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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by Martok View Post
    Just to be certain, however, I've put in a specific query on the Elemental forums regarding your question. The guys at Stardock are usually pretty good about replying in a prompt manner, so we'll probably know -- one way or the other -- within the next 24-48 hours.
    Thanks.

    The answer's been posted: no.

    Quote Originally Posted by Alh_p
    They said in a developper diary that DD was the only way to get the game in europe...
    I wonder why? AFAIK the boxed versions of GalCiv2 did well here. [suspicious]Unless they want to cut out the supply of cheaper copies which others in Europe then import? Since the pound went down our websites have reportedly been selling tonnes of games to Europeans taking advantage of the exchange rate.[/suspicious]



    Looks like no Elemental for froggy. I know it's a big game with a long lifespan in a relatively niche genre, but so is Victoria 2 and Civ 5, and both are easy to find for £24.99 or less. I can't justify paying so much, especially not when it feels like the price is artificially inflated. Roll on the sales ...
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  2. #2
    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg View Post
    I wonder why? AFAIK the boxed versions of GalCiv2 did well here. [suspicious]Unless they want to cut out the supply of cheaper copies which others in Europe then import? Since the pound went down our websites have reportedly been selling tonnes of games to Europeans taking advantage of the exchange rate.[/suspicious]
    Who was the European publisher for hardcopy Sins of a Solar Empire? Stardock is a little weird with publishing/distribution outside the US, with Demigod they were the US publisher and either Atari or Take2 did the international. I think GalCiv2 was done by Paradox internationally. Maybe they just don't want to get involved with international brick/mortar distrib.
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  3. #3

    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by drone View Post
    Who was the European publisher for hardcopy Sins of a Solar Empire?
    According to Amazon.uk it was Kalypso media. A quick check of most stardock games shows that Kalypso puiblished them, including the later editions of GalCiv2. Demigod is listed with Namco as the publisher.

    I forgot that they used other parties to publish so recently; my version of Sins was the 'pre-order online and get download plus boxed copy in the post' version and it's got their stamp on the box. The pricing back then was a lot saner. Demigod wasn't my kind of thing at all so I pretty much ignored it. The GalCiv2 expansions I got with the download+disc set up, and again Stardock is styled as the publisher. So I thought they'd gone that way as standard after GalCiv2's original release.

    Still, I wonder why there's no UK publisher? Games which are an awful lot more obscure and niche find publishers. Kalypso are still around and appear to be doing well; why not reprise the relationship?
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    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    In the Euro distrib thread on the Elemental forums, there are the following responses:
    Quote Originally Posted by kryo
    As we have no business presence in Europe, we have to work through Euro publishers/distributors, and we wind up earning one or two euros per box (for reference, NA retail makes around $30 per box). It's just not worth doing when we can get the same return on 1/50th the DD sales.

    See this journal for more info and discussion on the subject.
    Quote Originally Posted by Frogboy
    It is not profitable for us to provide boxes to European retail.
    And in the journal linked above:
    Quote Originally Posted by Draginol
    Europe…Well, not so much. There are currently no plans to have a retail presence in Europe. I don’t want to talk too much about this lest I get into trouble but let’s just say, our previous games have been available in retail in western Europe and as much as we like making a nickel per copy sold, we think we’ll pass this time. The retail situation in Europe is just insane and in the age of digital distribution, we’re just not willing to put up with it anymore. One world. One price. If there’s anything that would make the lives of Europeans easier in terms of getting the game via Impulse, let us know. I know people.
    Sounds like they are just fed up with the retail hassle in Europe, doesn't look like they make much on the sales anyway. I wonder how much visibility the game will miss if it's not an impulse (pun intended) buy on the shelves in a High street shop. And clueless parents buying games for their kids will be a missed demographic.
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    Camel Lord Senior Member Capture The Flag Champion Martok's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Brad recently posted that the retail situation in Europe has gotten so ridiculous the last several years, that it's simply not worth it for Stardock to sell their games in brick-and-mortar stores over there anymore.

    Apparently European distributors now demand such a huge chunk of the profits that on a $50.00 game (or whatever its equivalent in euros is -- I've no idea what the exchange rate is currently), Stardock literally sees less than 5% ($1.00-$2.00) of that. (To compare, they receive roughly 30% of the take from retail sales here in the U.S. & Canada.) Brad & Co. decided that was unacceptable and they weren't going to put up with it anymore, especially in light of their continuing success with digital download sales on Impulse.



