I've always wondered just why the games aren't released worldwide at the same time-it would save money, b/c burning wouldn't be a problem. Or, at least stagger it over a week or so, not three months +...
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Paradox has many distributors around the world. Getting them to release at the same time is impossible.
Now you'll say that Paradox could try to have one distributor for, at least, America and Europe. But why would they want to depend on one distributor? Any good manager will try to divide his risks.
That maybe frustrating, but the later they release it in your country, the better it's already patched. Patience!
Now you'll say that Paradox could try to have one distributor for, at least, America and Europe. But why would they want to depend on one distributor? Any good manager will try to divide his risks.
That maybe frustrating, but the later they release it in your country, the better it's already patched. Patience!
Well, it would be of benefit to the distributor, because people wont pre-order from other countries, and a benefit to paradox, b/c people wont burn them, downlosd from kazaa etc.
And if the publisher went down, at least everyone would be in the same boat, and the Europeans and other non-NAs could reclaim the message board...
And if the publisher went down, at least everyone would be in the same boat, and the Europeans and other non-NAs could reclaim the message board...
Originally posted by hughbartlett
Well, it would be of benefit to the distributor, because people wont pre-order from other countries, and a benefit to paradox, b/c people wont burn them, downlosd from kazaa etc.
And if the publisher went down, at least everyone would be in the same boat, and the Europeans and other non-NAs could reclaim the message board...
Everyone would be in the same boat? Yeah, right... No more games from Paradox
Why is it so hard to understand that we can't dictate to the publishers that they have to buy our product?
Our games are NOT the type of games that any global publisher wants to have in their product range. They want slick 3d shooters, Sports games and RTS games. Not deep strategy games... They dont think it is worth their while.
The localization takes 1-2 months depending on the experience of the translators.
Patric
Fair enough my humble apologies.
Why doesn't Paradox go into publishing? Not just Paradox games, but strategy in general?
I understand, but is Australias' version different from Canada, UK or USAs'? It would be good if the English speakers could get them at the same time, and I know that Strategy First does a bit of publishing down here....
I don't like it, but...I can accept it
Why doesn't Paradox go into publishing? Not just Paradox games, but strategy in general?
I understand, but is Australias' version different from Canada, UK or USAs'? It would be good if the English speakers could get them at the same time, and I know that Strategy First does a bit of publishing down here....
I don't like it, but...I can accept it
Publishing???
Ack! Bad Idea!
Paradox has some really bright folks who have a real knack for making great games. I want those people thinking about great games they can make for us, not worrying about what permits a truck needs to carry software across the Mexican/US border or wondering what deal they have to cut in order to get a certain spot on the shelf in a medium sized specialty computer store in the mid-west. Publishing is more than printing manuals and putting them on a truck. Leave it to the professionals (who have both the expertise and perhaps more importantly the retail relationships that are required) and let Paradox do what they do best - create great games.
Ack! Bad Idea!
Paradox has some really bright folks who have a real knack for making great games. I want those people thinking about great games they can make for us, not worrying about what permits a truck needs to carry software across the Mexican/US border or wondering what deal they have to cut in order to get a certain spot on the shelf in a medium sized specialty computer store in the mid-west. Publishing is more than printing manuals and putting them on a truck. Leave it to the professionals (who have both the expertise and perhaps more importantly the retail relationships that are required) and let Paradox do what they do best - create great games.
True enough, but when they stick to what they do best (and they DO create great games), they should at least make sure that I, the enthousiastic game player, can actually BUY those games.
As it stands to date (I am from Holland, aka The Netherlands), I have experienced the following:
Europa Universalis I was only briefly available, and then withdrawn. I was only able to buy a grey imported UK version.
Europa Universalis II is officially available (as an English version), but the supply from the publisher (Ubisoft) is so tight that it is virtually impossible to actually BUY a copy.
Legions (appearantly already at version 1.06) is not available for sale in our country (not even as a grey import)
To date, there is no mentioning of any publisher for HOI in our country, so I fear we (the Dutch) are stuck in the same situation as Legions, which is that we will never be able to buy the game.
I am not pleased, as a customer
Jan Peter
As it stands to date (I am from Holland, aka The Netherlands), I have experienced the following:
Europa Universalis I was only briefly available, and then withdrawn. I was only able to buy a grey imported UK version.
Europa Universalis II is officially available (as an English version), but the supply from the publisher (Ubisoft) is so tight that it is virtually impossible to actually BUY a copy.
Legions (appearantly already at version 1.06) is not available for sale in our country (not even as a grey import)
To date, there is no mentioning of any publisher for HOI in our country, so I fear we (the Dutch) are stuck in the same situation as Legions, which is that we will never be able to buy the game.
