World in Flames (Matrixgames) looking for beta testers (multiplayer)

[undercovergeek]

looking at what does and doesnt come with the game - the target market for this release is a boardgamer who doesnt want to play WIF the boardgame, but will play WIF the pc game, on his own or against one friend?

[Staggerwing]

Looks like it. With those maps I wonder if the intent was also to let folks play long distance with one using the PC and the other using the maps and board game's counters to follow along. Seems goofy but you never know. Or the maps could be a sort of upgrade to the board game because of their higher hex count in all but the Euro map. The PC game and board game would then be a complete system with multiple play style options.

[JudgeDredd]

Yeah - but by "forcing" the manuals with no actual need to force them, they have alienated a chunk of their market (the people that actually do NOT want a physical manual). On top of that, they've alienated their European customers forcing physical when it's not available for dispatch in their region.

It's, in short, a mess and imo quite short sighted of them.

I'm not convinced things will get better for them when they do add an AI either - because the people who didn't buy will have the physical purchase + base game + AI module...the price will not look as enticing as it does now.

So what's the breakdown of the people who aren't going to buy
1. People who don't want physical manuals and having to pay for them
2. European customers who have to buy the physical product and therefore pay a considerable amount in "wasted" money (tax, customs, VAT) (ME!)
3. People who wanted an AI who might not buy when the AI is available because it's going to look pretty damn costly (much like people moan about the cost of the Distant Worlds base game and DLC cost, or Battlefronts system).

That, I would imagine, is quite a chunk of your potential market right there.

[JudgeDredd]

oops. I said I was leaving.

I am now. Promise  ;)

[undercovergeek]

oops. I said I was leaving.

I am now. Promise  ;)

lmao - before you go - from what i understand you pay for the game, the manuals, and the postage, and the vat and the customs costs - because it all has to be sent physically

and then they give you a link to download the game digitally which comes with PDF manuals

its like they really, really wanted to piss some people off

[JudgeDredd]

lol - that's about the size of it. Make you pay for all that physical stuff and then give you the digital download you only wanted anyway  ;D

[jomni]

Here's my total price (shipping to Singapore):

S$132.99 + S$55.60  = S$188.59
around US$150.

No I did not order.  Just checking the total price.

Comparing to Judge's GBP 113.6 which is equivalent to US$182, this is a steal.
No 20% tax I guess.

[DicedT]

I can't speak to the PC game, but as for WiF the board game, I've spent years playing it on and off since 1986. The last campaign I played in 2003 took five of us, playing once a week, about nine months to finish.

Michael

[mirth]

The last campaign I played in 2003 took five of us, playing once a week, about nine months to finish.

That's pretty fast actually :P

[GibbyG]

mmm...I think I would've popped the price if it was £80.

The people celebrating the price are the people who have been saying they'd pay whatever it takes. I'm always wary of that kind of statement...it gives an open pricing policy to a company. They are also big boardgame fans. I've noticed a big influx in Matrix and in particular that forum of "new blood".

£80 was a probably - but one thing in particular I HATE to pay is "empty pounds" - pounds that don't actually give me anything...postage, tax, customs...all of which are applicable here...and at a hefty £47 just for tax and postage (not including what customs would charge me)...I consider that and OUTRAGEOUS amount of wasted money.

When Matrix mentioned it was "all about the physical product" for this game, they forgot to mention "...even though our European friends will be screwed over".

It's cool. I have Blood and Bridges to get on with anyway and then a very enticing RAF Battle of Britain boardgame to learn.

Or you could read this post....

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/announcement.asp?id=38

You mean like I did here

Sorry boys...there's absolutely NO chance of me having a "review copy" to trial for you.

Step One - Check the Cost
£66.99...ok...not too shabby given the manuals in the product. So it might be on...

Step Two - Work Out Thieving Governments VAT
£13.40...so that's £80.39...well, I said if it was less than £80 I might be in still...and £80.39 is almost less than £80

Step Three - Go to Next Step and Check For "Extras"
WTF? £27.73 postage? So why no postage in Europe....found this
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/announcement.asp?id=38

So that's £94.72+20% tax = £113.66 - and then Customs charges on top.

Not a chance in hell Matrix. See ya.

Oh - and by the way Matrix - kudos on how to treat your European customers by having the closure of your European distribution centre and then offering your game as physical only....just slow clap all round.

Like I said, in several posts, the cost of "the product" wasn't that much of a shock to me. Those manuals look superb (though if there were going for longevity and they understand the use they are going to get (which they acknowledge) then I don't understand why ring bound was not going to be more durable...but I'm not a "book binding" expert - so I'll bow to their knowledge of the industry)...but £27+VAT is just a kick in the balls - and I hate being kicked in the balls  ;D

And everyone who thinks it's great for the price - that's cool. But you do have to remember that's for "half" a game. There is no AI here. The AI is going to cost you extra.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway...I've said my piece. I will leave this thread in the knowledge that I won't be owning it any time soon.

Good looking product (and I mean I LOVE the aesthetic feel of the game) and the manuals look superb...but I do not have £113 to drop on it - especially when £40 of that is wasted money.

No, like the part of the linked post that says they are opening a new distro center in Europe early next year.

[JudgeDredd]

I linked to it so I read it. Doesn't help me (or any other European purchasers) now.

[Zulu1966]

I linked to it so I read it. Doesn't help me (or any other European purchasers) now.

Jusdge - are you worried about getting the actual hard copies of the manuals ?  ie - would you be willing to pay the same price for the digital game ?

[JudgeDredd]

I linked to it so I read it. Doesn't help me (or any other European purchasers) now.

Jusdge - are you worried about getting the actual hard copies of the manuals ?  ie - would you be willing to pay the same price for the digital game ?

I think I said earlier, I actually really like the look of the manuals and the draw for me IS the physical manuals...but, given my options, I may well have purchased this without the manuals.

I don't like paying postage wherever possible. If there was an EU distribution centre, I'd likely have paid the postage and got the manuals...but as there is not, I would probably have bought the game without them.

It's the lack of purchasing options and the lack of clarity and the lack of honesty that gets my back up. Something has gone on here where the physical manuals are required...and no-one is being honest about why they are required. All we are getting is "it's about the physical product"...and that is just bollox.

[jomni]

Something has gone on here where the physical manuals are required...and no-one is being honest about why they are required. All we are getting is "it's about the physical product"...and that is just bollox.

Maybe ADG requires this.

[undercovergeek]

Something has gone on here where the physical manuals are required...and no-one is being honest about why they are required. All we are getting is "it's about the physical product"...and that is just bollox.

Maybe ADG requires this.

Ahh but that's what I asked of Erik weeks ago..... Some respect and honesty and no marketing shit...... if that's the case we're all grown up enough to be told.... And we're all intelligent enough to see through the piss poor reasoning so far