How much

[Erik Rutins]

Hi guys,

We are not ready to announce the final price yet, but I can help narrow things down a bit. It will be less than $100 but in the general range of our other "monster" games.

Regards,

- Erik

[JudgeDredd]

Erik - that does indeed help - having a range or mark is the next best thing to a fixed price - and thanks. [&o]

[Lützow]

See. I was sorta right with my price assumption. [;)]

[olivier34]

You all try to figure out the price in $...for my part I will pay it in Euros ! The rate is correct now, release please before this euro go down again ! [;)]

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Hi guys,

We are not ready to announce the final price yet, but I can help narrow things down a bit. It will be less than $100 but in the general range of our other "monster" games.

Regards,

- Erik

Now this is a nice Christmas present[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]

[htuna]

Your ultimate goal, understandably is to make money. Do your other 'monster' games sell enough to make that much more money with the higher price? If so, than your going in the right direction.

But it is said that the 'niche' is small... well people that are actually in that 'small' niche get driven away when the price is too high!... granted, this one looks good, like it would get many more hours of play time to me, than say bftb.. but, with all the low prices on many great strategy games out there, it is very hard for people that are part of the niche, to justify spending a 'lot more' on another title.

Granted there are people with whom money is no object, hats off to them.

Also, there are people that 'have to have' this one (it looks very tempting to me [:)] ).

But there are others that are more mindful how they spend their 'hobby cash'..

There are also others that you may draw into the niche (young kids out there buying the HOI's/Actung Panzer/Total War/Civ series), but the price may make them go 'whoa' and not sign up.

Just something to think about.

[animaluk]

I just want it

[jjax]

I'm not surprise, or happy for that matter, that this game will be one of the more pricey ones. \

Anyways, ff this game is as deep as WITP, WITH:AE, then I can justify spending quite a bit ob it.....but how do I justify it to the significant other [8|]

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: cmurphy625

Your ultimate goal, understandably is to make money. Do your other 'monster' games sell enough to make that much more money with the higher price? If so, than your going in the right direction.

But it is said that the 'niche' is small... well people that are actually in that 'small' niche get driven away when the price is too high!... granted, this one looks good, like it would get many more hours of play time to me, than say bftb.. but, with all the low prices on many great strategy games out there, it is very hard for people that are part of the niche, to justify spending a 'lot more' on another title.

Granted there are people with whom money is no object, hats off to them.

Also, there are people that 'have to have' this one (it looks very tempting to me [:)] ).

But there are others that are more mindful how they spend their 'hobby cash'..

There are also others that you may draw into the niche (young kids out there buying the HOI's/Actung Panzer/Total War/Civ series), but the price may make them go 'whoa' and not sign up.

Just something to think about.

The points you make above are valid, and I am confident Matrix (as any well run business will do) factored them into the group discussion(s) in the pricing section of the project plan (ie: it's not some poor smuck smoking a cigar and setting the price while getting a massage from a super model[:D]).

Some people will be priced out of the product (this happens with any hobby). Money does not grow on trees, but for some including me, I would rather pay more and get a better quality game than to pay less and get less. Yet, some people (and I am not saying you) believe the that high cost of production on a monster game (time, resources and money) can be recouped at pricing below the production cost. This is silly and unrealistic.

Recently in another thread for a different game someone said to the effect "well all workers that helped on a game do it for free, so the game should be cheap". There are signifcant costs just to keep the doors "open" at any company (even working out of your house). With so many hidden costs I am just glad Matrix is able to keep the doors open and able to brings us all some real gems for our entertainment. Now if only they would obtain the rights to Avalon Hills 3R life would be great!!!

[JudgeDredd]

On the other hand....do they "factor" those in? Or do they think "This is a big one...people will pay for this"...?

I don't know...all I know is I get the impression from time to time that this genre is deliberately being prevented from opening up sometimes. Almost like the protectionsim of the early 19th century and touted for this century.

Regradless...I've heard what it will be under, and I'm happy at least about that. I just need to hear a more finalised price and I will be happy (or otherwise)...but the initial estimate has pleased me somewhat.

You really cannot ignore the people you price out...slowly but surely it will bite you in the arse. You do need to realise that regardless how "niche" you think your market is, it will get smaller as the price increases! It can only grow as your price drops...it will never drop if your price drops (people willing to pay your higher price will pay your lower price). Of course that isn't necessarily related to profit...but it's about turnover right?

