Panzer Corps pricing research

[Kerensky]

[4/25/2011 5:24:10 PM] Kerensky: BTW, I hope the game sells for $29.99. $39.99 is probably too high, but anything less automatically has a terrible stigma attached to it
[4/25/2011 5:24:25 PM] Kerensky: Just my 2 cents, not like setting the price is up to you
[4/25/2011 5:24:47 PM] Mr X: It is up to Slitherine really. They are marketing guys. I'm a dull technitian.
[4/25/2011 5:25:01 PM] Kerensky: And yea, there are a lot of cool PG2 stuff missing, but PzC makes up for it, or is trying to
[4/25/2011 5:25:11 PM] Kerensky: Like I cant wait for hereoes and the new leaders
[4/25/2011 5:25:15 PM] Kerensky: That looks sweet
[4/25/2011 5:25:21 PM] Kerensky: Maybe, but you're not dull
[4/25/2011 5:25:40 PM] Kerensky: My prediction is the game will go for 29.99, maybe 39.99
[4/25/2011 5:25:56 PM] Kerensky: I hope they dont try for 49.99, and dont go to 19.99 or the dreaded 9.99
[4/25/2011 5:26:15 PM] Kerensky: Any game that released with 19.99 or 9.99 is automatically a bad sign
[4/25/2011 5:27:04 PM] Kerensky: I've never, never ever, never never NEVER ever seen a game be released for 9.99 (or less) that was anything more than a piece of #$%^ that takes 3 hours to get bored with
[4/25/2011 5:27:28 PM] Mr X: Interesting observation.
[4/25/2011 5:27:41 PM] Kerensky: Wesnoth is better than any 19.99 game I've ever played
[4/25/2011 5:27:46 PM] Kerensky: And that #$%^ is free for crying out loud
[4/25/2011 5:28:18 PM] Kerensky: 19.99 at Release, mind you
[4/25/2011 5:28:31 PM] Kerensky: Eventually as a game gets old, there may be a sale where the price eventually drops to 19.99
[4/25/2011 5:28:41 PM] Kerensky: But if a game starts there? Automatically I know it's trash

That's April 25th, for you backwards European types.

[SAS]

$40 or under seems fair

[Xitax]

I think 35-40 USD would be about right.

[RobertCL]

I voted for 40 USD as downloadable version but with much more scenarios than those already existing today.

Compared with the original game the nr of scenarios offered is not sufficient.
The whose desert war is missing and many battles like Arnhem are absent.

Yes, a price of 10 USD would mean the game is a piece of crap!

Today young people prefer FPS, all shoot them up, so your market is very limited to old SSI fans and you have to do not only as good as SSI but much better if you want to attract players and get acceptable sales revenues.

The game is fine but not 100% ready for release according to me.

Possibilities of extensions by the developpers and by a gamers' community justify the price by bringing a relatively long "life expectancy".

[AgentX]

I voted for $30 because I think that $30-40 would be the "sweet spot" for this game. More than that, it would have to include more, but then new players might pass because of the higher price. And, as some have pointed out, pricing it too cheap makes the game seem like it could be crap. That's why I'm thinking $30-40 for the initial game, then expansions at around $15-20, like maybe an African then a Pacific campaign added later.

[DD976]

I have a couple of buddies that are looking forward to the game and our discussions usually center around the things that we remember about the SSI version of the games. So I put $40 as a nice price. My main question is, is this just going to be available as DLC or do we have a option to buy the boxed version as well? Also, will there be strategy guides like the SSI games had? I never used them much but friend of mine has all the strategy guides for the SSI games and was asking me if they would be available or not.

[tnourie]

I voted for $30 because I think that $30-40 would be the "sweet spot" for this game. More than that, it would have to include more, but then new players might pass because of the higher price. And, as some have pointed out, pricing it too cheap makes the game seem like it could be crap. That's why I'm thinking $30-40 for the initial game, then expansions at around $15-20, like maybe an African then a Pacific campaign added later.

I agree. If I sold 100 Hot Dogs at $1.00 I've made $50 after the costs, but if I sell 300 at $.75 (Because when it's more affordable, people buy a lot more) I've made $175 after costs, so, well, you get the picture. . .

I'd be willing to put $30 into a DLC version, and $40 is reasonable for Box. You can always do a "Guide" for about $12.00, those sell well also. . .