I am not pleased, as a customer
Jan Peter
Jan -
I can certainly understand your plight. I lived in Brussels for a while and faced similar circumstances. There were games I wanted and could not get. However, the problem is largely a factor of business realities.
Dutch is not a language spoken by a large population and therefore it might not be economically feasible to provide a translated copy of a game that would draw demand from only a small portion of the gaming community.
How many copies would HOI sell in Holland? In any language? How much can any company justify investing in making the game available there? It isn't fair, to be sure. But these are the questions that a good publisher must evaluate.
I believe the Euro is helping to make pan-European distribution strategies more common, but most retail establishments still have strong national roots and I suspect it will take some time for true European publishers to fully emerge (though the language issues are still significant). Paradox has, in my opinion, done more than most to ensure that this game is widely available as quickly as possible. If a company had stepped forward offering to publish the game in Holland, I am sure they would gladly have accepted that offer. But at the end of the day this is an untested title and no one volunteered to take the risk of distributing it within the relatively small Dutch marketplace. That is unfortunate, but it is the reality of a market driven economy.
There are likely lots of people thoughout the world who would enjoy this game, but will not have access to it. That is unfortunate. Paradox would love to sell the extra copies. Paradox would love to have more happy customers. But sometimes things just don't work out. I live in the US now. I would love to buy a nice cuban cigar, but I can't get that here. I would love to have some good Belgian beer, but that too is unavailable to me. In Holland, you can buy either of those items but it appears you might not be able to enjoy HOI when I do. Sorry, and I do not mean to sound insensitive to your situation because I really do understand how frustrating that can be, but sometimes that's just the way it goes...
I can certainly understand your plight. I lived in Brussels for a while and faced similar circumstances. There were games I wanted and could not get. However, the problem is largely a factor of business realities.
Dutch is not a language spoken by a large population and therefore it might not be economically feasible to provide a translated copy of a game that would draw demand from only a small portion of the gaming community.
How many copies would HOI sell in Holland? In any language? How much can any company justify investing in making the game available there? It isn't fair, to be sure. But these are the questions that a good publisher must evaluate.
I believe the Euro is helping to make pan-European distribution strategies more common, but most retail establishments still have strong national roots and I suspect it will take some time for true European publishers to fully emerge (though the language issues are still significant). Paradox has, in my opinion, done more than most to ensure that this game is widely available as quickly as possible. If a company had stepped forward offering to publish the game in Holland, I am sure they would gladly have accepted that offer. But at the end of the day this is an untested title and no one volunteered to take the risk of distributing it within the relatively small Dutch marketplace. That is unfortunate, but it is the reality of a market driven economy.
There are likely lots of people thoughout the world who would enjoy this game, but will not have access to it. That is unfortunate. Paradox would love to sell the extra copies. Paradox would love to have more happy customers. But sometimes things just don't work out. I live in the US now. I would love to buy a nice cuban cigar, but I can't get that here. I would love to have some good Belgian beer, but that too is unavailable to me. In Holland, you can buy either of those items but it appears you might not be able to enjoy HOI when I do. Sorry, and I do not mean to sound insensitive to your situation because I really do understand how frustrating that can be, but sometimes that's just the way it goes...
Originally posted by hughbartlett
Fair enough my humble apologies.
Why doesn't Paradox go into publishing? Not just Paradox games, but strategy in general?
I understand, but is Australias' version different from Canada, UK or USAs'? It would be good if the English speakers could get them at the same time, and I know that Strategy First does a bit of publishing down here....
I don't like it, but...I can accept it
AFAIK Strategy First has the rights for HoI in Australia and New Zealand but I will check with them.
Patric
Can't you buy it from a net store if it's not in the ordinary stores? Stupid question I suppose...
Actually, it is.
Unless the online (aka net) store is situated in Holland, you have to pay international shipping fees. This is usually not all that cheap.
Furthermore, most online stores don't support the standard payment options we commonly use in Holland (exceptions are stores that explicitly target our country, such as bol.com), and thus require credit card payments.
Since we use a totally different payment system in Holland, most peoply over here don't even posess a credit card. We don't need them, and a lot of stores don't even accept them.
It would be rather ridiculous if one would be forced to acquire a credit card just to be able to buy one game online.
Jan Peter
Unless the online (aka net) store is situated in Holland, you have to pay international shipping fees. This is usually not all that cheap.
Furthermore, most online stores don't support the standard payment options we commonly use in Holland (exceptions are stores that explicitly target our country, such as bol.com), and thus require credit card payments.
Since we use a totally different payment system in Holland, most peoply over here don't even posess a credit card. We don't need them, and a lot of stores don't even accept them.
It would be rather ridiculous if one would be forced to acquire a credit card just to be able to buy one game online.
Jan Peter