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General discussionAnnouncement: Big Preorders & Launch Day Releases Coming!(4041 posts)(4041 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 21, 2014
The DRM-Free Revolution Continues with Big Pre-Orders and Launch Day Releases!

Good news! GOG.com is going to bring you more fantastic launch day releases, preorders, and other exciting new content from some of our favorite developers. We've lined up 3 big titles that we will be bringing to GOG.com in the next couple of months for sale or preorder that we think will be hits with all of our gamers; and we have more equally exciting games coming up soon.

If you've been a member of the site for a long time, you may recall that when we launched sales of The Witcher 2 on GOG.com, we had to add in regional pricing. The game cost different amounts in in the US, the UK, the European Union, and Australia. We're doing something like that once again in order to bring you new titles from fantastic bigger studios. Since we don't accept currencies other than USD on GOG.com right now, we'll be charging the equivalent of the local price in USD for these titles. We wish that we could offer these games at flat prices everywhere in the world, but the decision on pricing is always in our partners' hands, and regional pricing is becoming the standard around the globe. We're doing this because we believe that there's no better way to accomplish our overall goals for DRM-Free gaming and GOG.com. We need more games, devs, and publishers on board to make DRM-Free gaming something that's standard for all of the gaming world!

That brings with it more good news, though! As mentioned, we have three games we're launching soon with regional pricing--two RPGs and a strategy game--and while we can't tell you what they are yet because breaking an NDA has more severe penalties than just getting a noogie, we're confident that you'll be as excited about these games as we are. For a limited time, we will be offering anyone who pre-orders or buys one of them a free game from a selection as a gift from GOG.com, just like we did for The Witcher 2.

If you have any questions, hit us up in the comments below and we'll be happy to answer (to the best of our ability).

EDIT: Since we've answered a lot of the common questions already here (and lest you think that we've ignored you), it may be handy for you to check out the forum thread about this and search for staff answers by clicking this link here. (hat tip to user Eli who reminded us that the feature even exists. :)
Posted February 23, 2014
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Ichwillnichtmehr: As a counterexample:
<snip>
The GOG.com version is DRM-free, flat priced and the least expensive.
It depends on the publisher and the contracts they have with local distributors in different regions. I notice that game doesn't appear to be available at retail in my country, only digitally... that more than likely has something to do with it. Oh, and it appears to be self-published online by Daedalic. That will make things much easier. I bet it's only available at retail in Germany?


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HypersomniacLive: If that's the case, why is retail this expensive again?

And one more question, when talking about retail distributors, are we actually talking about stores that sell exclusively retail editions of games and games only?
In this country it's actually cheaper to order the retail box online. e.g. South Park: The Stick of Truth. RRP £39.99. Steam/digital store price £39.99, retail price £27.99.

And when I'm referring to retail distributors, I'm talking about online pricing at places like game.co.uk, shopto.net etc. as well as the likes of Amazon.
Posted February 23, 2014
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Denezan: In the grand scheme of things, I would rather pay a little extra for a DRM free game, than be forced to pay for games on a site like Steam. So I can live with the regional pricing. I do not understand why people cannot understand this. The more you fight it, the greater chance of losing out on DRM free games completely if this goes so bad that they shut the site down entirely, and over a few extra $/£? (Yes I realize that it is a worst case scenario, but I would rather go OTT with the example than not enough) The point is, games have been cheap as chips on this site for YEARS!!! You have been getting the best deals possible for a long ass time, can you honestly complain when they up the price a bit for new titles?
For you in the UK and us in the US and other countries like us the differences will be minimal or actually more fair than they were before - UK regional pricing correctly takes into account domestic purchasing power parity with the US while using flat pricing and an exchange rate made the games actually cheaper than they should have been for UK users. However, there are countries that pay substantially more because of regional pricing because they pay EU rates but who are relatively poor in the EU - where 60 euros is a much higher fraction of median income than in other places. Under flat pricing, they were still paying the same rate as other Euro countries because of the unified exchange rate with the dollar, but they were effectively getting a discount (as were you in the UK and other major European economies) which lessens the sting. Other countries - like AU and NZ, etc ... - get higher prices for different reasons.
Post edited February 23, 2014 by crazy_dave
Posted February 23, 2014
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WhiteElk: How is it that people complain? We get DRM free games on GOG that otherwise would not be DRM free. Regional Pricing affects only Some games. Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies. Is good. Thanks GOG.
If they really gave back equal to the difference there wouldn't be any point in regional pricing, as has been mentioned there are several limitations to this gesture.

