真剣で私に恋しなさい！Ａ－２ on 640x480 native.... too cheap?

[lanceton]

it's getting rare to see any hg released in 640x480 resolution, but 真剣で私に恋しなさい！Ａ－２ is one of the examples

I'm just curious about how much would they actually save in cost by releasing a game in low resolution, in terms of %? (I know it's not a big industry, so % probably serves a better indicator) and on what part of the costs can they actually save on? CG processing? engine licensing? or are there any other cost that might potentially be saved?

or is it a factor other than cost that made them release in 640x480 native? I don't suppose it'd be compatibility issue since I don't think much of any one still using 1024x768 resolution nowadays

 

[Terumi]

I do think its just a marketing decision.

The A series from Majikoi and minatosoft is just like a very small scale thing, something which wont be classified as a fan disk too. Its just a short separate disc for minor characters. I assume the production costs aint too much, so the game wont enjoy too much credits like better resolution nor high price. There's 3 more till A-5 which will be released too, I am guessing it will be the same pattern.

Its kinda a fair deal, considering fans of the series will definitely snap the disc up.

 

[lanceton]

it's perfectly understandable if they just don't want to spend too much on these kind of small projects

I'm just curious what exactly drove this market decision. if it's cost then how much can they actually save by releasing it at minimum resolution? pure curiosity.

 

[Animaksiat]

kay, here's a simple marketing, how much do you think they'll gain profit from the release? it's because they know 90% in the world who play this game ARE NOT BUYING THEM! so i guess only 30% eroge fans in japan who bought it. maybe less!

 

[Terumi]

My point of view again, its just up to the company itself.

There's no guessing why they made this decision, fans will still play in the end.

 

[FlowerTradeWinds]

Once all A series are out they're going to make a "Package" version.
My guess is they will have higher resolution CG by that time, as to make people pay again.

 

[lanceton]

kay, here's a simple marketing, how much do you think they'll gain profit from the release? it's because they know 90% in the world who play this game ARE NOT BUYING THEM! so i guess only 30% eroge fans in japan who bought it. maybe less!

well most of the games are not supposed to be sold overseas anyway? xD
so I don't think they actually cared much about overseas piracy, at least in monetary terms.

if I'm not mistaken, Japanese business has the practice of limiting their export on creativity and innovation related products, probably on the mindset of reducing competition from copied products? they delay the release at best.

Frankly I think it'd help the industry as a whole if they opens up overseas distribution channels, even if they have to compromise on the product pricing. It's not like the world won't take their advantage on their creativity if they don't do so, in this internet age...

Once all A series are out they're going to make a "Package" version.
My guess is they will have higher resolution CG by that time, as to make people pay again.

This makes very good sense... since it is a good series in terms of content, an upgraded all-in-one package does offer certain repurchase value

 

[FlowerTradeWinds]

well most of the games are not supposed to be sold overseas anyway? xD
so I don't think they actually cared much about overseas piracy, at least in monetary terms.

if I'm not mistaken, Japanese business has the practice of limiting their export on creativity and innovation related products, probably on the mindset of reducing competition from copied products? they delay the release at best.

Frankly I think it'd help the industry as a whole if they opens up overseas distribution channels, even if they have to compromise on the product pricing. It's not like the world won't take their advantage on their creativity if they don't do so, in this internet age...


This makes very good sense... since it is a good series in terms of content, an upgraded all-in-one package does offer certain repurchase value

Overseas distribution channel is highly unlikely, if not impossible...

1. If the games are priced lower, highly likely that the games get re-imported to Japan, affecting both first-hand and second-hand market.
2. Import and selling games with loli characters could get you in some serious trouble.
3. Distributors have to stock games which means there will be un-sold games. Price has to be higher to make up for that.
4. People purchasing games expecting english translation and uncensored, received the game and find text that they can't read and CG that is censored, then ask for refund.
5. Shipping charges isn't going to be any cheaper than shipping from Japan.
6. No shop bonus means you are getting less value than importing a copy with Sofmap bonus for example.

 

[Animaksiat]

well most of the games are not supposed to be sold overseas anyway? xD
so I don't think they actually cared much about overseas piracy, at least in monetary terms.

if I'm not mistaken, Japanese business has the practice of limiting their export on creativity and innovation related products, probably on the mindset of reducing competition from copied products? they delay the release at best.

