Unfinished game for sale on store shelves

[undercovergeek]

Firstly, gadzooks! i didnt even know you could buy PC games off a shelf anymore, Civ III was my last bricks and mortar purchase and my folks bought me that for Christmas

Secondly, i only need to spend 2 minutes looking for a 'waaaaah this game is s***, it doesnt work properly, i want my money back' thread in a forum for an Alpha game even though they knew it was an alpha

The designers of Planetary Annihilation have gone one better and are actually selling their unfinished game on the shelves - whilst all kinds of 'business model crazy lets see whats out here' i cant help thinking this is going to bite them on the arse unless there is a massive explanation of what youre buying on the box

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/07/01/planetary-annihilation-boxed-copy/#more-217005

[Nefaro]

An Early Access physical copy?

WTH?

[Huw the Poo]

Initially it seems amazing, but when you think about it, there isn't much difference between this and all the early access/paid alphas people buy into over the internet every day.  They may as well do it in a box as well and get more cash, if people are prepared to buy.

[SgtRock]

Remember the game is free, it's the box your paying for!! ;D

Seriously how can a box be unfinished ::)  You must not understand marketing or didn't read the fine print! >:D

I'm sure unfinished limited edition deluxe versions are coming next!!!

[Grim.Reaper]

I don't get it....why would anyone buy a physical copy versus just buying it online?  They will still have to download the final version anyway unless the company plans to ship a final CD to everyone:)  Or they plan to have a lot of goodies in the box like a usable manual.

Seems like a way to get a few extra sales from people who don't understand the process very well......

I never thought I would ever say this, but I can't imagine ever buying a physical copy of a game again, except maybe for my console....

[JudgeDredd]

I don't get it....why would anyone buy a physical copy versus just buying it online?  They will still have to download the final version anyway unless the company plans to ship a final CD to everyone:)  Or they plan to have a lot of goodies in the box like a usable manual.

Seems like a way to get a few extra sales from people who don't understand the process very well......

I never thought I would ever say this, but I can't imagine ever buying a physical copy of a game again, except maybe for my console....

I used to LOVE walking into a shop on a Friday full of expectation of what was being released - having no idea what games would be out that Friday. I remember the excitement as I saw that game I knew nothing about sitting in plentiful supply on the shelves and eagerly reading the back.

Later on, as you found out what was coming out, I remember going to the shop, not seeing it on the shelves so got all deflated only to be told by the guy behind the counter that they were in the back - they just hadn't got them out yet!!

Aaaaahhhh....fond memories. Now we're just spoilt with release after release and get very few gaming hours out of our purchases  >:(

[SgtRock]

I don't get it....why would anyone buy a physical copy versus just buying it online?  They will still have to download the final version anyway unless the company plans to ship a final CD to everyone:)  Or they plan to have a lot of goodies in the box like a usable manual.

Seems like a way to get a few extra sales from people who don't understand the process very well......

I never thought I would ever say this, but I can't imagine ever buying a physical copy of a game again, except maybe for my console....

I used to LOVE walking into a shop on a Friday full of expectation of what was being released - having no idea what games would be out that Friday. I remember the excitement as I saw that game I knew nothing about sitting in plentiful supply on the shelves and eagerly reading the back.

Later on, as you found out what was coming out, I remember going to the shop, not seeing it on the shelves so got all deflated only to be told by the guy behind the counter that they were in the back - they just hadn't got them out yet!!

Aaaaahhhh....fond memories. Now we're just spoilt with release after release and get very few gaming hours out of our purchases  >:(

Now games are released before there even finished! Once you start selling snake oil there's no end to it!

Next, will they'll be selling games based on announcements, before development even begins.

[Greybriar]

I don't get it....why would anyone buy a physical copy versus just buying it online?  They will still have to download the final version anyway unless the company plans to ship a final CD to everyone:)  Or they plan to have a lot of goodies in the box like a usable manual.

