Box Edition

[gbastiani]

Gentlemen,
When will the Box/CD/manual be out, since I live in an area with no high speed internet and with dial-up it would take hours to download. leure: Can't wait to get it though. From what I've read can't wait to get it. Thanks for game and the great work.

[PhilThib]

This is currently being examined, it is a very difficult matter for us, because making the boxes is a large strain on our finance, plus a problem to ship all these overseas (cost is over 15$).

[pasternakski]

This is currently being examined, it is a very difficult matter for us, because making the boxes is a large strain on our finance, plus a problem to ship all these overseas (cost is over 15$).

I would suggest either finding a printer in the US that would subcontract the work for North American production and delivery (I've always had good luck in such matters with Kinko's, but there are others) or contact one of the many outsource fabricators in Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Nigeria, or one of the other places where such work is currently being done on a large scale and see what kind of a price you can get for a block (usually 1,000 or more) units printed, assembled and shipped to your specified distribution point (shipping organizations like UPS and FedEx love to serve as distribution points for merchandisers).

Then, there are the mass retail marketers, such as Wal-Mart...

A lot depends on how willing you are to make a deal with the devil...

[Fatboy]

Hi Gbastiani,

Why don't you purchase a license online & then get another player to send you a copy of the file they downloaded on a CD to load onto your machine?

[PhilThib]

A lot depends on how willing you are to make a deal with the devil...

Wall Mart...euh ...my spoon is not long enough !

[PhilThib]

More seriously, I am currently examining all these options. I plan to have a decision made no later than end of next week...to which production and shipping lead time shall be added... so no hope to get anything rolling before end of May at best...

[Willard]

More seriously, I am currently examining all these options. I plan to have a decision made no later than end of next week...to which production and shipping lead time shall be added... so no hope to get anything rolling before end of May at best...

Phil -

You should talk with Chris Dean over at NWS Online Combat Gaming Store -

http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/index.html

I have purchased several games through them and the customer service was excellent. NWS does some work with Matrix and are always on the Wargamer website with, IMO, the best pricing around...especially for those looking for cd-rom editions vice digital download.

[PhilThib]

We have already started discussing .. We shall be in a position to make a decision and a proposal by end of next week earliest...

I would say to cool everyone down that the principle to do a box is agreed upon, there remains to decide some factors:

* who does it, and where
* price difference with download
* manual or not
* shipping fees (most likely from USA for you guys )

This has an impact on budget matters, so can't be decided too lightly... leure:

[FlyingElvis]

Hopefully it works out with Matrix because I like how they have set up their ordering system where you can buy digital download, box or both!

I already bought the DD version from AGEOD, but might buy a second copy in physical format with a nice manual to add to my wargame shelf.

[PhilThib]

Well, that could be a nice commercial policy addition for us

[ruffian]

Phil -

You should talk with Chris Dean over at NWS Online Combat Gaming Store -

http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/index.html

I have purchased several games through them and the customer service was excellent. NWS does some work with Matrix and are always on the Wargamer website with, IMO, the best pricing around...especially for those looking for cd-rom editions vice digital download.

I would strongly agree that NWS would be one of your best marketing channels.

Chris is competitive on both price and service. (Actually, I don't think anyone can compete with his service.)

And for those of us who simply do not use a credit card on the Internet, he is absolutely indispensible. You will get sales through NWS which you might not get any other way.

[ruffian]

Wall Mart...euh ...my spoon is not long enough !

But Walmart's spoon may come to you. They list a PC game, coming soon, entitled "American Civil War" on their website.

Here's the link:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?cpncode=09-29905447-2&dest=9999999997&product_id=5065139&sourceid=0100000012231186802498&srccode=cii_1038957

[gbastiani]

Gentlemen thank you for your answers and insights. Maybe NWS will get it. They carry your Birth of America, as for prices his are lower. He sell the HPS game for less then HPS sells their own games. As for Wal Mart it's a major store here in the southeastern North Carolina. Mr. Ruffian Suh, if the game at the Wal Mart site is this game, then it's a steal at only $20.00 U.S.Dollars.

