View Full Version : NEW SATURN GAME
My friend Chadtower knows my love for the Saturn. When he sent me a link about a new title coming out I got excited. My excitement soon turned to disgust when I found out that only 25 copies of this new Saturn title will be coming out. Before I explode, would somebody care to shed some light on the situation? WHy only 25 fucking copies? Here's a link to the new title:
http://www.oldergames.com
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
What I would give for that Saturn game :(
Azazel
08-19-2004, 05:42 PM
I'm sure there's a good chance it won't be very good.
evilmess
08-19-2004, 05:42 PM
1. Whats on it?
2. Yeah, why only 25 copies?
We need more information
Jibbajaba
08-19-2004, 06:57 PM
I dunno but the developer will be at CGE. I'll ask.
Chris
tholly
08-19-2004, 07:03 PM
My friend Chadtower knows my love for the Saturn. When he sent me a link about a new title coming out I got excited. My excitement soon turned to disgust when I found out that only 25 copies of this new Saturn title will be coming out. Before I explode, would somebody care to shed some light on the situation? WHy only 25 fucking copies? Here's a link to the new title:
http://www.oldergames.com
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
im sure someone going to CGE would pick it up for you....im not going, or i would try and get you a copy...why not ask around....im sure some people still havent left and im sure others have comp access out there that have already left.
rbudrick
08-19-2004, 07:05 PM
Why only 25? To generate publicity and make collectors go insane, therbey creating more buzz.
The marketing demons are turning their wheels yet again.
-Rob
Sniderman
08-19-2004, 09:08 PM
Jesus Christ people. Perhaps that's all they WANT to make? Perhaps they don't think they'll even sell the initial 25? Perhaps the cost of producing them is so high that's all they can AFFORD to make?
For GOd's sake, not evertything is a conspiracy to 1. jack up the price 2. create a false sense of collectability 3. piss you the Hell off.
For Christ's sake, it's a videogame for a decade-old system. It's not a cure for testicular polyps. Cursing the designer for a low print run is a surefire way of ensuring MORE aren't made later. I know *I'd* develop a healthy sense of "Well, screw you too."
We go through this nearly every year whenever there's a new release. Learn to live with it.
Phosphor Dot Fossils
08-19-2004, 09:14 PM
Could it be that they only taking 25 copies to CGE and may make more later?
Just a thought.
-hellvin-
08-19-2004, 09:14 PM
Jesus Christ people. Perhaps that's all they WANT to make? Perhaps they don't think they'll even sell the initial 25? Perhaps the cost of producing them is so high that's all they can AFFORD to make?
For GOd's sake, not evertything is a conspiracy to 1. jack up the price 2. create a false sense of collectability 3. piss you the Hell off.
For Christ's sake, it's a videogame for a decade-old system. It's not a cure for testicular polyps. Cursing the designer for a low print run is a surefire way of ensuring MORE aren't made later. I know *I'd* develop a healthy sense of "Well, screw you too."
We go through this nearly every year whenever there's a new release. Learn to live with it.
LoL, great post. I agree though. Just see if someone will pick you up one or fly your ass out to CGE. I would go if I didn't bury myself in bills ;)!
Jesus Christ people. Perhaps that's all they WANT to make? Perhaps they don't think they'll even sell the initial 25? Perhaps the cost of producing them is so high that's all they can AFFORD to make?
For GOd's sake, not evertything is a conspiracy to 1. jack up the price 2. create a false sense of collectability 3. piss you the Hell off.
For Christ's sake, it's a videogame for a decade-old system. It's not a cure for testicular polyps. Cursing the designer for a low print run is a surefire way of ensuring MORE aren't made later. I know *I'd* develop a healthy sense of "Well, screw you too."
We go through this nearly every year whenever there's a new release. Learn to live with it.
I have my doubts that the costs are so high. It says on the cover that to play the title that the system has to be modded. It doesn't mention anything about being for the japanese or US saturn.
My bet is that they are CDRs and not proprietary discs. Last time I checked a CDR wasn't too expensive. And to play any CDR back ups on Saturn you have to have your system modded.
As far as the system being 9 years old, what does that mean? Coleco is way older then Saturn and they are bringing a new game out for it.
I am not trying to bash the guys that are doing it. I just wanted to know why the print run was so low. I really want a copy and it upset me. Also, I've only been a part of the DP community for 10 months. I had no idea that people bitched about this every year. Are print runs usually this low?
