The Castle Doctrine Forums

Howdy!

I like many of the others here hadn't heard about the game before now, and joined to comment on it. However, I'm largely a fan of the idea. I've felt the burn of the "I paid full price for this because I appreciate your work but now it's 33% off?" moment (Borderlands and Thirty Flights Of Loving anyone?). I want to see that abolished. Because I've seen a lot of negative feedback of the argument, I want to offer an addition to it.

I've had my eye on Kentucky Route Zero since I saw it in IGF and I fit your example user "It'll go on sale. I'll wait" But after a year it only went on sale for 50% (crazy, I know) and that happened a couple times. At that point, I knew it wasn't going to go to 66% or 75% any time soon so I picked it up. I can see a happy medium with sales where you make it clear that you won't go on sale for a certain period of time and/or for a specific discount. You don't necessarily have to verbalize that either. I don't follow any KRZ news but it was clear that that price point was not going to change quickly. This way you still get the press about sales (I saw a lot of KRZ at 33% and 50%) without having to screw fans over.

I'm sure there are a few ways of strategizing it that would require some experimentation (e.g. a bit before a steam sale, have another 10% type discount like might be seen on launch week but make it clear that it's not going to go below that). There are also more mediums for sales with the Humble Store now you see a lot of shallower discounts on those games.

I will say I don't think this model works as a long term plan however. I like the idea of starting low for pre-orders and then increasing the price over time, but I don't think it would work as expected over a two week period. With Minecraft there was the expectation of more content over a period of a year or so between increases. It may still be viable but that may be a case for early access. Make it clear there that the price will increase when it's finished.

Just my two cents. I hate seeing developers feel like they have to sell out on their baby, and I hope something like this can work.

NOW I'll go check out the game