[Rant] On the difficulty to obtain add-ons …

Hello, everyone.

As a kind of inofficial (and purely non-supported by anyone) part of my "Alrik's different angle" I'm ranting again.

Recently, I got the impression that add-ons rather become rare, sought-after "collector's items" than real gaming content. Of course, this is rather exaggerated, but I have some examples for this.

Publishers tend to sell the basic versions of games in the low budged shelves until hell freezes over, but are too often leaving the add-ons alone.

My most recent example is Dungeon Siege. I bought a German gaming magazine which contains the game. But not the add-on. This gaming mag had this several times now.

We have here in German a bargain area called the "Software Pyramid". A company sells games which have been good sellers in the past in an pyramid-like layout for 10 Euros per item. Older items occationally for less, when the shop wants to remove these older items in favour for newer ones.

They also have Dungeon Siege in this "pyramid". But only the basic game.

Another example is Zoo Tycoon, actually (believe it or not) one of my favourite games. The basic game is being sold for 10 Euros now - but completely without any add-ons !

Both are or were distributed by Microsoft. But not only Microsoft has this behaviour.

There are several publishers which tend to sell the basic game until hell freezes over, but not the complete game which includes all add-ons. Okay, I know I'm repearting myself again, but the "Complete Collection" of Zoo Tycoon for example (which contains TWO add-ons and a bonus addition !) is simply sold out. Nowhere to get. And I'm not talking of ebay. I don't buy online.

I remember having see this several times now (another example : Anno 1503), and the only exceptions to this are Gold versions, or in rare cases even Platinum versions (Railroad Tycoon II).

I simply cannot understand it. Why don't publishers close the production of the basic version at one point and only sell the complete versions with all add-ons from then on ? The gamers would be very happy.

Gold versions might sell quite good, but the budged versions are several years after the release of a game the only way to get it at all. And these budget versions are those without the add-ons, not the higher-priced Gold versions. I think everything should turn into a Gold version at the end of its high selling cycle.

Now I'm still looking for the "Complete Collection" of Zoo Tycoon (German language version), and I'm sure I won't find it. Except on ebay, maybe.
I think it is time to write a letter on that to Ubisoft (who sell the basic game of it here in Germany.)

Regards,
Alrik

I went through this recently on another forum with someone who was trying to get 'Mysteries of the Sith', the expansion of the original Jedi Knight game. You can find Jedi Knight in bargain bins at Walmart and other retail places - but you couldn't find MotS *anywhere* …

how about the wonderful addon alien crossfire for one of the all time best strategy games alpha centauri. i finally managed to pick it up a few years ago in a 'laptop collection' for around 20 bucks. on ebay and other places though it is often sold for over $100. the original you can usually pickup for literally pocket change.

I don't know much of this, since I don't buy (nor dwnld) so many games. But I have to say that both Dungeon Siege ,and Morrowind were bought by me at a budget price. Both at the local Media Markt.

I think this is what happens. The production company creates a large number of copies of the original game hoping for great sales. Eventually, add-ons are made, but in much smaller quantities as stats show only a small % of people buy them. All the original unsold copies are them BB'd, but there are nowhere near as many add-ons available!! So, if I produce a million of the original, I might only make 100k of the add-on, thus the disparity!! (my numbers are for illustration puposes only)

The Dungeon Siege add-on was a gold version from the very beginning. At least in Germany. Even the Ubi Soft Exclusive budget release includes DS. It´s in stock at Amazon. If you don´t want to shop online you can ask your vendor to order it for you. I´m not sure why you want the add-on though. The only reason to get DS is to install the Ultima 5 remake over it.
Maybe you should consider to exclude at least serious online shops like Amazon or Okaysoft from your boycott.

I´ve also observed that many publishers pull add-ons out of the market too soon. They should use it to extend the product´s shelf life. A gold version earns them another 6 months.
The problem will go away when most publishers have their own online distribution services. Selling add-ons and back catalog for 10 bucks a piece is like printing money.

But what I don't understand is *why* they pull out the add-ons ??? I mean - do they not consider them normal, valid gaming content or what ???

Actually, I'm quite puzzled on that, and Corwin's idea comes to a possible explanation closest this far.

I don't know - many of these things are top-sellers, and the jewel case releases are not exactly the same as pulling the case out of the initial box. So it seems that something had to be done …

Just a couple of notes, Al.

1) If a German gaming magazine like PC Games or PC Action has the full version of a game on the cover DVD then -if there is an add-on for said game- there is a very high probability that the add-on can be found on the DVD of the other mag. The sneaky suckers are trying to make you buy both mags this way . They recently did that with Gothic II where PC Games had the original G2 and PC Action had the NotR add-on. So make sure you check what's featured on both, the DVD of PCG and PCA.

2) You should (must!) definitely get rid of your unreasonable fear of buying online. We got 2007, not 1987 . Just look around… places like Amazon or Okaysoft are excellent places to shop for older games or seemingly unobtainable add-ons and stuff. For example, I just checked Okaysoft and it's no problem at all to order Legends of Aranna from them (OK, they don't have it in stock but it says that they'll order it by request).

