I agree with the general drift of the comments - am happy to purchase on-line through Stardock (though not too many other sites) but I do prefer to get a box shipped as well. While it sounds like this works pretty well for US players, I live in Australia, will it be simple to get a box shipped across or are international players limited to digital download without a box option??

One thing i would like clarified is this, is there a way i could purchase a boxed copy for a reduced amount (as with GCII) as i pre-ordered using my game credits?

Thanks.

DG

I've pre-ordered, but I would have loved an offline copy as well. Part of being a gamer is having a shiny box and manual to look at.   

I didn't know this option would be available when I pre-ordered. How would I get a CD now?

Also, do you ship to the UK? How much does it cost?

Well I've already pre-ordered it, so...


But perhaps when you've finished 1.4 you could release a "Total GalCiv" retail disk with GC1, AP, GC2 and DA all on one disk for those who don't like to download. It would probably have to be a DVD but I don't think that's limiting your market much these days. I guess this would be susceptible to warezing since there wouldn't be a need for updating, but by then everyone who wants to buy GC/GC2 online will already have it. It might make a nice collectible piece as well.

Odd, can't vote.

Well if it's available online-only, I'll probably pick up Dark Avatar....eventually. I still very much prefer to buy games at an actual physical store, however. Online shopping--no matter what it is--just doesn't appeal to me that much. It might be more convenient and/or cheaper (although in my experience neither is really the case that often), but purchasing things on the web....it takes away from the shopping experience for me. Maybe I'm just a sentimental old coot for feeling that way, but there you go!

I understand why Stardock isn't going the retail route, but doing so (or rather, NOT doing so) will definitely delay my purchasing the expansion.

I hope its avaiable in Germany too ... not only US.

Gal Civ 2 is one of the best Games I played, there is only one problem: I really whish, that battlingsystem could be altered to full control by Player and AI (RTS-Battles).

I'm with OzTim, I would like to find out whether the Dark Avatar box is shipped outside the US or not. Personally I'd be really surprised if it was US only, but I'd like to know for sure.

Judging by the posts here, it would be really useful if Stardock would issue some kind of statement on international shipping of the Dark Avatar box.

On the general subject, I've never bought and downloaded anything as large as a computer game before, but I don't have a problem in general with digital-only sales. In fact, the main reason I want the CD is because I am not sure my computer could handle this download, plus I want to have a physical back-up in the increasingly likely chance my computer dies on me.

Online is fine, but will you allow people to pay via Money Order, or Check?

Also, I see two icons in my post: Very Evil, and Cake Walk. I have never submitted anything for this game at all. Why would I have any type of listing. In fact if I did, I always play Pure Good in my game?

Mhhh, i really wonder if it will also be avaiable in German.
Do we know anything about that?

I don't know Stardock marketing policy but as far as I can tell i have other 3 friends which bought gc2 and would be willing to buy the expansion pack but can't because they don't have a credit card or would buy only a retail version.
AFAIC i don't know if buying the expansion because i don't think it will add so much content, but i have credit card so i will wait for a review and the first feedbacks.
I think that stardock should have done a retail version not only they will lose a lot of copies from people which are not willing to buy a digital version or can not buy it because have no credit card, but also this policy encourages piracy because people can reason in this way "why pay 30 $ when i can download on emule,edonkey the same content considering thati don't get a manual, a box, an original CD".
I would account also these losses from just publishing the expansion pack only digitally.Perhaps you could have added 5 $ for retail copies to afford the cost of box,paper and cd.

As long as you provide enough ways to purchase your games through digital distrubution I have no problem with it.

i.e. Your potential customers should be able to use various credit cards mastercard, visa, switch/maestro or PayPal.

It's also nice that you make a larger profit through digital distrution i'd much rather my money was going mainly to stardock rather than some store. It means you should have more money to make better games in the future.

However your prices should be fair I bought Gal Civ2 from an online store which was much cheaper than buying it direct from yourselves....


