As always -- I know I'm showing (probably silly) "rage", but you guys are class acts through and through. Actually facing a message board directly right after this is remarkable.
Limited Run Games - Putting digital games into your hands
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As always -- I know I'm showing (probably silly) "rage", but you guys are class acts through and through. Actually facing a message board directly right after this is remarkable.
Squarehard
Member
Was the switch to 1 per order actually successful?
Might want to check to see how many people ordered 2 copies.
Because the morning batch was 2 copies, many may have assumed it was 2 again, and just added it to their carts for checkout.
I guess we shall also see how many duplicate orders there are.
It may be beneficial to start checking all of the orders out now, and maybe do a regular re-list of orders in error sometime this weekend to make up for the issue, if there was one that is.
I remember tat one time some games didnt sell out immediately. Wish it was like that all the time. Damn script users and hoarders.
Slap on the face too in that the morning batch buyers got to buy more copies. If you have that many, limit to 1 per user on both occasions so the batch lasts much longer...
Slap on the face too in that the morning batch buyers got to buy more copies. If you have that many, limit to 1 per user on both occasions so the batch lasts much longer...
And so it begins:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOLD-OUT-Li...512084?hash=item3f67ce4954:g:rZMAAOSwRoxXm9jX
Yaaay.
I'm not sure if I was THAT blazing fast since I first quickly clicked on the bundle which wasn't up, and then on the single game. But the stock bar was still green for sure.
Then same thing with the bundle, but by the time the bundle was up I'd guess about 25% of the bar was already gone.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOLD-OUT-Li...512084?hash=item3f67ce4954:g:rZMAAOSwRoxXm9jX
Yaaay.
I'm not sure if I was THAT blazing fast since I first quickly clicked on the bundle which wasn't up, and then on the single game. But the stock bar was still green for sure.
Then same thing with the bundle, but by the time the bundle was up I'd guess about 25% of the bar was already gone.
I was unable to check out 20 seconds after both the stand alone and cd bundle went live. It simply did not work claiming they were out of stock. 20 seconds.
ScHlAuChi
Member
Why not consider a preorder system?
Everyone who really wants a copy will get one, and none of the scalpers will have a chance.
It can also help determine how much interest there is in a game before releasing it, meaning less risk for you guys printing too many or too little.
Even if there is cancellations those copies could be sold with the current system.
Preorder option also means that alot less people will be unhappy having missed out
Ruud_Luiten
Member
Ahhh man
SlasherJPC
Banned
Yeah I've never had an issue getting a copy till now. Octodad, Sat RPG, Oddworld, and Breach. No issues. This one was like boom, gone!
Why not consider a preorder system?
Everyone who really wants a copy will get one, and none of the scalpers will have a chance.
It can also help determine how much interest there is in a game before releasing it, meaning less risk for you guys printing too many or too little.
Even if there is cancellations those copies could be sold with the current system.
Preorder option also means that alot less people will be unhappy
It's tough. The problem with a pre-order system is that it makes people pay ahead of time, and it often leads to unhappiness too especially when prints may take a long time to come out after pre-orders. They are trying to manage the print sizes, but it's hard to get the number right.
I saw the stock bar go through all its various states and could never buy. I was literally sitting there refreshing the page ready to click immediately. Never worked. That's why I'm so confused here.
ScHlAuChi
Member
It doesnt have to be a preorder system that makes people pay in advance.
When you preorder something on Amazon you dont pay until its shipped.
Personally I wouldnt have a problem paying in advance if that means I actually get a copy
I got all games I wanted so far, except Xeodrifter and SöldnerX2 now, where the issues were similar.
I think the chances of getting future releases will be even more slim :|
Oh, same here, it's not like I stopped once it failed once -- I guess that adds even more to the frustration.
Kept adding, trying to check out, nope. Bar went down a bit. Then it was yellow. Nope. Again. Again. Again. Then it was red. Gone.
This would make me and my roommate very happy. We were both unable to complete the order when Soldner was in the cart and that's accounting for both batches. Both times we were on time too.
Ruud_Luiten
Member
same..Oh, same here, it's not like I stopped once it failed once -- I guess that adds even more to the frustration.
Kept adding, trying to check out, nope. Bar went down a bit. Then it was yellow. Nope. Again. Again. Again. Then it was red. Gone.
The good thing about it happening to a lot of us is that hopefully they will do something about it.
The problem is that unfortunately a lot of the people that did get the game would be livid.
I really hope I won't have to resort to picking up a copy on ebay just cause I was unable to complete the order for whatever reason - the last thing I want to do is support those scalpers.