    Personally, I'm not sure I agree with their decision on this. I understand and respect the reasons behind it, but I still feel it may be a mistake.




    EDIT: Heh. Ninja'ed by drone.


    Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, "Frogboy" and "Draginol" are Brad Wardell's forum names.
    Last edited by Martok; 08-20-2010 at 23:04.
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    PapaSmurf Senior Member Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    *raise from the grave*

    Hello!

    Well, I am looking at buying this one. I was a MoM player and although FFH2 (Civ IV mod) is doing a decent job, it does not quite cut it compared to MoM and potentially this Elemental war of Magic... Multiple reasons for that: no leader customization, no tactical battle, not enough global spells...
    The other one I am looking at but could never get myself to play is Dominion 3.
    Quick feedback will be appreciated.

    Good luck, and have fun!

    Louis,
    [FF] Louis St Simurgh / The Simurgh



  7. #7

    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Other companies manage to make it worthwhile. Bizarre.

    $50 = £33 roughly. Fractionally cheaper than the RRP (£34.99 - £39.99) for most new PC games in today's inflated times but with the key difference that very, very few of those PC games ever sell for anything like their RRP. You have to be something massive like Starcraft 2 to avoid the instant mark down.

    The download only version of Elemental costs the same as the download+boxed copy option. How does that make sense? Make the download only version cheaper, leave the box+download version as it is, and there we go.

    At least the game will have been heavily patched if/when I do pick it up. If it's anything like GalCiv2 lots of features and tweaks will be added, as well as the usual fixes.
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    PapaSmurf Senior Member Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg View Post
    $50 = £33 roughly. Fractionally cheaper than the RRP (£34.99 - £39.99) for most new PC games in today's inflated times but with the key difference that very, very few of those PC games ever sell for anything like their RRP. You have to be something massive like Starcraft 2 to avoid the instant mark down.

    The download only version of Elemental costs the same as the download+boxed copy option. How does that make sense? Make the download only version cheaper, leave the box+download version as it is, and there we go.
    I see it at 39.29€ on Impulse, which is really ok I think - although I know little about PC game pricing, I haven't bought a PC game in ages! I guess you're hurt by the exchange rate... Join the Eurozone!

    Regarding price and distribution channel... I guess distribution chanel (in this case US retail) makes it very clear for Stardock that the price they have got to be the same or cheapest than digital download. Otherwise, bye bye retail! I am not 100% sure that Stardock can lower DD price without facing massive retribution from its retailer.

    Louis,
    [FF] Louis St Simurgh / The Simurgh



  9. #9
    Needs more flowers Moderator drone's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by Martok View Post
    Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, "Frogboy" and "Draginol" are Brad Wardell's forum names.
    Draginol is also Brad? I did not know that. Granted I have only really lurked the Demigod forums.

    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg
    $50 = £33 roughly. Fractionally cheaper than the RRP (£34.99 - £39.99) for most new PC games in today's inflated times but with the key difference that very, very few of those PC games ever sell for anything like their RRP. You have to be something massive like Starcraft 2 to avoid the instant mark down.
    The "instant mark down" is a big part of it, I think. Here in the states, retail games have generally sold at the RRP for quite a while unless they really suck. DD may be affecting this now though, with the sales and discounts they offer.
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    Mr Self Important Senior Member Beskar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by drone View Post
    The "instant mark down" is a big part of it, I think. Here in the states, retail games have generally sold at the RRP for quite a while unless they really suck. DD may be affecting this now though, with the sales and discounts they offer.
    I ordered Starcraft 2 months in advance on Amazon, so I only got it for £21. A big saving over its later price tag of £37 or whatever it was.
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    the G-Diffuser Senior Member pevergreen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Stardock's new game -- Elemental: War of Magic

    Quote Originally Posted by Beskar View Post
    I ordered Starcraft 2 months in advance on Amazon, so I only got it for £21. A big saving over its later price tag of £37 or whatever it was.
    RRP for any new PC game: 89.16 USD or 57.41 GBP

    Console game is 10 AUD more sometimes. (extra 5 pounds or 9 USD)

    You could get starcraft 2 if you were lucky (like 200 copies australia wide) at 39.63 GBP/ 61.55USD (69AUD)

    When they sold out, lucky to get it at $89 AUD. I bought it from blizzard's online store at $89AUD...

    Complain about PC pricing when you pay as much as us.
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