Lenius.

As far it is hard to understand all the commercial subtilities in your own language, just think how it is when wrote in another one.

Maybe you don't really like foreign customers ?

However your prices should be fair I bought Gal Civ2 from an online store which was much cheaper than buying it direct from yourselves....

Because we charge MSRP, and the stores are free to set their prices lower if they like. We can't charge less than MSRP ourselves without risking angering the stores, and that's really not something you want to do if you want them to carry your products in the future.

DA won't have such issues since we're only selling it direct. If you preorder now, you can get it for less than $25 (it'll go up to $30 after release).

As long as you provide enough ways to purchase your games through digital distrubution I have no problem with it. i.e. Your potential customers should be able to use various credit cards mastercard, visa, switch/maestro or PayPal.

The online store supports the major US credit card companies plus PayPal (though PayPal cannot be used for preorders directly due to inherent limitations of their system). If you need to use some other method, you may be able to work something out by contacting [email protected] directly.

The online store supports the major US credit card companies plus PayPal (though PayPal cannot be used for preorders directly due to inherent limitations of their system). If you need to use some other method, you may be able to work something out by contacting [email protected] directly.

This is what I was hoping wouldn't be the case. Not every one has an US credit card especially us non americans. Looks like i'll have to use Pay Pal when it's released which means an extra $5.

I didn't buy Altarian Phophecy due to the limited ways to pay, shame things havn't really changed...


Lenius.

Overall I am more than happy to buy Stardock's products online. Unfortunately I did *not* buy GCII online because it was going to cost me more to buy it online than to buy it at a store at full retail price.

My recommendation would be to sell it at retail & include shipping of the product as part of the sale. Makes no sense to me to buy a $30 game & have to pay $35 from you guys to get it shipped to me (as I prefer to own the physical game itself). With GCII the cost was $5 higher than any retail store was offering. Not only that but many stores are willing to place the item on sale during its first week (as I believe I picked up GCII for $10 less than retail on day one via Fry's).

Overall I would prefer you guys released the expansion into retail channels. If that is not in the cards then hopefully you guys will give people incentive to buy from you online (Free Shipping, no tax, etc).

In any case thanks for the great games. Been enjoying it quite a bit since the first one .

Runemaster

The online store supports the major US credit card

I believe anyone outside the US with a mastercard, visa or american express card will be able to order/pre-order Dark Avatar just fine.

If u have not got a credit card, ask a relative to order it for u and give them the cash or better still get them to buy it u for a pressie...

I have no prob with buying online but I would like the hard copy as well, just how will that work for all us U.K. GalCiv 2 players over here? Will Stardock ship a boxed version over to us? I wonder if Paradox (the publisher in europe of GalCiv 2) will be offering us a retail version? If anyone can shed light on whats going to happen in the U.K. with Dark Avatar I'd be most grateful!

Regards

My recommendation would be to sell it at retail & include shipping of the product as part of the sale. Makes no sense to me to buy a $30 game & have to pay $35 from you guys to get it shipped to me (as I prefer to own the physical game itself). With GCII the cost was $5 higher than any retail store was offering. Not only that but many stores are willing to place the item on sale during its first week (as I believe I picked up GCII for $10 less than retail on day one via Fry's). Overall I would prefer you guys released the expansion into retail channels. If that is not in the cards then hopefully you guys will give people incentive to buy from you online (Free Shipping, no tax, etc).

To me, this encapsulates the decision to go online-only. Retailing video games, especially PC games, is more of a pain than one may think. My local Gamestops offer enough rack space to PC games to stock roughly 40 separate games (usually just one standalone, two-sided rack), and at least one doesn't carry PC games at all. Competition for that rack space is pretty tough, and let's face it -- unless your first name is Sid, a 4X game doesn't have a whole lot of muscle, and an expansion for a 4X is going to have even less. So most stores are probably going to carry one copy, if they carry it at all, and as Kryo already mentioned, they're free to charge less than MSRP. Now why would a company go to all the trouble of getting their product in one of those rack spaces and then turn around and drop their online prices below MSRP, a move that would be nothing but a blantant undercutting of those retail stores (especially those stores that don't cut their prices below MSRP)?