As someone in the US you probably don't understand what it is like to follow a link to a game to find the purchase price over two times higher than as described from where you came from.
Posted February 23, 2014
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crazy_dave: A variety of reasons: physical cost of production + distribution, perceived value of physical goods, and finally the resale value are amongst them
adamhm said:
Well these days retail boxes are little more than a DVD box containing a Steam key, an "install disc" that contains some of the game data (rest downloaded through Steam) and a leaflet with some advertisements and a note along the lines of "manual on disc".

Once the key has been activated on Steam the box and its contents are effectively worthless.
That hardly reads as high production costs or resale value.
Do the rest of the factors really make such a big difference to drive the prices that high?
Posted February 23, 2014
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crazy_dave: Didn't say it was right, but it is legal to include in negotiations ... sorry :(
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Niggles: And the odd thing is?. Im willing to be most of retail store outlets

a) hardly have any PC games on display (usually in a tiny corner) - if they do 80% of them are either old games or shitty casual titles
b) probably make most of their money from console/portables software sales + console hardware - i doubt EB or JB Hifi (they sell all other electronic crap like computers, tvs, etc) are financially hurting
It depends on the country. Here, PC games are dedicated the most shelf space.

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HypersomniacLive: If that's the case, why is retail this expensive again?

And one more question, when talking about retail distributors, are we actually talking about stores that sell exclusively retail editions of games and games only?
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crazy_dave: A variety of reasons: physical cost of production + distribution, perceived value of physical goods, and finally the resale value are amongst them
Sadly, thanks to DRM, most modern physical copies don't have any resale value.

Also, one could argue that one of the reasons they charge so much is simply because they can. I remember when publishers started charging $60/€60 for PC games, same as console games, even though one doesn't have to pay a licensing fee to the platform holder for publishing PC games.
Posted February 23, 2014
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TheEnigmaticT: ...because you'll find great games DRM-free on GOG.com that wouldn't be DRM-free without this.
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WhiteElk: 'nuff said

but i'll say more,

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TheEnigmaticT: ...GOG.com will be giving something for you guys out of our pockets to help make up the difference between regional prices.
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WhiteElk: ain't that nice!?!

_______

How is it that people complain? We get DRM free games on GOG that otherwise would not be DRM free. Regional Pricing affects only Some games. Where Regional Pricing is in play, GOG gives us an allowance from their own monies. Is good. Thanks GOG.
It wouldn't be the Internet if people didn't incessantly complain about everything.
Posted February 23, 2014
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Ichwillnichtmehr: As a counterexample:
<snip>
The GOG.com version is DRM-free, flat priced and the least expensive.
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adamhm: It depends on the publisher and the contracts they have with local distributors in different regions. I notice that game doesn't appear to be available at retail in my country, only digitally... that more than likely has something to do with it. Oh, and it appears to be self-published online by Daedalic. That will make things much easier. I bet it's only available at retail in Germany?
It appears that the retail versions are only german, so that would make it easier.

Still, Daedalic agreed to the contracts with GOG/Steam/etc.(and GOG/Steam/etc. agreed to the contracts), so the barrier isn't impossible to overcome.

Not a walk in the park, but not impossible either.
Posted February 23, 2014
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crazy_dave: A variety of reasons: physical cost of production + distribution, perceived value of physical goods, and finally the resale value are amongst them
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HypersomniacLive: adamhm said:

Well these days retail boxes are little more than a DVD box containing a Steam key, an "install disc" that contains some of the game data (rest downloaded through Steam) and a leaflet with some advertisements and a note along the lines of "manual on disc".

