Ys Origin Physical Copy

[glazball]

I completely agree! I have had similar feelings about LRG from the start, I don't like the idea of artificially making a physical game so scarce, and I wouldn't be surprised if in 10-15 years when the guy running it is finally done with LRG we see a small fortune made on ebay with his own hoard of sealed limited editions.

You're free to hate LRG but some of your assumptions are incorrect.  LRG doesn't determine the number of copies made - that is up to the developers.  Also, so far all of LRG's releases have previously (or simultaneously) been available as downloads, so there is no artificial scarcity.  I could see an argument if the game was ONLY available as a physical disc from LRG.

Something like Ys though deserves a much bigger retail release, no matter who publishes it.

[Necromancer]

You're free to hate LRG but some of your assumptions are incorrect.  LRG doesn't determine the number of copies made - that is up to the developers.

The original developer ultimately approves the numbers, sure, but don't think for a second that every single dev. is demanding runs that sell out in minutes.  There's no doubt that LRG is pushing them towards such small runs, either flat out refusing runs above a certain size and/or structuring their fee schedule to offer diminishing returns on larger quantities.

Also, so far all of LRG's releases have previously (or simultaneously) been available as downloads, so there is no artificial scarcity.  I could see an argument if the game was ONLY available as a physical disc from LRG.

John and hark were specifically talking about the artificial scarcity of the physical versions, not of the games in general.

Something like Ys though deserves a much bigger retail release, no matter who publishes it.

Agreed.  If it's not the largest run yet (and by a fair margin), they done f*cked up.

[Johnpv]

Yeah the developers aren't the ones saying make me only 2500 copies of this game physically, that's LRG deciding that.  They claim that they'll go out of business if even one game doesn't sell out right away.  Personally I don't know how much of that I believe, if your profit margins are so thin that 10% of a product sitting on a shelf for a few weeks puts you out of business, you're doing something wrong.  They come off to me as selling rarity and not selling a game. 

[Gypsy]

I'll quote myself from another forum when this came up there.

"LRG has said they have made more than the initial contract called for multiple times. So, CLEARLY, that isn't a restraint forced upon poor little LRG..."

Also LRG's general twitter response has been we sign great games and we don't need you, we have plenty of customers. Well recently the last two releases haven't sold out super fast and they have been changing their tune. Thankfully, they actually have quite a bit of competition now with PA getting in the game as well as some similar sites like signature edition games and special reserve games.

My take on them is that I like both better because they do pre-orders.

Sig edition is a little pricey compared to most LRG releases at $39 each but they stay readily available and they do discount games that sit.

Special Reserve's current offering is much better than what LRG usually offers. For $40 you get Shadow Warrior 1/2 on PS4 discs, as well as Steam codes for the games. With LRG's price model they would be $50 EACH. Please note this is fact and not random speculating hate. LRG has stated they price $10 over the digital full list price.

[bartre]

someone posted this on FB:



thoughts?

[Gypsy]

Yeah I read that entire convo line on twitter. I think it's good, they need to slow the eff down. Also hopefully with some bigger releases.

[bartre]

Yeah I read that entire convo line on twitter. I think it's good, they need to slow the eff down. Also hopefully with some bigger releases.

also, who did you mean by PA?

[HailingTheThings]

Yeah I read that entire convo line on twitter. I think it's good, they need to slow the eff down. Also hopefully with some bigger releases.

also, who did you mean by PA?

Play Asia?

[Gypsy]

Yeah I read that entire convo line on twitter. I think it's good, they need to slow the eff down. Also hopefully with some bigger releases.

also, who did you mean by PA?

Play Asia?

Correct. PA has started funding some limited releases. Though I always suspected they had a hand in getting most of those Asian region English language games to market anyway.

[Necromancer]

4 releases a month is tough for most people to keep up with.  That'd be well over $1000 a year for just the games, and probably over $2000 if they're buying the other gewgaws (vinyl, cd, plush, etc.).

But they shouldn't have to rely on full set buyers to sell games.  If they'd stick to good titles, they'll still sell out, only they'd go to people that actually like the game instead of people that like sets.

[xelement5x]

11 companies, really? 

I can think of Limited Run, Special Reserve, Signature Games, Fangamer, and maybe Play-Asia.  What are the other 6 companies I wonder.

Either way, yeah I think focusing on quality will help them survive in the long run.  If anything, kudos to Sony for continuing to support publishing Vita/PS4 games in such small batches.

[schweaty]

I think they have a natural "fatigue" and a quality problem.  They've been releasing like crazy in 2017 and some natural fatigue is going to set in with buyers.  It's not a novelty any more it's a full up niche with all the other limited physical release companies sprouting up.  Plus, I think the quality of the games has declined.  I've passed on all but a couple games this year.  IMO they have been stinkers.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[bartre]

I think they have a natural "fatigue" and a quality problem.  They've been releasing like crazy in 2017 and some natural fatigue is going to set in with buyers.  It's not a novelty any more it's a full up niche with all the other limited physical release companies sprouting up.  Plus, I think the quality of the games has declined.  I've passed on all but a couple games this year.  IMO they have been stinkers.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

Same, I'm still snagging vita releases because I want there to be at least some kind of support, but I've hardly grabbed any of the PS4 releases.

I did grab the SRG release of Shadow warrior 2 though, I have yet to play #2, but if it's 1/2 as good as 1, I'll be very pleased.

[geise]

I predict Mighty Rabbit Games to go under in about two years with LRG to follow.

[glazball]

John and hark were specifically talking about the artificial scarcity of the physical versions, not of the games in general.

Looking back at johnpv's quote, to paraphrase: I want to own Ys but ugh, artificial scarcity of LRG!  That's self-contradictory.  Without LRG, Ys may very well get NO physical release (for North America) so if you want to own a copy, that wouldn't happen without LRG.

I understand you were probably griping more about their business model and lack of pre-orders.

I agree with gypsy and schweaty that fatigue has set in and LRG would be much better off sticking to higher quality titles like Ys.  It's truly sad that there really are enough morons out there who will buy everything and keep it all sealed and shelved.  I read that one of LRG's founders is a sealed game collector himself.  Sigh...