Limited Run Games - Putting digital games into your hands

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I'm wondering why all these indie games are getting physical releases in EU but not in NA. Is it harder to get a physical release of your game in NA compared to EU?

It's like anything else, you need a publishing and distribution infrastructure to make it happen. Most European publishers don't have the infrastructure in place to release in the US market without a local partner and there just aren't a lot of companies out there willing to take the risk on super niche titles that are already readily available digitally. That's why LRG is so amazing, but also somewhat unique in the current market.
 
It's like anything else, you need a publishing and distribution infrastructure to make it happen. Most European publishers don't have the infrastructure in place to release in the US market without a local partner and there just aren't a lot of companies out there willing to take the risk on super niche titles that are already readily available digitally. That's why LRG is so amazing, but also somewhat unique in the current market.

There are some big publishers that are skipping NA tho. Nintendo skipping NA with fast racing neo, Deep Silver skipping NA with deadlight and with This war of mine.
 
I'm wondering why all these indie games are getting physical releases in EU but not in NA. Is it harder to get a physical release of your game in NA compared to EU?

There's just a bigger (or rather, more accepting) market for niche physical releases in Europe than America. Always has been.

This generation's absolutely disgusting digital pricing in Europe has probably also helped a lot of budget publishers find an audience for retail releases on console again.
 
There's just a bigger (or rather, more accepting) market for niche physical releases in Europe than America. Always has been.

This generation's absolutely disgusting digital pricing in Europe has probably also helped a lot of budget publishers find an audience for retail releases on console again.

Yea. Heck my friend got me limbo and gone home PC physicals from saturn in store. HE said tons of PC physical games were there in store.
 
It's also up on EB Games Australia. Dunno what the dev was on about it's clearly coming.

I think he didn't want to reveal it but was oblivious to the fact that the retailers had already listed it, they have pretty much confirmed the physical release on twitter since that post.
 
I think he didn't want to reveal it but was oblivious to the fact that the retailers had already listed it, they have pretty much confirmed the physical release on twitter since that post.

I guess that's what happened. He could have avoid answering, instead of flat out lie, though ^^

In case anyone's interested, I've been scouring the net yesterday to create a list of uncommon physical games I wanted to find.
Here is the resulting list (beware, it's in French)
http://www.senscritique.com/liste/PS4_Vita_Ces_jeux_en_boite_peu_communs/1407057
(it doesn't include LRG games which are already part of another list)

I found much help in this topic of Cheapassgamer (this one is in English) :
https://www.cheapassgamer.com/topic...physical-release-deals-and-discussion-thread/

I'd like to point out a few recent releases some may have missed :
- Geometry Wars 3
- Overcooked
- Reus

Coming soon (in the next 30 days)
- Duke Nukem 10th anniversary
- Steamworld Collection
- Ginger Beyond the Crystal (may be for children though...)
- Earth's Dawn (don't know if it's good)
- Dead Synchronicity
- Abzû
- Super Dungeon Bros
- Marvel Pinball - épic collection : Volume 1
- Deponia
- Wild Guns Reloaded
- Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

Hope this helps some =)
 
I guess that's what happened. He could have avoid answering, instead of flat out lie, though ^^

In case anyone's interested, I've been scouring the net yesterday to create a list of uncommon physical games I wanted to find.
Here is the resulting list (beware, it's in French)
http://www.senscritique.com/liste/PS4_Vita_Ces_jeux_en_boite_peu_communs/1407057
(it doesn't include LRG games which are already part of another list)

I found much help in this topic of Cheapassgamer (this one is in English) :
https://www.cheapassgamer.com/topic...physical-release-deals-and-discussion-thread/

I'd like to point out a few recent releases some may have missed :
- Geometry Wars 3
- Overcooked
- Reus

Coming soon (in the next 30 days)
- Duke Nukem 10th anniversary
- Steamworld Collection
- Ginger Beyond the Crystal (may be for children though...)
- Earth's Dawn (don't know if it's good)
- Dead Synchronicity
- Abzû
- Super Dungeon Bros
- Marvel Pinball - épic collection : Volume 1
- Deponia
- Wild Guns Reloaded
- Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

Hope this helps some =)

I love summary posts like these, thanks a bunch!

Can't find Geometry Wars 3 in europe though, where can I pick that one up? Did you order it from gamestop in the us? The shipping is $30 :O.
Is the list complete or are those games you still haven't picked up?
 
