Early access, preorder and ideas!

[LuftManu]

Good morning! or evening, dear friends.

 

After learning that the team doesn't know yet if it will do Early Access, I'd like to comment a bit on the idea.

 

We live in a world where hype and pre-ordering digital items is all the rage. Long gone are the days of physical games.

The pre-purchase system is a useful system where you can help the developer in the economic part, before receiving the finished product. Sometimes, developers in return allow to use the product before it is finished (Early Access).

Unfortunately, people sometimes do not understand that it is not a finished product. And that's where the problems come in.

 

Considering the team's idea of offering and selling only a complete product from the beginning with what is now offered in Great Battles, it seems to me that this same idea could be applied on this new saga, forgetting about Early Acess. At the same time it could bring some fresh air with options that had previously been forgotten.

 

Let me explain:

 

Korea. Il-2 Series offers a new theater with new aircraft types. A major renovation, from what we've been told.

Seems to me that with Great Battles still running, it would be a great idea to offer a free, temporary demo near the launch.

 

For example, if the release date is already close (in a month), release a demo with a piston plane and a jet in a limited part of the map with 1 or 2 missions and so people can try and enjoy all the improvements and changes made.

 

It would be at this point, with a free demo, where I would then open a pre-purchase so that people who are happy with what they have seen, buy their Korea, knowing what is coming and having tried it beforehand.

 

This would not only show confidence, but also apply a very consumer friendly practice.

 

Also, it would be nice to have physical editions again, even if it was at the beginning. I was looking forward to it, if possible. The team could think about a physical special edition with a map and maybe some book with history of the units involved or other elements (of course, with a higher price).

Just some ideas in the wild, guys!

Kind regards and good luck!

 

[Avimimus]

Honestly, if I were them I'd finish the project... and then release it as 'early access' to build hype, with aircraft coming out at an enhanced schedule (e.g. a new aircraft every two weeks). It would cause people to try each plane (rather than just defaulting to what they think will be their favourites) and generate conversation - however, as everything will be complete behind the scenes, there won't be as much of a risk of frustrating bugs or other issues.

 

That said, I think the idea of some kind of free demo might be desirable (either in Korea or in Great Battles). Maybe make the U-2VS flyable for free or something like that! It'd be nice to have a way to show off the sim to friend without having to wait for a sale and buy them BoS 😄

 

Also, I do think they should consider opening pre-orders well ahead of release... just put a big disclaimer that it is still some months out... we should be given plenty of time to impulse buy... even if some people might complain... some of us would really like to have already committed to supporting the project. Could call it an 'early pre-order' or some type of 'supporter' deal, or something along those lines - with a big disclaimer attached regarding the time-frame.

[LuftManu]

6 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

Honestly, if I were them I'd finish the project... and then release it as 'early access' to build hype, with aircraft coming out at an enhanced schedule (e.g. a new aircraft every two weeks). It would cause people to try each plane (rather than just defaulting to what they think will be their favourites) and generate conversation - however, as everything will be complete behind the scenes, there won't be as much of a risk of frustrating bugs or other issues.

 

That said, I think the idea of some kind of free demo might be desirable (either in Korea or in Great Battles). Maybe make the U-2VS flyable for free or something like that! It'd be nice to have a way to show off the sim to friend without having to wait for a sale and buy them BoS 😄

That also makes sense yeah! I remember having tons of fun too with Bodenplate and Kuban lineup! 

[Avimimus]

So, sequential release without early access! 😄 That is what I'd do.

 

It'd mean waiting for longer for content - but we wouldn't have to know we were waiting for longer than necessary  

[LuftManu]

4 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

So, sequential release without early access! 😄 That is what I'd do.

 

It'd mean waiting for longer for content - but we wouldn't have to know we were waiting for longer than necessary  

That could be great. Pumping finished content. I also remember the planes being released in pairs, such as the Spit Mk.IX and the G14.

 

Also, I would love a boxed edition too! 

[Hartigan]

I think Great Battles is the only game where the early access concept works well. It felt like Christmas to get new content from time to time over a year.