tc237 wrote:This was one question I thought of after the Paradox deal was announced:
Will there still be Direct Downloads through AGEOD?
(they were a simple and easy way to purchase AGEOD games)
Or do we have to go exclusively to GamersGate? (have never do that yet)
dooya wrote:The game description on gamersgate should include that there are 3 language versions (English, French, German) coming with the game.
PhilThib wrote:In fact the response is: I have no idea yet.... the sole case when a box is made nowadays is when a (local) publisher decides to manufacture a boxed version for the retail market...
... but the retail market is slowly dying all over the world for PC strategy titles, so less and less opportunities to produce boxed versions will occur
Some people like Matrix Games do produce boxed version rather regularly, so it might be where we "could" find a box...if and when Matrix makes an agreement with Paradox on that title
....OR.... if Paradox decides to produce a box
So wait and see
PhilThib wrote:
... but the retail market is slowly dying all over the world for PC strategy titles, so less and less opportunities to produce boxed versions will occur
Jarkko wrote:I used to think boxed versions are the only real games. Then I was made aware of some economical facts.
1) Producing boxed games costs money. Burning the DVD's, printing the manual, packing and wrapping, all that costs money. The boxes also have to be stored somewhere, and storing stuff costs money (alternatively you can print on demand, but then the price per box goes up because of the shorter print-runs).
2) Wholesalers needs their share of the game-box price. They too need to handle and store the boxes, and all that costs.
3a) The shop-keepers also need a living, so they want a share too. Just by making the box available does not guarantee any sales, you actually have to pay to the shopkeepers to put the box up on their shelves in a visible place.
3b) If sold directly from the wholesaler via mail, there are the postal fees. And you have to keep the prices down and not charge the buyer the postal fees, because sites like Amazon will else eat you out from the market.
All that means the game-producer will not see much of the money from a boxed game, even if the price-tag would say $50 (think Matrix or Shrapnel games for example). Meanwhile in digital distribution the price of the game can be kept to reasonable levels ($19 or $29), and the producer actually gets the money. For niche-markets, like strategy games for example, that can be a major thing between survival (which means new games, patches etc) or going under.
Nowadays I buy strategy games only as digital downloads (when available; for example some Shrapnel games titles (like Dominions 3) are not available as digital downlads) from the producers own e-shop (if there just is one). I burn the file on a DVD, print the manual (I still need something to leaf through, makes me feel like I own something *proper* ) and am happy that I did my little thing to make the game-developers actually get some well-deserved money for their hard work
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