Posted August 22, 2014
There are some issues regarding VN commercialization here:
1. Localization and paperworks : To avoid the "Revolt" debacle (publisher using some fanbased work which got the game taken down after protests), localizations should be done professionnaly with contracts to avoid any legal complications.
2. Pricing point : If we look at the leader of commercials VN, WinterWolves sell his recent games at around 20$. I'm pretty sure GOG would say no at this price and would want to lower it at 10$ (for a "regular" edition). So it's understandable if the publisher don't want to publish it here at a too much lowered price.
3. Market data : I haven't done extended research on the VN market but I clearly remember Cinders sold around 2.000 copies trough direct sales on its first year (at full price) so with the estimations of the recent Shovel Knight thread, it would be in the lowest-seller tier on GOG. I don't have the data for Long Live The Queen but I'm sure it sold more copies on GOG because of the 10$ price and numerous discounts (so the sales numbers are altered).
1. Localization and paperworks : To avoid the "Revolt" debacle (publisher using some fanbased work which got the game taken down after protests), localizations should be done professionnaly with contracts to avoid any legal complications.
2. Pricing point : If we look at the leader of commercials VN, WinterWolves sell his recent games at around 20$. I'm pretty sure GOG would say no at this price and would want to lower it at 10$ (for a "regular" edition). So it's understandable if the publisher don't want to publish it here at a too much lowered price.
3. Market data : I haven't done extended research on the VN market but I clearly remember Cinders sold around 2.000 copies trough direct sales on its first year (at full price) so with the estimations of the recent Shovel Knight thread, it would be in the lowest-seller tier on GOG. I don't have the data for Long Live The Queen but I'm sure it sold more copies on GOG because of the 10$ price and numerous discounts (so the sales numbers are altered).