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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Apr 2004
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I come from Australia, and as usual, it's the same old sob stories from the software outlets out here - it seems like every time a game is due for release, the distributors to Australia futz it up and we end up getting the game a good three months later than was originally promised (and by that, I mean when the release was promised in Australia).
I know that there are companies like TryMedia out there that offer full downloads that you can purchase, regardless of which country you're from. It'd be cool if Larian was to offer this, or even better still, offer full downloads (on a secure server, after payment) from their own website.
The way it stands, one of the reasons piracy is so rife around the world is a pure question of availability - gamers that have to wait until July for a game that was released overseas in April often figure they're better off downloading the product (for free!) illegally via Overnet, Kazaa and other file-sharing networks. In this sense, the limited distribution basically encourages piracy. In saying this, I'm not seeking to legitimize piracy, I'm just stating a fact.
I'd be more than happy to purchase a game online and download it from the company that made the game. At least it's another option for people from countries that suffer from lousy distribution (at least, if you have broadband).
Personally, I think all gaming companies should look into it - some obviously already have. Has Larian considered this?
Peter Cushing: "Are you telling me that an ape that lived two million years ago got out of that crate, killed the baggage man and put him in there; then loaded everything up neat and tidy, and got away?"
Christopher Lee: "YES! I AM!"
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Mar 2003
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The way it stands, one of the reasons piracy is so rife around the world is a pure question of availability [...] What does "rife" mean ?
When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
--Dilbert cartoon
"Interplay.some zombiefied unlife thing going on there" - skavenhorde at RPGWatch
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member
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member
Joined: Jun 2003
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I come from Australia, and as usual, it's the same old sob stories from the software outlets out here - it seems like every time a game is due for release, the distributors to Australia futz it up and we end up getting the game a good three months later than was originally promised (and by that, I mean when the release was promised in Australia).
I know that there are companies like TryMedia out there that offer full downloads that you can purchase, regardless of which country you're from. It'd be cool if Larian was to offer this, or even better still, offer full downloads (on a secure server, after payment) from their own website.
The way it stands, one of the reasons piracy is so rife around the world is a pure question of availability - gamers that have to wait until July for a game that was released overseas in April often figure they're better off downloading the product (for free!) illegally via Overnet, Kazaa and other file-sharing networks. In this sense, the limited distribution basically encourages piracy. In saying this, I'm not seeking to legitimize piracy, I'm just stating a fact.
I'd be more than happy to purchase a game online and download it from the company that made the game. At least it's another option for people from countries that suffer from lousy distribution (at least, if you have broadband).
Personally, I think all gaming companies should look into it - some obviously already have. Has Larian considered this?
never gonna happen i bet
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Mar 2003
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Reminds me of how MIke Oldfield distributes his "Tres Lunas" "game". You can download the Demo (I think), and "unlock" the full version via credit card. Sad I don't have one.
When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
--Dilbert cartoon
"Interplay.some zombiefied unlife thing going on there" - skavenhorde at RPGWatch
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
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This Aussie shop has the game listed for May 21st. If everything else fails, the UK publisher, digitaljesters.com, has worldwide free shipping. I've ordered my copy there, since it is cheaper than the shops here in Denmark, and it will ship tomorrow (wednesday).
"Gods don't like people not doing much work. People who aren't busy all the time might start to think."
T P
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addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2003
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Nah, this is a very very bad idea. You would give crackers a really easy time. All they would have to do is buy the game and they would be able to download it and put it on their own servers for everyone to download for free.
Also, what if I download the game, and I have to reformat my harddrive, do I have to buy the game again? You might say that the company could give me an account name and password so that I can download the game any time, but what is to keep pirates from spreading around that name and password?
Also, I like many people I know, prefer to have a nice box and manual, simply because it looks nice. Suppose a game would be download only, it would mean I wouldn't be able to get a nice box!
No, I don't really want this to ever happen.
 Tovi
May Raan refresh you!
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Mar 2003
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I still don't know what "rife" means.