I guess that's what happened. He could have avoid answering, instead of flat out lie, though ^^

In case anyone's interested, I've been scouring the net yesterday to create a list of uncommon physical games I wanted to find.
Here is the resulting list (beware, it's in French)
http://www.senscritique.com/liste/PS4_Vita_Ces_jeux_en_boite_peu_communs/1407057
(it doesn't include LRG games which are already part of another list)

I found much help in this topic of Cheapassgamer (this one is in English) :
https://www.cheapassgamer.com/topic...physical-release-deals-and-discussion-thread/

I'd like to point out a few recent releases some may have missed :
- Geometry Wars 3
- Overcooked
- Reus

Coming soon (in the next 30 days)
- Duke Nukem 10th anniversary
- Steamworld Collection
- Ginger Beyond the Crystal (may be for children though...)
- Earth's Dawn (don't know if it's good)
- Dead Synchronicity
- Abzû
- Super Dungeon Bros
- Marvel Pinball - épic collection : Volume 1
- Deponia
- Wild Guns Reloaded
- Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

Hope this helps some =)

It's still a work in progress but I've been putting together a list of games over here if it's any help.
 
Anyone willing to pick up a physical copy of Geometry Wars 3 for PS4 from Target or Gamestop and ship it to Belgium?
I'd be interested in Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 as well.

There doesn't seem to be any way to import these without paying nearly double for shipping of what the game actually costs. :-/
Videogamesplus doesn't have it either and no copies are on ebay or amazon. :(
 
Anyone willing to pick up a physical copy of Geometry Wars 3 for PS4 from Target or Gamestop and ship it to Belgium?
I'd be interested in Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 as well.

There doesn't seem to be any way to import these without paying nearly double for shipping of what the game actually costs. :-/
Videogamesplus doesn't have it either and no copies are on ebay or amazon. :(

Pac-man CE 2 is on Amazon Canada. Don't know if they ship worldwide but you could try them?

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M21NR51/
 
Söldner X-2 is getting a physical release in Asia, self published by eastasiasoft

http://www.eastasiasoft.com/index.p...ype-physical-asia-version-coming-january-2017

Oh hey, look, a Ray of common sense Shining in the dark. Will buy and hope for more of this initiative IF NEEDED.

Please note that as mentioned in the first pages of this discussion I would be perfectly content with the further measure of having REPRINT and/or variant covers to keep scalpers happy.
 
I guess that's what happened. He could have avoid answering, instead of flat out lie, though ^^

In case anyone's interested, I've been scouring the net yesterday to create a list of uncommon physical games I wanted to find.
Here is the resulting list (beware, it's in French)
http://www.senscritique.com/liste/PS4_Vita_Ces_jeux_en_boite_peu_communs/1407057
(it doesn't include LRG games which are already part of another list)

I found much help in this topic of Cheapassgamer (this one is in English) :
https://www.cheapassgamer.com/topic...physical-release-deals-and-discussion-thread/

I'd like to point out a few recent releases some may have missed :
- Geometry Wars 3
- Overcooked
- Reus

Coming soon (in the next 30 days)
- Duke Nukem 10th anniversary
- Steamworld Collection
- Ginger Beyond the Crystal (may be for children though...)
- Earth's Dawn (don't know if it's good)
- Dead Synchronicity
- Abzû
- Super Dungeon Bros
- Marvel Pinball - épic collection : Volume 1
- Deponia
- Wild Guns Reloaded
- Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

Hope this helps some =)
Wild Guns Reloaded + Overcoocked day 1 buys.

Never knew Overcooked is also getting physical thanks
 
It's still a work in progress but I've been putting together a list of games over here if it's any help.

Thanks for your list ! I'll check and see if I've missed a game.
Mine is maybe more "timeline oriented", but yours is definitely more encyclopedic =)

I love summary posts like these, thanks a bunch!

Can't find Geometry Wars 3 in europe though, where can I pick that one up? Did you order it from gamestop in the us? The shipping is $30 :O.
Is the list complete or are those games you still haven't picked up?

Welcome =)

Well that's the thing, I'd like to order Geometry Wars 3 too, as well as Duke Nukem and Pacman CE2, but Gamestop's shipping cost are really prohibitive. Maybe I'll use Shipito, or I'll wait and buy them from eBay (it may end up cheaper)
 
Oh thank you for that! :D

Edit. Crap, they don't ship overseas.
Weird as I thought that the US Amazon started shipping to Europe... hmmm

That's shitty. But if it's on Amazon Canada it's likely only a matter of time before it pops up on the US site (which I'm pretty sure does ship overseas). I'll keep an eye out.
 
