Corwin

roqua

Sentinel
Joined
October 18, 2006
Messages
474
I know you love U7 and I was wondering what you thought of Teudogar and the Alliance with Rome.

http://www.teudogar.com/home.htm

Have you played it, or at least the demo? This game has some very original views and ideas on what an rpg should be, all while being very U7ish. I don't think i've ever heard you mention it, and since nothing else besides the DS mod for U5 is really trying to provide some good Ultima like gameplay, if you missed it you really should pick it up.

This is one of the few games that actually gets better, mechanic-wise, the further in you get. At least check out the demo and tell us what you think.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
474
I've never heard of, or seen this game!! It might not have made it down here, many games don't and I can't recall hearing about it either here or back at the Dot!! I'll take a look at the Demo!!
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
12,806
Location
Australia
I actually bought the game after viewing this thread. I played the demo for half a minute and after the first dialogue I decided to buy it. The interface was just great and that perhaps sounds absurd, because I didn't pay the dialogue that much attention, but I've just become so very tired of the dialogue systems in for ex. Oblivion and I much do favour the systems in for ex. Morrowind and Divine Divinity instead. A proper graphics engine is necessary for me, when playing games, and this one had a very charming and colourful one.
I like the fact that it's a historical RPG. It's something I would like to have as a setting in more RPGs. The RPG genre seems very fit to this purpose.

But one thing I don't understand is why the full game isn't made downloadable so that the customers don't have to pay shipping fees (though not that much)?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
720
Location
Denmark
The creator of the game, Wolf Mittagen, explained this on his forum. I didn't buy it because I couldn't get it right away, but after I read his explanation, i bouyght it. The good thing is, you probably won't be done with the demo by the time you get it in the mail. And your demo save-games work with the full game install

The reason is that pirating really hurts the indie market. every pirated copy makes a sequal less and less likely. Now, this is a fantastic game. I love it even though it has no chargen, and no directly controlled chardev (it is, but you know what i mean. You get better at what you do, but you ddon't get 'points to spend''), which are some of my favorite parts to rpgs. Combat is challenging, the story is very different than anything I've played. The setting is amazing, as well as the players interaction within that setting. The whole thing is just so unique and worth playing. I think its an important rpg for anyone who thinks they are an rpg fan to play.

But, lets face it. This game isn't selling like hot cakes. If he made a key gen, just one person posting the crack has a huge impact on the number of games he sells. He goes into this a lot more, but the codex isn't loading up for me so i can't get to his forum to just repost his explanation.

My only critique is that he refuses to make a game I can spell.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
474
I've never heard of, or seen this game!! It might not have made it down here, many games don't and I can't recall hearing about it either here or back at the Dot!! I'll take a look at the Demo!!

I've mentioned it a million times, what probably threw you off is I spell it different every time and usually don't get even close to right. I only got it right this time because I copied and pasted.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
474
Well, I've downloaded the Demo. If I have time later today, I will take a look at it. Have any reviews been written for it? When was it originally released?
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
12,806
Location
Australia
No idea and not more than two-years ago I believe. A new game, Durghal (or something like that), is being made. Then Wolf will make Tudegar 2.


edit: forum is back up so here is copie and pastes of his reasoning, there are 2 posts:

1)
Hello Igor,

I will consider this as an additional option. (For all who may be wondering, at present, there is neither a Demo not a Full Version of DARGHUL available, neither downloadable nor on CD, because this game is still under development and not yet released.)

Most people seem to like to receive a real CD; but for those who don't, it'd certainly make sense. With my present method of physical delivery by Deutsche Post / DHL, customers within Germany usually receive their full version one or two days after ordering, but delivery to the U.S. seems to take about 5 days - and there have been cases where it actually took more than 10 days. This is clearly unacceptable; and to avoid any possibility of such delays, instant delivery via downloading might really be a good idea for non-European customers.

However, a great advantage (developer's point of view) of shipping CDs is that it effectively stops credit card fraud, because it simply makes no sense to use a stolen credit card number when you have to specify your postal address for delivery. Consequently, I have never experienced any instance of fraud so far. But according to what I hear from other developers, credit card fraud seems to be a significant problem for those who distribute their full versions as downloadable versions or unlock codes. Apart from the hassle for all non-criminal parties involved in such cases, the resulting chargebacks cause considerable fees for the seller. Such a fee might be about as much as I'd earn from selling 5 or more full versions - that means, assuming that 5% of transactions were fraudulent, I'd have to sell 30% more full versions to cover the resulting extra costs. That's quite a lot.

Well, I'll be thinking this over; I need to check providers and their conditions for offering this kind of downloads; and I'll have to once again consult with some other developers on this subject, and do some additional research before making a decision.

2)
Hi J P Marshall III, thank you for this warning.

Yes, there's obviously a problem with unlock codes. Apart from keygens and cracks, sales will be cut in half if someone publishes just one single unlock code on the internet. (And sales won't be great to start with, anyway; I know few shareware authors who can make a living from their work. Writing shareware is a bit like the music industry - a handful of top names who manage to reach a great sales volume make money, sometimes a lot of it, but the majority of developers can be happy if their sales cover their costs.)

