UT2004 news you guys might want to know.
There is some disgust going on in the Atari forums and I read through the entire thread to figure out what was going on. I will post the official responses first:
Folks,The only DVD version being shipped is the special edition and there are only 60,000 copies being made - 40,000 copies for North America and 20,000 copies for Europe. So I suggest you pre-order if you can! I've been told that once they're gone, they're gone and there are currently no plans in place to do a non SE DVD edition. So if you want the tin cover (it is a slip cover like the T2 cover rather than a full tin box), the headset, the two DVDs (with the second one having some great exclusive extra stuff on it) then you'd better order now. I expect they'll sell out before too long.
Also if you want to pre-order online www.ebworld.com and www.bestbuy.com are selling the DVD Special Edition for the same price as the regular CD edition. No it is not a mistake. You can get the DVD version from these highly respected retailers for only $39.99. Personally I'm amazed by that because they pay more for the DVD version and there are a limited number of them available. But we saw that same kind of thing happen with the original Unreal Tournament where retailers sold it at, or even below, cost around the product launch and eventually raised the price back to suggested retail price after the initial buying frenzy. GT Interactive, Atari's predecessor, explained to me that do that to build traffic among loyal buyers hoping word-of-mouth from satisfied players will bring more customers into the store to buy it later at a higher margin. Wierd but cool.
Hey everyone, I dropped in so I can help to end the confusion. So with no further ado, here's the situation. Currently there are going to be 3 versions of the game available (more or less), please let me explain.1) 6CD version (main version for North America, rest of the world, Asia, and some parts of Europe)
2) DVD (Main version for Europe, Germany will be DVD only, not North America)
3) DVD Special Edition (w/bonus DVD and a headset, this should be available pretty much everywhere but in LIMITED QUANTITIES. I cannot discuss the amount we are creating so please don't ask)I hope that clears thing up.
Also, we aren't kidding about the limited quantities, it's a special thing we put together for you folks, the hardcore Unreal fans. To ensure you get a Special Edition version, I would suggest that you pre-order at your local retailer, you know you are going to buy it, so might as well pre-order.
So to squash the confusion, there are 3 versions (6CD, DVD, and DVD SE), all 3 may or may not be available where you live, because that depends on where you live and your local retailers not Atari. And finally, Special Edition is ONLY available on PC-DVD in limited quatities.
I hope that helped.
Oh yeah, and DVD-SE is indeed in a big bad metal sleeve thingee, like Raffi said. The CD version however, has this really sweet printed cardboard thingee for your discs (with artwork and stuff, you'll see, plus a special tray for the Play disc). All the packing materials are TOP NOTCH this time.
It seems that it will be very hard for Europeans to get the special edition DVD so I would preorder now if you want it. I know that the GWJ crew is from all over the world (based on the locations) so I wanted to pass this on. If you want to torture yourself like I did and read your daily dose of geek drama, then be my guest:
Xbox Live: Kooter06
I think this is a smart decision. They can really gauge DVD interest in the states without having to commit a lot of production to it. Also, no one wants a bunch of DVDs sitting on store shelves not going anywhere.
I understand there is frustration, but people advocating DVDs should see this as a positive step in the right direction. Things don''t change all at once.
"I think Elysium has the right of it" - Certis
Again, I don''t see the problem with DVD versions of games, on the contrary. DVD drives are quite common these days, and very cheap if you don''t already have one. I''ve already pre-ordered the DVD version of UT2004 myself, and I can''t wait.
What I found funny was that the first quote was from a guy from Atari and the second and third quotes are from a guy from Atari correcting the first guy. I think they are confused themselves.
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Good thing that the DVD version is standard over here. Can''t spend money on anything like that currently, but I sure might want to pick it up some time later and would hate to miss the DVD version.
1 dvd would be so much better than 6 CDs. Easier to install... just start the install and go play your console.
Still I agree that it is a step in the right direction. Dvds to a certain extent help limit pirating so I don''t know why the industry hasn''t gone this route in North Ameriaca yet.
The voices say hello.
I fail to see any problem at all with this. What''s all the fuss about? There are different versions, so?
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
Ya, I ordered the DVD SE version as soon as I saw that it was the same price as the regular version. With the mod tutorials and the hood ornament
it''s the only way to go.
