Matrix - game editions reworked

On 16 jan, 13:25, ERutins <er... RemoveThis @matrixgames.com> wrote:
> > I had to read the press release a couple of times before it all
> > started to make a bit of sense - and I'm still baffled why the digital
> > download of the "Standard" edition will contain a b/w *printed*
> > manual.
>
> Huh?  How could a digital download come with a printed manual?  Did we
> actuallly say that?

"A Standard Edition is a game which comes with both a printed black
and white manual and an electronic PDF manual. The boxed version of a
Standard Edition includes a shrink-wrapped color double DVD box, a
black and white printed manual, and a color printed CD (or CDs) to
install the game."

You make the distinction between a Standard Edition and a boxed
version of the Standard Edition, so I assume the non-boxed version is
the digital download version. Yes ? No ?

It's just an idea but a description in sentences is maybe not the
correct way to do this and a bulleted list is way more clear

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

Eddy,

Sorry, but I'm not seeing how you figured that out from the release
and I think you missed this line entirely:

"Also, please remember these contents are only for the physical
version of the game and will not affect the digital download, which
remains as it has always been: a single downloadable installer file
with a full color PDF manual."
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

On 16 jan, 13:35, ERutins <er....RemoveThis@matrixgames.com> wrote:

> Sorry, but I'm not seeing how you figured that out from the release

Could be that the stupid-flue which ails Mario is contagious

> and I think you missed this line entirely:
>
> "Also, please remember these contents are only for the physical
> version of the game and will not affect the digital download, which
> remains as it has always been: a single downloadable installer file
> with a full color PDF manual."

I'm sorry - it's one of those press releases where if you know all
about it, it's maybe pretty clear but I read it 3 times before I
thought I had figured it out and made my summary, but apparantly I
totally fubar'ed.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

> I'm sorry - it's one of those press releases where if you know all
> about it, it's maybe pretty clear but I read it 3 times before I
> thought I had figured it out and made my summary, but apparantly I
> totally fubar'ed.

It's our fault in not making it clear enough then, we'll try to
explain a bit more today to hopefully straighten that out.
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

On 16 jan, 13:47, ERutins <er....RemoveThis@matrixgames.com> wrote:
> > I'm sorry - it's one of those press releases where if you know all
> > about it, it's maybe pretty clear but I read it 3 times before I
> > thought I had figured it out and made my summary, but apparantly I
> > totally fubar'ed.
>
> It's our fault in not making it clear enough then, we'll try to
> explain a bit more today to hopefully straighten that out.

No, no, you handled that *completely* wrong.

You should first have said that I simply don't get it because I'm way
too stupid, then you should have accused me of stealing the press
release and made me prove I was entitled to a copy.

You guys will never learn

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

> And you managed to explain it in a way that would do Mario proud! :p

Ok, let me try to make this more clear. Editions define what a game
is, they are not multiple options within a game, they are the
definition of the game and each game only has one edition.

Let's say that next month we release games X, Y and Z.

Game X is released as a Digital Express Edition. That means that it
will have the usual download and physical versions. However, the
physical version will come with the box, CD and that's it. The manual
will be on CD as a PDF E-Book. This is how Game X is packaged and
there is no option to get a printed manual for Game X. There is no
Standard or Collector's Edition of Game X.

Game Y is released as a Standard Edition. In addition to the usual
download version, it will have a physical version that includes a
black and white printed manual, box and CD. The manual will also be
available as the usual PDF E-Book. This is how Game Y is packaged and
there is no physical option to get it without a printed manual (other
than the download) or a color manual (all printed manuals for Game Y
will be black and white). There is no Digital Express or Collector's
Edition of Game Y.

Game Z is released as a Collector's Edition. In addition to the usual
download version, it will have a physical version that includes a
color printed manual, box and CD. The manual will also be available as
the usual PDF E-Book. This is how Game Z is packaged and there is no
physical option to get it without a printed manual (other than the
download) or a black and whilte manual (all printed manuals for Game Z
will be color). There is no Digital Express or Standard Edition of
Game Z.

All of the above games will stay at the same physical price that
products just like them are now in our catalog, in other words US $10
more than the download price.

Regards,

- Erik
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

On 16 jan, 14:43, ERutins <er... DeleteThis @matrixgames.com> wrote:

> Ok, let me try to make this more clear.

Ok - totally clear for me now

However - and I'm sure you realize this - you're setting yourself up
for potential customer complaints along the lines of "how come the
boxed version of <game x> which comes without a printed manual is just
as expensive as the boxed version of game <z> which has a full colour
printed manual ?"

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

> However - and I'm sure you realize this - you're setting yourself up
> for potential customer complaints along the lines of "how come the
> boxed version of <game x> which comes without a printed manual is just
> as expensive as the boxed version of game <z> which has a full colour
> printed manual ?"

Sure. The answer to that is that we eat the additional cost to keep
the physical versions to $10, which is what we think the market will
bear. Keep in mind that our physical versions have always cost $10,
from back before we introduced printed manuals. You have to work your
way forward chronologically to see the evolution. We've gone from
customers paying $10 for no printed manual, to adding printed manuals
for most games and now adding a few color printed manuals without
raising the cost for the customer. There is no room for us to
decrease the price, but we could certainly increase it if we felt that
would not turn off customers from purchasing the physical versions.
We want those to be an affordable way for customers to get a high
quality permanent copy of our games.

Regards,

- Erik
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:25:57 -0800 (PST), ERutins
<erikr.RemoveThis@matrixgames.com> wrote:

>
>> I had to read the press release a couple of times before it all
>> started to make a bit of sense - and I'm still baffled why the digital
>> download of the "Standard" edition will contain a b/w *printed*
>> manual.
>
>Huh? How could a digital download come with a printed manual? Did we
>actuallly say that?
>
>This basically is an attempt to explain how our catalog _already is_.
>Right now there's just no good way for a customer to tell what a
>game's physical version has in it. This attempts to make that clear
>for new and eventually existing releases.

And you managed to explain it in a way that would do Mario proud! :p

Rgds, Frank
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

Erik, one question. Will all the E-book manuals be PDF files with
color screen captures? Your postings above didn't explicitly state
this. I ask because I know that sometimes PDF manuals I have gotten
(may not be from Matrix, can't remember) had B&W PDF manuals and it
was hard to decipher the B&W screen shots.
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked 

On Jan 17, 12:52 pm, MMQ <mastermindqu....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> Erik, one question. Will all the E-book manuals be PDF files with
> color screen captures? Your postings above didn't explicitly state
> this. I ask because I know that sometimes PDF manuals I have gotten
> (may not be from Matrix, can't remember) had B&W PDF manuals and it
> was hard to decipher the B&W screen shots.

Yes, the PDF manuals will always be full color as they have always
been. No change there.

Regards,

- Erik
 >> Stay informed about: Matrix - game editions reworked