I find it very questionable to base your opinion about the availability of games or add-ons on "offline" (brick & mortar store) availability only, especially because the situation in the Cologne area might be totally different from Hamburg or Berlin so you got regional factors playing into it as well etc.

Start shopping online. It doesn't hurt. Promise .

Originally Posted by Alrik Fassbauer
But what I don't understand is *why* they pull out the add-ons ??? I mean - do they not consider them normal, valid gaming content or what ???

Actually, I'm quite puzzled on that, and Corwin's idea comes to a possible explanation closest this far.

Oh, and to answer this question: Shelf space costs money. Add-ons (with rare exceptions like WoW: The Burning Crusade ) only sell a fraction of the copies that the original game did so publishers and retailers both will usually try to keep the shelf space and shelf life somewhat limited. Why "waste" valauble space on an add-on that sells only 3-5 copies between two full moons if you can stock your shelves with more profitable, full price games that sell like hotcakes?

Again: Start shopping online. Problem solved .

Originally Posted by Moriendor
I find it very questionable to base your opinion about the availability of games or add-ons on "offline" (brick & mortar store) availability only, especially because the situation in the Cologne area might be totally different from Hamburg or Berlin so you got regional factors playing into it as well etc.

Start shopping online. It doesn't hurt. Promise .

Not only doesn't it hurt, it is quickly becoming a necessity. In the US more and more games are not stocked on shelves widely, and some stores (GameStop / EBX) have largely dumped PC games unless there is super demand (Sims, WoW) or you do a pre-order.

I believe the difficulty of getting addons is quite easy to explain: When the game is coming out, authors can't be sure how much it'll sell. And even if they have reasonable idea, they'll still make more discs than that, because, well, never hurts to be prepared (). Sometimes, the game flops, so lots are left over. In any case, when it's time to publish the addon, they have exact numbers on the amount of people who bought the actual game, so they are very unlikely to make more than that number of copies (and often, I imagine, way, way less, since not everyone buys an addon).

So in the end, there's a much higher circulation of non-addon discs, which DO get sold eventually, but there simply aren't any addon discs around.

At least, that's my theory.

Originally Posted by Moriendor
Just a couple of notes, Al.

1) If a German gaming magazine like PC Games or PC Action has the full version of a game on the cover DVD then -if there is an add-on for said game- there is a very high probability that the add-on can be found on the DVD of the other mag.

I already know that.

Originally Posted by curious
how about the wonderful addon alien crossfire for one of the all time best strategy games alpha centauri. i finally managed to pick it up a few years ago in a 'laptop collection' for around 20 bucks. on ebay and other places though it is often sold for over $100. the original you can usually pickup for literally pocket change.

You lucked out. I've been looking for this one for years! The last time I checked amazon they had some used copies running $87 to $99.
You would think somebody would get the idea they could make some money by re-issuing titles like this. I'm wondering if it's some sort of rights or licensing issue.

i enjoy sharing things i really enjoy with friends, aquaintences, and sometimes complete strangers. in that spirit i'd be willing to let you borrow the game. over half of the books, cds, games i've let people borrow over the years i've never gotten back. but the enjoyment i get from knowing someone else took part in the 'rare' thing i've shared is more 'valuable' to me than hording it on my shelf/closet possibly never to be partaken in again. though with this game i would be disappointed to not get back, i understand the risk. so its up to you if you want. all i ask is that you try to send it back in six months and you could send be a couple bucks when you return it to cover shipping.

Toss in a little Slowdive while you're at it. Let the conversions begin!

hey dteowner if you haven't heard of splashdown i'll send you some of there stuff as they are my favourite band of all time. through they 'broke up' over 5 years ago they are all still in the business and doing wonderful things. they are the empitomy of what type of music i really like--dreampop.

Poor magerette won't know what hit her, but she'll like it. Oh yes, young lady, ve haf vays ov making you listen und enjoy…

So as not to derail this thread any more than we already have, PM coming your way in a few hours, curious.

Originally Posted by curious
i enjoy sharing things i really enjoy with friends, aquaintences, and sometimes complete strangers. in that spirit i'd be willing to let you borrow the game. over half of the books, cds, games i've let people borrow over the years i've never gotten back. but the enjoyment i get from knowing someone else took part in the 'rare' thing i've shared is more 'valuable' to me than hording it on my shelf/closet possibly never to be partaken in again. though with this game i would be disappointed to not get back, i understand the risk. so its up to you if you want. all i ask is that you try to send it back in six months and you could send be a couple bucks when you return it to cover shipping.

curious, that's a very kind and generous offer--over the top, in fact! I also have loaned things over the years that were somehow never returned, so I do know how that feels--I'm pretty scrupulous for an old hippie, and perhaps there's something in my moldy collection that would interest you as well.
I'm also intrigued by your description of dreampop. I'm very behind on my musical education-I think it stopped sometime around 1985--but can't be any worse than Skinny Puppy PM is on the way

Jump over to the "currently listening" thread. The vast majority of my posts in that thread are firmly set in the dream-pop/shoegaze realm. That would give you a taste of what we're talking about.

This silly "work" thing keeps getting in the way when I should be working. PM will probably be this evening, curious.