DVD drives are so cheap I have a new Lite On 16x player that I received two weeks ago still sitting in the bubble wrap, it was $28 including shipping. The idea was to put it in the computer with the DVD burner because it reads so much faster. I''ve been to busy to take the five minutes to install it.
BF2
BF2142
The fuss? Their is only an average of ~1250 copies for each European country. Being that Europian players play Unreal more than any other part of the world I think you can see the issue.
On top of all that, it sounds like a lot of stores in Europe don''t even advertise the special edition DVD.
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Ok, I went ahead and pre-ordered the SE DVD through Bestbuy. Unfortunately, I can''t use the $60 in reward money I was saving for it. Hrms, what should I spend the $60 on now...
Battlefield Vietnam
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Peer pressuring bastards, I pre-ordered the DVD set. Now I have to get a DVD drive too. Stupid expensive computer games, I''m so excited!
I generated a virtual world in the toilet bowl this morning.
-- Podunk on the PS3's mystical, magical abilities
Looks like you and I are taking the leap together
Xbox Live: Kooter06
You guys should just go ahead and get a DVD burner then.
BF2
BF2142
I am going to wait about two more generations. I have no use for it right now.
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Yeah, same here. I''m awfully tempted to get the DVD burner, but I have to keep asking myself, ""Hey, self. What the hell are you gonna use one of those for, chuckles?"" I just know it''d be a pointless buy, in that I''d burn a few simpsons episodes or something and let it collect dust.
I generated a virtual world in the toilet bowl this morning.
-- Podunk on the PS3's mystical, magical abilities
No, no, just do it. Come on. I give you a DVD-R disc. The first ones free. Tell your friends.
BF2
BF2142
Haha, crack dealer!
Seriously though, I have been watching for the great deals that come along online for a DVD burner but most of them require that you jump through 10 hoops or wait an eternity on a rebate, I will pass for now. I will be on the market for one next year though.
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Hmm... I can''t seem to find any pre-order offer at Best Buy. I hate EB, but I may just have to order from them.
I never minded piracy. Anyone who minds about piracy is full of sh*t. Anyone who pirates your game wasn't going to buy it anyway! -Warren Spector
Best Buy
I feel like a damn UT2004 whore lately. I need a new tag!
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Honestly, the no CD crack will probable only work with the CD version so that is what I will get, I hate swaping disks all the dam time.
-Griffon
Did Samurai Jack ever get back to the past?
I went ahead and pre-ordered the DVD version because you guys are pushy jerks. Damn you Flux!
Certis beat me to it. - Elysium
Damn good point.
Money can't buy you happiness...but it can buy you a boat big enough to sell right up next to it!-David Lee Roth
Thanks Flux! They even ship for free!
I never minded piracy. Anyone who minds about piracy is full of sh*t. Anyone who pirates your game wasn't going to buy it anyway! -Warren Spector
No problem.
I called EB about an hour ago just to make sure that I was down for the DVD SE version of UT2004. My receipt looked a little funny so I wanted to make sure.
Xbox Live: Kooter06
I was going to buy it anyway as well, so pre-ordering really isn''t a big deal. It is nice that they are at least offering a DVD for the same price as the CDs, especially since a Special Edition is usually just an excuse to add an art book and hike the price up 30 bucks (*ahem* Blizzard). Now the problem is waiting for the darn thing to show up.
Not unless they release a demo and I can be sure it''ll run on my laptop. Know if they are planning on releasing a demo?
Damn, I paid 10 bucks. But then I chose next day.
Last word was a demo would come after release. If that changes I will post it. You can spend a few weeks with UT2004 until the demo comes out I am sure.
Xbox Live: Kooter06
Thanks Flux.
Last time I checked, the BFV website didn''t even have system speces posted.
Hell yeah!
Damn you guys, I''m gonna go preorder the DVD set now. BASTARDS. Actually CliffyB probably could have farted and caused me to buy the DVD set. Still, I blame Flux.
"If I was Obama I'd have made a joke about that. Then again, if I was Obama I'd have f*cked up my own campaign long ago by making c*ck jokes." - 1Dgaf
"Poor Achmed, only three days away from retirement ... from Jihad." - Mike Nelson