I murdered our retail plans today

from JoeUser Forums

Sorry gang,

I decided to not allow our next two titles to be available at retail (Sins rebellion and Fallen Enchantress).

The cost/benefit ratio just isn’t there at this time. 

It is cool to tell people your game is at the store. But as a business, until the retailers adapt, it doesn’t make sense to deal with them at this point.

269,874 views 85 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Makes sense, honestly its only a matter of time until retail stores disappear completely in favor of digital downloads for consoles as well as pcs.

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Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

But I like the pretty box.

Maybe you could make a "print your own box"  web page.  We could print them out and mail them to you for you to autograph and return with a company photo.O:)

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

makes sense to me.

 

Does this mean no boxes? Or direct shipping (perhaps through Amazon + fedex) for a limited number of items?

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Will that decision mean lower costs for customers compared to titles from other shops that still ship physical units?

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Well at least you responded to our issue.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Good decision. I haven't bought a game from a store in years. How quickly will you release these games on Steam? I only buy from your site, but I also want it to do well in the larger market.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Any way you can share in round numbers what the cost delta is for doing retail vs. digital?  Do the best buys etc.. of the world charge slotting fee's for boxed games?  Always wondered about that.

Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

All Good Brad, especially if the new SDC is out before Rebellion!

Though the issue of box art won't go away...

Quoting Sinperium, reply 2
Maybe you could make a "print your own box" web page. We could print them out and mail them to you for you to autograph and return with a company photo.
End of Sinperium's quote

I know it has been mentioned as far back as the GC2:Twilight release that a jewel case image would be a great idea!!

Would it really be so hard to have an image available for download?

 

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

No problem, last time I bought game from retail was in 2007.

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

As long as I can buy the game through impulse.

:troll: :troll: :troll:

troll pacov runs away !

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Only PC games I see at the stores are a couple big FPS, a bunch of Sims stuff, and Blizzzards Warcraft stuff.  And a few MMO fad games.  Noting I really want to go buy.

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Kaesho, reply 1
Makes sense, honestly its only a matter of time until retail stores disappear completely in favor of digital downloads for consoles as well as pcs.
End of Kaesho's quote

 

Retail is largely dead for non-mainstream PC games, so no shock here.

 

As for consoles, I don't think they'll survive the transition to DD, but that's more a function of the horrendous business model.  I suspect handhelds will replace consoles eventually, though some genres will move to PC

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Interesing ... :D

would be a pleasant surprise after all the console arrogance

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

That's okay. I've got Fallen Enchantress already, and I wasn't planning on getting Rebellion from a retail outlet.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

If you can't make money doing it, don't do it.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

On a $40 game we net about $15 these days at retail. 

There's MDF, which is effectively a slotting fee, as well as the manufacturing, the distributor's cut, the retailer's cut and that's before taking into account the costs of having a retail sales force to go out and negotiate with each retailer, attend their shows, etc. 

That's just how retail is.  They still sell more units than digital (at least for us) but there is also a lot of risk and cost associated with it.

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

One more nail in the retailcoffin.

 

I really wonder if Playstation 4 and Xbox 720 will have STEAMlike ways to forever stop secondhand sales. I believe it, but am not certain.

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Campaigner, reply 17
tation 4 and Xbox 720 will have STEAMlike ways to forever stop secondhand sales. I believe it, but am not certain.
End of Campaigner's quote

 

It is rumored, at least for the 720.

 

 

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Alstein, reply 18

Quoting Campaigner, reply 17tation 4 and Xbox 720 will have STEAMlike ways to forever stop secondhand sales. I believe it, but am not certain.

It is rumored, at least for the 720.
End of Alstein's quote
It's quite certain that there will be something. What that is and how pervasive it might be is yet unknown, but we can be sure some mechanism will be present.

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

When this system happens, Gamestop will not last a decade- their business model is built on secondhand, and the way they treat folks guarantees no customer loyalty.

 

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

The only bad thing I can think of from a lack of retail presence is getting your game into the hands of folks that haven't/don't use online distribution. And possibly a level of marketing (getting your game out into the public more). But, Elemental is more of a niche title. Sins could probably stand alone in retail since it's an RTS.

What avenues will be selling these two games? Steam? Impulse? Origin?

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Personally, it doesn't bother me.  I buy all my PC games digitally and am happy to do so.

I will say I do like the box art idea though.

 

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Lord, reply 21
The only bad thing I can think of from a lack of retail presence is getting your game into the hands of folks that haven't/don't use online distribution. And possibly a level of marketing (getting your game out into the public more).
End of Lord's quote

That is assuming that you can get decent retail space.  Walk in to a Best Buy lately and see how many titles they carry?  Retail doesn't care about PC games anymore.  If they don't care about us, why should we be on the shelves?  Much rather concentrate on the game and ignore the retail politics.  In the end, it's much better for the gamers.

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Island, reply 22
I will say I do like the box art idea though.
End of Island's quote

I was think art prints or posters or some collectable, personally.  Could have something much cooler than a box and we could mail it direct.  We'll need to see what doors open once we adjst to the "no retail" idea.

Reply #25 from Elemental Forums Top

Up until just about 6 months ago I had to buy everything retail because I live in a very rural area and we have yet to see decent internet. We still don't have decent internet, but it is a little better because we have HughesNet now. They're still those people who rely on retail copies for games.

 

Are we going to get any of the saving passed on, or is it you will just be making more? Just curious.