That's shitty. But if it's on Amazon Canada it's likely only a matter of time before it pops up on the US site (which I'm pretty sure does ship overseas). I'll keep an eye out.

I'm hoping it'll pop up on Videogamesplus as well since it seems to be coming out unrestricted in Canada as well.
I sent them an email asking if they will carry Geometry Wars, so with a little luck they will.

Also, not sure if this is coming to the US, but in Europe Super Stardust Ultra came out as a physical release thanks to the game getting the VR update. :)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GVS0PQ8/
 
In case anyone's interested, I've been scouring the net yesterday to create a list of uncommon physical games I wanted to find.
Awesome, thank you!

I had no idea about Geometry Wars, dunno how I missed that. Definitely grabbing that one as soon as I figure out which platform to go for. Need to scour this list and see which other ones I might try to find too.
 
Anyone willing to pick up a physical copy of Geometry Wars 3 for PS4 from Target or Gamestop and ship it to Belgium?
I'd be interested in Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 as well.

There doesn't seem to be any way to import these without paying nearly double for shipping of what the game actually costs. :-/
Videogamesplus doesn't have it either and no copies are on ebay or amazon. :(

I don't mind picking one up for you.
If you can also pick me up a game from Belgium. ;)

PM me if interested.
 
Another famous "one print and it's over" publisher just switched plans recently. Like ramzastrife pointed out on Gaijinworks forums:

You're receiving this notice because you signed up for our Class of Heroes 2G for PlayStation 3 poll and indicated you wanted to purchase one or more copies of the limited-edition physical game.

We wanted to let you know that presales of the game will be live on www.gaijinworks.com starting tomorrow at 12:00 PST and will remain open for one month. After this period closes, we will gently and lovingly manufacture only enough product to cover the amount ordered, and then the game will only be available digitally on PSN until our contract runs out, or the apocalypse/rapture arrives, whichever comes first. Check the website main page tomorrow at noon for more details!

Thanks for your support!

GAIJINWORKS

And then this happened this week.
 
Another famous "one print and it's over" publisher just switched plans recently. Like ramzastrife pointed out on Gaijinworks forums:



And then this happened this week.

I was reading about that yesterday and had mixed feelings. I bought it at release, so I personally don't care a whole lot. If I had been late to the party and had ended up paying inflated prices on ebay and then found out about this, I'd probably be pretty upset. I get the sentiment on here that 'screw the scalpers', but it's also kind of screwing those late to the party that already bought it on ebay. But then I also get a bit of a 'screw the collectors' feeling around gaf, so maybe no one here cares.

I wonder what kind of impact it has on you over time when your business is predominantly catering to collectors. Maybe none at all. I think more than anything, the thing that rubs me the wrong way is not sticking to your word, but then I get more hung up on trust than others do.
 
If you say to your customers "this is a one-time print, after that it'll be digital-only forever" then you are using it as a selling point. Make another print and you have lied to your customers and potentially tricked them into buying your product with false promises. This might be the case for Class of Heroes 2G. I don't like that at all, even if it sucks that people are charging $200 on eBay. You have to stand by your word.

For something like Soldner-X 2, only LRG has promised they won't do a second print so a self-published print from East Asia Soft where LRG is not involved in any way is in no way a lie or false promise. LRG has from the start been open about the possibility of reprints, just not from them. That is absolutely fine and no one should have an issue with it.
 
I wish they would at least change the front cover for Class of Heroes 2G to make it a little more different.

They changed the disc art. I don't think this was one of the disc art variants in the original release.

Edit: here is an overview of the original variants. This D variant on VGP now is a brand new one.

(overview courtesy of xelement5x @ GaijinWorks forums)

FzciaR3.jpg
 
Another famous "one print and it's over" publisher just switched plans recently. Like ramzastrife pointed out on Gaijinworks forums:



And then this happened this week.

I bought the game at release in 2014 and honestly have no problem whatsoever with them doing another run.
The only people it would benefit are the ones keeping the games sealed with the intention of selling it off for a lot of money years from now.
The rest of us who buy the games, play them and want them to have on the shelve instead of just having a limited digital licence that becomes worthless in time aren't negatively affected by it.
The more people who are able to play the games, the better IMO.
It's good for the publisher and good for the players as well.
 