Does anybody know who much it will be? if the price isnt super high i would love for somebody to pick one up for me! They can give it to me at the ECGX in September! WWW.ECGX.COM
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
dj898
08-19-2004, 10:29 PM
holy! only 25 CD-R copies??? what are they smoking?
I understand if they are pressing to Sega CD-R blank but just normal CD-R? I wouldn't mind to pay for the S/H only though... hell I will even send my CD-R blank :p
cheers
Phosphor Dot Fossils
08-19-2004, 10:35 PM
I've only been a part of the DP community for 10 months. I had no idea that people bitched about this every year. Are print runs usually this low?
It really depends on the publisher. I think it was mentioned a while back in the discussion about CGE Services' cartridge releases that there are usually a couple hundred copies made, but this is a different publisher - they may be testing the waters to see what kind of a response they get before proceeding with a larger print run.
Generally, from what I hear, you're doing real good if you can sell out a print run of 200 copies of a game for a "dead" system, whether we're talking Saturn, Colecovision or Atari 2600. Maybe Cafeman or some of the others with experience in this area can clue us in a bit better.
Sniderman
08-19-2004, 10:44 PM
I've only been a part of the DP community for 10 months. I had no idea that people bitched about this every year. Are print runs usually this low?
It really depends on the publisher. I think it was mentioned a while back in the discussion about CGE Services' cartridge releases that there are usually a couple hundred copies made, but this is a different publisher - they may be testing the waters to see what kind of a response they get before proceeding with a larger print run.
Generally, from what I hear, you're doing real good if you can sell out a print run of 200 copies of a game for a "dead" system, whether we're talking Saturn, Colecovision or Atari 2600. Maybe Cafeman or some of the others with experience in this area can clue us in a bit better.Depends on the system Earl. A "popular" system like the Atari 2600, Lynx, or Colecovision, you'll probably do well to sell 100 to 200 games with little problem. But games for the Sega CD, Vectrex, Jaguar or -dare I say it? - Saturn are gonna sell slower 'cause there are fewer systems out there compared with the other "popular" systems.
My beef is not with "I hope I can get one of these one day." It's the initial "What the FUCK is the publisher THINKING?" attitude that started this thread. As if folks feel they're "owed" something (see recent rants on ROM releases for more details on my ire with this whole "entitled" mentality.)
Not directed at you RCM. It's just that - yes - we go through this every year by folks who are upset that they are "missing out." When in actuality, these games are usually available after the show at the same price. But we still always seem to have to wade through the angst first.
Kid Ice
08-19-2004, 10:46 PM
My friend Chadtower knows my love for the Saturn. When he sent me a link about a new title coming out I got excited. My excitement soon turned to disgust when I found out that only 25 copies of this new Saturn title will be coming out. Before I explode, would somebody care to shed some light on the situation? WHy only 25 fucking copies? Here's a link to the new title:
http://www.oldergames.com
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
I humbly suggest going to CGE and buying one if you're that excited about it.
I humbly suggest going to CGE and buying one if you're that excited about it.
I am on my way.
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
fishsandwich
08-20-2004, 09:21 AM
My friend Chadtower knows my love for the Saturn. When he sent me a link about a new title coming out I got excited. My excitement soon turned to disgust when I found out that only 25 copies of this new Saturn title will be coming out. Before I explode, would somebody care to shed some light on the situation? WHy only 25 fucking copies? Here's a link to the new title:
http://www.oldergames.com
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
The box art says modchip required. Looks like a CD-R to me. I suppose you're just paying for the PACKAGING, and I suppose that's ok... that kind of stuff is way expensive to produce, and these may be very labor-intensive.
Now, if it's a special kind of CD and they are just printing 25 copies to a disk that cannot be copied for other to enjoy, well, all I can say is WHAT A BUNCH OF ASSHOLES.
If that's the case, then they are obviously going to hold onto a few copies and E-bay them for top dollar.
esquire
08-20-2004, 09:32 AM
The problem I see with a low print run is that it will actually cost more per capita to produce 25 CDs than say 100. Any production person will tell you that if you distribute the production costs over a larger production run, you'll see more profit per item sold.
In this particular instance, I'd say most of the production costs were in the development of the game. Production costs appear to be for a DVD case, a pretty basic slip insert, and a CDR.
True it's a new item for which they don't necessarily know the market demand, but clearly this is geared toward the CGE attendees. I am sure they would be able to sell more than 25 items. If not, they could sell the remainder on their website.
My guess is that by marketing to CGE attendees and advertising that there will only be 25 copies is that they are trying to maximize the amount of money they can get selling it to collectors at the expo. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a second production run after they milk the cash cow at CGE.
