Colossal Cave (was Ken & Roberta Game Announcement)

[Rath Darkblade]

Thankfully you won't humble-brag.....!

Sorry. Like I said, I care about words and using them properly. That's not a bad thing, is it? *blush*

Image31.png

Thank you ... so yes, looks like I got them all (almost).

[Tawmis]

Thankfully you won't humble-brag.....!

Sorry. Like I said, I care about words and using them properly. That's not a bad thing, is it? *blush*

Image31.png

Thank you ... so yes, looks like I got them all (almost).

I was razzing, in regards to the first... thought it was funny how ye said ye wouldn't humble-brag, then the next thing ye quoted you went into a dialogue about how it was incorrect on the second thing (mythical vs mystical).

And you did get all the things on the image correct... we're both suspecting SQ for the flying saucer... and the dragon is either KQ1 or Colossal Cave (I'd guess Colossal Cave, since it seems like a progress of KQ, to LSL, to PQ, to money, to their boat, to now a huge cave with a dragon - which Colossal Cave has both of). I think the only thing ye didn't mention was the "158" score... which if memory serves, is the max score in KQ1.

[DeadPoolX]

Just so everyone knows... if you want to buy Colossal Cave, you won't find it on GOG at launch. It's possible GOG might see it in six months, but even that is iffy.

Ken Williams stated as much on the Colossal Cave forums on Steam:

To be on GOG we need to be 100% DRM free. GOG wants us, and I want them, but I'm nervous about going 100% DRM free from the beginning. I proposed to them that we simply verify (from the code) that we were launched from their launcher one time -- and they still said "no".

Good for them that they are willing to pass on a chance at our product on release day rather than altering their core strategy, just for us. I support them on that, but I just couldn't do it to go DRM free at the beginning. Maybe in six months. Meanwhile, we'll be on Epic, Steam, Switch, Steamdeck, Xbox, PS5, Meta Quest 2, with lots more versions coming (IOS/Android/PS4/SteamVR, and others we haven't announced yet)-- and in 13 languages. If someone wants to play the game, they will have no problem getting it.

I can understand Ken's concerns, and I can't say I wouldn't be similarly hesitant to release a game on GOG (or at least, release it at the same time as on other digital distribution services).

It's unfortunate, but likely true that more than a few gamers on GOG release games freely online. Sure, you'll probably be able to find cracked versions, but doing so requires some work and even then, you have no idea if the game was cracked successfully (so it might not work at all), and you won't get any support or updates. More importantly, there could be malware attached to the files, so it's a big risk to download cracked games.

Oh, and I don't recall if the price of Colossal Cave was already mentioned in this thread, but apparently it's $39.99 USD on PC, VR, and console. No idea what it'll cost on iOS and Android, but I can't imagine they'd charge the same amount there as mobile gamers are even stingier than PC gamers.

[Tawmis]

Just so everyone knows... if you want to buy Colossal Cave, you won't find it on GOG at launch. It's possible GOG might see it in six months, but even that is iffy.
(Snip Justified Reason)

Yeah, it absolutely makes sense why they wouldn't release it on GoG. Especially being now - technically an "Indie" company again - and it costing 40 bucks for the game.

But man, GoG and former Sierra folks - because Corey mentioned GoG declined to pick up Summer Daze, which is odd. You'd figure they'd want games that have done well, and since it's the same folks who made Hero-U, you'd think they'd want Summer Daze too.

[DeadPoolX]

Just so everyone knows... if you want to buy Colossal Cave, you won't find it on GOG at launch. It's possible GOG might see it in six months, but even that is iffy.
(Snip Justified Reason)

Yeah, it absolutely makes sense why they wouldn't release it on GoG. Especially being now - technically an "Indie" company again - and it costing 40 bucks for the game.

But man, GoG and former Sierra folks - because Corey mentioned GoG declined to pick up Summer Daze, which is odd. You'd figure they'd want games that have done well, and since it's the same folks who made Hero-U, you'd think they'd want Summer Daze too.

There might also be other legal complications since GOG is Polish, and Poland is part of the European Union. Some laws, particularly those revolving around digital rights management, are different in the EU.

