Explanation finally given regarding int'l version of the games

[23skidoo]

Dipping in briefly before I run away and hide so as not to get spoiled for the finale!

Several months after they SHOULD have explained this in the first place, the powers that be behind the Doctor Who games have finally come clean about a few facts regarding the international versions of the (ahem) free games.

http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/s7.../dw-games-get-july-international-release.html

In a nutshell, the delay is explained sensibly as apparently the events of each game apparently reflect events in the series at the time of the game's release. Since BBC America and Space Channel are running a month behind, the games are delayed a month. It's a bit messy, but it makes sense. Apparently they want to time the release for major gaming events in the US too (which begs the question where were they at E3). The plan is I guess to release the games monthly, so City of the Daleks sometime in July, Blood of the Cybermen in August, etc. If they're timing with major gaming events I'd be willing to bet they'll launch City around the time of ComicCon.

Second, the games will apparently be available for download "for a small fee" from unidentified "third party gaming sites". Anyone's guess what they consider to be "a small fee". That could still mean anything from 99 cents to $30. And I hope whatever site they choose a) handles both PC and Mac versions and b) is actually accessible internationally as I've come across some places that only allow sales/downloads to the US.

Neither of these is particularly unfair or unreasonable, but they would have saved a lot of bad blood (not to mention piracy, executed or attempted) had they explained this back in April when the games were announced, or at least when City of the Daleks came out and people outside the UK were going WTF and getting angry. The BBC's publicity machine really needs a kick in the ass, but then again the number of times they've spoiled surprise endings for Doctor Who (blowing the Eccleston regeneration surprise is still the biggest example ever), not to mention that Graham Norton banner fiasco, what can we expect?

Me, I'm still not sure whether I'm going to bother ordering this, especially if the games end up on the high end of the "small fee" scale or they do something bonehead like only make the PC version available over here.

Alex

 

[DimesDan]

Several months after they SHOULD have explained this in the first place, the powers that be behind the Doctor Who games have finally come clean about a few facts regarding the international versions of the (ahem) free games.

Alex, you've written that like they owe the consumer an explanation behind why they decided to do what they did. They don't, they can do what ever they please with the games as normally these things wouldn't exist.

 

[Silent_Bob]

Dont really see why they "SHOULD" have given an explanation several months ago. I've yet to see any american network explain why their shows and associated products don't reach the UK until several weeks later, so why should the BBC be any different just because the shoe is on the other foot.

As for the small fee fuss, that comes entirely out of the misguided belief that we in the UK are getting the games for free. We aren't. We have to pay £140 a year for the privilege of owning a tv otherwise we get taken to court and fined, the games are included in that fee. When international viewers start paying the license fee too, then they have the right to complain about paying extra for the games.

 

[matthunter]

Dont really see why they "SHOULD" have given an explanation several months ago. I've yet to see any american network explain why their shows and associated products don't reach the UK until several weeks later, so why should the BBC be any different just because the shoe is on the other foot.

Hear, hear.

I'm just surprised, to be honest, that the explanation isn't that they were intending to release all four eps under a single price... the individual eps should probably only fetch $3-5 given the amount of gameplay, so a joint DL of all four would make more sense.

Foreign consumers should be grateful they're getting the option to try one ep and see if they like the game instead of being forced to DL all four eps in one go, which is how pretty much any major games company would play it.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

As for the small fee fuss, that comes entirely out of the misguided belief that we in the UK are getting the games for free. We aren't. We have to pay £140 a year for the privilege of owning a tv otherwise we get taken to court and fined, the games are included in that fee. When international viewers start paying the license fee too, then they have the right to complain about paying extra for the games.

I'd also point out that, as the games have been billed as episodes 14 through 17 of the season and have been promoted as such, it's possible that even if the BBC wanted to change in the UK for the games, they can't because the BBC isn't allowed by charter to charge consumers for materials essential for understanding a broadcast series.

 

[JoeZhang]

As for the small fee fuss, that comes entirely out of the misguided belief that we in the UK are getting the games for free. We aren't. We have to pay £140 a year for the privilege of owning a tv otherwise we get taken to court and fined, the games are included in that fee. When international viewers start paying the license fee too, then they have the right to complain about paying extra for the games.

I'd also point out that, as the games have been billed as episodes 14 through 17 of the season and have been promoted as such, it's possible that even if the BBC wanted to change in the UK for the games, they can't because the BBC isn't allowed by charter to charge consumers for materials essential for understanding a broadcast series.

Unless something amazing happens in the next two, there is nothing in the first two that has any impact on the series or would be required by viewers.