Distant Worlds: Universe Steam Page and New Video Trailer

[drillerman]

When ever I see someone from Slitherine saying "us" on these forums it makes me feel uncomfortable. It that wrong?

[necaradan666]

Will that soundtrack from the trailer be available during gameplay with universe?!

[ergie]

I have some doubts, so I will ask here. I was planning to buy the game from the store directly (physical copy), and I own all the previous titles, but Im confused about the options you offer, so here they go:

1.-Looks like we can only buy prerelease from Steam, and as I want the physical copy, will I get it once I buy on steam?

2.-If I buy on steam the prerelease, and I get the physical copy, Will steam be necessary to play Universe? Or I will be able to play like in the previous titles?

3.-(Matrix Store)->The disccount for the previous titles will be applied in the process of buying Universe, or there will be some kind of refund after I buy it?.

4.-(Steam)->The disccount for the previous titles will be applied in the process of buying Universe, or there will be some kind of refund to the wallet after I buy it?.

Thanks

[garfield666]

Hi

How will matrix store know how many dw expansions do i own? I mean, all i got was email with serials and download links...

[towerbooks3192]

Few questions, if I have all except universe, I only get to pay $19 plus postage and handling to get a physical for everything? Also, do you post to australia?

[WiZz]

The base price of Distant Worlds: Universe will be $59.99 Download / $69.99 Physical. This represents a significant discount over the previous series bundle. The Physical version is only available through our store and includes an updated and full color printed Distant Worlds series game manual.

For the release, it will be available at a pre-order price of $49.99 Download / $59.99 physical. This will be the pre-order price through Steam. As we don't do pre-orders through our own store, this will be our release price as well, with a post-release promotional period as with past Distant Worlds releases that allows early adopters to get the game for a lower price, after which it will revert to the permanent $59.99 / $69.99 price level.

I'm predicting a lot of complaining about very high price. However, this is not a big problem for mature DW-fans (thanks to coupons through Matrix store), like us, but still... 60 bucks (price of AAA-title! [X(] ) for old game series? Steamusers and new future customers will not understand this.

[Algon]

ORIGINAL: ergie

I have some doubts, so I will ask here. I was planning to buy the game from the store directly (physical copy), and I own all the previous titles, but Im confused about the options you offer, so here they go:

1.-Looks like we can only buy prerelease from Steam, and as I want the physical copy, will I get it once I buy on steam?

2.-If I buy on steam the prerelease, and I get the physical copy, Will steam be necessary to play Universe? Or I will be able to play like in the previous titles?

3.-(Matrix Store)->The disccount for the previous titles will be applied in the process of buying Universe, or there will be some kind of refund after I buy it?.

4.-(Steam)->The disccount for the previous titles will be applied in the process of buying Universe, or there will be some kind of refund to the wallet after I buy it?.

Thanks

Not official, of course, but my best guesses would be:
1. If you buy on steam, there won't likely be a choice of physical release, just digital. Pretty confident you'd need to buy here to get a physical copy.
2. As long as there is no DRM on Universe (Erik confirmed there isn't) you should be able to run the game from the executable itself after the game is installed (which will require steam for the steam version - no way around that)
3. My impression from the post is that you enter the serial keys of your previous purchases during the ordering process for Universe and the discount will be automatically made from the price (i.e. cheaper, not a refund.)
4. This one I'm not confident enough to hazard a guess about.

ORIGINAL: WiZz

I'm predicting a lot of complaining about very high price. However, this is not a big problem for mature DW-fans (thanks to coupons through Matrix store), like us, but still... 60 bucks (price of AAA-title! [X(] ) for old game series? Steamusers and new future customers will not understand this.

This is one of my frustrations with Matrix. Their prices are just way too high (across the board, not just for DW) in a market where you have competing outlets having regular sales where you can get similar products for a few bucks at most. It's stopping me from becoming a regular here. I like strategy games, and there are a lot of Matrix games that I'd like to get, but I simply can't justify spending the amount they cost. Even half price sales are too high. The only reason I got DW was because of someone raving about how good it is (they were right) otherwise there is no way that I would have spent the amount I have on it.

