The Box, Or Steam?
<div class="IPBDescription">once HL2 goes retail</div> That is the question. If you plan on picking up HL2, will you be buying it via steam, or do you want to buy it from a retail location, with the full box?
I have been actualy thinking about this recently (especialy after people's comments about Steam making publishers obsoleate). I for one will probably NOT be buying it via Steam as I like manuals, boxes, and CDs. I expecialy don't like the idea of shelling out $60 some odd for the decryption to a file already on my computer, and nothing else. When I buy the box I atleast feel like I got SOMETHING.
So thoughts, comments? What are you going to do?
I have been actualy thinking about this recently (especialy after people's comments about Steam making publishers obsoleate). I for one will probably NOT be buying it via Steam as I like manuals, boxes, and CDs. I expecialy don't like the idea of shelling out $60 some odd for the decryption to a file already on my computer, and nothing else. When I buy the box I atleast feel like I got SOMETHING.
So thoughts, comments? What are you going to do?
Comments
The box
This should be made a poll tbh.
*hint hint*
On an update, I would buy the box, nab the CDKey and then install HL2 through steam ussing said CD key <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> (specialy seeing how as we already have a good portion of HL2 on our computers <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
I mean, with CDs I can install and play it on any computer I come across (assuming the computer will run it and I have the CDs) Steam.. Well, Its on MY computer.. the problem here would be if I'm not currently at said computer...
I think the release of HL2 over Steam will be a great experiment in this type of publishing. If all goes well we might begin to see more small developers release games this way. They could pay Valve to use their content servers and to advertise their game on Steam. This will give smaller developers a lot more coverage for a much smaller cost.
Am I being realistic or is this too far fetched?
instead of having a publisher that distributes via stores everywhere
they have a publisher that only distributes via one "store"?
Not going to happen.
Remember, Valve puts up mods for free b/c that increases THEIR user base.
If you'll remember back to the late 1990's, when internet purchasing was just beginning to take hold, many people were saying "it's the death of retail" and other people were saying "it will never take hold." If you'll notice both were wrong.
Also, publishing over Steam would mean the majority of profit made goes straight back to the developer instead of into the publisher's pocket.
Of course this was just a crazy idea I had only a few minutes ago and it might not even be practical. I think I'll shut up now and let the thread get back on topic <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Unless it's sold-out at the store, I'll get it off steam...
No pre-ordering for me
When i pre-ordered DOOM3 i got it 2 weeks after the release.
When i pre-ordered DOOM3 i got it 2 weeks after the release. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
When i preordered my Gamecube, the shop phoned the day before release to say they were out of black 'cubes.
I was happy <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Thanks DOOMeh with the idea! Genious <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
When i pre-ordered DOOM3 i got it 2 weeks after the release. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe you should name and shame the company in question.
If you live in the UK i recommend gameplay.co.uk
Box for me we'll se how I install it when(if) it comes out.
alot of key files are missing from the preload, so it dosn't matter (probably) if you can crack the files as they still will not work.
When i pre-ordered DOOM3 i got it 2 weeks after the release. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe you should name and shame the company in question.
If you live in the UK i recommend gameplay.co.uk <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
CD-WOW.com, they are useually great and REALLY cheap, guess they just fudged up :/
I mean, I've got 126 PC games (128 after my next company store order, teehee) and I still am waiting on getting some shelves to showcase them. Right now they're just stacked up in the closet <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> I can't bear to go boxless!
Not to mention all the handling of my Starsiege manual and compendium over the years. The fact I format semi-often makes CD's a good investment, too.