Star Odyssey - Official Thread

[darkwingduck13]

You might be right, I was a little annoyed. I was annoyed because you seemed to come across that you were the perfect judge for these things. I would like to see you do what these people have done, and claim that your hard work and effort was only worth "maybe 20 dollars". I'm just not a fan of critics, especially critics who also happen to be cheapskates. If it's too expensive, there is a solution; don't buy it! Not so much yourself, but many others seem to feel OBLIGATED to have everything easy, and cheap. These people come across to me as leeches, especially some, like the fucking asshole who was begging for roms of these games, and didn't understand why SFT wouldn't deliver.

I think the company has every right to charge whatever the hell they want, and you as the consumer, have every right not to purchase it. I don't think anyone has the right, however, to tell anyone else what something should be worth, especially when it is something they do not actually NEED, like a video game. I think blu-rays are too costly, but I am not asking for a price drop, or telling them what they should charge; I simply don't buy them.

Again, you are taking this out of context; the argument is not really directed toward you as such, but more specifically, at the kinds of people who feel they deserve this shit for free, or for much cheaper than it is worth. I say, the company has the right to charge whatever they want, and the consumer has the right to shut the fuck up and either cough up the cash or stop bitching. If SFT charged 80 for their games, I'm sure they would still sell, because the demand for new software is there, even if it is only among a core group of people. I was exaggerating of course; 80 dollars is obviously excessive, especially compared to the rest of the homebrew scene, but to whine that something is a measly fourty bucks? I don't care about your research, or your planning; fourty bucks is a steal for something like this, and you should be grateful you can get anything like that at all. I just think it's in pretty poor taste to go into the company thread, and whine about the price. It's a simple question of MANNERS. If you have a complaint, why don't you voice it with them directly, instead of trying to put egg on their face in a public forum? Whether or not it was intentional, that is how it came across, and I think anyone who does that deserves a virtual bitch slap.

Wow. This time you started out somehow seeming like you might work around to admitting that I'm entitled to an opinion on how to spend my money, and then by the end you're claiming that I deserve "a virtual bitch slap" for discussing the game on a forum topic that you just pointed out was dedicated to that game!

That was a sudden turn-around. :-/

[The Coop]

Actually, weren't BP and LoW $48 (game + shipping) for the US, and $55 for outside the US? I mean, you can't get the game from SFT without the shipping, right?

[Phosis]

Wow. This time you started out somehow seeming like you might work around to admitting that I'm entitled to an opinion on how to spend my money, and then by the end you're claiming that I deserve "a virtual bitch slap" for discussing the game on a forum topic that you just pointed out was dedicated to that game!

That was a sudden turn-around. :-/

You weren't "discussing the game", you were talking about how you could barely justify twenty or thirty dollars on a brand new game printed on a cartridge. And yes, you are entitled to your opinion on how you spend your money. However, the best way to voice it is to simply not spend your money when you feel you are getting "ripped off". I'm sure these companies won't miss you.

[darkwingduck13]

Price is always a consideration with a game. Anytime a new game gets released, people want to know two things: release date and price, especially with a game that's different than the mainstream.

On top of that, I said quite clearly that I wasn't sure whether I'd be picking up Star Odyssey or not, partly because we don't know yet what the price will be. I was hopeful of a sub-$40 price thanks to comments DA made in a different forum, and given that this audience is likely really looking forward to the game's release, I talked about it here, in the topic dedicated to the game.

You've really managed to turn this into a weird sort of roundabout attack. You're even quoting "ripped off," as if to give the impression that I used that term in an earlier post, when I'm fairly certain I never claimed to feel that way, let alone use those particular words. I'm a pretty reasonable guy, but I have to question whether or not SFT would prefer to have people like you as fans or not, given the way you've sort of jumped on someone who is contemplating a purchase of their product.

[Phosis]

Price is always a consideration with a game. Anytime a new game gets released, people want to know two things: release date and price, especially with a game that's different than the mainstream.

On top of that, I said quite clearly that I wasn't sure whether I'd be picking up Star Odyssey or not, partly because we don't know yet what the price will be. I was hopeful of a sub-$40 price thanks to comments DA made in a different forum, and given that this audience is likely really looking forward to the game's release, I talked about it here, in the topic dedicated to the game.

