ED - how do they survive?

[McVittees]

Okay, I downloaded Black Shark from the 1C website and it cost me less than £12.

 

£12.

 

Now, I'm not an economist and I am going to buy the english version, but how on earth do developers like ED survive on margins like this? If 1C are selling it for so little how much are ED getting? Bearing in mind Blackshark is not going to sell 500,000 copies I wonder if ED do it just for the love! Or are products like Blackshark subsidised by work they do for governments (ala StealBeasts Pro PE)?

 

What's all the more suprising is the impression from reading this forum is ED seem to have a stable and clear vision of the future that will actually happen!

 

Can anyone shed some light on they achive this remarkable feat?!

[ZaltysZ]

Go to Russia and you will be amazed how Vodka is cheap there. :smilewink:

 

You can't directly compare western prices to prices inside Russia or CIS, especially the ones of locally made products.

[Boberro]

Exactly like said ZaltysZ.

 

Various countires have different proportions between earnings and life costs. For Polish guy it would be really expensive in some countires, but for people who live in this "expensive" country prices aren't too high cos they earn much.

 

Don't forget about military contracts... and possible another un-public things (contracts, ect) which we don't know ;)

Edited November 17, 2008 by Boberro

[takamba]

I think ED makes its money with the contracts with ANG/USAF!

 

The A-10C DTS, for example...

[Eichhorn666]

They definitely get the major money from the US..... Developing prof. simulations!

[Groove]

They definitely get the major money from the US..... Developing prof. simulations!

 

And you know from where?

[Groove]

Additonally what people tend to forget that only a minority of game customers goes on forums and participate in the "community life". Most people buy a game, download the patches and don't even play online.

 

Don't underestimate this customer base numbers.

[Vekkinho]

I can't make any comments on this subject without turning this thread into a political debate so I'll just smile in nostalgia of good ol' days I had and the rest of the world envied!

[Acedy]

Bearing in mind Blackshark is not going to sell 500,000 copies I wonder if ED do it just for the love!

 

Falcon 4 sold ~800,000 copies (excluding AF). ;)

[McVittees]

Falcon 4 sold ~800,000 copies (excluding AF). ;)

 

Well here's to hoping ED beat 'em! They've definitely got the best product I've come accross since F4 was released!

[RedTiger]

Additonally what people tend to forget that only a minority of game customers goes on forums and participate in the "community life". Most people buy a game, download the patches and don't even play online.

 

Don't underestimate this customer base numbers.

 

QFT, QFT, QFT!

 

I'd be totally in that boat too if simulations weren't complex and I didn't need some help when I started playing them. Asking for help eventually became actively participating in the community since flight sims are based on interesting real-life things. In contrast, I play other games but I have no contact with anyone online about them, only my offline friends.

[mc_smile]

As i'm from Russia i can say that price of 12? is fair enough for us - not too cheap and also not too expensive (for instance Crysis is sold for 35? in our country)

[RedTiger]

As i'm from Russia i can say that price of 12? is fair enough for us - not too cheap and also not too expensive (for instance Crysis is sold for 35? in our country)

 

Wow, thats interesting. I am in the USA and IIRC, I bought Crysis for less than what BS will cost me.

[multiviper]

Well now that we know what it cost in Russia, I think its safe to say for the western world it will cost 3 to 5 times as much. cause i don't think ED will be selling BS in the US for $11.34 cents.... which is fine, heck the Tax on it here in the US will probably cost more than what the sim cost in Russia....

[Slaunyeh]

Well , as it ll never come to Brazil i m just waiting for online download.

Ny russian is zero, so i ll wait for the western edition to download.

Some people already downloaded it with torrent but are having no fun, they are fighting the game not learning it.

[crazysundog]

and may their fingers rot and fall off their hands....

 

many here downloaded the russian version (it cost me the equivalent of a dozen beer in Canada) and we are having fun crashing and scratching our heads because we sleep better at night...

[Peter22]

Dont worrie , must of the people, like me, will re-purchase the game once my English version come out available.

It will be a pleasure, I think that the BS future is guarantied.

[XLR8]

Most people buy a game, download the patches and don't even play online.

 

Don't underestimate this customer base numbers.

 

I always wanted to play LOFC online but never could figure it out ,bet it would be fun. I do play games like COD,Battlefield ect...omline.:D

[hitman]

They definitely get the major money from the US..... Developing prof. simulations!

Even though they havent really sold anything to US customers (aside from BS in russian) since FC came out...

[multiviper]

Dont worrie , must of the people, like me, will re-purchase the game once my English version come out available.

It will be a pleasure, I think that the BS future is guarantied.

 

I am going to Buy 2 or 3 copes of it... :thumbup:

[Feuerfalke]

Even though they havent really sold anything to US customers (aside from BS in russian) since FC came out...

 

He's refering to the A-10C simulator for the USAF, not BlackShark. :smilewink: