KB: Crossworlds DVD release date?

[Jah]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Don't have any of those, so it's of no concern to me.

My point was that it has already been done in the past and may be done with other games in the future, which could potentially include KB:CW. In which case it would be of concern to you, no?

What I'm saying is, don't automatically assume that physical DVD copy = no activation limits.

[Xuio]

Originally Posted by Jah

What I'm saying is, don't automatically assume that physical DVD copy = no activation limits.

Precisely - retail version was published by Focus M. in UK:

http://www.focusmm.co.uk/shop/King-s...n-pr-1752.html

System Requirements
PC Operating System: Windows® XP / Vista / Windows® 7
PC CPU Type and Speed: Pentium® or equivalent, 2.6GHz or faster
Hard Drive Space (MB): 5.5GB
Memory: 1GB (2GB recommended)
Graphics: Nvidia® Geforce™ 6800/ATI® X1650™ or higher
Audio: Any DirectX® compatible sound card
Internet: Required for activation, updates and downloads

So, no buy for me

[Jah]

Originally Posted by Xuio

Internet: Required for activation, updates and downloads

Almost every game these days requires activation through the Internet. The real question is whether there are limitations to the number of times you can activate the game without having to contact the publisher, and if there is, does the system allow installations to be de-activated in case you want to play on a different computer.

[rickah88]

Again, I only play on ONE computer. So activation limits are of no concern to me!
I just want a physical copy with: case, artwork, booklet, etc. My whole point of starting this thread was to (hopefully) impress upon 1c that there are gamers that enjoy having the actual media in their posession.
No big deal, if they want to drag their a$$ on a physical release...I've got Heroes 6, Diablo 3, and Dungeon Siege 3 on the immediate horizon.

[Nike-it]

rickah88 where do you live? I'll try to find the release date for your territory.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Nike-it

rickah88 where do you live? I'll try to find the release date for your territory.

In live in the US. I appreciate you answering my question, even if it took the length of AP and now CW. As I did with AP, I ordered CW of Amazon UK as they get it much earlier than Amazon in the States.
I understand downloading saves a good deal off operating costs, but even if you made an initial print run ½ the size(or less) of what digital sales do, I'm sure you'll find a market.
Most likely, 2 things would occur:
1) You'd sell through, and then have the option of another press run
2) You didn't sell all the way, and that would give you a good idea quantity-wise for KB2
Heck, I'm sure people that are big fans of the game and have already downloaded would splurge for a hard copy.
Just food for thought. Again, thank you for looking into the matter for me.

[Jah]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Again, I only play on ONE computer. So activation limits are of no concern to me!

Ok, I thought activation limits were the reason you didn't want to buy the game in digital format.

Even if you only have one computer, you probably won't be using the same one forever, which might be worth considering with games you expect to be playing for a long time. I know I've got some old games I've installed multiple times over the years on several different computers, and would have been really screwed if they had installation/activation limits.

[OGKingsBounty92]

Originally Posted by Jah

Ok, I thought activation limits were the reason you didn't want to buy the game in digital format.

Even if you only have one computer, you probably won't be using the same one forever, which might be worth considering with games you expect to be playing for a long time. I know I've got some old games I've installed multiple times over the years on several different computers, and would have been really screwed if they had installation/activation limits.

EXACTLY! I have no choice but to do multiple reformats and reinstalls during a year because, I've already said this, my DAW programs for recording music. Some of us own custom PCs and self built PCs with our full retail versions of windows and we like doing clean installs a couple times a year. It's why you won't hear me post "mY pCs crASHED HElps" or "vIRUz kILleds mY Pcz". Besides we paid for it..if we want to throw it out the window or flush it down the toilet after we bought it and reinstall 100 times in a week (some of us that overclock do sometimes)..we CAN. I live in a free country I don't know about the rest.