[Icemania]

ORIGINAL: WiZz
I'm predicting a lot of complaining about very high price. However, this is not a big problem for mature DW-fans (thanks to coupons through Matrix store), like us, but still... 60 bucks (price of AAA-title! [X(] ) for old game series? Steamusers and new future customers will not understand this.

WiZz is right. Matrix may want to consider how pricing complaints have been managed in the Galactic Civilisations 3 Steam Forum. To avoid making the forum unreadable, similar complaints have been merged into the single thread. The limited approach to Moderation on the Matrix forums (where action is taken days later) is unwise on Steam.

[Icemania]

By the way the Steam Distant Worlds Forum is now live. Matrix you may want to consider adding a variety of useful stickies sooner rather than later e.g. Let's Plays, Guide to Guide, Forum Moderation Rules etc.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: ergie

I have some doubts, so I will ask here. I was planning to buy the game from the store directly (physical copy), and I own all the previous titles, but Im confused about the options you offer, so here they go:

1.-Looks like we can only buy prerelease from Steam, and as I want the physical copy, will I get it once I buy on steam?

No, the physical copy is only available through our store. You can pre-order on Steam, but that will give you the download version only. Any purchase through our store will also give you access to a Steam key. If you want the physical copy, you should purchase through our store. It will be available in both places at the same time.

2.-If I buy on steam the prerelease, and I get the physical copy, Will steam be necessary to play Universe? Or I will be able to play like in the previous titles?

No, the version sold through our store does not require Steam. The version sold through Steam has no additional DRM and can be played in offline mode as well. If you purchase from our store, the entire installation and play experience will be the same as with previous releases.

3.-(Matrix Store)->The disccount for the previous titles will be applied in the process of buying Universe, or there will be some kind of refund after I buy it?.

There will be a page where you can get a discount code. You'll need to enter this into our store at the time of purchase and it will reduce the price before you make the purchase.

4.-(Steam)->The disccount for the previous titles will be applied in the process of buying Universe, or there will be some kind of refund to the wallet after I buy it?.

There is no upgrade available through Steam. If you want the upgrade coupon, you have to purchase through our store.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: garfield666
How will matrix store know how many dw expansions do i own? I mean, all i got was email with serials and download links...

All you need is the serial numbers. There will be a page where you enter all your previous DW release serial numbers and it gives you a coupon based on the number of releases you own. You then go to our store and choose the download or physical version, add in the coupon code to get the discount and make the purchase.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: towerbooks3192
Few questions, if I have all except universe, I only get to pay $19 plus postage and handling to get a physical for everything? Also, do you post to australia?

That's correct during the release promotion period. After that, it would go up by $10. And yes, we do post to Australia.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: WiZz
I'm predicting a lot of complaining about very high price. However, this is not a big problem for mature DW-fans (thanks to coupons through Matrix store), like us, but still... 60 bucks (price of AAA-title! [X(] ) for old game series? Steamusers and new future customers will not understand this.

We'll see - I think it's impossible to make everyone happy, but I think that what we're offering here for a release that is brand new albeit built on many previous releases is a very fair price for the gameplay and content. It also represents a substantial discount over the previous full series price, before Universe was even finished.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Icemania
By the way the Steam Distant Worlds Forum is now live. Matrix you may want to consider adding a variety of useful stickies sooner rather than later e.g. Let's Plays, Guide to Guide, Forum Moderation Rules etc.

Yes, we will be doing that.

[ergie]

Lots of thanks Erik for your answers. [:)]
For me its clear now: wait to 23th and buy from your store as always.

[towerbooks3192]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: towerbooks3192
Few questions, if I have all except universe, I only get to pay $19 plus postage and handling to get a physical for everything? Also, do you post to australia?

That's correct during the release promotion period. After that, it would go up by $10. And yes, we do post to Australia.

Last question:

When are we going to be able to pre-order from matrix? I kind of want to pre-order ASAP before I spend my money on anything else.