You've really managed to turn this into a weird sort of roundabout attack. You're even quoting "ripped off," as if to give the impression that I used that term in an earlier post, when I'm fairly certain I never claimed to feel that way, let alone use those particular words. I'm a pretty reasonable guy, but I have to question whether or not SFT would prefer to have people like you as fans or not, given the way you've sort of jumped on someone who is contemplating a purchase of their product.

Look, do you really want to keep this going? If so bring it to PM, I've stated pretty clearly why I said what I said, and I think it was justified. I suppose I was abrasive, but I have said a few times this was not a personal attack, though admittedly I should have screened some of my own commentary. Most of what I said (AND I STATED THIS, for fuck sakes.) was not directed at you personally, but at the general attitude of some people. A lot of it probably wasn't worth saying, and yeah I feel a little dumb for it, but it has become overly frustrating to me to see the same thing being brought up ad nauseum. It just reminds me of my days hanging out with Grandma. "Oh man, that price, it's a little high. Don't you think that's a bit high? I think it's a bit high. Man I wish the price was a little lower." YEAH IT ISN'T, suck it the fuck up and get out of the store, Grandma!

Anyways I apologize for the more personal remarks. The general idea about how it is unfair to complain about a price (especially when said price is reasonable to begin with) I stand by. I shouldn't have made it personal, sorry.

[darkwingduck13]

Look, do you really want to keep this going? If so bring it to PM, I've stated pretty clearly why I said what I said, and I think it was justified. I suppose I was abrasive, but I have said a few times this was not a personal attack, though admittedly I should have screened some of my own commentary. Most of what I said (AND I STATED THIS, for fuck sakes.) was not directed at you personally, but at the general attitude of some people. A lot of it probably wasn't worth saying, and yeah I feel a little dumb for it, but it has become overly frustrating to me to see the same thing being brought up ad nauseum. It just reminds me of my days hanging out with Grandma. "Oh man, that price, it's a little high. Don't you think that's a bit high? I think it's a bit high. Man I wish the price was a little lower." YEAH IT ISN'T, suck it the fuck up and get out of the store, Grandma!

Anyways I apologize for the more personal remarks. The general idea about how it is unfair to complain about a price (especially when said price is reasonable to begin with) I stand by. I shouldn't have made it personal, sorry.

So you were abrasive, you should have screened your own commentary, a lot of what you said wasn't worth saying, you feel dumb, and you apologize for making it personal.

Nope, I have no need to keep it going or talk in PM. I'm okay with how things turned out.

[Phosis]

Alright, good. Sowwy if I made u mad.

That being said, don't let my asshole ways stop you from buying Star Odyssey when it comes out. It's epic scale will far outweigh my bad attitude.

[darkwingduck13]

No problem. You didn't make me mad.

And I'm totally with you on Star Odyssey. Hopefully it's so good even your grandma thinks it's worth the price!

[CMA Death Adder]

$40 for something like Nightmare Busters? I'm sorry, but that's laughable to me. Nightmare Busters should just be a "gimme" in terms of return on investment for SFT, even at $20

At a $20 price point, we'd be bankrupt even if the sales reached into the thousands. As you have no understanding of what these projects cost to produce, manufacture and publish, your suggestions regarding price points are solely based on your own personal preferences. While I can certainly understand your particular need for what you consider to be an affordable price, by our quality standards we must charge at least enough to, in the end, cover the money we invested in the process of making said product.

I'm sorry that you feel our prices are too high, but if you compared our prices and quality levels to those of other retro game publishers, you would quickly realize that there is no better deal than buying from Super Fighter Team.

As I have also stated on the Digital Press forums, I am pleased to hear of your interest in Star Odyssey. I'm quite certain you will find it to your liking, as we have done a great deal of work to improve it and make it special.

Finally, I'd like to make it clear that my above statements are not intended to come off as rude or demeaning; that I am simply trying to inform you of the situation as it exists, using the facts. If you should have any additional questions regarding any of our products, you are always welcome to contact me directly via e-mail or here at the forum via private message.

