GhostofAnakin

The link that kumquatq3 posted below suggests that LucasArts has decided to hold back on the release of the PC version for reasons other than it not being ready in time. Or atleast, if you read the press release about their intentions as late as August stating that BOTH will be available for the HOLIDAYS in winter 2004, but then suddenly they announce only the XBox version will be.

so this was about a month ago <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hmm.... "WILL be available" on both the XBox and PC, not "might" or "hope to be available". Seems to me the way that is written, they did GUARANTEE it would be available to both, not just speculate.

The original poster didn't describe it properly. It was done a couple of times in EU novels, but it required more than just the person turning off and then back on his/her lightsaber.

I'm not sure I was going to buy it anyways. With all the "changes" Georgie boy has made, and not really for the better, I don't see the point. If they ever decide to release the ORIGINAL trilogy (as seen in the movie theatres) on DVD, then I'll buy those the second they're released. But this DVD trilogy is a "if I'm bored and have some spare money laying around" type of purchase.

I'm not sure how that would affect them at all. All it would mean is their "projected" sales would be lower, but their "actual" sales would remain the same when all is said and done. And those that do this might run the risk of the stores running out of the game and having to wait until the next shipment or until all pre-orders have been sold.

If you do close this thread, can you make it a sticky atleast? That way atleast it'll still be noticeable for a while.

IMO, whoever was in charge of this marketing decision should lose his/her job over it. Before you say that's extreme, here's some points: 1-What did LucasArts gain by "deceiving" the public? They won't gain more XBox fans by the deception, and will probably lose quite a few PC fans. 2-They knew beforehand that the XBox version was ahead of the PC version in development, so even suggesting a simultaneous release put impossible expectations on those in charge of getting the games ready for sale. This seems like a lack of communication between those developing and those marketing the game. 3-The job of the marketing department is to promote the game. It's job is to advertise things that are relatively within reason to accomplish, not state outlandish things that cannot be done. Obviously, with the XBox version ahead in development, the ONLY way both would be released the same time is if a)they put extra effort in to the PC version or b)they delay the release of the XBox version, costing the company a lot of money, especially during the Xmas season. All of these things are the fault of the marketing department (or whoever is in charge of giving the public information on the game). And from LucasArts' perspective, they just pissed off a big portion of their fans and all because of something that could have been avoided with better leadership.

Ontario. I admit I don't keep an eye on ALL games, but the one's I've been interested in all seem to be in the $39.99 to $59.99 range on the PC. EB, Future Shop, Radio Shack, etc. all seem to have the price in this range.

Extras would be nice, but my guess is we're not going to get anything extra that the Xbox version didn't have. We just get to wait longer and listen (read) all the spoilers about the story so that it's ruined for us when we finally get to play.

From what has been said by the devs, the PC version isn't ready for a december release, while apparently the xbox version is. So realistically, the only options are 1)release xbox in december in time for xmas, release pc as scheduled or 2)hold off on release of xbox until feb. The ethical thing to do would be to hold off on the release, since that is what their entire marketing campaign has been based on. But the business thing to do is what they decided to do, despite the fact they are now suffering backlash from the PC fans.

Money, plain and simple. What business would hold back on a product during the busiest buying season of the year if it was ready to be shipped? I don't blame LucasArts from a business perspective. I just question their ethics with their marketing of the game leading up to the point in time they decided to announce 2 different release dates.

That's not a very good business practice though. Although I doubt that a backlash from PC fans will affect LucasArts much, since the PC market probably doesn't account for too much of their market share.

The stores I've seen here in Canada, the XBox games sell for between $70 and $80, while the PC games sell anywhere from $20 to $59.99 at most. I personally bought my KOTOR game for $39.99, but that was about a month after it had already been out.

I agree. Although I think the difference may be that the XBox version sells for, what, close to $80 per game? PC versions can be had for $49.99.

It's called "making a mistake." And dagnabit Darth Sirius, LA should be paying me! Obviously they need a little PR help right now. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> In business, "making a mistake" is called a PR nightmare, which is exactly what's happening now. If you promise to take your friend to the movies, but then realize you had other commitments, that's "making a mistake". If a business makes a claim and then completly does the opposite, that's called time for a new marketing department. I work for a large business and believe me, if this sort of decision was done at my work, heads would roll and people would be fired based on the backlash already from the decision.

I know it isn't really relevant, but do the ones that don't have an X-Box have a PS2 or Gamecube instead? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Of the remaining 18 that I was referring to, I think 2 of them have a PS2. None of my friends own a GC. On the other hand, ALL 20 own a PC.

The number I've been able to find as of the end of 2003 was 13.7 million XBoxes worldwide, 8.6 million in North America. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That looks a lot more accurate than half the world's population. I know it's a small sample size, but just among my friends, who are all pretty well off and can afford gaming systems, only 2 of them (out of about 20 who i talk to regularly) own an XBox. And that's among a sample size that can afford a gaming system without sacrificing food, rent, etc. to buy one.

Yes, but not for purely petty reasons like jealousy or whatever. I think it should have been released when the PC version was released simply because now there's a huge possibility of spoilers about the plot/story/plot twists. This game will only be as successful as its story, and if that story is already revealed before the PC users even have a chance of buying a copy, then there goes the main reason for buying the game.

Wait, wait, wait. If I'm misreading what you wrote, then I'll apologize right now. But did you just say that probably HALF of the world's population owns an XBox? Do you realize that probably close to 70% of the world's population lives BELOW the poverty line, meaning that they probably don't even make enough money in a YEAR to buy an XBox. I know it has very little to do with the topic, but your estimate of half of the world's population owning an Xbox is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off. But if that's not what you meant, then ignore this post.

I believe it's still on gamespot.com and even on the LucasArts page itself, unless they took it down after the release date was announced.

ROFLMAO Victory of consumer rights? More like victory of spoiled PC gamers. So you want the X-Box version to sit in a warehouse for 2 months until the PC version is finished, eh? Yeah, it's crystal clear what's really going on here...... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Topaz, why do you keep responding? You've made your feelings known, but this is a thread for people to vent their frustrations. You're not helping matters by posting the same "its just a game" rheteric over and over to every post. Read the topic title, realize it's a "venting" thread, and stay clear. All your posts are doing is enflaming posters to arguments.

I liked the Revan one in the cutscene when he's turned on by Malak.

I'd like to see the moderators come down hard on anyone purposefully making threads or posting spoilers just to be an ass about it. Already we've had a couple of people post stuff after the release of the news with the sole intention of being "funny", so it'll be even worse when the spoilers start coming out. I hope the mods ban these people right away.

btw, I'd like to add to what Ivan said and thank Akari for giving us an "insider" response, especially considering how ticked off most fans are right now.

I know I quoted Akari, but this is more a question (no doubt rhetorical since LA probably won't ever explain their decision to PC gamers) is: If LucasArts knew all along that the XBox version was already ahead of development than the PC version, then why even mention a simultaneous release? Especially considering that even if they were started at the same time, as has been mentioned, the PC version requires more bug testing and checks to see that it works on most system configurations. To me, it seems like a rather dumb thing for LA to promise its PC fans. And regarding the spoilers, the problem is it's not as easy as just avoiding THIS website or the Lucasarts one. It's the fact that ANY and ALL gaming forums will have mentions of the plot, even in threads dedicated to other games. I know that I have personally click on threads on other forums discussing a different RPG and someone chimed in with "you think that was a twist? you should see the twist in KOTOR". Chances are that same thing will happen again. But there's nothing to do about it now. Just try and ignore as best we can any spoilers that are posted on any message board.