Star Ace Free Preview

[Blacksad]

Re: 20 MB PDF

One of the problems is that this is a very art and graphics heavy PDF (the preview is streamlined and on a diet).

I know some people don't care about art. I do.

Is a 20MB PDF too big?

In the worst case scenario, it would cost an additional 1€ from phone call, not a big deal.

Though Hal has a good idea, you might ask RPGnow to do a survey, and see if size matter or not

If you can set up your e-mail program based on the subject line, you might want to send the question to your customer form RPGnow (as those are the most likely to buy your product first), and ask for an answer in a specific format in the subject line, and see how much e-mail you receive in each folder (and eventually, the ability to know now if it is worth to work on a follow-up book).

 

[Rifter]

I would sell it as one bundle...

If it is only 150 pages, sell it as one bundle, but you MAY want to make a more printer friendly version... either break it down by chapter, so you only spool a chapter at a time, or something. As for a large file, 20 megs is not THAT bad. When I was on dialup, I did that quite a bit. Now that I have cable, it is not a big deal at all. Hell, if people really complain, get something set up on your web page, and offer say $3 to burn and mail it. You are probably looking at around a 3hr download. I don't consider that too bad, especially with modern programs that resume downloads and throttle them.

 

[2WS-Steve]

I think our largest was 15MB.
I didn't get too many complaints from the customers. But I complained... as I only have a dialup and it took me ages to get the file there

I wonder if the lack of complaints is an indication that the majority of PDF purchasers have high bandwidth connections. If so, then the PDF market might naturally expand as more and more people switch to high speed access.

 

[Capellan]

20 MB would be no problem for me, but for someone on dial-up, it would be pretty hefty.

I'd suggest either:

1. offer the product in 2 pieces - a small, inexpensive player's book (with very limited art), and larger, more expensive GM's book (with the bulk of the art); or

2. offer the product in 2 formats - one zip with both the graphics heavy version and a printer-friendly option; and one zip with only the printer-friendly version, for those who don't have the connection to d/l a large file.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I wonder if the lack of complaints is an indication that the majority of PDF purchasers have high bandwidth connections. If so, then the PDF market might naturally expand as more and more people switch to high speed access.

I would bet my granny on that. I think PDF fans are probably "early adopters" of technology in general. Folks who haven't yet moved away from dial-up, are probably the same folks who aren't yet willing to move away from print.

Just a hunch... Though you would think that rpgnow could do a survey to ask folks what kind of connection they have. Heck, I would add a drop down to the order form itself, so they get feedback from every order.


Wulf

 

[Capellan]

I would bet my granny on that. I think PDF fans are probably "early adopters" of technology in general. Folks who haven't yet moved away from dial-up, are probably the same folks who aren't yet willing to move away from print.

I don't know that this is necessarily true (though I would be really interested to see the results of a survey). The one person I know who makes regular use of PDFs does it because of the portability - just print what you need and take it with you. They are on dial-up, too. Whereas I, on cable, will always wait for a print version, if I know there will be one.

Of course, a couple of examples does not disprove the theory - and I would like to see the results of a survey on the subject (maybe put a poll in GD?). But I think there are lots of reasons for people to choose PDFs: price, portability, a desire to support small companies, etc.

Maybe we should have two polls - one to compare technology to PDF purchasing, and one for reasons why people choose PDFs (or don't choose them).

 

[Vigilance]

Hey guys

I just wanted to pop in here and say that I am writing the game statistics for the game's ships even as we speak, and that they look *fabulous* Chris Shy really outdid himself!

I think this game is going to be a great showcase for Blood and Space's system, and a great game in general.

I'm getting geeked just writing these ships

 

[Rifter]

I would bet my granny on that. I think PDF fans are probably "early adopters" of technology in general. Folks who haven't yet moved away from dial-up, are probably the same folks who aren't yet willing to move away from print.

Wulf

Well, in my area, there are still parts of town that can't get broadband. Up until a year ago, I was in one of those dead-zones. I don't think that broadband users are any more early adopters of PDFs, as they are just geeks. Lets face it, most of this market are the geeks.

 

[Rifter]

Of course, a couple of examples does not disprove the theory - and I would like to see the results of a survey on the subject (maybe put a poll in GD?). But I think there are lots of reasons for people to choose PDFs: price, portability, a desire to support small companies, etc.

Personally, I like the prices quite a bit. Aside from that, I would say you see very unique items in the pdf format, that you just don't see in print products.