When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
--Dilbert cartoon
"Interplay.some zombiefied unlife thing going on there" - skavenhorde at RPGWatch
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Support
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Support
Joined: Mar 2003
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Rife: In widespread existence, practice, or use; increasingly prevalent. FYI; Dictionary.com
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2003
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Rife: In widespread existence, practice, or use; increasingly prevalent. FYI; Dictionary.com Thank you Raze! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> I was just getting ready to tell him!
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Mar 2003
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I sympathise with you, Mr Roberts, but I do feel that it is a very dangerous practice. Divine Divinity was never correctly hacked to my knowledge, so copy protection isn't an entirely lost cause. I've resorted to Internet ordering for anything I must have now. It works out cheeper in many cases anyway.
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jun 2003
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he does have a valid point though. about the distribution bit. to tell u the truth, in malaysia, original games are very rare (not all shops that sell games have original) & most of the time, one has to order to get them. well except for the insanely popular games such as diablo series & starcraft & warcraft series (ok, blizzard games) that normally come in on time (within a month after release), most games will come in months later & even then there's no guarantee that the shops will bring them in unless one pays extra. & that makes buying original games so unworthwhile in general. u can guess quite correctly why pirated games are so easily available almost anywhere in malaysia.
of course with P2P applications, piracy gets more rampant as distribution of game cd images becomes a lot easier & more casual. all those & broadband connection, that is.
since broadband becomes more widely available, certain games (especially online games) can be made available via internet purchase & partial downloads. partial because u don't want it to be distributed too freely & illlegaly. so certain modules will have to be loaded from the server to have the game fully operational & playable. that is just a suggestion.
![[Linked Image from i3.photobucket.com]](https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/tingtongtiaw/jang_sig.png) ......a gift from LaFille......
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2004
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^^^ Basically an authentication server that registers the key and keep it active everytime you play the game. Sort of like the UBISOFT authentication servers. I'm from Australia too but I'm not really irked if the local retailer doesn't stock the game. Seriously mate, our currency is climbing yet software stays rock solid at AU$80-AU$100 a pop. There's been no change since the days our dollar was half a US dollar a couple of years ago. The local retailers aren't doing themselves a favour by ripping us off. As someone else suggested just import the game from online outlets such as www.dvdboxoffice.com. I got Beyond Divinity, Sacred, Farcry, BF1942 Vietnam for AU$50 each with free worldwide shipping. I got four great games for AU$200 instead of the AU$350-AU$400 I would have expected to pay in Australia. Someone also mentioned hacked copies. The truth is any game, be it distributed online or physically, will be hacked/cracked and seeded at all the usual bittorrent sites. Most games are cracked and ready for download before they are even available at the stores. Especially with the penetration of broadband worldwide, piracy will always be there. Sure, not distributing online might slow it down but not by much, if at all. There need's to be a revolution in anti-piracy technology that is transparent and not a pain in the [nocando] for the consumer (I'm looking at you UBISOFT).
Feel the power of Lord Panda...zzzzzzz
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Apr 2004
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Nah, this is a very very bad idea. You would give crackers a really easy time. All they would have to do is buy the game and they would be able to download it and put it on their own servers for everyone to download for free. Think about this for a moment and you'll realise that online distribution is no different to store distribution in this aspect. Right now, if I buy the game at a store, I can do exactly the same thing. It's not any kind of argument against the concept. Also, what if I download the game, and I have to reformat my harddrive, do I have to buy the game again? You might say that the company could give me an account name and password so that I can download the game any time, but what is to keep pirates from spreading around that name and password? Yes, IMO, that's the problem with how TryMedia ( www.trymedia.com) implements their downloads ( Temple of Elemental Evil used their system) at present. A setup executable is downloaded, and needs to be activated. I'd like to see disk images available, in order that you could store the game like any other game you've purchased. On a CD. In terms of copy protection, it's successfully maintained in a disk image. That's the reason the pirates offer cracked executables within their images. Because without them, the copy protection is still in place. Also, I like many people I know, prefer to have a nice box and manual, simply because it looks nice. Suppose a game would be download only, it would mean I wouldn't be able to get a nice box!
