Are we paying more for less?

[Talleyrand]

Morkilus, I don't have a high post count by any means but I'm no stranger to these forums and I have never seen a thread complaining about Dominions pricing or seen one posted in the Shrapnel general discussion trying to get a response from a company representative. Sorry if you are bored responding to them though. I think if they happen as frequently as you say thrn perhaps that should tell you something.

[Talleyrand]

DominionsFan, I think both my posts address that very issue.

[johan osterman]

Talleyrand said:
Morkilus, I don't have a high post count by any means but I'm no stranger to these forums and I have never seen a thread complaining about Dominions pricing or seen one posted in the Shrapnel general discussion trying to get a response from a company representative. Sorry if you are bored responding to them though. I think if they happen as frequently as you say thrn perhaps that should tell you something.

There were similar posts/threads at the release of dom2, and perhaps a few afterwards.

At what price would you buy the game?

[Warhammer]

Talleyrand said:
As much as I want to support Illwinter and Shrapnel, I can't bring myself to pay a premium for their products, and in that I think we both lose. Am I in the minority? Well that is the million dollar question, isn't it?

Other people answered this question already. It all depends on how you look at it.

First, by your own argument, why are you asking about the premium price now since the game just came out? If they lower the price, it shouldn't drop for quite some time since it just came out.

Second, the production values appear to be good. Heck, we're getting a 300 page manual, do you see any game offering that nowadays? How many graphics do you need for a strategy game?

Third, it is a decision made by them. People are refusing to buy Gal Civ 2 because it has no MP. How many people are going to actually play MP in that sort of game? Do you realize what that would add to the cost of that game? Would it be worth it for it to be MP?

People only expect game prices to fall because of overstock issues from big-box retailers. If Best Buy buys 25,000 copies of a game and 15,000 sell after the first 6 months, they are going to drop the price of the other copies because they are trying to move their inventory. This has nothing to do with the publisher, and everything to do with the seller.

I don't know where you are going because you also claim that graphics are "only a fraction of the total production values that I'm talking about." What else goes into total production values?

As another poster mentioned, you basically need to figure out what your threshold cost for the game is. I look at my games as another poster does and figure out a cost/hour ratio and go from there. I have saved more money because I do not rush out and buy every $30-40 game out there because of its price point. I have bought fewer, typically more expensive titles, and have played them to death.

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to buy it is up to you. But, judging from the pre-orders for this game, Shrapnel has chosen a good price point for it.

[Leif_-]

Talleyrand said:
Niche is no excuse, people expect game prices to fall.

Some people expect the game price to fall, but as I've explained above, the economics means that it is an unreasoanble expectation for this particular case.

[PhilD]

Talleyrand said:
Niche is no excuse, people expect game prices to fall.

So because people expect the price to fall, the price should fall?

Shrapnel aren't trying to conquer the PC gaming world and make every PC gamer buy their products, you see. Most potential PC game buyers certainly do expect the price of a game to drop after a few months - but those same "most" would not buy a game like Dom2 anyway, because the graphics are so primitive, and the box isn't shiny enough (I mean, there is NO box), and there are no voices lines, and so on.

The target audience is different, and it seems that Shrapnel decided that their targeted audience is mostly composed of players who are willing to pay a premium price for what they consider to be a good game - even though most other players would not consider it so, and would not even buy it at maybe $10. Apparently, their sales figure show they were not too deeply wrong. At least from here, I'm happy with the price.

Basically, the price tag has little influence on sales of games like Dominions, so there is little reason for the price to drop after a few weeks or months.

[DominionsFan]

Talleyrand said:
DominionsFan, I think both my posts address that very issue.

I don't see the answer in your replies to be honest.
Basically you say that Dominions 3. is "worse" then Dominions 2. in the title, and that you must pay more for it. This is absolutely not true, since Dominions 3. definitely offers much more then Doms 2.

Anyways keep in mind. Gameplay, complexity, diversity >>> Graphics.
Dominions games are unique. They are gems on the TBS market.

[Talleyrand]

I know, Leif, and I enjoyed reading your replies. I don't think it is unreasonable however to expect Shrapnel to lower the price of a game that has been out for a couple of years, even if there is no direct incentive for them to do that. People expect it to happen, and you in turn garner the sales of those customers who were on the fence and were not willing to pay full price for a game upon initial release. And as I said, I don't believe this game to be that much more a niche than many other notable strategy titles, whose prices have steadily fallen over the years.

Johan, I would pay 40 dollars for Dominions 3 at most plus shipping and probably 30 for Dominions 2, although I think 20 would be more reasonable for such an old game.

As a side note, please quit bringing up the manual when toting the price of this game. The manual is nothing more than a manual. Unless it has a strong piece of fiction inside that lays out the history of the world and its main characters that brings me a keen sense of entertainment, it does not impress me one bit how big it is. I do although appreciate the effort involved in its creation. But I don't pay extra for strategy guides (even for a game like Disgaea 2 lol) and I will not pay extra for a bigger manual, which is basically one way a lot of you are justifying the higher price.

[Talleyrand]

Sorry DF, didn't see that last reply. My thought process is that I didn't even think Dominions 2 was worth the price, let alone a higher priced Dominions 3 based off the same engine as part 2. I tried the Dom 2 demo but never purchased the full game because I was waiting for the price to drop. Now Dom 3 is here at an even higher price and Dom 2 has disappeared from their online store, placing me in the exact same dilemna I was in years ago with Dominions 2.

BTW, I like your signature. I'm a huge CroCop fan myself. I tried to get tickets to PrideFC's USA debut but that fell through. I'm looking forward to the next UFC when Sean Sherk and KenFlo go at it.

[DominionsFan]

Talleyrand said:

BTW, I like your signature. I'm a huge CroCop fan myself. I tried to get tickets to PrideFC's USA debut but that fell through. I'm looking forward to the next UFC when Sean Sherk and KenFlo go at it.

Eh Mirko is a cool guy, I know him personally, thanks to some people who I know, since they were even training with Mirko. I am interested in fighting myself, if you wonder that why do I have that signature.
[Well nothing serious at the moment, I am still too young for anything related to real fighting, but I am training hard, and I shall see what to do in time.]


Back to the topic..
Hm..but I just don't understand this. You've never bought Dominions 2. because the price was so high, but you know, you've missed an awesome game because of that!
You shouldn't care about a few dollars if you ask me, because these games are really unique.