View Full Version : paying for GS information???
rhart00
12-12-2003, 02:29 AM
https://www.play.net/gs4/poll/allpolls.asp
If you haven't already noticed, there are multiple polls on the GS4 homepage gauging interest for paying for information about GS4. Specifically, books about GSIV history and mechanics. Don't we pay enough already? I don't want to pay even more money to Simutronics to learn how to play GSIV. Shouldn't this be free information? I can also see the problems arising of people who creat their own guides for GS such as profession specific guides. They wouldn't be able to disclose this information because it probably be copyrighted, thus meaning new third party GS guides becoming usless.
RiverRat
12-12-2003, 03:51 AM
Well, if its no information versus some information.<shrug>
I'm a history nerd, so I said yes to most of the history books. I think it'd be great to have a book to flip through at a moment's notice, versus having to open a new browser, etc...etc. Plus, well, I'm too lazy to print stuff out.
Tsoran
12-12-2003, 09:10 AM
Fortunately, you completely misread their intentions. I say fortunately, because if you were right, it would indeed be a horrid thing.
They're not looking to make a lot of money from these books. They're responding to requests from players who want printed versions of the documentation.
I can't tell you how many times people haves asked (begged is actually a better word) for printed copies of my maps. I can only assume (well, they've said it outright, so it's not much of an assumption) that Simutronics also gets requests like that.
Personally, I think they're making a big mistake if they do this. It's hard enough for them to keep the website up to date. Keeping printed books anywhere close to up to date will be a nightmare. I wouldn't want to deal with furious customers with complaints like, "I just paid $35 for this hardcover book, and it doesn't have the latest information in it!"
It *might* work for history documents, which don't get updated frequently. I think it would be impossible to do this satisfactorily with mechanics documents, because of the need for frequent updates.
As for copyrighting the information, I wouldn't worry about it. They've said most (if not all) of the information would be available free on their own website. Simutronics does not advertise. All their advertising really comes from word of mouth. They're (usually) not so stupid as to shoot themselves in the foot by knocking the fan sites out.
ZGemstone
12-12-2003, 09:39 AM
Personally, I'd convert all the documents in question into PDF format and present them that way on their site. Then people could print them out and it'd be just as good as any printed/bound documentation they create. And it'd be a lot easier to keep up to date and much easier to manage than printed hard copies.
I answered no to some and maybe yes to others... I think it would be great to have printed documents readily available though at any time.
Tsoran
12-12-2003, 11:01 AM
Originally posted by DarkelfVold
I answered no to some and maybe yes to others... I think it would be great to have printed documents readily available though at any time.
How will you feel, however, when you realize that the book that you bought is out of date before you even get it? Considering the setup time necessary for publishing, I don't see how they can avoid that.
Kitsun
12-12-2003, 11:09 AM
The site should be relatively easy to keep up to date but if I skim through it, I can point out a range of omissions/errors. I remember Verant put out a guide book for EverQuest; in a few weeks, it was considered the best source for laughter EVER! It seemed like the people who wrote it had never even played the game.
The historical documentation, on the other hand, would make for some decent late night reading. I know there's no way I'm going to sit up on my computer and read all those blasted historical documents that are out now. If I'm on my computer I'd rather be ingame.
StrayRogue
12-12-2003, 11:14 AM
Yeah, very nicely presented historical documents would be a must-buy in my opinion.
Tsoran if they are historical documents/maps/information that can be updated easily, then I would consider it.
The Cat In The Hat
12-12-2003, 05:56 PM
Game mechanics? No, I dont care HOW it works, as long as it works. besides, I have number cruncher friends that I can turn to for help when and if I need it.
History? Hell yeah! They'vedone pretty good with some of the documentation... of course, I would want it to be correct, and not say "this is how it happened" and then spontaniously change the history to fit into a new quest or something.. that would piss me off.
Cat
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