numccann@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU ("Lester I. McCann") (02/05/89)
I just read the transcript of the GEnie RoundTable discussion with Infocom that took place in mid-December. It wasn't at all encouraging for IIgs owners. Their sales of GS versions of their games has been very poor. They are not planning any GS versions of anything until late summer (that will be a conversion of QuarterStaff). They also think that no one else is having much success selling GS-specific versions of programs, and even mentioned that companies are starting to pull out of the GS market. From memory, I think they said that only 12,000 copies of Bard's Tale 2 for the GS have been sold (of the 250,000 total copies), and only 8,000 of Paintworks Gold (though it was mentioned that PWG is a memory hog). They did point out that these were only rumored numbers, but rumors do have a tendency to be based in fact. Assuming that they are in the ballpark, and assuming that there are over 500,000 GS machines out there, those numbers seem very poor. This sort of perception (based in fact?) could well mean we'll be seeing fewer and fewer new GS products in the future. Depressing thought, isn't it? Lester McCann numccann@plains.nodak.edu or numccann@ndsuvax.BITNET
tsouth@pro-pac.cts.com (System Administrator) (02/06/89)
>Date: Sat, 4 Feb 89 21:35:56 CST >From: "Lester I. McCann" <pnet01!crash!plains.nodak.edu!numccann> >Subject: Poor GS software sales reported >I just read the transcript of the GEnie RoundTable discussion with Infocom >that took place in mid-December. It wasn't at all encouraging for IIgs owners. >Their sales of GS versions of their games has been very poor. They are not >From memory, I think they said that only 12,000 copies of Bard's Tale 2 for >GS have been sold (of the 250,000 total copies), and only 8,000 of Paintworks >Gold (though it was mentioned that PWG is a memory hog). They did point out >that these were only rumored numbers, but rumors do have a tendency to be >based on fact. Doesn't surprise me at all. Number one, a whole lot of people see no sense in buying products they have already purchased in another version. BT2 is a classic example. The first time around it was really interesting, but it just is not economically sound for me to go out and purchase the //gs version... Even with all the added whistles I don't need two copies of the same program. Also, did you ever think that one of the reasons memory hogs probably don't sell is memory is now $160/256K on average. Don't know too many people that can handle that sorta mark-up, or companies for that matter... >Lester McCann Todd South -- UUCP: {nosc, cacilj, sdcsvax, hplabs!hp-sdd, sun.COM} ...!crash!pnet01!pro-nsfmat!pro-pac!tsouth ARPA: crash!pnet01!pro-nsfmat!pro-pac!tsouth@nosc.MIL INET: tsouth@pro-pac.CTS.COM - BITNET: pro-pac.UUCP!tsouth@PSUVAX1
winch@hpihoah.HP.COM (Bill Winchester) (02/07/89)
>>Date: Sat, 4 Feb 89 21:35:56 CST >>From: "Lester I. McCann" <pnet01!crash!plains.nodak.edu!numccann> >>Subject: Poor GS software sales reported >>I just read the transcript of the GEnie RoundTable discussion with Infocom >>that took place in mid-December. It wasn't at all encouraging for IIgs owners. >>Their sales of GS versions of their games has been very poor. They are not >>From memory, I think they said that only 12,000 copies of Bard's Tale 2 for >>GS have been sold (of the 250,000 total copies), and only 8,000 of Paintworks >>Gold (though it was mentioned that PWG is a memory hog). They did point out >>that these were only rumored numbers, but rumors do have a tendency to be >>based on fact. >Doesn't surprise me at all. Number one, a whole lot of people see no sense >in buying products they have already purchased in another version. BT2 >is a classic example. The first time around it was really interesting, >but it just is not economically sound for me to go out and purchase >the //gs version... Even with all the added whistles I don't need two >copies of the same program. I'm sorry to hear this. My son bought BTI and II for our GS. The graphics and the sound make this game worth while, as far as I'm concerned. The wilderness in BTII really sounds like wilderness. I even enjoy listening to the Bard Songs, and wait till you see what your Arcmages (Archmages?) look like. If you have the GS version of BTI, go down into the 1st level of the catacombs and set and look at any wall for awhile. These walls have a shelf of skulls and then .... I admit that I would never have bought these games myself. (I've owned an Apple II since 1981.) I just don't normally go in for games. However, I highly recommend both the GS versions of Bards Tale. >>Lester McCann >Todd South Bill Winchester
asd@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Kareth) (02/09/89)
In article <8902051836.AA29832@crash.cts.com> pnet01!pro-simasd!pro-nsfmat!pro-pac!tsouth@nosc.mil writes: >Also, did you ever think that one of the reasons memory hogs probably >don't sell is memory is now $160/256K on average. Don't know too many Well, for the owners of OctoRAM or other GS-SIMM memory boards, some company is now selling $170-$199 1Meg SIMM chips for the Mac, but they should also work in the GS boards that use SIMM chips. kareth.