Frankly I think it'd help the industry as a whole if they opens up overseas distribution channels, even if they have to compromise on the product pricing. It's not like the world won't take their advantage on their creativity if they don't do so, in this internet age...


This makes very good sense... since it is a good series in terms of content, an upgraded all-in-one package does offer certain repurchase value

just because they not support overseas sale, doesn't mean they didn't care about piracy. as matter of fact they really sensitive about it! those loli's contain eroge, all of immorality, etc etc...
the only country that allows it are japan only. imagine if their goods being sell freely overseas. they're products will be banned immediately by UNICEF, and wont be allowed to make any of it anylonger!

this case will cause major unemployment in industries!

which is why, i aggre with Flower statement above! this one is just likely a one step for a better marketing!

and well i speak this and that, but then again... who am i to be able to complain about it.
cause i also download pirates eroge, though i do bought the games that i taken really like.

i can't just go buy all the games that i wanted to play, d'oh! my salary can't afford them!

 

[lanceton]

I am basically talking about digital distribution channels.
don't think the industry is able to establish an effective physical distribution channel due to the pricing.
but a platform like Steam might do the trick?

on the loli and other sex crime issues, for as far as I know they are still largely up to debate whether they're under the realm of art creation. it's one of the unsettled issues in the whole global gaming industry for these kind of games e.g. rockstar's violence games. the games are still R-rated afterall.

besides, if the games are just digital downloads, don't think other countries have jurisdiction over japanese firms. of course, since japan government seem to be on the weak side from international pressure, the industry just need to be careful not to cross certain lines like the issue brought up by that british parliament member. I have read a few articles by english reporters explaining why loli is not child porn at all, showing that the cause is not lost.

 

[FlowerTradeWinds]

I am basically talking about digital distribution channels.
don't think the industry is able to establish an effective physical distribution channel due to the pricing.
but a platform like Steam might do the trick?

on the loli and other sex crime issues, for as far as I know they are still largely up to debate whether they're under the realm of art creation. it's one of the unsettled issues in the whole global gaming industry for these kind of games e.g. rockstar's violence games. the games are still R-rated afterall.

besides, if the games are just digital downloads, don't think other countries have jurisdiction over japanese firms. of course, since japan government seem to be on the weak side from international pressure, the industry just need to be careful not to cross certain lines like the issue brought up by that british parliament member. I have read a few articles by english reporters explaining why loli is not child porn at all, showing that the cause is not lost.

There is already an English DLSite available. But the content is pretty limited, and for digital download you still need to meet the law of whichever country's customer you sell to.

Digital distribution of games doesn't really work in Japan other than doujin stuff. You may get the game say 500-1000 yen cheaper, but then you can ALSO buy a second hand copy of the physical game (if available) for same price, or even less.

You miss out on all the bonus content if you buy a downloaded copy. And you lose the ability to sell games you don't need. What if the game didn't meet your expectation? For a downloaded copy, there is no refund. For a physical copy, at least you can sell the game. And last, you aren't subjected to the same level of protection with physical disc. Quite commonly, the DL version needed online activation, the disc version have no protection at all.

It is not like music which you can just buy 1 track instead of an album.

For the topic on loli, it is a lost cause, same as copyright infringement. You get a bigger penalty raping an underage than severely hurting someone. You get a bigger penalty if your pirate online, than stealing a disc in a shop.

The world seems to be OK with violence. I guess because if they increase the penalty, all the prisons will be so full the country goes bankrupt. Same wise, because so many people drink alcohol or smoke, they can't make alcohol or cig illegal.

 

[Checkmate]

Well, I thought I'd chime in

Collecting physical copies is like collecting stamps to me: I have no use for the stamps itself, I just want it to be on the pretty display. I'd never buy digital copies until western game give up and I stopped buying/playing western game altogether.

All other the points above, FlowerTradeWinds get it right.

They will get into all short of trouble if the western see girls in school uniform doing "cute" stuff. Moreover, per Commonwealth law (aka UK, AU, and countries that has a union jack on its flag) if a fiction girl doesn't have BIG breast, she's underaged. Possessing of childpr0n including fiction works, do you as bad as committing the real crime.