Boxed retail version

[Jiri]

Hi, seeing how successful the game is on Steam, I am sure that you (the creators) have new possibilities now. Will you consider making a proper retail version of the game with box, retail cd (no homebrew) and maybe a paper manual? I am sure that lots of people (including me) will buy it for a double price. Selling it directly from your site will make all money stay at 'home'...

[gambit37]

I personally don't care for boxed versions any more: when you get to my age, ownership of physical goods isn't really important, plus you no longer have the space to store them...

But I can see that some gamers would like this. However, you have to weigh up the cost: it's really not cheap to get physical items made and distributed, and as AH are a very small team, I suspect this is something that they can't currently justify.

[Darklord]

Well anything is possible for the future,

Should you decide to make your own for now, here's an official DVD insert,

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1052

Daniel.

[dazman76]

I'm personally unsure if it would be a good idea, since LoG isn't what I'd call a "mainstream" title Sure, we love it, and it's awesome - but would it really sell well, sat next to all the AAA garbage currently on shelves? Game stores always pander to the big publishers, because those titles sell like hotcakes - garbage or not - therefore LoG would most likely be relegated to "some space close to the top titles". This in itself, coupled with a potentially low selling price, unfortunately makes some people think "budget rubbish". Granted, that isn't everyone - but this is why digital distribution works so well for titles like LoG. Those who are interested have an easy way to buy, and are also watching news sites and blogs to find titles that fit them. Often, retail customers have just wandered in to the store, and aren't necessarily prepared with knowledge of any titles except the AAA stuff.

I'm absolutely sure LoG would sell quite a few copies on the shelves - but the problem is, you need to sell a LOT of copies to make the production costs worthwhile. The last thing we want to see, is AH producing physical copies at great expense - using up their well-deserved profits from the digital sales - only to find that they sell poorly at retail, wasting the future development fund they've built up. The other problem with this situation, is that when you go to retail, you need to do the full job - creating small batches and seeing if they sell, isn't that viable these days - due to the AAA nonsense I mentioned above.

Still, all that aside - AH may actually be considering this right now I just hope they don't gamble on it, because I think that more effort and expense on marketing the digital copy would be a far better idea and a far more profitable one too

[Billick]

I totally get the "shiny" feeling of having a boxed copy of a game displayed on a bookshelf, and I kind of miss that, but PC seems to be going mostly digital distribution. I'd be curious how many people would buy the game again to get the box. I can't see myself doing that.

[Loktofeit]

The expense in resources and manpower makes it extremely cost prohibitive, even if they self produce and sell it. Moreso, actually, as they wouldn't have the discounts that major publishers get and would probably be paying a premium for a limited run. Add in shipping and storage and the price starts to creep up there.

[Pez]

I totally get the "shiny" feeling of having a boxed copy of a game displayed on a bookshelf, and I kind of miss that, but PC seems to be going mostly digital distribution. I'd be curious how many people would buy the game again to get the box. I can't see myself doing that.

I wouldnt buy it again unless it was a "Collectors edition" or something like that, in fact, thats the only boxed games I buy, the ones who offer me more than a DVD and a printed serial number, otherwise I get them on Steam.

[LethalBlade]

Boxed physical software products are a thing of the past. They're a waste of resources and money, especially for an indie developer. Unless it's a very special collector's edition boxed product, digital distribution is the way to go.

[Melvoid]

I myself would happily wait for a boxed Collectors GOTY Edition with at least two official expansions in it and aome collectors items, anyone else still got their coin from DM/Chaos Strikes Back i do still sat on the shelf there altough the game box has been put in storage.
Something to wait for i think and there is some precedent for it if you go down to your pc retailer you can find the Terraria special edition, Super Meat Boy Boxed version etc so its possible but not immediate.

Also grats to AH agin for the speedy patch release.

[Darklord]

anyone else still got their coin from DM/Chaos Strikes Back

That's awesome! Any chance of a photo?

Daniel.