Seems like a way to get a few extra sales from people who don't understand the process very well......

I never thought I would ever say this, but I can't imagine ever buying a physical copy of a game again, except maybe for my console....

I don't know about anyone else, but I buy a boxed retail copy primarily to get a printed paper manual for the game, which rarely exists these days.

[undercovergeek]

Initially it seems amazing, but when you think about it, there isn't much difference between this and all the early access/paid alphas people buy into over the internet every day.  They may as well do it in a box as well and get more cash, if people are prepared to buy.

I know its unfinished, you know but as the article alludes to, does granny huw in the shop looking for a game for the kids

[JudgeDredd]

I don't get it....why would anyone buy a physical copy versus just buying it online?  They will still have to download the final version anyway unless the company plans to ship a final CD to everyone:)  Or they plan to have a lot of goodies in the box like a usable manual.

Seems like a way to get a few extra sales from people who don't understand the process very well......

I never thought I would ever say this, but I can't imagine ever buying a physical copy of a game again, except maybe for my console....

I used to LOVE walking into a shop on a Friday full of expectation of what was being released - having no idea what games would be out that Friday. I remember the excitement as I saw that game I knew nothing about sitting in plentiful supply on the shelves and eagerly reading the back.

Later on, as you found out what was coming out, I remember going to the shop, not seeing it on the shelves so got all deflated only to be told by the guy behind the counter that they were in the back - they just hadn't got them out yet!!

Aaaaahhhh....fond memories. Now we're just spoilt with release after release and get very few gaming hours out of our purchases  >:(

Now games are released before there even finished! Once you start selling snake oil there's no end to it!

Next, will they'll be selling games based on announcements, before development even begins.

You mean like Kickstarter?  :P

[jomni]

Reminds me of my feeling after running the CMSF (boxed version) for the first time. The real polish came years after.

[Anguille]

I don't know about anyone else, but I buy a boxed retail copy primarily to get a printed paper manual for the game, which rarely exists these days.

Same here... ;)

[Grim.Reaper]

I don't know about anyone else, but I buy a boxed retail copy primarily to get a printed paper manual for the game, which rarely exists these days.

Same here... ;)

Most people would but they rarely exist any more and I doubt these first access games will have them either....hard to have completed printed documentation when game not completed itself.

[Grim.Reaper]

I don't get it....why would anyone buy a physical copy versus just buying it online?  They will still have to download the final version anyway unless the company plans to ship a final CD to everyone:)  Or they plan to have a lot of goodies in the box like a usable manual.

Seems like a way to get a few extra sales from people who don't understand the process very well......

I never thought I would ever say this, but I can't imagine ever buying a physical copy of a game again, except maybe for my console....

I used to LOVE walking into a shop on a Friday full of expectation of what was being released - having no idea what games would be out that Friday. I remember the excitement as I saw that game I knew nothing about sitting in plentiful supply on the shelves and eagerly reading the back.

Later on, as you found out what was coming out, I remember going to the shop, not seeing it on the shelves so got all deflated only to be told by the guy behind the counter that they were in the back - they just hadn't got them out yet!!

Aaaaahhhh....fond memories. Now we're just spoilt with release after release and get very few gaming hours out of our purchases  >:(

I loved it too and miss those days...spent many hours just staring reading game boxes trying to find the single game to buy....now I just buy them all:)

[Nefaro]

I don't know about anyone else, but I buy a boxed retail copy primarily to get a printed paper manual for the game, which rarely exists these days.

That's the biggest advantage to a physical copy.

But since I can just put PDFs on my tablet, it's not a big deal anymore.

I really don't miss having to go to the game store and finding out that the specific game(s) I want are sold out or not stocked at all.  Good riddance! 

Do any of you recall having to pre-order in a store, just to make sure you get a copy of an upcoming game?  At least now you get to download and play Early Access in their current state.  Back then you had to pay for a sizable portion up front and wait to see anything, if you really wanted it.