criticism gone?

[Master Zen]

[Fez voice]
Blame it on the foreign kid!
[/Fez voice]



no really, In my defense, I was legitimately answering the reason why I wouldn't buy the US version, not because of the origin of the developer or the designer but rather the retailer.

Of course there are other reasons like 2) Amazon doesn't ship software to my country and 3) some people just like to play in their own language.

But reason 1) is quite valid for me at least, it was not my intention to go on a rant about Iraq, but it is a legitimate reason why I am actually boycotting US products these days. If people don't like my reasons well too bad, but I won't lie in my posts just to make some people happy.

I wonder, from the economic point of view, how much of the $$$ goes to each one.

Let's say Civ3 costs $50. How much of that ends up in Firaxis' pocket? In Infogrames's pocket? In the retailer's pocket?

Also, how much of Infogrames' share ends up in the host country (like Infogrames USA) and ends up in the mother country.

Interestingly I had thought about the idea of this for a study in multi-national firms for my thesis. Maybe I'll come back to it one day

[WarpStorm]

The retailer gets the biggest share and Firaxis the smallest (less than $5 on a $50 game).

[Chemical Ollie]

Aarrgghh! My cracked PtW doesn't work! So much for P2P networks!

Anyway, the game should be in the local shops by now - but that's what they have said for the last 5 months!

[Master Zen]

Originally posted by WarpStorm
The retailer gets the biggest share and Firaxis the smallest (less than $5 on a $50 game).

So then my reason #1 has validity after all

$5 is very little, I'm surprised they don't get more. With a royalty of that quantitiy it is no wonder the patches come out so late...

[sabrewolf]

but that's always like this.
with music-CDs, the artist only gets a small part of the money. and he has all the work and all the expenses.
the producer gets the big cash and doesn't need to leave his office...

life isn't fair, but that's the way it is...

[Master Zen]

they should go the id Software way and sell it directly, even if they have to do it over the 'net

[Thirgaral]

Anyway, the game should be in the local shops by now - but that's what they have said for the last 5 months!

YES... It´s finally here!!!!

[WarpStorm]

I don't think that id has sold software direct since I ordered Doom from the phone and got John Carmack on the order line.

[Master Zen]

Originally posted by WarpStorm
I don't think that id has sold software direct since I ordered Doom from the phone and got John Carmack on the order line.

"Firaxis Software, Soren Johnson speaking..."



You can buy games from their (id) web page can't you?

[WarpStorm]

Looking at id's website all 'direct' purchases go straight to the publishers website. The publishers are going to get their cut (they paid for the game to be built after all).

[Peter Triggs]

Id defies conventional business logic by maintaining a staff of only 17 employees, even though the company generates annual revenue of $20 million--more than $1 million per employee.

That's productivity.

But no wonder he answers the phone himself.

[Master Zen]

There goes id's royalties...

BTW, how did you know it was John Carmack who answered the phone? Pretty neat to actually speak with a gaming legend!

[WarpStorm]

He wasn't a gaming legend back then, nobody'd ever heard of him (till a few weeks later). In fact, he sent me an extra copy of Doom later because he screwed up my order

[Master Zen]

Originally posted by Peter Triggs


That's productivity.

But no wonder he answers the phone himself.

$20 million a year and they can't hire a goddamn secretary. Cheap bastards!!

I wonder if I call Firaxis, Sid Meier will answer

[WarpStorm]

Like I implied, this was back when id was operating out of one of their houses and hadn't yet made mega-bucks.

Sure, Sid'll answer if you know his phone number.