Once the key has been activated on Steam the box and its contents are effectively worthless.
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HypersomniacLive: That hardly reads as high production costs or resale value.
Do the rest of the factors really make such a big difference to drive the prices that high?
For some retail dvd boxes it is true these factors don't apply, for other they do - I was making a list for all PC DVD game boxes. For every physical good there is a cost to production even if it isn't high. However, perceived value and necessity (not good enough internet connection so physical is the only way to buy) can by themselves drive up prices. In and to some countries, shipping and import can play a role. Also physical retail concerns like inventory don't plague digital distribution.
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Niggles: And the odd thing is?. Im willing to be most of retail store outlets

a) hardly have any PC games on display (usually in a tiny corner) - if they do 80% of them are either old games or shitty casual titles
b) probably make most of their money from console/portables software sales + console hardware - i doubt EB or JB Hifi (they sell all other electronic crap like computers, tvs, etc) are financially hurting
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Gandos: It depends on the country. Here, PC games are dedicated the most shelf space.

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crazy_dave: A variety of reasons: physical cost of production + distribution, perceived value of physical goods, and finally the resale value are amongst them
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Gandos: Sadly, thanks to DRM, most modern physical copies don't have any resale value.

Also, one could argue that one of the reasons they charge so much is simply because they can. I remember when publishers started charging $60/€60 for PC games, same as console games, even though one doesn't have to pay a licensing fee to the platform holder for publishing PC games.
That's the perceived value part ;)
Post edited February 23, 2014 by crazy_dave
Posted February 23, 2014
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Ichwillnichtmehr: Still, Daedalic agreed to the contracts with GOG/Steam/etc.(and GOG/Steam/etc. agreed to the contracts), so the barrier isn't impossible to overcome.

Not a walk in the park, but not impossible either.
Digital distributors don't have limited warehouse and shelf space to worry about :p
Posted February 23, 2014
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Denezan: In the grand scheme of things, I would rather pay a little extra for a DRM free game, than be forced to pay for games on a site like Steam. So I can live with the regional pricing. I do not understand why people cannot understand this. The more you fight it, the greater chance of losing out on DRM free games completely if this goes so bad that they shut the site down entirely, and over a few extra $/£? (Yes I realize that it is a worst case scenario, but I would rather go OTT with the example than not enough) The point is, games have been cheap as chips on this site for YEARS!!! You have been getting the best deals possible for a long ass time, can you honestly complain when they up the price a bit for new titles?
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crazy_dave: For you in the UK and us in the US and other countries like us the differences will be minimal or actually more fair than they were before - UK regional pricing correctly takes into account domestic purchasing power parity with the US while using flat pricing and an exchange rate made the games actually cheaper than they should have been for UK users. However, there are countries that pay substantially more because of regional pricing because they pay EU rates but who are relatively poor in the EU - where 60 euros is a much higher fraction of median income than in other places. Under flat pricing, they were still paying the same rate as other Euro countries because of the unified exchange rate with the dollar, but they were effectively getting a discount (as were you in the UK and other major European economies) which lessens the sting. Other countries - like AU and NZ, etc ... - get higher prices for different reasons.
Since it has been ignored, I will add this again for effect. "The point is, games have been cheap as chips on this site for YEARS!!! You have been getting the best deals possible for a long ass time, can you honestly complain when they up the price a bit for new titles?"

See, this regional price thing will only be applied to NEW games, not their existing catalogue. Everything will STILL be DRM free which is the entire basis of this company, but new titles will be regional priced. I will only take issue with this site if they reverse there attitude on DRM free gaming. Until that time, I am happy to pay more should I be interested in any new releases.
Posted February 23, 2014
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crazy_dave: For you in the UK and us in the US and other countries like us the differences will be minimal or actually more fair than they were before - UK regional pricing correctly takes into account domestic purchasing power parity with the US while using flat pricing and an exchange rate made the games actually cheaper than they should have been for UK users. However, there are countries that pay substantially more because of regional pricing because they pay EU rates but who are relatively poor in the EU - where 60 euros is a much higher fraction of median income than in other places. Under flat pricing, they were still paying the same rate as other Euro countries because of the unified exchange rate with the dollar, but they were effectively getting a discount (as were you in the UK and other major European economies) which lessens the sting. Other countries - like AU and NZ, etc ... - get higher prices for different reasons.
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Denezan: Since it has been ignored, I will add this again for effect. "The point is, games have been cheap as chips on this site for YEARS!!! You have been getting the best deals possible for a long ass time, can you honestly complain when they up the price a bit for new titles?"

