Why Not Digitial Distribution?

S.R. Krol · #1 February 3rd, 2008, 03:06 PM

*sigh* Not again...

We do offer digital downloads. Not Dominions 3 though.

And really, what's the big deal about waiting a couple days to a week for it? They don't have it now, right? Is an extra seven days of not having it really going to make a difference?

llamabeast · #2 February 3rd, 2008, 04:01 PM

The thing is that you are missing out on the impulse-buying market. Occasionally I will just sit down in an evening and think "I'm bored. I haven't spent any money for a bit - I should treat myself", and then go and do something like buy the latest GalCivII expansion, or Portal, or something else like that. Since people can't do that for Dominions the decision has to be a more considered one. Upon further consideration, buying games often seems far from essential, so they just won't do it.

If you really wanted to sell more copies of Dominions, there is a lot you could do. Imagine a website with descriptions and backstories for all the races. You'd get people frothing at the mouth.

S.R. Krol · #3 February 4th, 2008, 12:33 AM

Quote:

llamabeast said:
The thing is that you are missing out on the impulse-buying market.

I'm not sure most people consider $55 an impulse purchase.

Cerlin · #4 February 4th, 2008, 01:08 AM

One thing I hate about steam, you cannot mod the games. They are in one or two different files and no modding is possible. This would be pretty big downside for Dom3. I know this because I got Medieval 2 Kingdoms on steam, and I cannot use any mods made by the community.
Also the internet access is a huge down side.
I dont think that its a big bonus.

S.R. Krol · #5 February 4th, 2008, 01:16 AM

And just to reiterate something...*if* it was ever sold as a download it would be through us. It seems like every time this subject comes up you have people talking about Steam when there's no reason to put it on Steam since we're already set up.

Jazzepi · #6 February 4th, 2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

S.R. Krol said:
And just to reiterate something...*if* it was ever sold as a download it would be through us. It seems like every time this subject comes up you have people talking about Steam when there's no reason to put it on Steam since we're already set up.

Except for the fact that it still isn't offered through digital distribution.

I don't know why you seem so hostile to the idea of digital distribution. If customers are asking for it, the correct response is "we'll get it as soon as we can, if possible" not "our current service, which doesn't even compare to most online retailers, should be good enough for you people".

Jazzepi

S.R. Krol · #7 February 4th, 2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Jazzepi said:
I don't know why you seem so hostile to the idea of digital distribution. If customers are asking for it, the correct response is "we'll get it as soon as we can, if possible" not "our current service, which doesn't even compare to most online retailers, should be good enough for you people".
Jazzepi

Any perceived hostility arises not from the idea, but from the fact that we've been selling the game since September 2006 with no current plans for digital distribution, and even though we continue to say that this keeps coming up.
Could that change in the future? Sure, anything is possible. But as of right now there is only one way to purchase the game, and that's as a physical copy. Why this is such a point of contention for some people, I don't know. What I can tell you though is that the game has sold quite well since release, and continues to sell quite well, as a physical product.

Shovah32 · #8 February 4th, 2008, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Cerlin said:
One thing I hate about steam, you cannot mod the games. They are in one or two different files and no modding is possible. This would be pretty big downside for Dom3. I know this because I got Medieval 2 Kingdoms on steam, and I cannot use any mods made by the community.
Also the internet access is a huge down side.
I dont think that its a big bonus.

Really? I have a number of mods on various games I've bought over steam and they seem to work just fine.

DigitalSin · #9 February 4th, 2008, 05:32 AM

Haha, not many games with more mods than Half-Life or Half-Life 2, and they've been Steam games for ages.

llamabeast · #10 February 4th, 2008, 06:16 AM

What we can't understand, S.R.Krol, is what the disadvantages of offering digital distribution are? Okay, so the game has been selling well - excellent, I think we're all very pleased to hear that. But that doesn't mean there isn't potential for it to sell better, and definitely isn't an argument against looking for new ways to increase sales.

The reason most of us have piled into this thread is not to be annoying, but because we love this game, and want it to do better.