom3. I know this because I got Medieval 2 Kingdoms on steam, and I cannot use any mods made by the community.
Also the internet access is a huge down side.
I dont think that its a big bonus.

S.R. Krol · #6 February 4th, 2008, 01:16 AM

And just to reiterate something...*if* it was ever sold as a download it would be through us. It seems like every time this subject comes up you have people talking about Steam when there's no reason to put it on Steam since we're already set up.

Jazzepi · #7 February 4th, 2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

S.R. Krol said:
And just to reiterate something...*if* it was ever sold as a download it would be through us. It seems like every time this subject comes up you have people talking about Steam when there's no reason to put it on Steam since we're already set up.

Except for the fact that it still isn't offered through digital distribution.

I don't know why you seem so hostile to the idea of digital distribution. If customers are asking for it, the correct response is "we'll get it as soon as we can, if possible" not "our current service, which doesn't even compare to most online retailers, should be good enough for you people".

Jazzepi

Shovah32 · #8 February 4th, 2008, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Cerlin said:
One thing I hate about steam, you cannot mod the games. They are in one or two different files and no modding is possible. This would be pretty big downside for Dom3. I know this because I got Medieval 2 Kingdoms on steam, and I cannot use any mods made by the community.
Also the internet access is a huge down side.
I dont think that its a big bonus.

Really? I have a number of mods on various games I've bought over steam and they seem to work just fine.

DigitalSin · #9 February 4th, 2008, 05:32 AM

Haha, not many games with more mods than Half-Life or Half-Life 2, and they've been Steam games for ages.

Jazzepi · #10 February 3rd, 2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

S.R. Krol said:
*sigh* Not again...

We do offer digital downloads. Not Dominions 3 though.

And really, what's the big deal about waiting a couple days to a week for it? They don't have it now, right? Is an extra seven days of not having it really going to make a difference?

You are kidding, right? Of course it's going to make a difference. That's why people offer digital distribution. The manual could be given out on PDF, and the game downloaded the same day. I really like the sales model this guy uses. I bought the game, and when you purchase it you download everything right away. You could even make corrections in the PDF, add player made content to the PDF, and/or add player made content to the game by bundling it with the download. It would reduce overhead and increase revenue at the same time. How cool would it be if you could download all the nice, polished mods when you bought DOM3 straight from the website?

http://www.basiliskgames.com/

It might be seven days in the states, but it's much longer for people outside of the US. I know some person had to wait a month+ for their game. Digital distribution would solve all of that.

Jazzepi