Jive3D
08-20-2004, 09:48 AM
Screw that!
I'm much more interested in "Mighty Mighty Rocket" for Sega CD and "Hell Hotel" for Dreamcast!
Even though MMR is obviously a chu chu rocket rip, I'd love a reason to pull my Sega CD out of the third floor closet...
chadtower
08-20-2004, 12:07 PM
Yeah, I took the approach that since I can't go, I'd find someone who is and is cool enough to snag me a copy. I found someone cool enough. 8-)
EnemyZero
08-20-2004, 12:08 PM
I was always kinda suprised how there were never any after-market saturn games in the first place...saturn has a good following like DC and NeoGeo...but...mmm I'd like to have a copy of this just for the sake of having it
chadtower
08-20-2004, 12:45 PM
IIRC, DC is running an embedded Windows OS with microsoft drivers... which means it's a LOT easier to code for (in terms of porting code from a PC) than other systems of that vintage.
christianscott27
08-20-2004, 12:46 PM
cant give a crap until i hear what the game is...
could just be a bunch of crappy demos or some unfinished dud, why the mystery?
chadtower
08-20-2004, 12:49 PM
The main concern is among those of us working towards a complete Saturn collection... this is the first aftermarket release, and may or may not be considered part of the collection going forth. If it is, with only a potential 25 copies, you can see why Saturn completists are a bit abuzz.
fishsandwich
08-20-2004, 12:55 PM
Yeah, the DC is easy to program, easy to fool.
The Saturn, on the other hand, is notoriously hard to program, and it has to be physically modded with a chip to play CD'rs. It will play an import easy enough, but it hates CD'rs... no disk swapping on the Saturn.
Fish Sandwich
Lifebringeroftorv
08-22-2004, 02:04 AM
Well, I was one of the "lucky" people to get one on the 25 games. Mine is 18/25 and now I am bummed I need a modded saturn to play it on, did not realize it was for modded saturn when I picked it up. And I can't even find an emulator to play it on. But it has 2 CDs in it one is one game called Rebellion and the other CD is a 15 minute video you can play on the saturn. /cry
esquire
08-22-2004, 02:24 AM
Well, I was one of the "lucky" people to get one on the 25 games. Mine is 18/25 and now I am bummed I need a modded saturn to play it on, did not realize it was for modded saturn when I picked it up. And I can't even find an emulator to play it on. But it has 2 CDs in it one is one game called Rebellion and the other CD is a 15 minute video you can play on the saturn. /cry
How much did it cost?
Lifebringeroftorv
08-22-2004, 02:32 AM
$25.00.
MarioAllStar2600
08-22-2004, 04:55 AM
Yea I picked up a copy for ChadTower today. 12/25. I will ship it to him when I get home.
Richter
08-22-2004, 12:20 PM
no disk swapping on the Saturn.
^ i do it all the time. It's not as hard as people think it is
Cafeman
08-22-2004, 04:52 PM
Somebody report back how the game is!! I'm a Saturn nut too; mine isn't modded though, I use a 4 in 1 to play imports. (erm, will that work on CD-R's or this game?)
These guys might have limited it to 25 due to up-front costs and being unsure if 25 would actually sell; the game itself might be pretty poor, who knows? I suppose collectors would still bite if so; but people like myself, who actually buy things to play them, wouldn't.
I know to make a 5200 homebrew, I had to invest well over a thousand bucks up-front to buy supplies and equipment. I made that back and more selling my original 100 (and Koffi continues to sell one-at-a-time at AA), but having a preorder campaign helps to alleviate fears, most who preorder come through and make the purchase.
But anyway, a Saturn CD disc is way cheaper than buying Eproms, burners, logic chips, and custom PCB's!!! I'm not sure how much the physical cost of creating a Saturn game disc would be, but probably next to nothing. Is there packaging with the game? (manuals and boxes drive the price up a lot!)
(_)3
Azazel
08-22-2004, 07:15 PM
No you can only play it by a mod chip, do the swap trick, or wait till there's good Saturn emulation.
How does one do the Saturn "swap trick?" I only have originals so i've never had to.
THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM
omnedon
08-22-2004, 07:48 PM
The swap trick is less than ideal wear and tear on the transport and spindle. I would avoid using the swap trick with any great frequency.
If you have a round buttoned Saturn, a modchip is available, and quite easy to install.
