Pricing and DLC Policy

[Strategiae]

Hi All

It semes we have made some wrong assumptions when designing or release offer and that created justified upset on the community.

We are at the moment checking with the publisher the changes required, but here are the great lines:

1 - Expanded Collection: the name was poorly chosen by us and we will make it contain all the classic and expanded DLCs, as people assumed that would be the case

NB: for those who bought already, Steam will upload automatically the missing scenarios and you should get them with the next update.

2 - DLCs: we put everything in the list, but due to the scope of them, the addition reached a financial amount that has looked frightening. Indeed, some DLCs added up in the price while they were already in packs, doubling up of sorts, so the unecessary ones will be removed (as already in the packs). And we'll make a a launch promotion on the extras to keep the tally low. (see 3 below too)

3 - Special Release Bundle: we are checking right now with Steam and publisher to make a special release bundle that will include everything, with an adapted price.

We hope this will clarify a bit the situation which we did not anticipate as being hard to grasp. That's the usual issue when a team is so much inside its project that it fails to see the point of view of outsiders. Plus the fact we are kind of 'newbies' here and not fully aware of the market's behaviors and habits.

Of course, while our publisher works on that point, the team stays focused on checking gameplay and issues that may be found.

Thanks for your understanding.

[zakblood]

a good and quick and honest reply on a given price point, well made, and thanks for the update, just looking tbh as i do love anything to do with war so will keep an eye out on what happens next, thanks again

[Oskar Dinort]

Why not give for free base game with an scen to made it work as demo??? you can sell scens in packs... tematic packs or "create your own packs" i refer you can buy 5 scens for X money but you can select what scens add to the 5x pack...

to be fair now game is not very attractive in price area and to be fair are wargames now in market cheaper that offer a lot and in future some old stars are going to return to the first line...

[zakblood]

demo's always do well, as try before you buy with a demo makes sense, where as some now days just use steam refund under the 2 hour rule instead and use the full game as a demo, just saying, as never used it or needed to myself either, just wondering if it's something that's been considered? thanks

[Saracen26]

Originally posted by Strategiae:

Hi All

It semes we have made some wrong assumptions when designing or release offer and that created justified upset on the community.

We are at the moment checking with the publisher the changes required, but here are the great lines:

1 - Expanded Collection: the name was poorly chosen by us and we will make it contain all the classic and expanded DLCs, as people assumed that would be the case

NB: for those who bought already, Steam will upload automatically the missing scenarios and you should get them with the next update.

This for me is the right move here as the consumer now has 2 platforms in which to start off with, and thus makes the option of other DLC packs feel that much more managable.

I know I've been highly critical and arguably was the first on here to do so. But you've got to be so careful in researching your market on a platform like Steam. With so much on offer for people to choose from, it can make all the difference between success and failure. The line is so incredibly thin. I've seen fantastic games fail, and I've also seen some right polished turds become popular.. That's how thin it really is.

However, your honesty is highly apprieciated, and the way you're planning to set things up from now gives everything so much more needed structure. The emphasis on this being an ever growing "collectable" selection of scenarios beyond the base game packs will serve you so much better than the expectation that they all should be included from the word "Go"...

[Gesia]

I honestly like this, and this shows great customer feedback to me.
However I am now unsure what to do, since I bought the classic, because I understood it the way you meant it with the other one being 3 DIFFERENT scenarios without the first 3, so if the second version now gets the first 3 scenarios I would have lost 3 Scenarios for 5 Bucks? Also if there is a special release bundle with everything, I might want this, but didn't have the chance to buy it and will end up paying more just because I was one of your first customers...?

[zakblood]

unless it takes into account what part or parts you already own and gives you that as a discount off of the offered overall price once released? re bundled deal etc

[Captain_Narol]

What about an Ancient History base Pack with Engine + Hamilcar + Carrhae + Hastings ?

You know, most wargamers have their favorite time period, so offering the engine only with packs covering mixed eras is forcing many people to buy scenariis that they are not interesting in, and might cost you some sales in the end...

[Strategiae]

Good point. We'll come with suggestions on that soon. The main "issue" (minor) being that we are somewhat limited to the number of packs allowed upon release.

But that can be for sure be made later on. That's by the way how we display our collection on our website ;-)

[zakblood]

a great suggestions Captain Narol, always goes down well with war gamers

[zakblood]

you mention your website,

"That's by the way how we display our collection on our website ;-)" but new readers, me for one aren't to sure where it is, will may be on the product page, but maybe a link here is also needed?

http://www.waw-games.com/ it's ok found it :)

[i_nive]

Would it be possible to upgrade from "Classic" to "Expanded" for the price of the current diff between the two?

[Strategiae]

We have no objection to that in principle but I have no clue on how this could be done on Steam. We shall ask the publisher about it

[geozero]

Back pedalling.

Never buying this.

As a game maker you knew well what you were doing. Even if ALL the DLCs were included for $14 I would not buy it. It's called consumer confidence, and how do you trust someone that tries to get you for $100+ out of the gate. Some things are not forgiveable. And this game is one of them.

[Alex]

I'm just interested in late 18th to early 20th century stuff and i don't intend to pay for every single battle 5-10 Euro (maybe even for user-made stuff?) or buy battles in packs, when I am not interested in every single one in them.

Customers should provide you with a reality check. I was looking forward to this, but at least for now, buying is a no go for me.

[Strategiae]

We are listening to all remarks and will see what consensus arises. Based on that we shall adjust on player's requests.

One interesting remark we got was, for some users, the ability to create Season Pass or Subscriptions. Concept is nice, we just have to study technical feasibility