You guys are the best

[Nevos]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

The base price of Distant Worlds: Universe will be $59.99 Download / $69.99 Physical. This represents a significant discount over the previous series bundle. The Physical version is only available through our store and includes an updated and full color printed Distant Worlds series game manual.

For the release, it will be available at a pre-order price of $49.99 Download / $59.99 physical. This will be the pre-order price through Steam. As we don't do pre-orders through our own store, this will be our release price as well, with a post-release promotional period as with past Distant Worlds releases that allows early adopters to get the game for a lower price, after which it will revert to the permanent $59.99 / $69.99 price level.

We will also be offering existing customers a discount based on what parts of the series they own. It's a $10 discount per release, so if you own everything that's been released so far (Distant Worlds + Return of the Shakturi + Legends + Shadows) then during the post-release promotion period, your price to upgrade to Universe would be $9.99 Download or $19.99 Physical ($49.99 or $59.99 - $40 discount for four previous releases). There will be a page on our site where you can get the upgrade discount coupon. This upgrade will be available through our store only, we don't have a way of doing this through Steam. All you will need to get the upgrade coupon is the serial number for each release.

We'll be offering Steam keys to customers who upgrade and purchase through our site.

Hello I have a few questions about the price reduction and how it will affect my brother and I. When Shadows was released I bought all the games twice, one copy of each for my brother and I. Does this mean I can buy more than one of Universe at the reduced price of $19.99? He wants the physical copy like myself but with his name on it instead of mine. When we discovered all the discs had my name on it came as a rude surprise for him and he wishes to get the physical copy of the upcoming with his name on it this time. I will be the one purchasing it like last time, so I would like to know how I can make sure he get's the same price as I am and have his name on the disc instead of mine?

Also how can I make certain that we both will get a Steam key with the physical copy? We both use Steam quite often and this came as a nice surprise that we can add it to our game library on there.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: towerbooks3192
When are we going to be able to pre-order from matrix? I kind of want to pre-order ASAP before I spend my money on anything else.

You guys are the best

Thanks - we don't offer pre-orders though. Our store at present requires payment when the order is placed and we don't want to charge customers before we can deliver the goods. So if you wish to order from us, hang tight until next week and you will be able to as soon as the game releases.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

Hi Nevos,

ORIGINAL: Nevos
Hello I have a few questions about the price reduction and how it will affect my brother and I. When Shadows was released I bought all the games twice, one copy of each for my brother and I. Does this mean I can buy more than one of Universe at the reduced price of $19.99? He wants the physical copy like myself but with his name on it instead of mine. When we discovered all the discs had my name on it came as a rude surprise for him and he wishes to get the physical copy of the upcoming with his name on it this time. I will be the one purchasing it like last time, so I would like to know how I can make sure he get's the same price as I am and have his name on the disc instead of mine?

Not a problem. You have two serial numbers for each of the previous releases. So you and your brother would each take one of those for each release and separately request a $40 discount coupon. You now have two coupon codes. Then you each place an order for Universe separately, applying your discount code.

All that matters is that you have the serial numbers. Each serial number can only be used once to get a coupon, but it doesn't matter that your name was on the disc, etc. If you wish a physical copy with your name on it, you have to be the one placing the order, so you should order yours and then he should order his.

Also how can I make certain that we both will get a Steam key with the physical copy? We both use Steam quite often and this came as a nice surprise that we can add it to our game library on there.

Each of you will get one serial number for Universe. Each Universe serial number will get you one Steam key. You can then use your Steam key to activate the game on your Steam account.

Regards,

- Erik

[Athelas2211]

Oh, finally.
I knew you will, but....

anyway, could you talk to us what made you rethink the decision on Steam? Was it Slitherine and their experience?


Anyway,
how will you know how many people bought the game because you release it on steam? (I'm one of those who would like to buy the game, but have been sustaining because it wasnt Steam available)

ath the moment, Steam store has a problem, I can't buy preorder, only add to wishlist, can you please fix it? Also, will you leave the price the same in US$ for EU customers?

Where is Kayoz now, I wonder....

PS please, experienced guys and Erik, please ge active on steam, and moderate well.

Good luck, I know it'll be worth it.