Cardboard v Computer: Would you pay for a complete game?
Posted: 22 May 2022, 17:58
Hi ZunTzu folks,
I've been kicking around this question for awhile and I'd really like to know. Here's the situation as I see it...
Right now ZunTzu hosts quite a number of games that are incomplete. They are--deliberately--missing the rules, charts, and tables. This is in accordance with the publishers' terms. Some of these gameboxes are noted as "ownership of the original game required" and some are just disappointments when you download them and find just a map and counters. Either way, the only people who can actually play these gameboxes are the people who have possession of their paper/cardboard version.
As I see it, the publishers are afraid that they would lose sales if people could play their games on computer. The intent of allowing incomplete gameboxes is to give the computer option to their cardboard customers and, possibly, to generate some extra sales by sparking interest from ZunTzu folks browsing the list of gameboxes. Copyright laws give the publishers the right to do this. Fine.
Except I don't want to buy a paper game.
I prefer to play my games on the computer. A long list of reasons: a small apartment, no table space, friends far away, limited time to play, setup takes too long, etc. The computer is much more convenient and fits my aging lifestyle. I'm not in the market for a paper game anymore. The last time I played one was five years ago. I don't miss it.
So if I want to play one of these incomplete gameboxes, my only option is to buy the paper version (it it's still in print) and get hold of the rules and tables. That's $40, $50, $60, $70 or more for a paper version I will never use. Am I going to do that? Not likely. Truthfully, not ever.
The question is: Will you?
Suppose there was another option though. Suppose that the publisher allowed the complete game to be put up on ZunTzu and asked for--didn't require--a small donation to support the company and the designers. Say, ten bucks. I would think that was fair. I would pay that.
Would you?
I'd really like to know. I suspect the game publishers would like to know too. So please, let's have a discussion about this.
Thanks,
Frank
I've been kicking around this question for awhile and I'd really like to know. Here's the situation as I see it...
Right now ZunTzu hosts quite a number of games that are incomplete. They are--deliberately--missing the rules, charts, and tables. This is in accordance with the publishers' terms. Some of these gameboxes are noted as "ownership of the original game required" and some are just disappointments when you download them and find just a map and counters. Either way, the only people who can actually play these gameboxes are the people who have possession of their paper/cardboard version.
As I see it, the publishers are afraid that they would lose sales if people could play their games on computer. The intent of allowing incomplete gameboxes is to give the computer option to their cardboard customers and, possibly, to generate some extra sales by sparking interest from ZunTzu folks browsing the list of gameboxes. Copyright laws give the publishers the right to do this. Fine.
Except I don't want to buy a paper game.
I prefer to play my games on the computer. A long list of reasons: a small apartment, no table space, friends far away, limited time to play, setup takes too long, etc. The computer is much more convenient and fits my aging lifestyle. I'm not in the market for a paper game anymore. The last time I played one was five years ago. I don't miss it.
So if I want to play one of these incomplete gameboxes, my only option is to buy the paper version (it it's still in print) and get hold of the rules and tables. That's $40, $50, $60, $70 or more for a paper version I will never use. Am I going to do that? Not likely. Truthfully, not ever.
The question is: Will you?
Suppose there was another option though. Suppose that the publisher allowed the complete game to be put up on ZunTzu and asked for--didn't require--a small donation to support the company and the designers. Say, ten bucks. I would think that was fair. I would pay that.
Would you?
I'd really like to know. I suspect the game publishers would like to know too. So please, let's have a discussion about this.
Thanks,
Frank