Have a nice day.

[Waterfaller]

Somehow all this debating is adding to the anticipation of Star Odyssey coming out

[D--]

and maybe the Chinese workers (but they are quite cheap too, $1000 can be a yearly salary for a Chinese).

Would you mind telling me what decade you are using as a frame of reference?

I'm not Chinese, but I am a long-term resident of China who works for Chinese employers, has Chinese in-laws and visits with Chinese extended family. Yes, there are farmers getting less than $1,000 per year. They are also given free land by the government, a small subsidy and they eat what they produce.

People in cities – excluding migrant construction workers – usually earn as much or more than $300 per month after taxes, especially if they completed high school and some college. City rent is expensive, and they couldn't survive on much less than that. Christ, even Foxconn paid almost that much to totally unskilled workers from the countryside and gave them housing.

The dollar has fallen and the yuan has risen. Your statement would have been true in the 1990s, maybe even the early 2000s, but it is entirely out of step with reality.

Of course ... if you can find a farmer to put down his donkey-pulled plow to program and translate a game to Super Fighter Team's quality standards, you might be on to something ...

[Zebbe]

Would you mind telling me what decade you are using as a frame of reference?

I'm not Chinese, but I am a long-term resident of China who works for Chinese employers, has Chinese in-laws and visits with Chinese extended family. Yes, there are farmers getting less than $1,000 per year. They are also given free land by the government, a small subsidy and they eat what they produce.

People in cities – excluding migrant construction workers – usually earn as much or more than $300 per month after taxes, especially if they completed high school and some college. City rent is expensive, and they couldn't survive on much less than that. Christ, even Foxconn paid almost that much to totally unskilled workers from the countryside and gave them housing.

The dollar has fallen and the yuan has risen. Your statement would have been true in the 1990s, maybe even the early 2000s, but it is entirely out of step with reality.

Of course ... if you can find a farmer to put down his donkey-pulled plow to program and translate a game to Super Fighter Team's quality standards, you might be on to something ...

I've never been in China myself, but a guy who lives and works there himself told me this and he meant today, not past decades. I guess he lives in a completely different place compared to you, where economics vary (China is an enormous country with the world's biggest population after all).

[D--]

This might be true in a few third-tier cities that are just starting to take off in development.

But speaking frankly, I think Brandon requires being able to communicate with his employees. That requires some basic English ability. If they can communicate well enough, they probably went to college. And if you're talking about a programmer who went to college and who speaks some degree of English, he won't be looking for work in somewhere like Sanhe, Hebei ...

Not to denigrate these cities. Everywhere specializes in something. Sanhe, for example, has a thriving furniture industry. My point was that larger cities tend to be IT magnets that suck up skilled programmers, and jobs in these larger cities pay more because they have a higher cost of living.

For example, $25,000 per year is quite reasonable pay in parts of Kansas. Not so much in New York City. However, Kansas is not the place you go looking when you need to hire a fashion designer.

[old man]

Most repro guys will tell you they operate at a loss. They do it because they like contributing to the retro gaming community. The parts may be cheap, but that doesn't include time and effort involved. Brandon and his employees want to get paid for what they're doing, and I don't blame them. I would too. His prices are reasonable and fair. You can't ask for more than that.

[CMA Death Adder]

Most repro guys will tell you they operate at a loss.

Certainly not all of them operate at a loss, especially when you see certain "reproduction" copies selling for $80+ a pop. That's just greed, right there.

They do it because they like contributing to the retro gaming community.

Selling copies of video game software that they have no legal permission to do is not "contributing" - it's casting the classic gaming movement in a negative light, due to its incessant lust for piracy. Nobody important is ever going to take this "retro revolution" seriously unless there's a bit of professionalism and respect behind it.

As I stated over at the Digital Press forums, if any of these "reproduction" sellers had actually bothered to attempt contact with the IP holder of Nightmare Busters, they may have been granted a proper license to distribute it. After all, we were. Sadly, the ease of just stealing the games is always much more inviting to the masses.

Brandon and his employees want to get paid for what they're doing, and I don't blame them.

I just want to have a budget for the next game. To get paid, I work my day job.