In contrast, both Valve and Epic Games are US companies, so it's probably easier for Sierra Cygnus to manage as far as distribution on computers are concerned. Consoles are another matter entirely since their entire platform is essentially DRM in and of itself.

[Rath Darkblade]

Good on the Williamses for being hesitant to go DRM-free. Yes, downloading cracked games is fraught with all sorts of risks; I'd much rather pay for a game I want.

I remember reading some of the objections to DRM: that it was invasive, that it harvested personal data or data about your machine, etc. Is that still the case? In an age where identity theft is so common, if DRM does harvest personal data, the concern is valid. *shrug*

[DeadPoolX]

Good on the Williamses for being hesitant to go DRM-free. Yes, downloading cracked games is fraught with all sorts of risks; I'd much rather pay for a game I want.

Well, ideally the way PC games should be is both DRM-free and the customer pays for it. It's just unfortunate that "some people" end up ruining things for everyone, and this goes way beyond gaming.

The majority of people who seek out cracked software aren't those who're upset due to DRM, it's people who feel they're owed a product at an unreasonably low price or even free.

Some of these people also have their priorities very messed up. One of the individuals I had a disagreement with about Colossal Cave's price on Steam said he wanted a major discount on the game because he's currently on welfare. Let that sink in. He's on welfare.

Here's a crazy idea: if you're on welfare, maybe you need to think about allocating funds to more important facets of your life than computer games.

I remember reading some of the objections to DRM: that it was invasive, that it harvested personal data or data about your machine, etc. Is that still the case? In an age where identity theft is so common, if DRM does harvest personal data, the concern is valid. *shrug*

It depends on the DRM itself, although the most common forms of DRM are quite benign (such as Steam itself). Even the more invasive forms of DRM don't collect enough information to effectively commit identity theft. People are more at risk by filling out their Facebook profile and leaving all the information publicly viewable.

[Rath Darkblade]

Good on the Williamses for being hesitant to go DRM-free. Yes, downloading cracked games is fraught with all sorts of risks; I'd much rather pay for a game I want.

Well, ideally the way PC games should be is both DRM-free and the customer pays for it. It's just unfortunate that "some people" end up ruining things for everyone, and this goes way beyond gaming.

The majority of people who seek out cracked software aren't those who're upset due to DRM, it's people who feel they're owed a product at an unreasonably low price or even free.

Some of these people also have their priorities very messed up. One of the individuals I had a disagreement with about Colossal Cave's price on Steam said he wanted a major discount on the game because he's currently on welfare. Let that sink in. He's on welfare.

Here's a crazy idea: if you're on welfare, maybe you need to think about allocating funds to more important facets of your life than computer games.

True. Many years ago, when I just started college, I had to accept government assistance. It wasn't much, but I could use it for essentials: rent, bills, food etc. I saved what was left (not much).

I'd have loved to be able to afford luxuries like new computer games, books, clothes etc... but meh. *shrug* New computer games alone could cost me up to $90. Each.

I don't mean to be condescending, but ... if a computer game is more important to this guy than rent, bills and food ... perhaps he should learn about budgeting? *shrug*

[Tawmis]

I don't mean to be condescending, but ... if a computer game is more important to this guy than rent, bills and food ... perhaps he should learn about budgeting? *shrug*

I remember discussing, even in the late 80s - Sierra games were $40 then. And today, games, are that much still.
Ah ha - found the thread:
http://forums.sierrahelp.com/viewtopic. ... 756#p86756

[Collector]

Adjusted for inflation that 1987 $40 would be over $100 today.

[Tawmis]

Adjusted for inflation that 1987 $40 would be over $100 today.

Which is crazy. And yet, there I was (sometimes splitting the cost with a friend), buying those games left and right as they came out from Sierra.

[Tawmis]

Also - Colossal Cave released today.

[Tawmis]

And more -

http://larrylaffer.net/archives/4217

[Rath Darkblade]

Exciting news, for sure, but perhaps I should wait until the patches are released? Or the bug fixes?

My heart says, "Buy now." My head says, "Someone will find a bug that slipped past QA."

Remember Error 52? And "Oops! You did something we were not expecting"? *shrug*

[notbobsmith]

Colossal Cave is now on GOG:

https://www.gog.com/en/game/colossal_cave