(12-04-2010, 10:03 AM)Volcano Man Wrote: (Not directed to anyone specific)

If anyone thinks that Mr. Tiller does not listen to the public then you are mistaken. However, I want to try to put this into perspective, because I am seeing some hateful and ill informed posts in another thread:

The sad fact of the matter is, game designers spend YEARS making these games, and there is very little money in it; I can personally attest that I spent over four long years making France '14. I certainly made it out of love, otherwise it would of never have seen the light of day, but compensation is nice, especially since it directly determines how much you can reinvest in future titles and improvements. I am sorry that everyone feels like someone is being cheated here, but the real truth of the matter is, the people that work long and hard on these games are the ones getting cheated (not by piracy alone mind you, but by publishing costs). It is unfortunate that there cannot be more understanding of that fact, but that is the way of things - people see what they want to see. Please do not put words into my mouth here that anyone is looking for sympathy, or that I am suggesting that understanding and patience should only flow one direction, this is naturally a symbiotic relationship but there are some things must be kept in perspective here.

Love it or hate it, this is the future of software distribution. Shipping out CDs is nice, I certainly liked having a CD myself, but the old way must eventually give way to the new in a niche market where very little money is being made. DD allows prices to stay low, yet profits to be higher so that money can be reinvested into the games themselves. There are several alternatives to DD, which is continue making physical copies and scratching out a minimal existence, or to simply stop developing altogether (I am not suggesting that will happen, I am speaking hypothetically). So, you have a situation where there is very little money, so DD is the method which alleviates the problems and it also provides the consumer the ability to have the game NOW, on demand, without waiting for it to arrive my mail. However, with DD comes the side effect that we are talking about here: you cannot just give your software away as a download without any protection, that would be akin to slitting your own wrists as a developer -- the people who spend *years* of their life making these "games" are, in good sense, not interested in that approach. :(

This is just something to keep this in perspective. The main change here is the shift to DD for obvious reasons. As someone said, DD was not invented yesterday, and it has become method of higher efficiency that a niche market requires to be successful. You can dispel those false assumptions that someone was sitting around with feet-on-desk, puffing-on-fat-cigar trying to figure out ways to force a DRM method on everyone. The DRM is a necessary side effect/evil of digital download. Who knows, maybe the DRM may change to allow multiple activations with one serial number, the whole thing was only announced today and we get the idea: there should be more than one activation allowed for those that might want to put the game on a laptop for traveling purposes. That is perfectly understandable. Lets be patient as, with everything new, some things might have to be ironed out (or not, who knows). Just remember to keep both sides of the issue in mind...

(12-04-2010, 06:45 AM)Sch Wrote:

(12-04-2010, 05:52 AM)Checkmate King 2 Wrote: [i]

I had a hard enough time begging my wife, and pretty much selling my soul to the devil, to be able purchase "older" HPS games at reasonable price of $29.99. There is no way my wife is ever going to go for the idea of buying games that sell for $39.99! Also with the way the economy is, $39.99 seems pretty steep.

I now its not a casual forum and such expressions shouldnt be used here, but i cant help saying LOL.

Whos wearing the pants in this marriege?

A new game costs 50 bucks.
This one is sold for 40.
Even I can afford it. And i live in Eastern Europe in a post communist state..

Whats 40 dollars for an american? Nothing i suppose.

With the combined creativity and skills of this community, someone will do it with their home machine / road warrior machine and they will be able to have bragging rights (sticky thread) and 100 ladder points from me for posting a detailed thread here at the blitz HPS OPC forum on "How To...". Points will be awarded when the post is clear and concise enough that even I and Foul can make it work.
That means you have to write the "How To" at least as good as the many that Foul has done here to help the community with the transition to the new blitz, PBEM gaming etc. I will even bet Foul would be willing to test out the instructions before you post them here for all to see. Glenn probably would to.

(12-04-2010, 12:05 PM)Barbarrossa. Wrote: I AM NOT HAPPY WITH Digital Downloads. I am none to good on Computers but have all these games because they work and seem without serious problems and I am interested in the history of it all. I have tried digitial downloading it can take much longer than it says and you lose the password or someother incompetence on my part. I for one would be willing to pay more for a hard copy Disc and find that the previous postal service worked well.
I have just been to the new site and think it all looks to complicated for me. I can only hope that an a additional hard cd dics system can be introduced even if it cost more. :hissy:

(12-04-2010, 11:53 PM)The SNAFU Wrote: I would prefer to have a disc and a nice case when I add to my collection of PzC games but I understand the reasons for DD and can probably live with it.

(12-04-2010, 11:53 PM)The SNAFU Wrote: But,and it's a big but. I do not like the notion that a manufactur has any say whatever in how I enjoy their products providing I do so in a lawful and responsible manner. If I want the game on 10 pc's I should have that option having paid for the game. If I buy a TV nobody tells me what to watch on it or limits what I watch to that TV or another.