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 Digg.com Facebook Google Bookmarks N4G Gamerblips del.icio.us Reddit Slashdot.org StumbleUpon Desperate or what :lol: Radiohead made no money on that album, it was quite well publicised at the time. I wonder why that might be. "Sir, would you like to buy this album?" "Sure, how much?" "How much do you think it's worth?" "Er, 10p?" "Deal!" Yeah, great business model that. Am I reading that right? Are they asking us to pay for a demo? Not that i would know but im pretty sure over the years games such as these were a "steal" to get over at Torrentreactor for most people. Now its just a hassle asking for £2.50 before you pay your 1p... the nerve. Now listen here me hearties, ye be wanting games to be cheaper so ye don't have to pirate them. Now this game be no more than a couple of flagons of ale ye still complain, ye scurvy scum. I'll bite as I'll be buying Football Manager for certain this year due to them making some good changes. I'll gladly pay £2.51 to see what they've done with this series and if it turns out better than FM, they could convert me for next year. 8)
I doubt it though! Of course they can afford to give the retail version away for that money - you have to pay for updates. So if you want your player info and roster updates you need to pay £5 per month. As this page says.
A clever advertising move, but nothing else. Really? I remember reports that Radiohead apparently made more money from that album than they'd made on all their others combined.
We must be using different internets, I guess. I remember them saying that it was an experiment that they prepared to go either way, but it didn't go too well for them and it's something they'd never do again. I don't know where you read that, but even they admitted it was a stupid idea in hindsight. I know radiohead made more money from in rainbows pay what you like downloads than from sales of hail to the thief.
'In October 2008, a report from Warner Chappell revealed that although most people paid nothing for the download, pre-release sales were more profitable than the total money from sales of Hail to the Thief.' In that case we're definitely using different internets, as neither Radiohead nor anybody affiliated with them have released any hard figures, but a quick Google for "In Rainbows Profits" does show up a lot of interviews with various quotes such as:
coming straight from Warner/Chappell Music, among many other statements speaking of considerable financial gains.
Considering the absolutely tiny slice that most recording artists get from the retail sales of their CDs, it's stands to reason that they'd only have to get an average of around £2-3 per album to make it more profitable for them if they're selling directly.
I can't speak for Eidos' take on the idea, but if they're getting additional revenues from post-release content, as Dajmin's link said, they might be on to something. They'll certainly be making more money from me than they would have anyway. i bet it still gets pirated loads. Its dumb to take any lessons from Radiohead's move and apply them to this - Radiohead are a band that a lot of people love, whilst Eidos are just another faceless corporation. I paid a fiver for In Rainbows, because of that emotional connection with the band. I sure as hell wouldn't do the same for Pepsi or Nike. I can't believe a single person would pay more than the penny for this, hence why the £2.50 'transaction fee' I guess.
Now if Sports Interactive tried this on the other hand, given their history, it might just work. Which goes to show that the 'pirates' argument that the games are overpriced is a load of rubbish. If they don't think a game warrants spending £2.51 on then don't pirate it.
The other argument about trying it before buying the full product is also a load of rubbish. Presumably they do it with cars, houses, consoles, the PC they play pirated games on? "Yeah I'm not sure I'm going to like this car, just give it me and if I don't like it I won't drive it again" or how about walking round the supermarket taking a bite out of each apple saying 'nah, didn't like that one'.
Play the demos, read the reviews and then wait for it in a sale if you want to buy it but don't want to pay full price (in this case a wopping £2.51) | 