I am with Cyclonus--I don't have a problem with buying online, but I prefer having the backup of a hard copy--just in case. I like the security, and having had lost downloaded games (Front Office Football) thanks to a fried HD, I like having the hard copy as a backup.

If I have to DL it I will. But I'l waiting to see what the new diplomacy options are before I buy.

but also this policy encourages piracy because people can reason in this way "why pay 30 $ when i can download on emule,edonkey the same content considering thati don't get a manual, a box, an original CD".

Well, you are just forgetting one small thing: there will be an activation, meaning that you need a valid serial id that will be linked with your e-mail to launch the game

I prefer buying retail -- but the future is now -- ?? argh a paradox. Guess I'll buy online.

I believe anyone outside the US with a mastercard, visa or american express card will be able to order/pre-order Dark Avatar just fine.

I confirm: I was able to buy at stardock store using a mastercard card. And since I live in France, not having to pay any shipping cost and custom taxes is very valuable

To me, this encapsulates the decision to go online-only. Retailing video games, especially PC games, is more of a pain than one may think. My local Gamestops offer enough rack space to PC games to stock roughly 40 separate games (usually just one standalone, two-sided rack), and at least one doesn't carry PC games at all. Competition for that rack space is pretty tough, and let's face it -- unless your first name is Sid, a 4X game doesn't have a whole lot of muscle, and an expansion for a 4X is going to have even less. So most stores are probably going to carry one copy, if they carry it at all, and as Kryo already mentioned, they're free to charge less than MSRP. Now why would a company go to all the trouble of getting their product in one of those rack spaces and then turn around and drop their online prices below MSRP, a move that would be nothing but a blantant undercutting of those retail stores (especially those stores that don't cut their prices below MSRP)?

I completely agree with the philosophy of selling the expansion online. Just do not agree with the idea that it should cost me more than MSRP to get it.

Think about this:

GCII was $40 when it was released I believe. On Stardock it was $45 (basically $5 more to actually have the product shipped to you).

I would much prefer to buy the game for $40 at any of my local shops & get it for $40 (not counting any discounts they may or may not offer). Yes there is some tax but not $5 worth. Should $5 make a difference? Probably not but I, like many others, do not particular want to give my credit card out to every game publisher that decides to start selling their products online.

On top of that if there are any issues it is a lot easier to return a product to a local shop than it is to say return something to an online outlet. In general this is not a problem with games per se but I could easily see myself not receiving my hard copy via UPS because they lost it or dropped it off at the wrong address. Then it is on my to spend an hour or two to get everything straightened out (needless to say something I have experienced more than a few times in the past). With a retail outlet this is simply not an issue.

To talk a little about the negative side of selling online only, what happens if someone is simply not able to buy something via CC or otherwise? Maybe they simply do not trust buying something online (cannot blame people with some of the things you read online every other month or so). In my mind your going to potentially take an honest person & potentially push them to get the game in a dishonest fashion. I would hate to see Stardock lose any sales to this. One of my favorite things about GC is being able to play the game without needing the CD. Personally I would hate to see Stardock change their mind on down the road about copy protection based on one expansion not selling nearly as well. Of course everything could work out great for them but I still think buying things online is still in its growing phase, as many people are still hesitant. As a whole you can probably look at GCII to get an idea of how successful the online aspect was to get the idea. If most of their sales come via the online channel then I can completely understand this direction, if on the other hand most of their sales came from retail then they take the risk of alienating some of their target audience. Most everyone hear probably made the decision to either buy online or via a retail channel & just from this thread alone it seems many went with their local shop.

Overall that is just my two cents. Either way I will buy the product online if that is the only way to do so. Just would like to see Stardock very successful in all of their products.

Runemaster