OK or no no, download SOW

[Chiz]

I think having a downloadable version of SoW will be very much on the mind of Oleg and 1C. If the discussion over at the zoo is anything to go by, it seems that Ubisoft may not be publishing SoW. If 1C do go with a download version, then it cuts out the large publisher, which should mean more of our money ends up with the developer, which is a good thing. It's may also easier and more economical for smaller publishers to have a downloadable version, instead of a cd/box run.

It can also depend on how the downloadable version is distributed. Is it a direct download from the game developer, or through a 3rd party like gamersgate or direct2drive? There is also the steam platform, which has a very wide audience (although most not interested in flight sims). IL2: 1946 is currently available via steam and I for one would be very interested to see how well it's sold. It will be interesting to see which way Neoqb go with Rise of Flight.

As for digital right management, I realise it's a pain in the neck, but it's here to stay and in the long run is good for the pc gaming community. I think piracy is one of the biggest reasons a lot of developers are moving from pc to consoles. Getting off topic here...

Slipball, there will be a boxed version of Black Shark in the near future, around the time of the first patch I think (tentatively March). With the activations, if you uninstall the sim, you gain that activation back (i.e. you only lose an activation if you have an untidy uninstall...HDD crashes etc.) and you can contact DCS for additional activations if you run out. There are a lot of people sharing your position though and are waiting on a boxed version.

SoW looks to be at least a year or more away, so Oleg has plenty of time to keep an eye on other releases in the flight sim market and work out which way they want to go.

[wheelsup_cavu]

I want the CD/DVD
I don't want to have to keep paying for something I already bought.

I played Pacific Fighters so much that I wore a couple of PF disks out and bought them again instead of getting them replaced.
I wore out a DVD player too.

I bought two copies of IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946.
It wasn't necessary but I wanted to make sure I had a backup CD/DVD.

Wheelsup

[flyingbullseye]

I want the DVD myself. I just feel better about having a hard copy in my possession.

About the DRM, I don't know but I still have my doubts that SOW will be at the top of a pirate list, not saying it won't happen however. Sure the graphics will be something to behold but considering the time it will take to become good at it as compared to a FPS is huge, that and the combat flight sim market is much smaller. Anyone know the estimated pirated copies of 1946?

Flyingbullseye

[tagTaken2]

Disk.

I don't want something that forces me to connect my gaming pc to the net, either.

[ZaltysZ]

First of all, you don't buy a game, you buy the license to play the game and the media (physical or digital) with game copy in it. Of course, if you have enough money and are allowed, you will be able to buy the game and even developing company, but if you are just end-user of game style buyer, you won't own it. This is applicable to almost all software, be it games, OS or etc.

Evilness or goodness of some DRM systems and schemes are just urban legends. I see the tendency that the more is hidden from the user the happier he is. Starforce was pain when it was introduced, because of teething problems with earlier versions and because it was hard to crack it back then. Most fuss was made by piracy folks; they published some details and increased paranoia. The funny thing that there are other popular DRM systems, which do "evil" stuff: install drivers, rootkits and etc., but no one cares about that, because... they are easily crackable?

If you wait DCS: Black Shark DVD just because you don't like activation scheme of downloadable version, then stop waiting. It was said that international DVD version will need activations over direct internet connection, phone or email. It is intended to be so, because DVD check was cracked in week after release of game in Russia, and developers want more protection to their work now.

[=815=TooCooL]

Those who say he does mind to download the game and have to get his DVDs.. I understand their mind but they got to know that they are really behind the times.

Yeah, they are honest and faithful people to sim makers.
But they could never imagine how many copys of IL-2 have been pirated and how DRM goes well with games these days.
Be it steam or Star force, most people never found serious conflicts with PC and we need every protection to keep sims alive.
Those DRM naysayers are good guys, be sure, but simply outdated and knows but little of the world.

[Thunderbolt56]

Digital content distribution is the way of the future...period.

But, given the choice, I'll always opt for the disk-in-the-hand option myself as long as there is one.

[AMVI_YanLee]

I really prefer the boxed version.

There's something exciting when you go to the store and buy the game.. then u run at home.. the first time you open the box, the handbook...

S!

[Red Dragon-DK]

As long its not through steam I dont mind downloading the game. I would simply NOT purchase it then.
But I think it should be available no both download and DVD.

[nearmiss]

Good sense says," Oleg will release the BOB SOW through a distributor".

There is just too much impetus created marketing wise by going through distributors. They promote the heck out of products through press releases, trade shows, etc. It is just amazing how much more in sales will be achieved by using a competent distributor.

I wouldn't think Oleg would take the chance on recovering all his already "sunk" costs by doing a download thingy to a the dedicated IL2 few. There are a lot of sales that pass by the cash registers that never perk much interest in the buyer. There are plenty of impulse buyers that would never be interested to do anything with it after they get it. The learning threshold can be pretty tough on alot of people.

Don't bother me to get a copy at Wal-mart, EB, gamestop,etc. I bought the 1946 at wal-mart I didn't flinch at paying retail for it. Then of course I knew what I was getting... an anthology of five plus years of the best air combat simulation game ever developed. LOL