Questions about Australia

from Demigod Forums

As a lover of both TA and SupCom, I'm looking forward to this game, however I'm not game enough to go for the online pre-order just yet (primarily, I'm not a fan of micro-transactions, and want to see how that whole deal works out before committing, but there are a couple other reasons).

Anyway I have some questions:

1) Are you planning on a retail distribution in Australia? If so, any idea on which specific retailers?

2) Will the collector's edition see a retail release here? And again if so, any idea on which stores will be offering it and how limited the quantities will be?

3) Any estimate on the prices of either?

4) Will the AU release date be in line with the US and/or Europe?

 

Thanks.

demigod
4,130 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

http://games.on.net/article/4948/Demigod_-_A_fact_sheet_from_upcoming_RTS__RPG_blend_released

 

internode says $AU79.95 retail on the 7th May

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

To the OP, when you say you're not a fan of microtransactions, what are you referring to?

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Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

Editions and retail availability will probably depend on what Atari decides on. But AFAIK we are going for a worldwide release (at least NA/EU, but Atari is handling both EU and AU/NZ).

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting verspunken, reply 1
http://games.on.net/article/4948/Demigod_-_A_fact_sheet_from_upcoming_RTS__RPG_blend_released
 
internode says $AU79.95 retail on the 7th May
End of verspunken's quote
And AussieGamer says $81, GameHead says the RRP is $89.95, as does Games Warehouse. They all state 7th May, but then, they've all been known to make up dates and prices, source info from any old random website, or be adament that a product will be released before pulling them at the last minute as if it never existed. EzyGames says the price is TBA and the date is "Rumoured", and if I were to believe EBGames or PalGN, the game doesn't exist at all. Meanwhile, Atari says the release is 1st May, listing the price as "$79.95 / $89.95", being unclear whether they're referring to Standard/Collector's, Australia/New Zealand, or some new kind of multiple choice price where if you choose the right one you win a prize. And if buying a boxed copy through Stardock, the exchange rate puts it at $91 inc shipping, but presumably it's the collector's edition - at least that's what I've gathered reading the forums - even though the store makes no mention of a collector's edition even existing, let alone which version you're actually buying. Hence, the reason I go to the source and ask for more clarity.

To the OP, when you say you're not a fan of microtransactions, what are you referring to?
End of quote
The possibility that extra game content (eg additional Demigods) will be offered as "microtransactions". Historically speaking, microtransactions suffer from one of two problems: 1) the content gives an unfair advantage against those without that content, or 2) the content doesn't provide any advantage and thus there is little point in buying it from the gameplay perspective. That's not to say GPG will succumb to either of these issues, but last I heard there had been no decision yet whether to use microtransactions, let alone a model defined to ensure they work well, and as mentioned this is but one reason why I am not yet committed to this game.

Microtransactions being a a business model where small amounts of money are paid for small amounts of content.

"Not a fan" being a colloquialism for "don't like".

 

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

minor content updates will be annoying to pay for, if thats the case.

unless its of a substantial amount of content, that would be worth the payment

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

Thanks for the exlanation, Oracle, I hadn't heard about possible plans for microtransactions in Demigod, so I thought I'd ask :)

If they do something similar to what Sins of a Solar Empire is doing, I'm all for it, but as a general rule I'm not big on microtransactions either.

Reply #7 from Demigod Forums Top

And if buying a boxed copy through Stardock, the exchange rate puts it at $91 inc shipping, but presumably it's the collector's edition
End of quote

We will indeed send the CE out for direct orders.

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

last I heard there had been no decision yet whether to use microtransactions, let alone a model defined to ensure they work well, and as mentioned this is but one reason why I am not yet committed to this game.
End of quote

A month or two ago it was stated that SD and GPG have budgeted for a year of free updates after release - so additional DGs and maps should not be subject to microtransactions during that time.  If you have more recent information that doesn't match this please let us know.  After that year of free content I would not be surprised if expansions were subject to micro-transaction, but they will also only be applied to multiplayer matches if all players have the new content, judging by past SD-published titles.

If a dev wants to jump in and correct any of this which has changed feel free:thumbsup:   

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Ke5trel, reply 8

last I heard there had been no decision yet whether to use microtransactions, let alone a model defined to ensure they work well, and as mentioned this is but one reason why I am not yet committed to this game.
A month or two ago it was stated that SD and GPG have budgeted for a year of free updates after release - so additional DGs and maps should not be subject to microtransactions during that time.  If you have more recent information that doesn't match this please let us know.  After that year of free content I would not be surprised if expansions were subject to micro-transaction, but they will also only be applied to multiplayer matches if all players have the new content, judging by past SD-published titles.

If a dev wants to jump in and correct any of this which has changed feel free   
End of Ke5trel's quote
Thanks for the info, I had not heard about the year of free updates, if that happens it certainly sounds reasonable. However even in this case the fact remains that at some point there may be microtransactions for game content that, based on other players, I may or may not get to use. If I get the content, I may not get to use it; but on the other hand if I don't get the content, I'll be 'that guy' who doesn't have the host's favourite Demigod/item/whatever and, as is common in online gaming, constantly gets kicked. Except now I may have to wait up to a year to find out if that could happen.

Not fun at all, and is a good example of why I dislike microtransactions, but I'm not here to debate their pros and cons; what I really want to know is - assuming if I get the game I will want the collector's edition - can I get it via retail, and how long do I have to make that decision (in lieu of more detail about the game and purchase model itself)?

Quoting kryo, reply 7

And if buying a boxed copy through Stardock, the exchange rate puts it at $91 inc shipping, but presumably it's the collector's edition
We will indeed send the CE out for direct orders.
End of kryo's quote
Does this also apply to purchases after release? For how long after release do you estimate you will continue providing CEs? (I'm assuming that, as with most games, at some point during the life of the product CEs will cease production)

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

As long as supplies last, typically. Whether there would be multiple production runs of the CE isn't something that can really be determined at this point.

Reply #11 from Demigod Forums Top

I'm in Australia too and already preordered. Comparing to other normal edition games price around here 91$(included chipping) for CE is overkilled, heck it's even cheaper than recently release retail Dow2 :)