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| 21 APR 2006 at 9:56am |
ShanyGuild Master
Posts : 3313
Joined: 19 JUN 2003
Status : Online | Are they planning to release a demo?
I'm not too fond of this type of game, but a demo might change my mind.
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| 21 APR 2006 at 10:37am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | What type is that? Horror? 1st person?
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| 21 APR 2006 at 10:56am |
| Deleted User | I pre-ordered mine too and received an email that the game had been shipped. That was 11 days ago. Still waiting... and Holland is closer to England than the US. [smiley=sad.gif]
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| 21 APR 2006 at 11:32am |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | I got mine yesterday and was thrilled to find out I got one of the 10 bonus packs (of the 100 pre orders).
There's a picture book called Ancient Cornwall by Paul White, and a Barrow Hill magnetic calendar.
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
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| 21 APR 2006 at 12:28pm |
ShanyGuild Master
Posts : 3313
Joined: 19 JUN 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Ivinia (21 APR 2006 10:36am)
What type is that? Horror? 1st person?
1st person with static background and node to node travel. Also, Darkfall like puzzles where you have to write down clues whenever you see them.
But if the plot is good, and gameplay isn't as bad as it sounds, I might give it a try.
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| 21 APR 2006 at 1:00pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Yep, Shany, this might not be your kind of game then. I wrote down clues, but they didn't amount to more than a page and it was definitely node based slideshow (non-360 degree turning).
I'd rate Darkfall a bit higher on the note taking scale than Barrow Hill.
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| 21 APR 2006 at 1:10pm |
ShanyGuild Master
Posts : 3313
Joined: 19 JUN 2003
Status : Online | Thanks for the info. I guess I'll wait for a demo, or not get this game.
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| 21 APR 2006 at 2:57pm |
hlalexSpace Cadet
Posts : 127
Joined: 19 JUL 2004
Status : Online | Hi
We also pre-ordered our game but it hasn't come yet. Like Betje I received an email saying it was shipped 11 or 12 days ago. We live in the Western US and I bet we don't get it for another 4 or 5 days. Snail Mail or maybe slug power.....
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| 21 APR 2006 at 6:03pm |
jonathanboakesSpace Cadet
Posts : 140
Joined: 10 MAY 2003
Status : Online | There are two great new reviews of Barrow Hill online; one right here at Just Adventure:
"The game is out now via web purchase and it is just wonderful. It is a classic adventure game which gradually reveals a good story while exploring a beautiful setting and solving rational puzzles."
Barrow Hill by Robert Washburne, who gave the game A-.
"A fascinating interactive screenplay, which poses thematic questions of what and where, while allowing the gamer to formulate his or her theories as to why."
Barrow Hill by Inferno, can be found over at Gameboomers. She also gave the game an A-. Hurrah!
Great news for Matt, and Shadow Tor Studios! I'm looking forward to what they come up with next. It's turned out to be a great year for adventure games, whether independently funded, or not.
Jonathan
[img]http://www.darklingroom.co.uk/warning.jpg[/img]&&[url=http://www.thelostcrown.co.uk]Darkling Room: The Lost Crown[/url] / [url=http://www.barrow-hill.co.uk/sales]Playing: Barrow Hill[/url]
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| 22 APR 2006 at 2:43am |
Randy-JAJourneyman
Posts : 1351
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | This is why we attempt to convince Independent Developers to sell their games in the JA Store, we ship media mail and I don't believe it has taken longer than 3 days for anyone to receive their orders.
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| 22 APR 2006 at 3:13am |
| Deleted User | It would be nice if they did! I can't find a store in southern California that has it. Guess I'll have to wait :'(
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| 22 APR 2006 at 4:12am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | It's self-published wowforz. You can only buy it online from the developer:
http://www.barrow-hill.co.uk
Randy - How does that work anyway with JA selling them? I'm assuming the developer would have to send a few cases of burned CDs to JA, otherwise you wouldn't be able to provide the 3 days shipping.
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| 22 APR 2006 at 10:57am |
jonathanboakesSpace Cadet
Posts : 140
Joined: 10 MAY 2003
Status : Online | I'd be very interested to hear how the JA+ Shop works as well. 3 day shipping sounds great!
[img]http://www.darklingroom.co.uk/warning.jpg[/img]&&[url=http://www.thelostcrown.co.uk]Darkling Room: The Lost Crown[/url] / [url=http://www.barrow-hill.co.uk/sales]Playing: Barrow Hill[/url]
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| 22 APR 2006 at 1:27pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Surely, the developer should send a small stock of games prior to the release...
The figures I got from the store are very promising - taking into account this is a fairly recent project, the initial results and attention to customers (very important) is quite impressive.
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| 22 APR 2006 at 3:49pm |
Randy-JAJourneyman
Posts : 1351
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Basically the JA Online Store works like any other online store except that it 1) Specializes in adventure game and 2) Is the ONLY store to offer a one-stop outlet to purchase Independently Developed Adventure games. The fellow who runs the store - Dave - actually owns a few stores in California so he is very familiar with the business.
Dave purchases games wholesale from distributors and then resells them at the JA store. In fact, as the store becomes more popular, it has become a great source for tracking how different adventure games are selling.