[dwyche]

AgentX wrote:
I voted for $30 because I think that $30-40 would be the "sweet spot" for this game. More than that, it would have to include more, but then new players might pass because of the higher price. And, as some have pointed out, pricing it too cheap makes the game seem like it could be crap. That's why I'm thinking $30-40 for the initial game, then expansions at around $15-20, like maybe an African then a Pacific campaign added later.

I agree completely though I voted for $40, expecting that this would be a DL price. Personally I would never pay extra for a boxed copy of this game. I see no real need for a printed manual; the play is too self-evident and a quick read will be all that's necessary. There isn't anything else in a box worth keeping. After a while thay just clutter up your shelves. I would happily pay $25-30 for expansions as my experience with other games has been that a good expansion can more than double the fun-factor for a good game.

[tnourie]

Just curious, no P R E S S U R E -

Will the Beta testers get a price break? 30% off or something? Again, just curious. . .

[RobertViener]

Will a printed manual be included? If so, $40 price justified. If not, $35.
Robert Viener

[RobertCL]

The beta testers have the game for free no ?
I read that somewhere, anyway it could seem logical because what we are doing is working for free, the least Siltherine can do is to offer us our copy.
I mean beta testers who worked, no those who posted only once to say they don't like the game...

[grabbysnatch]

Whilst a discount would be nice, are you not missing the point?

In my opinion, getting to play the game before everyone else, for free... AND having an input to changes and improvements, well is that not reward enough?

I know it is for me and I am just loving testing the game. I have also my name in the game credits as beta tester. Perhaps I am easily pleased, but I get thanks out of that.

[lordzimoa]

Whilst a discount would be nice, are you not missing the point?

In my opinion, getting to play the game before everyone else, for free... AND having an input to changes and improvements, well is that not reward enough?

I know it is for me and I am just loving testing the game. I have also my name in the game credits as beta tester. Perhaps I am easily pleased, but I get thanks out of that.

I applaud your attitude, a big bow for that Sir. We really appreciate all the help and testers, we put you in the credits and in the manual, say a big thanks and pay our gratitude, listen yo your ideas and wishes and try together to improve the game, but there is another side... make a living.

If people don`t mind we first would like to recoup the costs we invested into this game and the 16 months of hard unpaid labour, we never count our hours, but be sure it is probably 2 to 3 above average weekly normal hours, including weekends, before we start giving games away for free.


Cheers,

Tim aka LZ

[OmegaMan1]

We really appreciate all the help and testers, we put you in the credits and in the manual, say a big thanks and pay our gratitude, listen yo your ideas and wishes and try together to improve the game, but there is another side... make a living.

Agreed 100%. Being a playtester has been a fantastic experience, and very rewarding. I have no problem supporting this wonderful game by paying full price, especially if it means convincing Slitherine/Matrix to give the go-ahead on future PzC expansions. My only "request" is that current playtesters get invited to playtest all the future expansions for PzC.

[grabbysnatch]

yeah, I agree. Beta testing has been great experience and I would love to be selected again in the future.

[apanzerfan]

how much will DLCs/expansions cost?

[lordzimoa]

Of course we evaluate critical and supporting testers, we want you to kick our ass, stay critic and think with us.

The series is just starting guys, really, unless it is an utter flop and we don`t recoup at least our investment, be sure much more will follow.

The only thing we can still ask and hope for is, once the game is released, raise your voices, spread the word.

We need that support as we are small Indie developers, basically hoping to get some decent living out of it, but we do this out of passion and love, so far we just survived and hope for that hit to launch us once and for all.

We come from a modding background, so listening to our customers and fans and truly supporting our games and products is a part of our company`s culture. Here we diverse from the big boys, we make things we like, and therefore are proud, passionate and handle it with care.

Well at least we try and do our best, that is for sure. The boys behind this game deserve a hit, believe me they worked so hard, so hard... well we just have to wait and see.

[grabbysnatch]

it's a hit for me, just as panzer general was all those years ago. I hope it goes on to the success it deserves. I for one will spread the word. Give me this type of game anytime over your modern FPS games. Unfortunately I am in the minority, but I hope it does well and allows you to produce more for this game and other games in the future.

[AgentX]

In addition to "word of mouth", I would also suggest getting links to any Panzer Corps article up on N4G (the biggest games news aggregation site). I only found out about this little gem through them and am happy that I did, so I was able to participate in the beta (thank you, by the way). It would be great free advertising for the game. Another thing to consider would be to release a demo. It could either be the tutorial campaign or the first 2 or 3 scenarios from the 1939 campaign. Something to give a little taste of the game to potential buyers; it would also be a great marketing tool.

[Minenfeld]

How does one get their name in the credits?