YianGaruga
Banned
I'm sorry so many people missed out but I think people still don't understand how shopify show its stock.
The button being available or the bar showing the game being in stock doesn't mean there are copies for you available to buy because it's either updating delayed or not accounting for people currently in the checkout process.
Here is how it works
that means if there are 1000 copies available ad 1000 people click check out faster than you, the sitle will still show stock and allow you to put it in your cart, but you won't be able to check out. You were simply too slow. Unless you believe there are 1000 people with scripts, which seems highly unlikely.
The only issue I see here is that demand for Söldner was understimated and the run should have been bigger. Missing out on limited items suck but these overreactions every time are incredibly silly. We discussed again and again why making these things limited is important. Just look at RCR.
The button being available or the bar showing the game being in stock doesn't mean there are copies for you available to buy because it's either updating delayed or not accounting for people currently in the checkout process.
Here is how it works
that means if there are 1000 copies available ad 1000 people click check out faster than you, the sitle will still show stock and allow you to put it in your cart, but you won't be able to check out. You were simply too slow. Unless you believe there are 1000 people with scripts, which seems highly unlikely.
The only issue I see here is that demand for Söldner was understimated and the run should have been bigger. Missing out on limited items suck but these overreactions every time are incredibly silly. We discussed again and again why making these things limited is important. Just look at RCR.
Reluctant-Hero
Member
Everyone knows how it works here. But, still, it's incredibly frustrating to add an item to your cart within seconds of it going live and being locked out of the checkout process. And then news of auto scripts and hacks (B&C) only add to people's frustration.
I'm lucky, I was able to purchase my copy of Soldner this morning without issue. In fact all of my orders with LRG haven't had an issue. With the B&C bundle, I was hoping luck would be on my side. But, nope, not this time. And me trying to order a Soldner bundle this afternoon was really just kind of greedy. I didn't need the Soundtrack and I already secured a copy. So hopefully all of those went to LRG fans who "player by the rules".
Edit: And please don't say stuff like "you were simply too slow". It's condescending. The difference between getting a copy and not getting a copy is literally fractions of a second.
I know they said they didn't want to do a subscription system, but I would literally pay an extra $10-$15 a month on top of what I'm already paying per game just to ensure I get one. Even if the games that month didn't interest me. I can't be the only who would too. That's free money for LRG.
And this is all coming from someone who has been able to get every release successfully. I just think it could help eliminate some of the scalping going on and keep LRG from losing supporters who have been burned.
And this is all coming from someone who has been able to get every release successfully. I just think it could help eliminate some of the scalping going on and keep LRG from losing supporters who have been burned.
YianGaruga
Banned
People still complain about "cart problems", "saw stock but couldn't check out" and so on. So obviously not everyone knows. Everyone needs to be aware that you need to press "check out" ASAP to secure a copy.
It's true though
otaku-asia
Member
Exactly. If demand is bigger than supply, there will always be people upset. No shopping system in the world can solve that problem.
Nachtfalke
Member
What the hell? Pls LRG, track this guy and ban him!
Reluctant-Hero
Member
That's the problem, even if you press checkout ASAP, you may still be locked out. I don't think you'll understand until you experience this for yourself with an LRG release. Although I hope it doesn't come to that for you or any other GAFer.
Infernal Monkey
Member
Haha, geez. Those have to be fake bids.
YianGaruga
Banned
Which only means that people who don't subscribe will have an even harder time getting copies, creating more frustraded "lower tier" customers and forcing everyone to pay for the subscription until you arrive at the same problem again for them. It's not necessary if print runs are big enough (see Octodad or B&C Deadline) which obviously wasn't the case for Söldner.
Maybe there needs to be a system to better gauge demand like the poll that Gaijinworks did for SN5. To me Söldner seemed like one of the most sought after releases so far. Vita + good game + hardcore genre + DLC on cart and new trophies. Could have done 5000 easily. 3000 for a completely new and unknown game like Lost Sea and only 200 more for Söldner seems like a very strange decision.
Reluctant-Hero
Member
There is no easy solution. Which unfortunately means LRG should stay their current course. The least they can do is impose harsher buying restrictions. As it is they already bend over backwards for us, their consumers. They deal with foreign shipping, duty fee complaints/corrections, verify orders to ensure no cheaters and put up with unending complaints of those who couldn't make a purchase for whatever reason.
And yeah, it seems that demand for Soldner was under estimated by both LRG and East Asia Soft. They've both been hyping up the release for quite a while.
