Pricing on release

[Grotius]

$60-#80 is not uncommmon for Matrix games. These games aren't mass-market hits; they target a niche audience, so the publisher has to charge more to recoup development costs. Three figures is high for any computer game, but that price is not unheard-of for high-quality board games with components like the bound book that I gather will be part of MWIF. I have paid three figures for a number of board games -- Space Hulk, War in the Pacific, Lord of the Rings Deluxe edition, probably some of the OCS titles.

I'd rather pay $120 for one MWIF than two $60 console games.

[Zorachus99]

Considering the joy (and big $$) with which I re-bought counters after my first few boxed sets, I'd be overjoyed to pay anything less than $200.

[juntoalmar]

Well, simply calculate the ratio $/hours played.

I've spent many many hours playing "Rise & Decline of the Third Reich" PC Version (now abandonware). Even if it had costed me 150$, that would mean less than 1$/hour, much better ratio than watching films or other fun activities.

If I'm not going to really play WiF... it would be an expensive whim.

On the other hand, if it's going to be the ultimate WWII wargame (and that's my intention [:D]), well... then I'm sure it's price wise to me.

[juntoalmar]

Actually, I've just thought that if you have a beer (and maybe some chips) every time you sit to play... you will end spending more money on drinks than in the game itself!

[aspqrz02]

Or 'exploit' ... got some Mining Company exec in a LOT of trouble here in Oz in the 70's. He meant 'develop' ... Australian Reporters heard 'steal'.

Or Muhammed Ali, when called 'mate' by a Reporter at a Press conference (again, here in Oz = Australia. And we're Aussies, pronounced Ozzies, and NEVER Ossies [which are East Germans [;)] as I understand it) ... he tried to kill the guy, since *he* heard (so he explained, later) 'homosexual' when the Reporter was saying 'friend' (he had to be restrained bodily by several other reporters and prevented from completing his mission [:D])

English ... five continents and three large islands* separated by a common language [X(]

* UK, North America, Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland/Eire

Phil

[Greyshaft]

ORIGINAL: aspqrz
Or Muhammed Ali, when called 'mate' by a Reporter at a Press conference

Actually I think you are referring to Bert Newton who said on live TV with emphasis "I Like the boy!!!" (not realising that "boy" is quite offensive to African-Americans) and then followed two minutes of hilarious TV as Bert tried to figure our why Muhammed Ali wanted to punch his lights out.



To be fair to Bert, "I like the boy" is a known saying in Australia and has a favourable meaning. Just the wrong thing to say at that moment [:D][:D][:D]

[aspqrz02]

Could be. It was a long time ago, maybe I misremembered ... but I thought it took place at a Press Conference at Sydney Airport ... so it may be that there were two separate events ... Mr Ali was, shall we say, known to be occasionally intemperate [:D]

Phil

[Neilster]

I agree with several of the posts above. I paid 90 Aussie bucks retail a game for TOAW 1 and a bunch of others 15 years ago. Now, our Pacific Peso was worth about 60 US cents back then and it is near parity now but I was prepared to do it because on a cost/hour basis they were still bargains.

I just had a thought. Sometimes if a product is quite expensive, people will assume that it must be amazing. That may apply here but probably not until we have an AI.

I was in the RAAF with a bloke whose uncle was a millionaire landscape gardener. His strategy was just to do a normal job but charge an absolute fortune. People would ask "Oh, who did your garden and how much did it cost?" and when they heard the figure they assumed he must have been awesome. He had all these idiots competing with each other on how much they could spend.

Cheers, Neilster

[Joseignacio]

As for me, I wont care to pay 100 or more for the game, I know I will use it and it will repay with game hours. What I am worried about is my wiffer friends attitude. If they dont buy it because they consider that 60 euros (for example ) is too much for a game with no AI, first I am worried that if this attitude is extended, the sales can be smaller than projected in the WIF community, second, it will reduce the number of local and worldwide opponents.

I published the news in the wif mail list and it was received with few enthusiasm... Which is not so surprising considering they are very focused in the DoD and some in newer versions of wif. But its curious...

[bo]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

As for me, I wont care to pay 100 or more for the game, I know I will use it and it will repay with game hours. What I am worried about is my wiffer friends attitude. If they dont buy it because they consider that 60 euros (for example ) is too much for a game with no AI, first I am worried that if this attitude is extended, the sales can be smaller than projected in the WIF community, second, it will reduce the number of local and worldwide opponents.

I published the news in the wif mail list and it was received with few enthusiasm... Which is not so surprising considering they are very focused in the DoD and some in newer versions of wif. But its curious...

One of the assests of this game for me are the manuals by Steve, I posted before I have a very bad problem starring at a lit screen reading and absorbing the game rules. I really find it annoying but thats just me. With the manuals I can rest on a couch or on my patio in comfort and RTFM [;)] [Steves caption not mine ] [:(]

Bo

[Sewerlobster]

Well, price is price. Even with AI, most people have a budget and the higher the price the less likely the sale. I have stated before that while AI is the paramount feature for me followed by PBeM, I will gladly buy-in now in the hopes that these features are added later.

My life doesn't offer much opportunity for consistent netplay time, but I love WiF as solitaire diversion and this product offers a great opportunity for me to play. So it's just a matter of if I can afford it, for me.

[juntoalmar]

I agree. IA is a great extra to have, but at the end you enjoy it playing against humans or yourself. Still, IA is a great way to learn the do's and dont's.

What about PBEM? Is it included from start? That's a big issue to me (it's the way I use to play).

[Joseignacio]

No, it's left for the next year's (hopefully) release...

[juntoalmar]

Aaaaarrrrrgggghhh.... that hurted.

But...

1) When you save the game, isn't it stored in a file? Can't you just email it to your opponent? I guess the problem is that there is interaction during each impulse...

2) I guess we will not have to buy again the game when it is released with IA and PBEM...

[composer99]

I suspect that the PBEM implementation will prevent other players from seeing "your" stuff (I am especially thinking of US entry).

[juntoalmar]

So how is multiplayer game implemented in the first release?

Both have to be connected at the same time?

[Numdydar]

Yes through NetPlay. Also only two players can play togeather at the release as well.

[danlongman]

This type of discussion makes me think of people discussing the price of newspapers, comic books and hard bound historical tomes.
One costs more to make and market than another. Some guys are saying "I only buy the finest volumes but think they should be
priced like newspapers." And "How come I can't buy the US Army Official History of WW2 at 7/11? For a buck? I get free porn everywhere."
There are reasons for this and clearly there is a shortage of marketing experts posting versus fans expressing their dreams.
If you brag about only buying one or two games a year who gives a donkey's dump if you think they should be priced at a dollar or two?
That is how much ignoring you will cost the producer... in real dollars. That just might enter into the equation.

[28ID]

I'm going to guess a price (not a "price point" -- a trendy term I despise) of $120 for WIF. I hope it will turn out to be another WITP/AE in hours played and enjoyment received. I think I spent about $150 on WITP/AE, the game map and notepads and pens for keeping track of things. I have put in thousands of hours playing the games, so it's been a good investment.

[OttoVonBlotto]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

$60-#80 is not uncommmon for Matrix games. These games aren't mass-market hits; they target a niche audience

True and without an AI or PBEM option it is very likely to stay that way.
This is a pity as I have been watching and waiting for this game, quietly and patiently for very many years but without these components it would make it very hard to justify a premium price tag to me at this time.

Sorry but I'm out.