[Csimbi]

A few more reasons to have a boxed version (not just this game, but all).
1. I have moved to Canada recently.
It is a third world country when it comes to several things, internet is included.
I would never have thought that there is a dark corner on this planet where metered internet still exists. Well, it does exist. You have a monthly limit and you face additional charges. Therefore, Steam and any of these online sites should offer serious discounts for Canadian residents to compensate for their loss.
2. I just participated a course (no title necessary). It has been emphasized that stuffing you personal space with items that represent your hobbies is important. Why? These items define who you are. You can find friends a lot more easier. How? When someone visits your cubicle, it leaves an imprint in them - without saying a word -, and creates room for discussion. They are more likely to engage in conversation with "the guy who likes King's Bounty" than with "the guy from the empty cubicle". Some of you will laugh, but then I would encourage you to read up on workplace psychology...
3. I want to have the game with me, because I travel. For each trip I get a loaner laptop. How many activation would I need to purchase in a year - and how would I activate on an airplane between say, Toronto and Hong Kong (which is about 16 hours flight time)?

The only online service I buy games from is GOG (Good Old Games). I purchased every game I own in disk as well (plus a few more), simply because I can download these in the office (thus avoid the metered internet charges), put the download onto a USB drive, and take it with me on my trips. The games I could not buy from GOG I copied to the HDD from the disk and downloaded No-CD cracks so I can play them without the disk. Does that make me an pirate? I don't care either way; you can label me any way you like because I am playing a the game I did actually pay for.

There are a bunch of games I wanted to buy and play, but I ended up only playing them (from which the publisher does not see a dime). Sure, I have to pay for bus tickets (2.4$ in each direction) to get to my friend to play, but in the end, I did not pay for the game. Does that make me a pirate? I don't care either way; you can label me any way you like because I am playing a the game my friend paid for.

Which model is better for the publisher? Not my call to decide, but the logic would dictate it's the one yields more income.
Which model is better for the customer? The one that works.
If I cannot get the games on disk, I will get them some other way. The only thing I miss is the smell of the book, the touch of the box and paint, and the proud you feel when someone walks by and asks: "Is that a ... on your shelf?"

Since the trend is the see less and less games on disk, I am guessing that the production cost of the internet-based game sales is so small, that it yields a lot of profit per units sold - including gamers who play their friend's games, pirates with all their sales - more profits than the disk-based products.

End of story.

[Jah]

Originally Posted by Csimbi

2. I just participated a course (no title necessary). It has been emphasized that stuffing you personal space with items that represent your hobbies is important. Why? These items define who you are. You can find friends a lot more easier. How? When someone visits your cubicle, it leaves an imprint in them - without saying a word -, and creates room for discussion. They are more likely to engage in conversation with "the guy who likes King's Bounty" than with "the guy from the empty cubicle". Some of you will laugh, but then I would encourage you to read up on workplace psychology...

I suppose it depends on what you do for a living, but I'm not sure how thrilled my boss would be if I had video game boxes lying around my office. Kind of suggests you're spending your time playing games rather than working.

Originally Posted by Csimbi

3. I want to have the game with me, because I travel. For each trip I get a loaner laptop. How many activation would I need to purchase in a year - and how would I activate on an airplane between say, Toronto and Hong Kong (which is about 16 hours flight time)?

Why would you need to activate the game during a flight? Normally, you only activate a game once after you've installed it, which you would have done beforehand. If the game requires an Internet connection even for single player, you won't be able to play it on an airplane anyway, whether you bought it digitally or on a disc.

Originally Posted by Csimbi

Since the trend is the see less and less games on disk, I am guessing that the production cost of the internet-based game sales is so small, that it yields a lot of profit per units sold - including gamers who play their friend's games, pirates with all their sales - more profits than the disk-based products.

I think that's more or less a given: Digital distribution eliminates the costs of duplicating discs, printing manuals, packaging and shipping, and in some cases allows the publisher to sell the game to customers directly without middlemen (i.e. retailers) who take their share of the profits and raise the price. I would also argue that for the customer, it facilitates the purchase when you see a potentially interesting game on a website that you can order with a few clicks and start playing as soon as the download finishes, as opposed to having to leave your house and physically travel to a store to get a physical copy, or ordering online and having to wait for days or weeks for a delivery by mail.

Another thing is that since digital downloads don't take up physical space, online stores can keep them available much longer. Except for the biggest hit games, retail stores only keep boxed copies on the shelf for a few months at most. If you don't get a boxed copy when the game is new, ordering one online from Amazon or somesuch is pretty much your only hope, and even then, you might have to settle for a second-hand copy.

I can understand why some people still prefer physical copies of games, but the general trend is definitely towards digital distribution, especially with niche games that aren't going to sell millions anyway.