Shit... Rainbow Moon might be another feeding frenzy. Hell, every LRG release going forward may be a virtual blood bath in order to secure a copy.
YianGaruga
Banned
Yeah we can agree here. I think the current method mostly works and LRG are doing everything they can to satisfy customers.
And I don't think it's quite as bad as you're saying. First of all I don't think a large number of people who wanted a copy actually missed out. You're just seeing the few people that did being VERY vocal on forums and twitter because they're understandably frustrated. Most people just buy their copy and that's that. An extra 1000 copies could be all that's necessary to go from "sold out in seconds" to available for 10+ minutes. B&C deadline is still available for example.
EDIT:
What a disgusting human being.
Reluctant-Hero
Member
Very true. I just worry about the genre I'm truly chomping at th but for... RPGs. I think I'm good to go with Cosmic Star Heroine as I'm a Kickstarter backer. But Rainbow Moon, Rainbow Sky, YIIK and Dragon Fantasy could be another story.
And lord help us if LRG land the Atelier games.
that sucks...although it makes me feel a little better about not getting one considering they sold out so fast.
Pellegri Testament
Member
Hoping Atelier would be a little different considering the price they would be sold at and Koei very likely would want more than just 3k. They would be $40-50 games depending on which one.
YianGaruga
Banned
That was the case from the very first release.
Hey, your site doesn't have a contact page so I guess I'll take a shot in the dark here: Why doesn't your company care about resellers? Yes, their sale gives you X amount of dollars, but by allowing them to resell your games they end up making more money off your product than you did off their original sale. If you instead canceled their order when they have the gall to put up a "pre-order" on eBay (seriously, what the hell) then you'll still sell that single copy, but it will go to someone that actually wants the game and respects what your company does. Even if it's not your direct fault, allowing scalpers to abuse your system ends up angering your other customers and potential customers in the future.
Reluctant-Hero
Member
Yes, scalpers suck and eBay can be a vile place. But how are LRG supposed to vet every single order to ensure a copy doesn't end up on eBay? Keep in mind that whatever you propose has to financially viable to LRG. Not to me bruin a good use of man hours.
otaku-asia
Member
It's probably hard to track down every single re-seller. And how about games that didn't move so fast? LRG is probably happy to have a couple of re-sellers on board then.
Pellegri Testament
Member
Because it's not that easy to figure out who a reseller is. Unless you buy/sell the game on ebay yourself, you wouldn't know their full contact info, which makes it a guessing game as to what order needs to be cancelled. What happens if multiple people from the same city/state order a game and only 1 resells it? You can't just cancel all of them because of that 1 person.
The only real way for them to stop resellers is to have an insane print number so people know the game isn't rare enough for them to try and resell right away. That is not something they can do financially.
YianGaruga
Banned
Also not everyone that resells is an intentional scalper. Sometimes you just want to get rid of some things or decide you don't actually need something after getting it.
Yes the "pre-order" auctions that go up within minutes are dumb but really not an issue worth thinking about. Limited items will ALWAYS have an aftermarket and that's part of the appeal. If you don't allow reselling you immediately make the product less desired.
This is another "problem" with an easy solution: Big enough print runs.
Yes the "pre-order" auctions that go up within minutes are dumb but really not an issue worth thinking about. Limited items will ALWAYS have an aftermarket and that's part of the appeal. If you don't allow reselling you immediately make the product less desired.
This is another "problem" with an easy solution: Big enough print runs.
YianGaruga
Banned
Pretty much all those issues could be solved if LRG offered a pre-order option themselves
And it would create plenty of issues of its own, which is why it will not happen.
otaku-asia
Member
Pretty much all those issues could be solved if LRG offered a pre-order option themselves
It would open up a lot of new problems though. Demand might be lower, minimum order quantities no longer met, customers inquiring about pre-order status, requesting changes or even cancellations, etc. On top of that, developers might be less willing to sign contracts if certain quantities aren't more or less guaranteed.
The best solution is to better gauge demand, but even that is probably not always easy. Contracts are likely signed months before release. Pretty much all games were on sale for at least 30-60 minutes, often even for a day, so apart from this time, LRG was pretty much always spot on.
Reluctant-Hero
Member
And stuff like Octodad, Futuridium and now Breach & Clear Deadline are hanging out waiting to be sold through for long amounts of time.
lol, 99.9% this guy is getting scammed.
otaku-asia
Member
Especially PS4 games seem to take longer to sell out. I've ordered every PS4+Vita game so far, but might mostly focus on Vita in the future. Vita games are more expensive to manufacture but they are also much more collectible due to a very strong fan base.
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