[randallw]

I have no idea what % that sales would be higher if something like this was sold for 40-ish $ instead of the usual amount.

[JudgeDredd]

Nope. And niether do I. All I hope for is Matrix DO understand the difference between high cost/low sales and low cost "potential" high sales.

I guess the way to do it is pretty much how every other company does it...they are not stoopid (companies) and we are...they'll bang it out at the price they know the die hards will pay for it...and then they can reduce it if and when sales do not meet expectation.
They are a business after all.

I'm now waiting patiently.

[V22 Osprey]

I'm really hope they show us some mercy. I would like to have some Birthday/Holiday money left after War in the East's Price does it's damage. I'm hoping for 70-80 bucks for the physical. $90...well...I will have to think long and hard. Let's just put it this way...I want this game and I'm willing to pay the higher price but I'm really hoping it doesn't cost as much as WitP:AE or BftB.

[Adam Parker]

Has anyone debated here, the merits of Matrix running a P500 system of pre-ordered games at a ~35% discount as is the norm today in the board wargame world? Can't remember! [:D]

The board wargame manufacturers seem to need this cash up front to pay for production - I'm surprised that the developers publishing through Matrix have never wanted an early cashflow to pay for their long nights at the keyboard.

It's not the final release price that would be important to me as a business - as opposed to gaining 2000 pre-orders with cash guaranteed.

[SuluSea]

If I get as much bang for my buck out of this title as I've gotten out of AE I'm almost stealing. [:)] I don't buy many games so the ones I do I get plenty of play from, if a game is good I don't care what it costs. Anyone that expects a game that's been in developement as long as this to be in the same ballpark pricewise as your run of the mill game is not living in reality.

[colberki]

I have waited a long time for a WIR succesor - you can charge 200 bucks especially since there is a hard copy manual.

[PyleDriver]

The biggest cost this game is having enough money for your divorce. You be so hooked on this your wife will be able to count the number of hairs on the back of your head...lol...

[SGHunt]

Look, I'm not selling anything here (and I have even less idea of the price!) as I am volunteer helper - I make no money from the game.  

The game will provide incredibly good value for money (at whatever price it is sold for, and we know it will be at least less than $100 - what is that in real money?).  For those of us that love this sort of thing, you will get hundreds (thousands?) of hours of challenging, infuriating, nail biting, good clean fun from this beauty.   I have been play testing for three or four months now, and putting in the hours.   I learn by playing, more than from reading the manual, and I have still got loads to learn.  I can play, sure, and quite well sometimes, but this is big!

My recent game partner Andy (Sabre) has just introduced me to my own miserable inadequacies, as he showed me how to use the elements of the game system in wonderful combination and with real style.    And I still enjoyed it.  And I'm going back for more.  

If you've been following these discussions, and you think the game looks good, you'll not be disappointed.

[british exil]

All I can say is,

The game will have it's price, it is well worth it. It is a monster game with a monster manual. (Very many pages)
Either you have a good printer or you'll be willing to pay for the physical shipment to get the printed version.

The tutorial is well written and because of the detail in the game, the tester who "had to" write the tutorial discription, wanted to explain as much as possible - to make the scenario understandable and playable for a newbie - was forced to write quite a few pages. But there are also lots of pictures that help explain the game.So it is a game that can be played straight after installment and the basics can be unsterstood.

It is not a game that will played after a few days then will end up on the shelf.
You'll want to change your tactics, move your divisions in another direction.
Have your airforce bomb enemy forces or try to take out the opponants airforces.
Can you reach your objectives before the Russian Winter sets in?
Who will be the master over the seasons? Mud, snow blizzards?
Can you beat the AI on easy, normal, challenging, hard or impossible?
Can you defeat your opponant in a PBEM?

It is a well known fact that money does not grow on trees and for some people the price will be a bit steep. I know from experience that I can always purchase a game after the release date, after I have saved for a few months, I still get the same amount of satisfaction from the game. Having it on day one is nice agreed, but it is also nice to be able to buy it after say 3 months saving.

The game will be rewarding, lots to learn, but tons of fun and dispair. Seeing your orders being followed and winning - seeing your orders being followed but without sucess.
Planning the next turns against your friends, opening your next turn hoping your armies are still there.

Think about it. Christmas, outside it's freezing cold, snow and ice and you're in your den fighting on the East Front. How fitting!!

But where I do get annoyed is reading posts where people are just complaing for complaining's sake. The game is worth the price, are you worth the game?

Mat

[MacSporran]

Well said...