Tribes2

#1 if i recall, GarageGames has already ported the Mac version of the V12 engine over, so go bug them or e-mail dynamix.

#2 I saw the Linux version of it today at Electronics Botique - curiously in a DVD box!

Now if this would only catch on with the rest of the PC gaming community.

#3 Packaging games in DVD boxes industry-wide would be a huge mistake, in my opinion. After all, that would mean that there would be considerably more space on the store shelves for the large game-distributors to fight independents for. Further, it would demean the great feeling that I get when I open a box to find the CD case and a warranty-registration, and absolutely nothing else. After all, I pay a hefty premium for the air inside of that box, and packaging games inside of DVD cases would lessen the amount of air that I get in my game-box!

Is the sarcasm that painfully apparent? But that's another thread.

In this particular thread, I'm thinking there's not a great deal of money to be made in putting out a Mac version of Tribes 2. Minimizing the packaging and under-shipping (yes, as opposed to over-shipping) the game would probably cut down on a loss margin, and possibly create a profit. However, if the game has indeed been put together for the Mac, then it's probably in the hands of the accountants, as they try to figure out how to make a profit off of a game that's going to run on under ten percent of the computers out there.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Macs (Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty, Bam-Bamm, Kazoo and Elroy), but the harsh reality of profit-making has to come into play at some point. Further, this is all IF Tribes 2 has been put together in a stable build for the Mac, which is probably quite a bit different than building the V12 engine. So, I wouldn't bug the GG guys about this; go bug Dynamix.

As for Dynamix having money beyond their wildest dreams, I listened to one of the upper-level guys talk about how Tribes 2 still hasn't measured up to expectations on the PC, I'm pretty sure that having "money beyond their wildest dreams" is pretty impossible for the much smaller Mac-gaming populace. Hate to burst your bubble, buddy, but there's a better-than-not chance that it's not going to happen, and it's not going to make them much money if it does.

#4 From a marketting stand point boxes for games should never be the same as the DVD cases. There would be no instant recognition of what type product you are looking at. That's why game boxes are so big...trying to draw your eyes away from everything else.

Take just the box sizes for console games and computer games. When you pick up a box for a console game they are much smaller and seem as though they are for kids. Obviously there are other factors which would lead you to believe that but if the same game were boxed for console and PC I would bet that the PC one would sell more to adult and the console one would sell more to kids.

#5 I agree with you that bigger boxes attract more attention, but from what I understand, putting the Linux games in a DVD box helps Loki cost manufacturing costs, and also lowers shipping costs for customers. I personally didn't mind receiving Tribes 2 in a DVD box. The manual was on the CD and easily accessible. However, if the game getsdistributed in the store, it should keep the regular big box (in my opinion).

#6 I would be interested to know (now that this thread is -completely- off topic) how many people actually buy games just because they saw it on a shelf. Does that kind of impulse buying happen/work with games? My initial prediction would be 'no', because 1) impulse buying usually only works well with low-cost items, and 2) the people I personally know that buy games (mostly hardcore, some average) know what game they're buying -before- they go into the store, then it's just a matter of finding it on the shelf.

If this was true, it would invalidate the marketing reason for using the bigger boxes for packaging. Anyone seen any studies/data to support or refute this?

#7 Back on topic a bit.

I just found this survey of operating systems. It is a little old (4/2000) and it doesn't mention who the respondents were (the source link requires registration and frankly I didn't feel like it!).

#8 i think the majority of pc game purchases are based on well researched decisions. pc games are hard to run properly (compared to console games), indicating a more technically adept customer base. the internet makes it simple to find information about games, and most pcs are online. the exception is kiddie games, where dad buys the game cause junior sees it at wal-mart and wants it. just my opinion though, i dont know many pc gamers. the ones i do research pretty well beforehand.

#9 I have bought one game on impulse before. Although it had nothing to do with the package. I was in a store and saw the game. I reconized the title from someplace and just decided that I would try it. Turned out to be a fun game. I would love it if games didnt come in such big boxes. I would gladly save the 10% (more?) or so on the game for no packaging. Although I do enjoy getting a printed manual with my game I would go without that as well to save on the cost. Just sell me a CD in a case such as a DVD case and I would be happy. I would probably buy more games if I could save 30% on each purchase. I guess it comes down to people like to feel like they got something for their money. That big old flashy box makes them happy I guess.

#10 The box for the game (and its printed materials found inside of it) make up a very very small portion of the overall cost that you pay when you buy the game.

So I seriously doubt you would save more than 5 dollars by getting a game as the disk and jewel case only.

The box is there for brand recognition so that you can easily spot it in a store after reading about it online or in a game magazine. Just compare going into a music store to going into a game store. You can search for a long time for a CD in a music store, but in a games store you can do a quick scan of the boxes on the shelf and know if its in stock or not.

The box is also a tangable item that you can pickup and hold (this is a large reason why buying off of the internet hasnt been the big thing people said it would be).

Finally its also an anti-theft method, its easier to steal a CD but far more difficult to walk away with a box stuff under your jacket (not speaking from person experiance... really :)

Just my $0.02 on the subject.

Logan

#11 Some articles I've found about the whole packaging thing:

pc.ign.com/news/32047.html

www.monitor.ca/monitor/issues/vol4iss4/postscript.html

The $15US mentioned in the second article matches up fairly well with the numbers I ran across while doing the budget and cost-analysis for a project I was working on a while back (needed all the formal stuff for the banks).

I'm going to have to refute the security bit. Most (if not all) stores today use electronic tagging, which makes the size of the item a non-issue. CDs are tagged all the time already, as are DVDs. I think this makes the security factor of large packaging a big zero.

Anyone know why console games don't use large packaging? As far as I know, they're all packaged in DVD-style or similar small packages. They seem to do just find as is, and as far as I know there are no plans to change it.

#12 The recording industry went through the same thing in the late '80's when albumns where phased out for CDs. At first (up until the early '90's), CDs where being sold in long boxes but are now sold with just the jewel case. Record sales have actually increased in the past 15 or so years since vinyl was killed. To beg the question - was it the packaging or the content? Console games don't seem to have a problem with smaller packaging.

#13 a dvd box looks more professional than a jewl case. and takes up less space than a box. not only that, but its less likely to break and fits on almost any shelf in my house.

when I get a game, the first thing to GO is the box (often not making it home from the store)
I dont read the advertisements, and often lose the game manual shortly after.

with a dvd package, I keep my manual and end up carrying home the little coupons and advertisements inside the box. I'm forced to sit down and open the wrapper with teh whole mess in my lap instead of a trash can.
(not to mention that everything is clipped onto the inside of the jacket, so even If I just rip out the disk, the advertisements are still inside waiting to be read later)


if you want repeat business you have go to make sure they know WHO you are and WHAT you made, after their done playing the game.
I say its worth the extra effort for a dvd box.
no matter the cost.