We had originally attempted allowing Independent Developers sell their games separately from the main store, but it was too confusing for the consumer who wanted to order both a retail game and an independent game as they then had to place separate orders and pay separate postage.
Now the Independent Develper needs to only be willing to sell a predetermined amount of copies of his game to Dave at a price agreed upon by the two parties, the developer then ships the amount of units sold to Dave in one package. ave then takes care of individual orders from around the world in his offices from California.
I believe we currently average 3 games sold per order (being a mix of both retaila and Independent games). We have had great success with Indpendent games thus far with some games selling a few dozen units and one game selling in the hundreds. Keep in mind that Independent games usually average around 1,000 units sold.
What is most baffling is that some independent developers have been reluctant to sell their product in the JA Online Store as we could easily double the amount of units sold for their games. Another plus to have your independent game sold in the JA Online store is that is mixed in with big name titles like Paradise, etc. and the Independent title immediatley gains legitimacy. We have also had publishers see certain games for sale in the JA Online store and write to ask about the game.
Currently, the store only accepts Paypal for orders, but this is only so Dave can keep track of the orders coming from JA. He wiill though take money orders and credit card payments, but you need to let him know that your order is coming from JA Store so we get credit for it. We do make a small amount for each game sold, not to mention that if we can track the amount and types of adventure games sold, it helps developers get a better feel for what people want.
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| 22 APR 2006 at 11:24pm |
BazzaLBPrivate Detective
Posts : 512
Joined: 27 AUG 2005
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Is this a fixed resolution game? If so, what res is it fixed to?
Screenshots look great on the home page, but a little small on my LCD.
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| 23 APR 2006 at 12:39am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Randy-JA (22 APR 2006 3:48pm)
What is most baffling is that some independent developers have been reluctant to sell their product in the JA Online Store as we could easily double the amount of units sold for their games. Another plus to have your independent game sold in the JA Online store is that is mixed in with big name titles like Paradise, etc. and the Independent title immediatley gains legitimacy. We have also had publishers see certain games for sale in the JA Online store and write to ask about the game.
Personally, this makes no sense to me especially if an indie is sitting there with cases of burned CDs that aren't moving...
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| 23 APR 2006 at 9:41am |
BazzaLBPrivate Detective
Posts : 512
Joined: 27 AUG 2005
Location: AU
Status : Offline | what!? my question too tough!?
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| 23 APR 2006 at 10:35am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | It IS a tricky one Bazza!
It was running at 800x600 on my system (I did a screen capture and that's what the image was) and I didn't see any options for changing it.
Looked pretty crisp on my LCD and mine is native at 1280x1024. There's quite a bit of video in there at the beginning and there are lots of highly detailed locations, so I'm assuming that is why it's on DVD instead of a CD. Looks like he kept the compression to a minimum which explains why they looked pretty crisp and the sounds were VERY crisp as well. Granted, I'm assuming here.
I was quite pleased that the sounds were in stereo. If a noise was coming from the left, it played on the left. It greatly enhanced the immersion for me as I felt 'surrounded'.
Hope this helps!
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| 23 APR 2006 at 10:35am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By latraki (23 APR 2006 10:10am)
Good idea, but who buys via JA? Read the other Forums.
Quite a few actually. Myself included.
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| 23 APR 2006 at 10:52am |
Lucien21Guild Master
Posts : 4876
Joined: 9 JUL 2003
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ivinia (23 APR 2006 10:35am)
Originally Posted By latraki (23 APR 2006 10:10am)
Good idea, but who buys via JA? Read the other Forums.
Quite a few actually. Myself included.
Me too. I bought Scratches from there and it was very fast and efficient
Dear Diary, My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a bodycount.
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| 23 APR 2006 at 11:58am |
jonathanboakesSpace Cadet
Posts : 140
Joined: 10 MAY 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Randy-JA (22 APR 2006 3:48pm)
What is most baffling is that some independent developers have been reluctant to sell their product in the JA Online Store
I agree with Ivinia, it doesn't make any sense. If there is an outlet for independent games, especially shipping from within the US, then it seems like a great opportunity. There is only one issue that strikes me, though, and that's the fact that I didn't know anything about the JA Online store, and how it functions. I've never been approached, and (after a quick phone call) neither has Shadow Tor Studios (the makers of Barrow Hill).
Now that it's been stated, I'm sure there will be plenty jumping at the chance to have a secondary outlet to distribute their games. I can't see any potential downsides.
Jonathan
[img]http://www.darklingroom.co.uk/warning.jpg[/img]&&[url=http://www.thelostcrown.co.uk]Darkling Room: The Lost Crown[/url] / [url=http://www.barrow-hill.co.uk/sales]Playing: Barrow Hill[/url]
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| 23 APR 2006 at 12:03pm |
colpetSchattenjger
Posts : 1630
Joined: 12 APR 2003
Status : Offline | I'm another satisfied customer of te JA store. I like the fact that there is no extra charge for shipping to Canada.
Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 0063722 .&&
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| 23 APR 2006 at 12:41pm |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5536
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | I also got Scratches from the JA store and an assortment of indie games as well. It's definitely the first place I'm going to go for indie titles -- a very convenient and affordable way to pick up games you would probably have to order individually from each developer's website, and pay shipping on each game rather than the very, very reasonable flat fee here at JA.
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