Respect the players

Copy protection and direct purchase

from GalCiv2 Forums
First of all, I'd like to thank you for making a great game (based on the demo) and respecting the players enough to not use a CD copy protection scheme. I love the Stardock system and I love the fact that you can buy the game online.

However, I have to wonder why it costs more to download the game than it does to go to a store and buy it? I know that the developers get more of my money with the download since there is no distributor and store taking part of the profits. So I would like to support the developers by buying the game direct, and I would think that Stardock would want me to buy it direct. But I am not blind: I can get the game with CD and paper manual for $40 at Amazon or I can buy it direct for $45 without CD or manual. So why the high price for downloads? Wouldn't both Stardock and the players be better off with a $35 download?
5,130 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wouldn't both Stardock and the players be better off with a $35 download?


Ahhhhhhhhhh, the sweet scent of the naive.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ahhhhhhhhhh, the sweet scent of the naive.

Sounds a lot like "Respect for the player"...

cweissha, you raise a valid point, but as far as I know Stardock's reasoning behind it is the following: Their price is the "official" price, and they don't want to anger the retailers by starting price combats.
The retailers play an important role: It is important for any game to have a broad physical presence on the market. Online purchases are rising, but the sheer volume of the standard games market makes it even more important - think of e.g. the game magazines and potential customers that would never have found it on the internet alone.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Perhaps they were just hoping u would not notice and give them a $5 tip?  
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
And as an aside to that, if the dev's start offering download only games, that isn't fair to those of us who don't really want to have internet connections. Right now all I have available in my area is dial up and we all know how fast that is, sheesh. So to me, to buy the game retail, and not have to troll online to see if there are updates, (of which this game has zillions), is like a godsend. And from what I know about the upcoming expansion, it is only going to be available via download once the initial pre reserved CD's are sent out, correct? I hope not because I really want the expansion, and of course will attempt to reserve my copy this weekend (tried yesterday but the website said all of my info was invalid, once again, ahem) but will that guarantee me a copy? It is a nice feature to be able to download a game but at what cost? Phone time, online charges for monthly service, all extra investments to the game that the devs should consider when releasing their product.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think this question was raised before and i believe the answer was what e-stab said, the publishers put restrictions on the price of downloading the game so it will not compete with the retail version and thereby, the stores that sell it.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Non-compete clause can be a real kicker.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Don't worry Stormbringer, I don't think the CDs will be out that soon. In case of a serious shortcoming they could burn more of them.

If your problems with buying online persisted, I'd recommend to contact them at [email protected] or a similar address. They're usually very helpful with getting things done, I had problems with my account too.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the tip e-stab. Seems alot of us have had a prob or two trying to download or purchase games. Persistence is a virtue!
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
you dont need to drive out the the store and waste your time, nor do you have garbage so it saves you money
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
you dont need to drive out the the store and waste your time


"Waste your time"? It only takes 15 or 30 minutes to go to a store, unless you live in a little hill billy town with one street.  
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I know we have a "Box Art" item on the Expansion To-Do list, so I'm under the impression that oyu will be able to get a cd version of DA from us, probably at an extra 5$ or something for burning and packaging and such (it'll just be burned here in the office duplicator).

So don't quote me on it, but my gut tells me it'll be available in "hard" form for people with low speeds (to be purchased from our online store), just not in retail.

I'll try to find out the official stance and report back you you guys.

Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It only takes 15 or 30 minutes to go to a store, unless you live in a little hill billy town with one street.


Hey, I resent that comment!!!! Some of us like quite.   

Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
(Avatar)BoogieBacSeptember 14, 2006 20:13:46Reply #11I know we have a "Box Art" item on the Expansion To-Do list, so I'm under the impression that oyu will be able to get a cd version of DA from us, probably at an extra 5$ or something for burning and packaging and such (it'll just be burned here in the office duplicator).
So don't quote me on it, but my gut tells me it'll be available in "hard" form for people with low speeds (to be purchased from our online store), just not in retail.
I'll try to find out the official stance and report back you you guys.


That was my understanding of it too, you have to buy online but you get a choice of download only or for a small shipping charge you can have a CD sent out to you in the post.

Funnily enough, I did that with Altarian Prophecy for GC1, only the CD turned up after I had moved out of my student house so I never did see it. Still, even if you buy the hard copy you can always download it by stardock central so I wasn't too heart broken.