Richter
08-22-2004, 08:31 PM
If you have a round buttoned Saturn, a modchip is available, and quite easy to install.unfortunately, not all round button Saturn will work with the modchip ;_;
Jibbajaba
08-22-2004, 08:39 PM
I asked the guys at the booth, and they said that the movie was an FMV sequence to test the machine, and the other thing was "kind of a game". Not worth $25.
Chris
Lifebringeroftorv
08-22-2004, 09:11 PM
I really don't want to mod my saturn just to play a homebrew. Will trade it for a working Jaguar CD unit if anyone is interested. :D
chadtower
08-22-2004, 09:18 PM
Yea I picked up a copy for ChadTower today. 12/25. I will ship it to him when I get home.
Oh nice! I'll shoot you out a few more bucks since the money I fronted you is just enough to cover shipping and the game, but not your troubles. Thanks!
Now, since I have two roundbutton Saturns but have not modded them yet, can someone recommend the best modchip to use?
Chad
omnedon
08-22-2004, 10:00 PM
The only one available. LOL
I've had good response from here: http://www.jandaman.com/ Only $14.95 + ship.
Lifebringeroftorv
08-22-2004, 10:03 PM
too bad it is sold out..
Ed Oscuro
08-22-2004, 10:12 PM
I have my doubts that the costs are so high. It says on the cover that to play the title that the system has to be modded. It doesn't mention anything about being for the japanese or US saturn.
Your bet is right - they're not proprietary discs (slowly getting the feeling somebody else has addressed this, but...) but burned ones. All the same, it's hard to get the RIGHTS to sell the game in the first place! That costs money.
I'd say it's a shame they say ONLY 25 will be released, instead of "the initial print run is ONLY 25" and thus leave the option of a future release wide open. Or something.
dj898
08-22-2004, 11:45 PM
you know what if this is CD-R copy what stops if someone with one of 25 copies decided to release rip on internet? :p
all you have to do would be copy to iso and release anonymously...
cheers
Azazel
08-22-2004, 11:47 PM
Yea I picked up a copy for ChadTower today. 12/25. I will ship it to him when I get home.
Oh nice! I'll shoot you out a few more bucks since the money I fronted you is just enough to cover shipping and the game, but not your troubles. Thanks!
Now, since I have two roundbutton Saturns but have not modded them yet, can someone recommend the best modchip to use?
Chad
I think there are only one or two that you can chose from that will work on the round button ones.
omnedon
08-23-2004, 01:02 AM
There are two modchip designs that I'm aware of. One works with every round buttoner I've seen thus far (that's only 10 or so), and the other chip is discontinued and seems impossible to find, but it could work with oval buttons too.
Has anyone stopped to think that maybe one of the reasons the print run was so low was due to the easily pirated nature of the game? You need a modchip to play it. You need a modchip to pirate it. The roms 'release' issue gets play in these forums. I imagine the game issuer in this case is fully aware that as soon as he released it, he's lost real control over it, if not 'legal' control.
This post in NO WAY advocates piracy in any form, and merely takes a realistic view of distribution control over CD based media in the current reality.
Jibbajaba
08-23-2004, 02:17 AM
you know what if this is CD-R copy what stops if someone with one of 25 copies decided to release rip on internet? :p
all you have to do would be copy to iso and release anonymously...
cheers
You know what's funny? With this thread in mind, I asked the people at the booth on Saturday why they only made 25 (like I said I would), and their answer was that they were trying to prevent piracy. Their logic was that the more copies they sold, the greater the chance of someone ripping it and distributing it. I didn't bother trying to argue.
Chris
Ed Oscuro
08-23-2004, 02:43 AM
$25.00.
So $625 for all 25 - before expenses? Jeesh, that's not exactly turning a huge profit for Good Deal Games. Maybe it's possible more will be released, but outside of the hardcore community I don't see who'd buy it. Not I, for example.
Ed Oscuro
08-23-2004, 02:50 AM
You know what's funny? With this thread in mind, I asked the people at the booth on Saturday why they only made 25 (like I said I would), and their answer was that they were trying to prevent piracy. Their logic was that the more copies they sold, the greater the chance of someone ripping it and distributing it. I didn't bother trying to argue.
It's not as if t3h pie rats would get ahold of the game and suddenly those 25 lucky purchasers would decide against buying the game...on the other hand, though, you have to realize that they probably figured they needed to sell all copies of the game before CGE was done. I don't know anything about the production values behind the game case and other materials, but making more "on demand" for the show probably wasn't possible.
