Any Chance For A Physical Release Of Star Control In The Future?

+1 on a Big Box release.

I have about 80+ DOS "BIG BOX" games stashed away as a collection.   This would be awesome to have as a physical copy.

given their recent history I would say no

retail releases hamper them and their latest games have shown that it's simply not necessary to be in retail to succeed. They would rather trade off the flexibility of release dates and be free of the shackles of retail.

i do know that Galciv3 got a euro retail release but that was I believe because they outsourced various translations to that publisher.

Why not just release a Star Control loot crate then? I'd get it if it had a nice colorful laminated map, a T-shirt and some alien figurine.

I'm not sure how a limited-run physical release would hamper them in anyway.  Still, it was just a request, nothing more.  I'd love to have a boxed copy, and I know I'm not the only one.

Personally I understand the appeal - but it is not for me. I'd be all over a figurine of [ALIEN RACE] though.

^ I know it's a complete pipe dream, but I once suggested the idea to Paul Reiche years ago of producing Skylanders style toys for Star Control that could perform a similar function of docking onto a little USB pad to link with the game. I'd be shocked if the idea hadn't crossed his mind.

Imagine a whole collection of alien and ship toys. Perhaps for the price you'd pay for each one, it could unlock a new piece of DLC (e.g. limited edition ships to add to your fleet, or aliens with new backstories that could unlock new adventures or hidden secrets within the universe)

It's no wonder Toys For Bob and Activision are rolling in cash!

It's being released on Xbox right?

I'd get a physical copy just for a large beautiful space map.  That was one of the best things of SC2, planning your next destination on nice big chart pinned to your wall.

Producing physical retail copies of games is expensive, requires connections to the right companies, is extremely complicated, and risky. Unless you're allied with a publisher that has a well-established retail network already, going retail is going to be really hard and probably not worth it. Making it a limited run merely increases the cost per unit produced, as these things tend to get cheaper the more they make of them, yet making more increases risk since you've got way more stock that might be left unsold at the end of the day. 

Retail isn't for everyone these days, now that digital distribution has matured to the degree it has. Stardock might have plans for a retail release, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Well I guess its a good thing then that Stardock is also a publisher that has the prior experience with retail releases of their own games as well as others like demigod and sins.  Lol

Like I said it would be nice to have a boxed edition, especially considering the series history, but I dont mean for them to consider trying to put this on the retail market. Even a limited edition just for those who want it and are willing to pay the cost for it would be great.

True, they do have publishing experience, but they are relatively small in that business. If you look at their past publishing history, you'll see that, among other things, the difference in release dates between different territories is very large. Publishing is far from routine for them, and they've even partnered up with other publishers to make it easier in the past.  

Although I don't expect it, gotta admit it would be pretty cool.

I haven't bought a physical copy of a game in over 5-years, even collectors editions are digital now.  However, I would certainly purchase an updated HyperSpace map.  

My map from SC2 is loaded with penciled in spoilers and used to have an accompanying Access database with the exact resource amounts on every planet. I think that was the first time I've ever created a database/wrote a program for a game I was playing.

Didn't they partner up with other publishers for markets in Europe?  Even then, its' only been 2 to 3 years since they decided to go fully digital in their releases so it hasn't been that long.  I can only speak from personal experience, but I was able to pre-order and get physical boxed copies of Demigod, Elemental and Sins of a Solar Empire in their full retail boxes on release day from Stardocks own website, and find their products in my local ebgames pretty soon after launch, if not on launch day (its where i got Gal Civ II).  Then again, I live in North America, so I guess distribution would be easier logistically for them.

Anyways, we're getting a little off-track here and I'm not sure why.  Yes, there would be a higher cost to publish retail copies as opposed to digital only, but that's NOT what what I was asking.   If certain people are willing to pay the extra cost for manufacturing and producing a small limited-run boxed set, I don't see how it hurts Stardock, especially when they have the prior experience and knowledge in getting physical items of their products made. They would know how much it would cost, and it couldn't hurt to see if there are people here that would be willing to pay that extra cost themselves if they want a boxed copy that badly. 

I would definitely be willing to pony up for a limited release. 

I'm simply outlining the limitations of doing so. And the fact that there's almost zero financial benefit to them for making a boxed copy.

"Limited" boxed release has its own set of problems. And I've seen KS campaigns collapse under the weight of them. From shipping costing a lot, especially for international customers, to forcing your devs to spend a week boxing up stuff to send out.

To you it may have value, but for Stardock, there's really not a giant upside to making a box set of any kind. Its mostly a resource sink.

They also have experience bypassing retail all together. Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion was pure digital.

And it was a HUGE success

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-26-stardock-to-ditch-boxed-releases-after-sins-of-a-solar-empire-rebellion-digital-success

100k units of Rebellion in 30 days.

Now compare that to how much 'fun' being in retail is

https://forums.galciv3.com/449009/page/8/

So on the one hand, get sodomized by retail stores with fees and all the other nonsense that goes with getting into retail

Or sell purely digitally, not be tied to a release date, and sell more copies for better margins.

That's not really a big 'choice' if you're in the money making business.

GalCiv3 got a retail release in Kalypso BUT

1) It was like 5 months post release

2) it was because Kalypso put up the money for translations, and thus got the retail rights in return for doing that. And in Europe retail physical boxes are still inexplicably popular. While in America you couldn't find a boxed copy of a PC game if your life depended on it.

Not true! Not true! Blizzard and EA still have boxed copies of PC games. I always see all of Blizzard's games at Target and WalMart.

Stardock isn't Blizzard, though.

The only reason Blizzard happens to be in stores is because its part of Activision

And Activision needs retail to move the new Call of WhateverTheHellThisYear because they'll be releasing it on console

Hell I went to a Gamestop to pickup my Steam Link/Controller, and I couldn't even get the new Starcraft Expansion!

^ True. I just bought Hearthstone at Walmart.

I just got my steamlink at gamestop as well, specifically for playing local multiplayer on games like this in the living room - looking forward to it!

It was odd though, I hadn't been in one forever to actually purchase something. I do buy physical games for my 3ds and wii u, but 90% of the time used online and 10% of the time in store at best buy with the gamers club discount. 

besides that, I only really do physical games as kickstarter rewards. I've actually got copies of massive chalice and pillars of eternity sitting on my shelf and it's kind of funny because since I already have them on steam I don't really have much reason to unseal the packaging. I like it though - it reminds me to play them when I look at it.

I'd like to see a physical box release, perhaps a limited run, a collector's edition. Partially contrary to some posters Stardock did limited collector's physical releases, I have SoaSE: Rebellion collector's edition, it's quite nice and I wouldn't mind something of the sort for Star Control too. May be with a few extras while at it? A plush Orz for instance.

Some other collectors items to consider:

- miniature precursor ship or any artifact (ie clear spindle would be cool to have on my desk at work)

- prints of original concept art

- diecasts or fridge magnets of aliens

Hell, I'd be first in line to get a Star Control Lootcrate if it ever happened (I got the Fallout 4 and Mass Effect ones)

So are we getting Steam Codes for this game?  That was definitely an aspect that made me hesitate before purchasing this as I figured it was highly possible Stardock would skip steam with the Founder's program.  I hope they don't as I have a Steam Link and Steam controller.