Borderlands

[Humodour]

I'm thinking more of the retailers breaking the street date.(as usual)

 

But you don't get the point - why the heck is the street release date here even different to America in the first place? What possible benefit could it serve besides annoying your international fanbase (which is larger than your American one)?

[Purkake]

Do I look like a publisher?

 

I've always been against region locking. AFAIK they do it because they have always done it and because they kind of still can. I'm sure there was some kind of logic behind it back in the analog day, but I don't have a clue what it might have been.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Purkake

[Gorth]

Do I look like a publisher?

 

I've always been against region locking. AFAIK they do it because they have always done it and because they kind of still can. I'm sure there was some kind of logic behind it back in the analog day, but I don't have a clue what it might have been.

Market control and price fixing.

[Slowtrain]

One of the best things about digital distribution is the potential to knock retailers out of the loop.

 

Here in the states anyway, big retail chains have a huge amount of indirect control over what kinds of games are made or published, since if they refuse to carry it (for whatever reason) that's a huge loss in sales, one that most publishers and developers can't afford.

[Masterfade]

One of the best things about digital distribution is the potential to knock retailers out of the loop.

 

Here in the states anyway, big retail chains have a huge amount of indirect control over what kinds of games are made or published, since if they refuse to carry it (for whatever reason) that's a huge loss in sales, one that most publishers and developers can't afford.

 

 

But if digital distribution grows bigger, they may find themselves under the same public scrutiny as retailers.

 

Although if digital distribution does take over stories like UK retailers refuse to stock Muramasa because it's an original IP would be a thing of the past

[alanschu]

But if digital distribution grows bigger, they may find themselves under the same public scrutiny as retailers.

 

 

Not really. The big hindrance with retail is shelf space. That's where their power comes in.

 

Plus, digital distribution is private. It'd be easy to lock M rated games behind an age verification service that prevents underage people from seeing it. There's significantly less exposure and image restrictions IMO.

[Humodour]

One of the best things about digital distribution is the potential to knock retailers out of the loop.

 

Here in the states anyway, big retail chains have a huge amount of indirect control over what kinds of games are made or published, since if they refuse to carry it (for whatever reason) that's a huge loss in sales, one that most publishers and developers can't afford.

 

 

But if digital distribution grows bigger, they may find themselves under the same public scrutiny as retailers.

 

How so? Digital distribution doesn't need shelf space. You don't risk losing money if you stock copies of a game that don't sell.

[Masterfade]

My concern with digital distribution once it becomes mainstream has little to do with shelf space. In fact I said quite clearly digital distribution will eliminate shelf space related problem like what happened to Muramasa in the U.K. If you guys bother to quote my entire post instead of just the first line you may see it

 

When I wrote "But if digital distribution grows bigger, they may find themselves under the same public scrutiny as retailers" I was thinking about games like Fahrenheit or Witcher, and how they're censored because major retailers in NA refuse to carry AO titles.

 

Now the public doesn't care what type of content is on Steam because it's a relatively low profile service. But once digital distribution grows big, they'll be much more visible to the public. Today digital distribution sites are offering AO games that Wal-Mart refuse to stock, but there's no guarantee they'll still do that once they become mega digital content delivery portals of tomorrow.

 

Remember how Apple pulled Baby Shaker from App Store?

Edited October 27, 2009 by Masterfade

[Humodour]

My concern with digital distribution once it becomes mainstream has little to do with shelf space. In fact I said quite clearly digital distribution will eliminate shelf space related problem like what happened to Muramasa in the U.K. If you guys bother to quote my entire post instead of just the first line you may see it

 

When I wrote "But if digital distribution grows bigger, they may find themselves under the same public scrutiny as retailers" I was thinking about games like Fahrenheit or Witcher, and how they're censored because major retailers in NA refuse to carry AO titles.

 

Now the public doesn't care what type of content is on Steam because it's a relatively low profile service. But once digital distribution grows big, they'll be much more visible to the public. Today digital distribution sites are offering AO games that Wal-Mart refuse to stock, but there's no guarantee they'll still do that once they become mega digital content delivery portals of tomorrow.

 

Remember how Apple pulled Baby Shank from App Store?

 

Your point simply doesn't follow. Why would Wal-Mart's failings relate to a successful digital distribution services that ONLY caters to gamers?

 

If anything, it's the opposite: Steam is a world-wide digital retailer. The pressures of a single market or demographic are significantly lessened.

 

Remember how Apple pulled Baby Shaker from App Store?

 

I'm not even sure that such a juvenile app is in any way comparable to a genuine adults only game (like, say, Fallout). But supposing it were, it's no surprise: Apple has always tried to maintain a certain image and it has treated apps like that from the very beginning (before the iPhone was a big hit), banning things like swearing, porn, etc from its store.

 

These decisions by companies like Apple or Wal-Mart follow a deliberate decision about the company's brand image (a decision taken without really even thinking about the gaming market, not least of all because gamers are minority customers for these businesses compared to your generic mums and dads out there - these are family oriented businesses). Steam has no such issue with its brand image - it's explicitly for gamers.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Krezack

[Kaftan Barlast]

In my experience, Steam is absolutely useless if you want a game at release. With ETW they forgot about having the pre-load they promised, AND they delayed the release by 36h for no reason at all.

[Masterfade]

Your point simply doesn't follow. Why would Wal-Mart's failings relate to a successful digital distribution services that ONLY caters to gamers?

 

If anything, it's the opposite: Steam is a world-wide digital retailer. The pressures of a single market or demographic are significantly lessened.