So basically, the choice was going to the show with enough to sell at the show, or go, and have some left over. I'm not privy to info on how much GDG sells on its site, but I imagine they were wary of having copies of a barely interactive (from what I gather) title sitting around on their site.
I dunno, though...I would've chanced 40 copies with the possibility of more being sold, myself, and figured any leftovers would sell on the site.
Lifebringeroftorv
08-23-2004, 02:50 AM
buy my copy, i know you want to....
SoulBlazer
08-23-2004, 04:08 AM
So they had no choice but to use CD-R's for the game, because it was impossible to get 'real' Saturn CD's for their game?
dj898
08-23-2004, 05:18 AM
probably a blank Sega CD-R would cost close to $100 IF they can find one. times by 25 disc and that's raw cost for the blank disc only...
now do the math... :D
cheers
davidleeroth
08-23-2004, 07:07 AM
buy my copy, i know you want to....
So what's the inflation for two-three days? ;)
fishsandwich
08-23-2004, 10:45 AM
So... how is the disk? Is the video any good? What's the game like? I NEED ANSWERS!!! :popcorn:
EnemyZero
08-23-2004, 11:15 AM
Yes, answers indeed ::drumroll please::
chadtower
08-23-2004, 11:18 AM
Well, I don't have my copy yet, MAS will ship it to me. Second, I have to wait until that modchip is back in stock so I can acquire one and then mod one of my Saturns... unless someone has a modded Saturn they'd like to trade me.
Azazel
08-23-2004, 12:00 PM
I have a modded Saturn but there no way I'd pay $25.00 for that game. I'd offer to sell mine but one of the wires keeps coming undone and it's kind of pain to use for playing CDRs. If i just leave it in place it seems to work fine.
chadtower
08-23-2004, 01:44 PM
I have a modded Saturn but there no way I'd pay $25.00 for that game. I'd offer to sell mine but one of the wires keeps coming undone and it's kind of pain to use for playing CDRs. If i just leave it in place it seems to work fine.
How is it a pain to use for playing CDRs? And does the wire simply need a resolder?
c2000
08-23-2004, 02:15 PM
I have a modded Saturn but there no way I'd pay $25.00 for that game. .
Same here. If Return Fire was on the disc on the other hand..
Lifebringeroftorv
08-23-2004, 02:33 PM
So... how is the disk? Is the video any good? What's the game like? I NEED ANSWERS!!! I can't play the game cause I have no mod chip. The production value of the disks themself looks like something you would get as a wedding favor that has the brides favorite songs burned on it. the decription says
An intersesting title that has a feel similar to the non-action adventure aspects of the well known Wing Commander series.
So what's the inflation for two-three days?
ONE MILLION DOLLARS... no really, I am still debating if i really want to hold onto a game I can't play. I will get back to you on that.
Sniderman
08-23-2004, 02:51 PM
no really, I am still debating if i really want to hold onto a game I can't play. I will get back to you on that.I swear I'm not trying to be a smartass, but if the case clearly said you needed a modchip to play it, then why'd ya buy it? The whole "Gotta catch 'em all" mentality as stated earlier in the thread?
Lifebringeroftorv
08-23-2004, 03:02 PM
Actually, I did not know it needed a mod chip when I bought it. I just heard about the buzz about the game. Saw it on the table and bought it with an impulse buy. It happens.
I did not realize it was mod chip till later in the day in matter of fact. After I bought my game, I went to the DP booth and told Joe they were out. I was not worrying about needing a mod chip.
chadtower
08-23-2004, 05:27 PM
That site lists the modchips as in stock now... I just ordered two of them. Looks like they're coming from Washington.
mdoerty
08-23-2004, 09:34 PM
I have been following the thread. I found out about the new release from reading the CGE Homepage.
From the descriptions herein, it almost sounds like sosone found an abandoned proto and/or display CD and burned some copies.
Which really makes you wonder why they don't offer post-CGE sales -- except that from the scant words about the release I have seen on here, it is not a desirable product unless you are a crazed Saturn collector (of which I could be described).
I also know that while the solution may be counter-intuitive at best, Older Games.com has been burnt by "piracy" before. They were going to release Half Life on DC, only to see a beta version leeched out. However, their reaction was a fit of pique then as they decided not to release their full version (which they said had solved the long load and other problems of the beta on the boards) and discontinued all DC development.
Also interesting, I am still awaiting replies about the game from Older Games.com corporate officers -- though given my timing (of late last week) and CGE's schedule (of last weekend), the delay is understaable.
Just some thoughts.
Mike from Morgantown