So once a code has been published, an author would have to deactivate it in future versions. I've heard of authors who search the web for published unlock codes and then release new versions of their software, with these codes blocked, every single week. Of course the old versions will still be around (CDs, shareware web sites that actually host and not just link, etc), so while that may limit the damage, it won't undo it. If one doesn't use unlock codes, the software will get pirated the old-fashioned way via warez-sites, though that won't reach as many people, since there's greater risk in downloading and installing a piece of software from an obscure source than in simply googling for a code and then typing in what one has found.

Many people find it difficult to pay for software or music. "Oh, it'll be all right if I just get it for free; of course the author needs to be paid for his work, but surely SOMEONE ELSE will buy the software." Problem with human behaviour is, when there's a chance to avoid costs, virtually everyone will take it. There usually will not be SOMEONE ELSE, or, at best, very very few of them.

In my point of view, for a developer, it's a question of focus. Most people will never buy my software. Most will never use it, many will simply uninstall it when they've finished the Demo part, and some will steal it. Too bad, but that's life, and these people aren't really my business. I'll try to win over as many of them as I can, but if I can't, well. Since all of my income comes from the very few who are actually willing to buy my software, my main task is to focus on these great people, and to do my utmost to satisfy them.

So convenience of buying and speedy delivery are extremely important issues for me. I'll do all I can to make buying and receiving my software as convenient as possible for my customers. If that causes more piracy, so be it. Since potential pirates and potential customers usually are not the same groups of people, it probably won't matter. I wouldn't want to do pure unlock codes since these might be a temptation too hard to overcome even for honest people. But I'll see what I can do with downloadable versions, or other means of delivery. At present, I'm working pretty hard on finishing development of DARGHUL (last technical and game world related things); but when I've finally done this, I'll deal with this issue.

thread:
http://www.rpgcodex.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7479
 
Last edited:
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
474
Perhaps the easiest solution to both his prblems, is to allow a full download, but mail the unlock keys (with a limited activation time) to the buyer, since mailing a code should be faster and easier than a CD/DVD.
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
12,806
Location
Australia
The creator of the game, Wolf Mittagen, explained this on his forum. I didn't buy it because I couldn't get it right away, but after I read his explanation, i bouyght it. The good thing is, you probably won't be done with the demo by the time you get it in the mail. And your demo save-games work with the full game install

The reason is that pirating really hurts the indie market. every pirated copy makes a sequal less and less likely. Now, this is a fantastic game. I love it even though it has no chargen, and no directly controlled chardev (it is, but you know what i mean. You get better at what you do, but you ddon't get 'points to spend''), which are some of my favorite parts to rpgs. Combat is challenging, the story is very different than anything I've played. The setting is amazing, as well as the players interaction within that setting. The whole thing is just so unique and worth playing. I think its an important rpg for anyone who thinks they are an rpg fan to play.

But, lets face it. This game isn't selling like hot cakes. If he made a key gen, just one person posting the crack has a huge impact on the number of games he sells. He goes into this a lot more, but the codex isn't loading up for me so i can't get to his forum to just repost his explanation.

My only critique is that he refuses to make a game I can spell.

He seems very sympathetic and he often strays off course and ends up describing universal issues. Like the one below for example:

Problem with human behaviour is, when there's a chance to avoid costs, virtually everyone will take it.

It is so true. My girlfriend's mother wanted her to go to a store and get advice of which product to buy and then afterwards go to a cheaper store and buy the actual product. It's completely grotesque.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
720
Location
Denmark
..and your demo save-games work with the full game install.

That just warms the cockles of my frigid heart when things work out that way. Almost worth purchasing just because of that, I want to promote this kind of developer behavior.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
5,228
Location
San Diego, Ca
I mentioned it once or twice in indie update nwsbits but since the game had been out for a while before I knew about it and he releases so little about Darghul, I don't really get the chance to highlight his stuff.
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2006
Messages
11,842
Location
Sydney, Australia
Joined
Aug 30, 2006
Messages
7,830
darn..I was hoping this thread was about Corwin.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
5,212
Location
The Uncanny Valley
You can talk about him in the sequel thread "Corwin too". ;)
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2006
Messages
7,830
They also talk about me in the Team Corwin thread!! I think it's all a plot by the Codex!! :)
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
12,806
Location
Australia
No my friend, it is all a plot by ME! :mwahaha: :cm:

To keep on topic I did download it, but haven't had a chance to play it yet. A full download and then a code key by email would be cheaper for him as well wouldn't it?
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
2,384
Location
Missouri USA
I've played a little (the opening village), but I'm not impressed so far. I'll keep going for awhile and hope it grabs me. So far, the conversations are terrible!!
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
12,806
Location
Australia
I've been meaning to try this game for a long time, but almost forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. Perhaps the dialogue is better in the author's native language (assuming there is a german version).
 
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
176
I thought the dialogue did a great job of sounding germanic and not anachronistic.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
474
So I received my copy today. As you can see this is very much indie. He really ought to find a suitable way to distribute online, because the game I received could just aswell be downloaded and the letter that followed be sent as an e-mail. The only thing you get with the package is actually only just the game files. Which is ok, but when the package serves no other purpose than limiting piracy it really ought to be revised.
There wasn't even a prodcut key with the package, so theoretically I could distribute my edition to everyone I wanted (I don't support piracy, which is also why I bought it).

But the shipping fees weren't that huge so what the heck.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2006
Messages
720
Location
Denmark
Back
Top Bottom