 

Because if digital distribution hits big, the market may no longer be dominated by services catering only to gamers. Look at Today's mega retail chains sells practically everything, is it that surprising once digital content delivery becomes mainstream we may witness the rise of mega content delivery sites that sell games, music, movies, TV shows, etc? A larger market grows larger companies, larger companies draws more public scrutiny. Why should digital distribution be different?

 

As for Steam being "world-wide", many traditional retail chains are also international.

 

After re-reading your post, I think I may have been a bit unclear when I wrote "if digital distribution grows bigger". By that I mean if digital distribution as an industry or business model grows bigger, I wasn't referring to any specific company growing bigger.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Masterfade

[alanschu]

If digital distribution grows bigger, the sheer convenience factor of having multiple distributors accessible right from your home makes finding a game less challenging.

 

The key issue with retail is still shelf space. Retailers can still hide mature content if it's an issue through age verification tied to the user's account. And the fact that I don't have to drive all the way to Walmart, realize they don't stock my game because of whatever silly issue they want, makes it simple.

 

For Fahrenheit vs. Indigo Prophecy, I imported Fahrenheit. With Digital Distribution, I'd just buy it and download it from a service that sells it online rather than buying Indigo Prophecy.

[Matthew Rorie]

Despite the wonky interface issues, I'm actually having fun with this.

 

If anyone would like to play sometime this evening (after 8 PM PST), drop me a line and we'll try it out. I have a level 18 Soldier, but I wouldn't mind starting over with another character if we want to get on the same slate early on. Or I can use the lvl 18 soldier to rock you through some of the earlier quests if anyone wants an upper hand.

[Matthew Rorie]

Although, now that I'm hearing more about people who encounter the "hey, all my talent points are suddenly gone and there's no way to get them back" bug, I'm thinking maybe we should plan on doing a Borderlands night for sometime after the first patch hits.

[Floodland]

Just 1000G'd this fantastic piece of game. Funnily enough, I've not encountered a single glitch. The end boss is quite disappointing, especially considering how easy it is to kill via one of FPS gaming's maxims, but it's great fun nonetheless. Roll on DLC.

[alanschu]

Haha, two people I know broke the tutorial

[Floodland]

Haha, two people I know broke the tutorial

 

Heard about that one. I don't understand how it can be so difficult to keep pace with a Claptrap.

[Matthew Rorie]

Haha, two people I know broke the tutorial

 

Heard about that one. I don't understand how it can be so difficult to keep pace with a Claptrap.

 

I want to shoot Claptrap so bad.

[Floodland]

Haha, two people I know broke the tutorial

 

Heard about that one. I don't understand how it can be so difficult to keep pace with a Claptrap.

 

I want to shoot Claptrap so bad.

 

I know the feeling. The rescues only give me the crappiest grenade mods now. Me and a friend tried beating one over the head (such as it is). Didn't work, just some sparks

[Humodour]

Although, now that I'm hearing more about people who encounter the "hey, all my talent points are suddenly gone and there's no way to get them back" bug, I'm thinking maybe we should plan on doing a Borderlands night for sometime after the first patch hits.

 

a) Lilith's main skill is bugged. I want to play Lilith.

b) I can't play until the 30th anyway.

 

So I'm inclined to wait.

 

Then again, I'll probably be making lots of chars anyway so losing my first char's skills due to a bug probably wouldn't bother me that much. Losing items would be a bit worse but still...

[Humodour]

Just 1000G'd this fantastic piece of game. Funnily enough, I've not encountered a single glitch. The end boss is quite disappointing, especially considering how easy it is to kill via one of FPS gaming's maxims, but it's great fun nonetheless. Roll on DLC.

 

I think it's disgusting that we have to pay for the DLC, especially considering it's $10 and was finished and ready for release before the game had even come out. 10 ****ing dollars.

[Purkake]

I am shocked and appalled!

 

How is the game getting released in Australia anyway? From the videos it looked like there's a nice amount of dismemberment and general bloody-ness.

[Deraldin]

Just 1000G'd this fantastic piece of game. Funnily enough, I've not encountered a single glitch. The end boss is quite disappointing, especially considering how easy it is to kill via one of FPS gaming's maxims, but it's great fun nonetheless. Roll on DLC.

 

I think it's disgusting that we have to pay for the DLC, especially considering it's $10 and was finished and ready for release before the game had even come out. 10 ****ing dollars.

Where did you see that it's ready? I haven't seen any such thing, just that it's in the works and will be coming "soon".

Edited October 28, 2009 by Deraldin

[Humodour]

How is the game getting released in Australia anyway? From the videos it looked like there's a nice amount of dismemberment and general bloody-ness.

 

That's the funny thing - we got Germany's low-violence version accidentally on Steam. The publisher messed up and now I have to download 8 gigs again if I want the correct normal violence version.

 

But no, the game isn't censored here.

 

Also guys, apparently a patch to fix the skill loss bug and Lilith stealth fade backstab skill bug has been released.

[Oner]

Just 1000G'd this fantastic piece of game. Funnily enough, I've not encountered a single glitch. The end boss is quite disappointing, especially considering how easy it is to kill via one of FPS gaming's maxims, but it's great fun nonetheless. Roll on DLC.

 

I think it's disgusting that we have to pay for the DLC, especially considering it's $10 and was finished and ready for release before the game had even come out. 10 ****ing dollars.

Where did you see that it's ready? I haven't seen any such thing, just that it's in the works and will be coming "soon".

I've read somewhere that it'll be a day one (or zero) DLC.