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Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar Availability

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Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar Availability

Direct vs. Retail

from GalCiv2 Forums

As some may know, the upcoming expansion pack, Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar is only going to be available via TotalGaming.net (i.e. on galciv2.com).


People will be able to purchase it and download it or purchase it and download it while waiting for the boxed unit to arrive.  But it won't be available at stores.


So the question is, how much will this affect sales? Some percentage of people won't buy on-line for various reasons.  Which means no one knows how well an on-line only release will do.  Let us know what you think and check out the poll.


As for last week's poll which asked how players like the new version of Galactic Civilizations II, 84% said they are happy with it. 9% Said they are happy with it but liked 1.2 better. 3% said they don't like it. 4% said they were having technical problems of some kind with it.

52,006 views 84 replies
Reply #76 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

And no matter what Brad says direct sales will kill 1/3rd of your sales for us who only deal in cash.

Then it is a matter of trade off: how much it costs to get a retail presence versus how many sales you will loose for not having a retail presence. And don't forget that Stardock get less money per box sold at retail than per game sold directly.

Reply #77 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Then it is a matter of trade off: how much it costs to get a retail presence versus how many sales you will loose for not having a retail presence. And don't forget that Stardock get less money per box sold at retail than per game sold directly.


Paying via cash (which can be Money Order, Check) does not have to mean retail, but it requires SD to accept this form of payment.

Now if real cash is meant, then retail is the only way.

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Reply #78 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How much will the postage be to Australia ?

If the postage will cost as much as the game, then, reluctantly I will not be getting it.

Downloading is out of the question...it would take months.


Reply #79 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I will buy it online from Stardock, the GalCiv2 purchase went very well. Steam sucks big time. My only concern is for people who for what ever reasons do not have credit cards (minors come to mind before bad credit) and will not have a way to purchase it online. Believe it or not there are some areas that still do not have local internet access. I for one think the view point of businesses that 'we will get 85% of the business still' is wrong. You should do your very best to provide services to all that want it. Contract with one national chain store and mark the game up to cover costs. It is not always about the money.
Reply #80 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Believe it or not there are some areas that still do not have local internet access. I for one think the view point of businesses that 'we will get 85% of the business still' is wrong. You should do your very best to provide services to all that want it. Contract with one national chain store and mark the game up to cover costs. It is not always about the money.


You can order a boxed disc for DA once it is released (not a full retail box, but we'll make them as pretty as we can ), and pay by cheque/money order. The mail-order form for SD products can be found here (it has not been updated to show DA yet).
Reply #81 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I won't mind buying the expansion pack online.

However what I mind is that I have to use another app to download it. ie. stardock central.

I would prefer to pay online, you give me a password protected area and I download the zip or .iso file

I do not need another program to hand hold getting files for me. I know what I want, and how to download it. Just make sure your installer is spot on!

Cheers,
ed
Reply #82 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks Kryo.
I followed your link and I see the postage will be $10 American.
Reply #83 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
store bought gives you hard cd on line is a reall pain. to get inof and ansers is a pain or server has problems even to change or upload a pic to your id. As well as to get ansers to the game not loading after you have played for awile and now it crashes on booting up or on doing a turn. now will i get help so i can play my gamer or is it usless now. I have pentium 4 532 cpu hyper-threading tec & 1 gig ram great vidio and xp. so now is kurpow!!!!!
Reply #84 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Stardock rules! Boo-yah!

However you guys do it, as long as it's the same way as ever it's fine by me.

But on a practical note, I'm sorry, people who would likely use a product like GC2 do NOT want to ruin a perfectly good butt-imprint by peeling themselves off their chair and schlepping themselves to the store. It's a myth that it ever acutally happens! But no doubt that you're sacrificing a few odd impusle game-buyers with this move.