Slitherine

Azazell wrote:I have question. If i buy electronic version for store, it is chance that will be work on Steam ( if you will establish cooperation with the Valve) ??

IainMcNeil wrote:No we don't have a Steam release confirmed at the moment. It is something we are considering but can't promise. If we do, as I understand it we will be able to give Steam keys to existing players so if we are permitted to do so we will but I can't promise that Steam will allow that as they may change their policy which is obviously out of our control.

IainMcNeil wrote:Thanks for the posts but we have a strategy which has worked well for the last 13 years and we are not planning GoG, EA origins etc. We have a Steam account are looking at that but this is the only platform we are considering for next year.

The fact that you're relying on distribution strategy that's 13 years old in this day and age really shows. Financially probably fine, but prevents your games from becoming popular and known by avoiding exposure in places where the big crowds are.

It really is time to expand and modernize your distribution methods to match today's audience and demands. You've earned that much, and your customers deserve it for having kept you going for those 13 years.

gullyfoyle777 wrote:I agree. Also I'm not sure if they realize what a HUGE following Alpha Centari has at GOG. It would be very smart. Why wouldn't you want your game on GOG and Steam? Why wouldn't you want to be more popular? I had never heard of this company until I google search 4x games a couple months ago. Until then I had never heard of this company. Look this is as plain as I can say it. This is a good game. You need to get the word out there. You need to get its face out there. I want to see this game do well. I want to see websites talking about it. Does this company not want that too? I strongly suggest you consider Steam AND GoG.

ElegantCaveman wrote: 1. With the Winter Sale just around the corner, a 25% sale would be expected, with bigger price-cuts for subsequent sales. By at least waiting until after the Winter Sale, it gives the game more time before lowering prices.

2. From a Steam customer perspective, 30$ for Pandora in its present state is simply too much (20$ would be more appropriate). I can already see the Steam forums flooding with people complaining that it's a weak Civ V wannabe, and complaining that it's a SMAC spiritual successor without key SMAC aspects.

3. As an extension of that, if this game had more features, it could actually be sold for more. Make a full-featured SMAC spiritual successor (which I believe is the plan?), and 40-50$ actually becomes an acceptable price, at a stretch. Not that I'm saying the price should be raised, but add more features, and people won't complain about the 30$ price (which I guarantee they will if you release it on Steam as it is).

4. If Pandora was available on Steam right now, people would complain about the price vs. presently-available features, and that could actually do more harm than good. People complain about price/lack of features even for Early Access games (which is silly, but people are silly), which Pandora wouldn't qualify for since it's officially been released, so imagine what they'd say about a full release at this price.

Steam is a great way to "get the word out". Arguably, the best way to do that. But one of the problems with Steam, especially for a developer/publisher, is that with all their crazy sales, prices can drop relatively fast.

Pandora is a game with enough mass-appeal that this isn't a huge issue, but releasing a game on Steam just before a big sale is a terrible idea, regardless of the genre. Try to release it early next year. Or if you need more time to add content, aim to release right after next summer's sale.

TL;DR Add more features before you release it on Steam, and try to release it after a big sale, not before.

shampax wrote:the only reason you dont have my $ now, is because you are not on steam. and you will not have it until then. (or gog).

MizzouRah wrote:What does having the game on Steam or Gog have to do with purchasing the game? Buy it, it's DRM free and you can install it forever, providing you keep a copy of the key.

It's a great game, I have many games via Steam, but not all games can be purchased that way.. don't miss out just because it's not on Steam.

MizzouRah wrote:What does having the game on Steam or Gog have to do with purchasing the game? Buy it, it's DRM free and you can install it forever, providing you keep a copy of the key.

It's a great game, I have many games via Steam, but not all games can be purchased that way.. don't miss out just because it's not on Steam.