[Hertston]

I would strongly agree that NWS would be one of your best marketing channels.

Chris is competitive on both price and service. (Actually, I don't think anyone can compete with his service.)

What he said. Best online wargames retailer in the business.

[pasternakski]

Well, the primary difficulty here as I see it is that AGEOD needs boxed product for a reasonable price produced at a location or locations where shipment to the mass buying public (and retailers who may be persuaded to carry the product) is prompt and cheap.

Anybody want to help me open up a sweatshop?

On a more - or less - serious note, I commiserate with those still stuck with low-speed Internet connections (I had that problem until only a year or so ago). A 460 meg download takes over 16 hours at dialup speeds, and you often have connection problems, like a service provider who times you out after a certain amount of time or after a certain amount of download volume.

Bummer.

I do recommend, though, if you can work around that (a download manager that allows you to pick up from where you got disconnected helps a lot), and if you're not hopelessly addicted to printed manuals (superfluous to me in an age of pdfs, but, to each his own), that you forget about the box.

Just me, I guess. I haven't bought a computer game in a box (when a digital download was available) since Railroad Tycoon 3...

In any event, back to trying to figure out where the heck Lee is going and if I can stop him...

[Garuda]

I'll certainly be hoping for a boxed version. I don't have any internet connection at home. I only get on-line during my dinner hours at work.

[pasternakski]

If you have broadband and a cd burner at work, maybe you could download 'er there, burn 'er to a CD, take 'er home, and you're good to go...

[Pocus]

I'll certainly be hoping for a boxed version. I don't have any internet connection at home. I only get on-line during my dinner hours at work.

We can offer you the service of downloading in chunks of 100 MB, it should be ok during your work methink.

[Garuda]

If you have broadband and a cd burner at work, maybe you could download 'er there, burn 'er to a CD, take 'er home, and you're good to go...

Broadband= yes. Burner= no. leure:

Official company policy means no downloading is allowed which means I couldn't get anyone to burn it for me.

[Wilhammer]

Thumb Drive it...

[ERutins]

Well, I have an idea...

[Hell Patrol]

Broadband= yes. Burner= no. leure:

Official company policy means no downloading is allowed which means I couldn't get anyone to burn it for me.

You can buy a flash drive for a little more than the price of a game and download it to that. It plugs in to any USB port. If you ask at work "real nice" or do a little extra "off the clock" you might be pleasantly suprised.

[Pocus]

Well, I have an idea...

Don't say

[ruffian]

Any update on the boxed edition?

[PhilThib]

The boxes have been ordered, and production will take place mid-May. We hope to have them by early June.

[jelay14]

You, as in your group in France looking at the box on your desk?

Not that it really matters to me; I intend to download it.

[Marcus the leper]

Will the box edition include the manual in it's current state? I have been waiting and dying to get this game, but being so new to Birth of America, I have decided to wait for the boxed editon and I am thrilled to read this. What is the time-frame (if you know) for the expansion/patch for BoA (2.0)? Thank you.

[Jagger]

Phil -

You should talk with Chris Dean over at NWS Online Combat Gaming Store -

http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/index.html

I have purchased several games through them and the customer service was excellent. NWS does some work with Matrix and are always on the Wargamer website with, IMO, the best pricing around...especially for those looking for cd-rom editions vice digital download.

I will second Chris Dean over at NWS. I am impressed with their service. I talked with Chris once over a problem and solved fast. Also he knows his wargames. He is a hobbiest himself.

[FlyingElvis]

Isn't NWS just a retailer? Why would AGEOD partner with them? I would think they need to partner with a publisher/distributer (like Matrix) who can promote the game and who in turn sells to the NWS's of the world.

[PhilThib]

Our partnership in North America is not finalized yet. NWS can be a good partner to deliver our CD boxes while we work out an agreement with a publisher with more important means.