Boxed Game or just Download?

[macccca]

Hello Everyone,

I have a question. When you purchase the game do you get a boxed copy as well as being able to download the full game? Only $65 seems a lot of money for just the download.

Thanks in advance

[Lempereur1]

Distant Guns is available download only. Thats why we let you try it 30 days before Shelf distribution of this type of game is rapidly becoming uneconomical. Many are hailing our new approach of direct download.

This way smaller publishers do not have to compete with the EAs of the world for shelf space.

We encourage you to download the game and try it out.You have nothing to lose!

[macccca]

Thank you for the quick answer. This does seem a bit expensive, however I can understand that this game is "niche" and the sales are not going to be as high as the next EA RTS game. Does the game have to re-registered everytime it is reinstalled? Is the code same code valid everytime?

I have been waiting for this game for some time though I am now trying to justify $65 for a download only game. I shall fight with my conscience over the next few weeks. However, due to the pricing I may wait a few months to see if the price drops a bit. I wonder if anyone else feels the same.

One other thing. It say "30 day" trial, which is fine, but it does not say "30 day trial or 30 starts" which actually seems to be the case!

Thanks for your time, good luck with the game.

[Bullethead]

When you purchase the game do you get a boxed copy as well as being able to download the full game? Only $65 seems a lot of money for just the download.

According to an email I got SES in response to a question of this sort, the "Demo" CD (item #6104 for $7 or so) includes both the full game and the campaign on it. Of course, these features are only available if you pay the additional money to activate them. IOW, you get a CD of the whole thing, just like download-only package #6103. It's still not in a box per se, and I suppose the manual is still PDF, but at least you have the CD.

[FJ88]

$60 is just about the going rate for wargames these days.
Best get used to it.

[Bullethead]

$60 is just about the going rate for wargames these days.
Best get used to it.

I wouldn't complain, either. Computer games have been $50 for nearly 20 years, making them about the least inflationary product on the market. If they go to $60 now, so what? It's not like gasoline going from $1.20 to $3+ in a few months :/

[FJ88]

I wouldn't complain, either. Computer games have been $50 for nearly 20 years, making them about the least inflationary product on the market. If they go to $60 now, so what? It's not like gasoline going from $1.20 to $3+ in a few months :/


One of the things I harp on
The production costs for games have skyrocketed over the last 15 years and it is quite alarming for someone who follows the industry.
If things continue at this pace we are going to see even more resitrictive pulbishers telling developers what they can and cannot produce and how to produce it.
It will mean more games by the numbers and more sequels than companies know will sell.
So making the industry standerd $60 is not all that terrible.

[vyshka]

One of the things I harp on
The production costs for games have skyrocketed over the last 15 years and it is quite alarming for someone who follows the industry.
If things continue at this pace we are going to see even more resitrictive pulbishers telling developers what they can and cannot produce and how to produce it.
It will mean more games by the numbers and more sequels than companies know will sell.
So making the industry standerd $60 is not all that terrible.

Which is why people like Norm, and some others have switched to this method of development and distribution. They get to decide what they make, and the title sinks or swims on its own merits, not the wishes of publisher big whigs who want the next clone of Command and Conquer, or World of Warcraft. This is about the only way we will get to experience innovative, and interesting titles for the forseeable future. Every once in a while someone like Will Wright will push the envelope, but most development shops just crank out the games the publishers want them to publish. Chris Crawford and others frequently rant on this subject and the fact that the improvement of game design has nowhere near kept pace with the improvements in technology.

I for one am very willing to pay $60 for a quality title, that is interesting, and emphasizes gameplay above all else. $60 isn't that much when you factor in how much time you will spend on the game if you truly love it. It is definitely better than spending $50 for the latest RTS clone, playing for a few hours and then throwing it on the pile to never be played again.

[Bloodstar]

Which is why people like Norm, and some others have switched to this method of development and distribution. They get to decide what they make, and the title sinks or swims on its own merits, not the wishes of publisher big whigs who want the next clone of Command and Conquer, or World of Warcraft. This is about the only way we will get to experience innovative, and interesting titles for the forseeable future. Every once in a while someone like Will Wright will push the envelope, but most development shops just crank out the games the publishers want them to publish. Chris Crawford and others frequently rant on this subject and the fact that the improvement of game design has nowhere near kept pace with the improvements in technology.

I for one am very willing to pay $60 for a quality title, that is interesting, and emphasizes gameplay above all else. $60 isn't that much when you factor in how much time you will spend on the game if you truly love it. It is definitely better than spending $50 for the latest RTS clone, playing for a few hours and then throwing it on the pile to never be played again.


