Poll on Buying Game Related Software at a Con

[InkwellIdeas]

Just trying to stay on top of trends and what people expect...

I've got a couple of software products which I'm considering selling at a convention. Traditionally, one would get CDs/DVDs made, a small manual and put it together in a DVD style case.

But because software changes more and more these days pressing it to CD could result in destroying many copies if they don't sell well or else the first thing the user would need to do is download an update anyway. (Even moreso than in the past.) Also, now some devices (and maybe some laptops soon?) don't have CD/DVD drives. So I'm wondering if there is a better way (for me and people buying the software.)

Please answer the poll and post your thoughts if you've got something more detailed to say about the topic. Thank you!

 

[Dannager]

I don't even have a disc media drive on the netbook I run games from. I generally avoid disc media completely now in favor of the more portable (and rewritable) thumb drive and, increasingly, cloud storage.

My ideal?

I purchase your product at the con after trying a demo of it. I provide you with my email address, and you send me a personal link to download my copy - I should be able to verify on the spot that I've received the link on my smartphone. Providing the option of a thumb drive for a premium (covering the cost of the drive) is a great idea since it gives me a "hard" copy of the product and it gives me a thumb drive. Can never have too many of those. Heck, stamp your company/product name on the thumb drive and I'll be reminded of your product whenever I use the thumb drive for anything.

I'd prefer not to be handed a physical manual, it's just going to be one more thing to carry around. Provide a PDF (or link to a PDF) with the email containing the license/download link.

 

[Perram]

Just trying to stay on top of trends and what people expect...

I've got a couple of software products which I'm considering selling at a convention. Traditionally, one would get CDs/DVDs made, a small manual and put it together in a DVD style case.

But because software changes more and more these days pressing it to CD could result in destroying many copies if they don't sell well or else the first thing the user would need to do is download an update anyway. (Even moreso than in the past.) Also, now some devices (and maybe some laptops soon?) don't have CD/DVD drives. So I'm wondering if there is a better way (for me and people buying the software.)

Please answer the poll and post your thoughts if you've got something more detailed to say about the topic. Thank you!

If I'm not getting something in my hands, I don't feel I really bought anything from you at all. CD / DVDs are a must unless you go to full blown pre-loaded USB sticks.

A download code is a good freebie to get, but I'm not giving you money for a download code at a con.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Just for a frame of reference my IT dept has pretty much all of the software that the company uses ripped to either .iso or .DMG or some other format on one of our servers somewhere.

When we order new software from adobe we dont get discs anymore, we go to thier licensing site and download the software. The same with Microsoft for some or most of their products. The Mac App store, wherein the physical Apple store are starting to slowly but surely move their physical software boxes to make room for other product and pointing people to the app store for downloads.

My own personal preference is for a .PDF over a physical copy ESPECIALLY for a RPG. I'm going to be running a game, not reading a game to people. The Game book is a reference book and PDF readers, a word processor are more important in helping me run my games than an actual physical book right now.

My point is if I gave you money for a download code and downloaded the pdf right onto my iPad or MacBook Pro I'm totally fine with that.

 

[Deset Gled]

Getting *something* physical is essential to making it feel like I'm actually buying something. If I'm just getting a download code, I might as well order on the internet. And if I'm going to order on the internet, it means I don't need to be at your booth. And if I'm not in your booth, you're not making a sale. Also, every once in a while, you find yourself in a scenario where you don't have the internet (like, if you're staying in a hotel room for a con and don't want to pay $15 bucks a day for it).

CDs are cheap enought that they're really no excuse for not giving one out with each purchase. If you're worried about wasting CDs on old versions of software, simply buy a large spindle of blank CDs that are printed with your companies logo/image/name/whatever. Burn some of them with the latest version of your software, and keep most of them blank. If you end up needing more copies, just burn them at the con. Reuse the blank stack at more cons until it's gone. Rinse and repeat.

 

[InkwellIdeas]

Thanks so far! Keep the votes coming. I did want to clarify one thing that a few have commented on: a pdf of the manual would also be included in every scenario. Thanks again!

 

[Diamond Cross]

I voted for having the CD. Especially since I'd like to have a physical back up to an electronic download.

 

[Stormonu]

I'm in the crowd that has a notebook with no internal CD drive. USB would be the best bet for me, or a download code.

If it's feasible, you might want to split the offerings - say 60% CD, 30% USB, 10% download code (based on how the responses go, perhaps). That way you have a good chance of covering the needs of your buyers and getting them what they want.