oooo aaron! - looks like moo3 is flopping... ;) do se5 faster?

[sachmo]

Originally posted by gregebowman:
Yeah, I didn't even know of the Space Empire series of games until I read a review in PC Gamer. I then went to Electronic Boutique, where I seem to get the majority of my games, and they had never even heard of it. I then checked out the website, downloaded the demo, played it and became so damn frustrated with not knowing what the heck I was doing that I ordered the game, figuring the manual would explain all!! Ha, ha, little did I know....

Ouch! Bad assumption!

[Cirvol]

lol, ya but now you luv se4 eh?

i just wish aaron fixed general ai and combat resolution/strategy/initiative issues - imho the 2 weakest parts of se4gold

[David E. Gervais]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Yes, and that would make lots of money for the retail stores, and for the retail distributers. But not much for MM at all. This is why SE4 was not taken to retail. The developers pretty much get the shaft when their games' are sold retail.

My main point was 'visability' products that are only available through the net have a much more 'limited' audience. (compared to retail!) As to getting the shaft, I'd say it all depends on the contract between the developer and the publisher. Yes in general the developer gets less than publisher, but in most cases it's the publisher that is paying for the packaging/duplication and responsable for finding a distribution network. So, if it costs approx $5 per copy (CD, CD case, box, manual, all rwapped up in a neat package) the developer might only see $5-$10 per copy. The publisher will most certainly take as much (after expenses) or slightly more for his share. For example, $5(dev), + $15(pub $10 after expenses), + $5(dist), +$24.95(retail profit) = sale price $49.95 So, in this example as you can see the 'Retailer' gets the best deal/profit. In the case of a developer like Blizzard, they demand $20/copy and their publisher in turn asks for $25 and the distributors ask for their $5 then the retailer (who payes $50 for the game feels it necessary to make less profit in order to sell the game...Final price $79.95 to $89.95) Retailers don't like the 'big' companies mainly because they are forced to lower their profit to ensure the sale of the game... but I digress..

You must remember, the sales potential is much greater in retail, and the $5 the developer gets per/copy can end up being much more in the long run than a net only product. In this case I suggesteds that the game be available in both mediums. SO Aaron or MM wouldn't be making less, they would be opening up a new source of revenue in addition to the net only route!

In effect, If Aaron/MM want $12/copy He/they can get that, the only drawback is this will push up the final retail price. But if the game is good most consumers will be willing to pay the price.

Nuf said!

Cheers!

[ February 27, 2003, 20:36: Message edited by: David E. Gervais ]

[Atrocities]

I don't think we should compare SE:IV to MOO:3 or any other game...

...We should devote our energy towards making suggestions and coming up with new ideas to make Space Empires V the best game it can be. What other game do we the players have a chance to really make a difference in how it's put together? There are many of us here that have had suggestions directly put into patches for SE:IV already. Now let's flex our consumer muscles and gaming brains and make sure that Space Empires V will be a great game!

DITTO

[Atrocities]

You know, I have seen forums bLasted many O'times by fans who feel cheated, disapointed, or out right ticked off about a new sequal to the game they love.

Tribes 2 was by far the worst. But hey, the game proved itself within a few months, and so will Moo3.

When SEV comes out, the same thing will happen, but on a much more profession level. We love this game, and only want it to succeed. So when SEV comes out, I won't be surprised to see some constructive feed back.

It always happens.

[Atrocities]

When the people who LIKE the game admit it takes awhile to learn the interface, something is wrong with the interface. Too many bottons to get somewhere.How bout opening the planet screen, then the finacial screen to get to the build que. Whats it doing in the finacial screen and not the design screen.Then if you want to go to another planet, you have to shut down all the prevous screens before you go to the next planet or the screen won't open. Not obvious in manuel or game what is going on at any one time.Too many times it took like 10 min to figure out how to do something, if at all. And the game pace is bad. I mean I would build 3 cruisers. By the time the second cruiser came out, it was obsolete. I would have 3 or more ship techs by the time it came out. Rendering alot of techs useless.JUST NOT FUN TO ME. I'm going back to space empires 4 .

Damn, he should have put a link there.

There forums are ablaze with upset fans. I hope the fans will give the game a chance, but I can also understand peoples anger toward poorly implemented games. (SimCity 4 was one for me.)

I am sure in a month, all the folks saying bad things will come to enjoy the game. Or perhaps they will invest in SEIV, and be around for SEV.

[ February 27, 2003, 22:03: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[gregebowman]

Originally posted by Cirvol:
lol, ya but now you luv se4 eh?

Yeah, I do luv this game. I'm just surprised of all the companies that are like this that I still don't know about. I bought a war game that sounded interesting after reading a review from PC Gamer. It was another net only product. I tell you, if it wasn't for PC Gamer and some of the other magazines of that ilk, I wouldn't know of many of these products. And games like SE4 need to be promoted more than a 2 or 3 paragraph review in a magazine. But I know ads costs money too, so what you gonna do?