I don't understand how this makes sense for anyone and is worth screwing your day one supporters over for.

There just can't be that much demand for a 80CAD PS3 game reprint to make this worthwhile.

But hey it's not news that Gaijinworks' word is worth nothing.

The game is technically not really a GaijinWorks release. It's published by MonkeyPaw Games (http://monkeypawgames.com/games/). Since those mostly specialize in porting PSN releases, GaijinWorks did help them out with this physical release (and with CoH2 PSP, I think) though. But if you look at the box art, you'll only see MonkeyPaw Games bottom right on the front. Iirc the GaijinWorks logo is somewhere rather hidden on the back of the box. Might not even be on there at all, I'd have to check.
 
The game is technically not really a GaijinWorks release. It's published by MonkeyPaw Games (http://monkeypawgames.com/games/). Since those mostly specialize in porting PSN releases, GaijinWorks did help them out with this physical release (and with CoH2 PSP, I think) though. But if you look at the box art, you'll only see MonkeyPaw Games bottom right on the front. Iirc the GaijinWorks logo is somewhere rather hidden on the back of the box. Might not even be on there at all, I'd have to check.

It's the other way around, Gaijinworks used the Monkey Paw infrastructure to release and license the Class of Heroes titles, but they didn't need Monkey Paw going forward, which was confirmed by Victor when he said that Monkey Paw was only really used to get started.
 
I don't understand how this makes sense for anyone and is worth screwing your day one supporters over for.

There just can't be that much demand for a 80CAD PS3 game reprint to make this worthwhile.

But hey it's not news that Gaijinworks' word is worth nothing.

What other times did Gaijinworks lie to us? The only time I can think of is being misleading with PSN release of Tomba 2.
 
I don't mind picking one up for you.
If you can also pick me up a game from Belgium. ;)

PM me if interested.

If someone else needs a PAL game, feel free to MP me.
I'd like to purchase Duke Nukem, PacMan CE2, and Geometry Wars 3 :)

If you say to your customers "this is a one-time print, after that it'll be digital-only forever" then you are using it as a selling point. Make another print and you have lied to your customers and potentially tricked them into buying your product with false promises. This might be the case for Class of Heroes 2G. I don't like that at all, even if it sucks that people are charging $200 on eBay. You have to stand by your word.

For something like Soldner-X 2, only LRG has promised they won't do a second print so a self-published print from East Asia Soft where LRG is not involved in any way is in no way a lie or false promise. LRG has from the start been open about the possibility of reprints, just not from them. That is absolutely fine and no one should have an issue with it.

100% with you on this one. And I said I was ok with Soldner x2 getting a reprint.
Apparently, they lied, period :x
 
It's the other way around, Gaijinworks used the Monkey Paw infrastructure to release and license the Class of Heroes titles, but they didn't need Monkey Paw going forward, which was confirmed by Victor when he said that Monkey Paw was only really used to get started.

GaijinWorks was founded in 2006, MonkeyPaw in 2009. (Not to mention that Victor has been in the industry for almost over a century now, lol)

And GaijinWorks released (physical) games before they collaborated with MonkeyPaw on the Class of Heroes games.
 
You can scavenge the Gaijinworks forums from way back when and see why Victor used Monkey Paw.

Victor and John Greiner of MonkeyPaw (former Hudson USA) are longtime friends. It was probably a deal that came to be quite naturally.

Anyway, just check the box, the company listed on it as (the main) publisher is MonkeyPaw. Whoever used whom and however their mutual deal may be, that's how it was presented to the outside world.
 
I guess that's what happened. He could have avoid answering, instead of flat out lie, though ^^

In case anyone's interested, I've been scouring the net yesterday to create a list of uncommon physical games I wanted to find.

Hope this helps some =)

Great post. Not interested in most of those specific ones, but it's definitely my area of interest.
 
You must be new to Working Designs. Delays are the norm, never the exception. He never promised a release date, but he always delivers.

I get the whole "Working Designs" gig, I still feel it's unprofessional. That's just my opinion, though.

Some companies are hailed for not setting release dates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment#Unreleased_games), others are called unprofessional for it. What can you do? ;-)
 
Some companies are hailed for not setting release dates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment#Unreleased_games), others are called unprofessional for it. What can you do? ;-)

Well, you take into account that everyone has their own opinions. You won't find a post of mine hailing a company for not setting release dates, but you'll probably find a few complaining when release dates are pushed back or when publishers set unrealistic release dates.
 
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