See, this regional price thing will only be applied to NEW games, not their existing catalogue. Everything will STILL be DRM free which is the entire basis of this company, but new titles will be regional priced. I will only take issue with this site if they reverse there attitude on DRM free gaming. Until that time, I am happy to pay more should I be interested in any new releases.
I didn't ignore it, but people were hoping that GOG would stick to its guns and for new releases not succumb to regional pricing. Of course prices for new AAA games will be higher than indie and classic games, but they were hoping GOG would release AAA games with 1-flat price, not that AAA were going to be cheap. GOG decided they weren't going to win that battle with the publishers and gave up that aspect of their site as policy. Keep in mind: it is no longer policy, GOG has to renegotiate prices when contracts expire with publishers for all games in their catalog, not just new ones.
Post edited February 23, 2014 by crazy_dave
Posted February 23, 2014
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crazy_dave: For you in the UK and us in the US and other countries like us the differences will be minimal or actually more fair than they were before - UK regional pricing correctly takes into account domestic purchasing power parity with the US while using flat pricing and an exchange rate made the games actually cheaper than they should have been for UK users. However, there are countries that pay substantially more because of regional pricing because they pay EU rates but who are relatively poor in the EU - where 60 euros is a much higher fraction of median income than in other places. Under flat pricing, they were still paying the same rate as other Euro countries because of the unified exchange rate with the dollar, but they were effectively getting a discount (as were you in the UK and other major European economies) which lessens the sting. Other countries - like AU and NZ, etc ... - get higher prices for different reasons.
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Denezan: Since it has been ignored, I will add this again for effect. "The point is, games have been cheap as chips on this site for YEARS!!! You have been getting the best deals possible for a long ass time, can you honestly complain when they up the price a bit for new titles?"

See, this regional price thing will only be applied to NEW games, not their existing catalogue. Everything will STILL be DRM free which is the entire basis of this company, but new titles will be regional priced. I will only take issue with this site if they reverse there attitude on DRM free gaming. Until that time, I am happy to pay more should I be interested in any new releases.
Also don't forget that we haven't seen a big publisher sign on to GOG in about 18 months. Does anyone else not find that worrying? Maybe their running out of a steady flow of releases?
Post edited February 23, 2014 by GaminggUy45
Posted February 23, 2014
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Ichwillnichtmehr: Still, Daedalic agreed to the contracts with GOG/Steam/etc.(and GOG/Steam/etc. agreed to the contracts), so the barrier isn't impossible to overcome.

Not a walk in the park, but not impossible either.
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adamhm: Digital distributors don't have limited warehouse and shelf space to worry about :p
But, I imagine, they would worry about being 20% or 80% more expensive.
Posted February 23, 2014
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adamhm: Digital distributors don't have limited warehouse and shelf space to worry about :p
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Ichwillnichtmehr: But, I imagine, they would worry about being 20% or 80% more expensive.
It's not such a big issue for digital distributors though... if a publisher sets too expensive a price then they'll get fewer sales there but it won't really cost the distributor anything (they'll actually benefit in a way, as they'll get more for their 30% cut for any sales there); it's not like they have to pay the publisher in advance for X copies or anything like that.
Posted February 23, 2014
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Gandos: Also, one could argue that one of the reasons they charge so much is simply because they can. I remember when publishers started charging $60/€60 for PC games, same as console games, even though one doesn't have to pay a licensing fee to the platform holder for publishing PC games.
I mentioned that a few pages back. EA, Bethesda, and a few others started doing that around ~2 1/2 years ago. They raised the prices on PC by $10, kept the Xbox at $59, then lowered the PS by about $5. Now they charge $59.99 across the board for all platforms. This is in the U.S., but probably most everywhere too.

Those price disparities, as you mentioned, where there because MS and Sony charge them fees. They have to pay to get the game tested. They used to have to pay if more than x amount of patches were deliverd with Xbox. Not sure now. Plus I think there is a royalty fee. Probably a few more costs/fees involved.

Anyway, the point is they're passing the cost of those fees onto the PC customers. I rarely buy games at release day prices as it is, but I made it a point that I was never going to pay a release day price from one of the publishers that joined in and started doing that. There's still a few big ones left that don't do it and charge in the $49 range.

And I've hardly ever seen anyone ever bring that up either. Your post is the first I've seen referring to that in a long time.
Post edited February 23, 2014 by JohnnyDollar
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Community
General discussionAnnouncement: Big Preorders & Launch Day Releases Coming!(4041 posts)(4041 posts)
(4041 posts)