No, I don't really want this to ever happen. It's wonderful that you prefer to have a nice box and manual (I'd like to see PDF manuals included in the download though), and it's certainly a matter of preference - some people will prefer to have the box etc and there's nothing wrong with this. They can purchase the game at a store as they desire. But why would you deprive somebody that's willing to go without the box just because YOU'D prefer to have a box? That seems selfish and irrational to me.
Peter Cushing: "Are you telling me that an ape that lived two million years ago got out of that crate, killed the baggage man and put him in there; then loaded everything up neat and tidy, and got away?"
Christopher Lee: "YES! I AM!"
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Apr 2004
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Activision, Atari, Ubisoft and Reflexive have all partnered up with Trymedia to offer their games for download in the past. Personally, I think the method isn't the greatest for the end user (as I mentioned in my previous post), but clearly the gaming companies are exploring the option.
Peter Cushing: "Are you telling me that an ape that lived two million years ago got out of that crate, killed the baggage man and put him in there; then loaded everything up neat and tidy, and got away?"
Christopher Lee: "YES! I AM!"
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Mar 2003
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Thanks for the explanation ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />
When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
--Dilbert cartoon
"Interplay.some zombiefied unlife thing going on there" - skavenhorde at RPGWatch
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Apr 2004
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As someone else suggested just import the game from online outlets such as www.dvdboxoffice.com. I got Beyond Divinity, Sacred, Farcry, BF1942 Vietnam for AU$50 each with free worldwide shipping. I got four great games for AU$200 instead of the AU$350-AU$400 I would have expected to pay in Australia. Hey, that's not a bad site. Never thought of looking for a Canadian online retail outlet before, but the Canadian dollar seems to be of almost equivalent value to ours. Can't tell without creating an account whether BD is actually available for shipping yet though, because it still incorrectly reports the sale date as April 13, 2004 (probably not a good sign). And part of the benefit of a gaming company cutting out the middle man and offering a download is the instant availability; no extended wait for the item to be shipped. I know where I'm getting my region 1 DVD's from in future though... I just looked up Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and it's going for $25.95! With free worldwide shipping, the deals are great. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Peter Cushing: "Are you telling me that an ape that lived two million years ago got out of that crate, killed the baggage man and put him in there; then loaded everything up neat and tidy, and got away?"
Christopher Lee: "YES! I AM!"
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jun 2003
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so there we go! one happy customer! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />
......a gift from LaFille......
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2004
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Mr_Roberts
Can't tell without creating an account whether BD is actually available for shipping yet though, because it still incorrectly reports the sale date as April 13, 2004 (probably not a good sign). And part of the benefit of a gaming company cutting out the middle man and offering a download is the instant availability; no extended wait for the item to be shipped. Instant availability is a very good point! Anyway as for DVDBoxOffice: They've shipped every game to me sofar (and usually takes 1-2 weeks to reach Sydney). While everyone was scrambling for the Unreal Tournament 2004 DVD Special Edition here in Oz, I just ordered it straight from them and recieved it shortly after. They'll only charge you once the game has shipped. I'm still waiting for Beyond Divinity (I've contacted DVDBoxOffice and they are eagerly awaiting it as well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)which should be released any day now I hope. Hmmm they've got stacks of DVDs but the prices could be better I suppose - just wait for a sale at your local KMart or log onto EBay and grab a bargain.
Feel the power of Lord Panda...zzzzzzz
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jun 2003
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yet another happy customer! business is just rolling! on the floor laughing! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" />
yes, one of the strongest point in online distribution is elimination of middle-men, thus less taxing on customer in terms of cost & time spent in waiting. since it's digital in format, WYSIWYG! no cut corners, no possibility of damaged goods on delivery, no waiting.
however, it may not be WYSIWYG if the full version of the game has problems in installation process, runtime, etc. in addition, if your HD is wiped out by virii or physical damage, can the game online distributor arrange something so that u can re-download the game without paying extra? will they make u jump the hoops?
......a gift from LaFille......
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