As dollar value is now much lower than couple of years before (well for a long time it's low) I don't find this price as too expensive...

WITP costed 69.99 I think but I was not interested in the topic...

Jim & Norm Corp. :) should push now some agressive guerilla marketing... I have already told them to send press release and screenshots to Games Press, that way many journos will actually see this thing... Word of mouth is best sales method... and they should give a copy to better web sites that reviews the games and magazines. That is very effective.

I like the game but could just imagine how beautiful would this will be in WW1 setting (my favorite of naval settings).... A mighty Fridriech Der Grosse sailing on a big sea and pounding at a Brittains fleet LOL
That is like in candy store just watching it.


Mario

[Vigilante]

The reality of the situation is that quality 3D naval (and air) warfare simulations, which once had a significant share of the gaming market, have almost disappeared over the past ten years. The reason is pure economics: gamers were early adopters of computer technology and once made up a disproportionately large share of the market. Now computer ownership is widespread, and computer gaming is itself being rapidly relegated to niche status by dedicated game platforms. The companies involved in the marketing and production of games are profit-driven, and there are greater profits to be made in other types of games that appeal to a wider audience.

Given these circumstances, there are only three ways that I can envision 3D naval simulations being produced. First, fan-made games and mods, labors of love that, being produced on a low budget, will necessarily lack frills and immersive appeal of professionally-produced games. Second, games made by specialist firms such as Sonalyst that are already involved in creating simulations involving modern hardware for the military. Third, games made by professionals who are willing to accept less compensation than their talent would merit in order to create games that they themselves would like to play. Tiberius Lazar, the Romanian designer who made Silent Hunter III, is a miniature gamer, has been passionately interested in submarines since he was a youngster and, after breaking into the industry, spends much of his time on platform games and non-simulation computer games with wider appeal.

For a long time I have believed that the only way we would ever routinely see quality naval and air warfare simulations of diverse conflicts and eras was if some of the professionals that fall under the third category would cut costs by electronic delivery and would also take the risk of charging higher prices for their products. That's exactly what SES has done, and I am going to support them because I firmly believe that many excellent games will follow if they succeed, and that no one will ever again attempt what they are doing if they fail.

[Bloodstar]

The reality of the situation is that quality 3D naval (and air) warfare simulations, which once had a significant share of the gaming market, have almost disappeared over the past ten years. The reason is pure economics: gamers were early adopters of computer technology and once made up a disproportionately large share of the market. Now computer ownership is widespread, and computer gaming is itself being rapidly relegated to niche status by dedicated game platforms. The companies involved in the marketing and production of games are profit-driven, and there are greater profits to be made in other types of games that appeal to a wider audience.

Given these circumstances, there are only three ways that I can envision 3D naval simulations being produced. First, fan-made games and mods, labors of love that, being produced on a low budget, will necessarily lack frills and immersive appeal of professionally-produced games. Second, games made by specialist firms such as Sonalyst that are already involved in creating simulations involving modern hardware for the military. Third, games made by professionals who are willing to accept less compensation than their talent would merit in order to create games that they themselves would like to play. Tiberius Lazar, the Romanian designer who made Silent Hunter III, is a miniature gamer, has been passionately interested in submarines since he was a youngster and, after breaking into the industry, spends much of his time on platform games and non-simulation computer games with wider appeal.

For a long time I have believed that the only way we would ever routinely see quality naval and air warfare simulations of diverse conflicts and eras was if some of the professionals that fall under the third category would cut costs by electronic delivery and would also take the risk of charging higher prices for their products. That's exactly what SES has done, and I am going to support them because I firmly believe that many excellent games will follow if they succeed, and that no one will ever again attempt what they are doing if they fail.


You said that well...

And all that paranoid *****ing on activation system! It worked like a charm! Somebody was scared that Norm and Jim would stole maybe something from their computers... blah...
In fact this was only way that SES could guard their property... They shouldn't work for free as slave labour and that would happen if they didn't made this copy protection in place. Game would be sold by some margin but it would be very pirated. This way is better, either you pay or you don't play. Simple as that. For instance in Croatia game are pirated at 90%! All around the world game piracy is rampaging.

As this is highly special kind of game - those who are interested will save the money somehow but it's important that they are not tempted to pirate the game and as this is impossible now it is good.

I see also potential market in the military as well.

Maybe USA Naval Forces can spend some of it's budget on this game? Why not?
Or some other Naval forces, academies etc...? That is a chance for even obscure title like this.

But, I would gladly shell 65 US$ just for Jim & Norm courage and of course for TOAW masterpiece. Even if I don't play too much this game I have bought this game in my respect toward both of those gentlemen.


Mario