Poll: Fast Striker Reprint: Are you Ready to Preorder?

[cdamm]

They might have more people interested if the price was lower. Kinda funny how that works. If NG Dev could lower the price as more and more people signed on, more people would be interested. Doesn't mass production subsidize costs?

that was really one of my initial thoughts. a run of 100-200 should certainly cost less than a run of 25. and i dont think they would have a hard time selling at like $200 (my max for something like this).

 

[bryan]

They might have more people interested if the price was lower. Kinda funny how that works. If NG Dev could lower the price as more and more people signed on, more people would be interested. Doesn't mass production subsidize costs?

I see what you are saying but look at it from a business point.

Even if you cut the cost $100 would that be enough to get a lot more orders. On an order of 100 copies at $100 less would be like giving 29 of them away for free.

On like 1000 copies to see even a $100 discount would be like giving over 250 away.

I don't think $100 off would drive enough customers.

Really we don't know what the cost is. $100 off could be 30% of the profits.

 

[cdamm]

i was just throwing out random numbers as a 'for example' as i do not know their operating costs. but i hear that cases from canada can add up pretty quickly.

 

[RabbitTroop]

I can't speak for NG: Dev, as they know their numbers better than any of us. I imagine 25 is the bare minimum they can print and make a small profit on. The problem is, this is a production run, so if they were to do double that, the expenses double and they'd have to sell double.... for a marginal savings. Most of the economies of scale you see are with exponential runs. 1-100 is one price, 100-1000 is another and so on. If they could really move these things, and there was a real market for them to sell say 1,000 to 2,000 copies then they'd be golden. There's not a market that size. If every MVS collector in the world bought one they'd still only sell a few hundred at most There just aren't enough buyers for the scale to work.

 

[Xian Xi]

Let's say you want to make the price point the $200 that you speak of, for that to happen let's say they would need 200 units to be sold/pre-ordered. What would happen if they could only sell 100 units? Would you want them to price it accordingly to the 100 unit run or what a refund? Is everyone that pre-ordered it at $200 going to then fork over more money since the price is going to be more than $200 now? Some people may be fine with the additional cost but others won't and would just request a refund and due to the conversion rate they will take a loss.

Now that leaves the people who still want the game but now there isn't 100 buyers, let's say there is now 75 people who are guaranteed to buy the game. So that brings you to your new price point for a 75 unit run just like Neo XyX.

The market isn't that big so you can't just lower the price like that. Do most of you ever know how much MVS carts cost back when SNK was in business?

The cheapest MVS cart bought new was $200 which were the very low meg and very early games. Fast forward to 1999, big meg games like MOTW were $1500. Now 13 years later a brand new release is $450.

 

[FAT$TACKS]

How about a release for that new Neo Geo X system comming out.

 

[Dr Shroom]

The game wasn't even that good.

 

[FalcomAdol]

I think the 25 is really because there is additional work required to reconfigure the software to work on their current platform.

With that work done, you're talking about a product that in the future, would not really go out of stock, it would be "in stock" whenever a run of some other carts was made and there were some extra carts for the software to be uploaded to.

That's why, at this time, Pink Bullets will be "back in print" eventually, and Fast Striker, will not without a preorder.

 

[Jonmkl]

I think the 25 is really because there is additional work required to reconfigure the software to work on their current platform.

With that work done, you're talking about a product that in the future, would not really go out of stock, it would be "in stock" whenever a run of some other carts was made and there were some extra carts for the software to be uploaded to.

That's why, at this time, Pink Bullets will be "back in print" eventually, and Fast Striker, will not without a preorder.

Actually I think it's because of the size of the rom itself that it requires different architecture, it's very possible that they are not able to really reconfigure it.

 

[SNKorSWM]

5 down, 20 to go.

 

[Renmauzo]

If it were 350 dollars, I could do it, albeit reluctantly (it better be the best damn game since Pulstar or MotW for that money) but 350 euros is kind of a deal breaker.

 

[cdamm]

I think the 25 is really because there is additional work required to reconfigure the software to work on their current platform.

With that work done, you're talking about a product that in the future, would not really go out of stock, it would be "in stock" whenever a run of some other carts was made and there were some extra carts for the software to be uploaded to.

That's why, at this time, Pink Bullets will be "back in print" eventually, and Fast Striker, will not without a preorder.

by that logic the expectation is to pay 'investment level' limited run stuff that will be devalued once the market is filled to capacity. once everyone who wants one has one, you could never get rid of the one you have (if you chose to do so) for anything near what you paid.

 

[RabbitTroop]

Again, NG : Dev team can speak for themselves on that.... This is the email I got from them when I asked a while back about a possible second run:

Hi Nick,

Fast Striker and LH Pink Bullets for MVS are sold out for a long time.
Pink Bullets MVS will return with the next release.
But Fast Striker requires a different PCB configuration (due to it's
extremely high MEG count). It's unlikely to be reprinted.

Best regards,
Timm

The price and odd run is because it is a very big game. It's not something they planned on doing again, and I doubt after this re-run they'd do it unless they could once again secure some 25 or so orders. The other games share similar PCB board layouts so it's easier for them to do more at that time, but Fast Striker will continue to be a challenge even after this run, if it even happens.

 

[Hawk]

If they could get it down to around 300 Euro or less I would be on board but 350 Yikes! The dollar sucking wind isn't helping over here lol.

 

[KBneospy]

I agree after tax time would be a good time. I would be willing to go all in then.

 

[xb74]

Though I have been a vocal supporter of reprinting Fast Striker, an indepth look at my finances, with child # 2 on the way means I am interested but don't have the money right now.

 

[Battlesmurf]

I still have my fingers crossed, though. There's about 7 confirmed purchases, with more "not right now", and the guys on the shmups (US) forums. I know there's some of the france guys interested too. I can't see 25 taking entirely too long to move through. I hope it works out for them and people still looking for one.

 

[Hawk]

Whats the count at?

 

[FalcomAdol]

Whats the count at?

7, but I'm removing myself from the list (in agreement to buy an existing copy).

 

[Hawk]

Any Updates? I also think this would go over better at Christmas or Tax Return Season here.

 

[SSS]

If it were 350 dollars, I could do it, albeit reluctantly (it better be the best damn game since Pulstar or MotW for that money) but 350 euros is kind of a deal breaker.

I don't recall the exact figure but the first run of this game when it came out in 2010 was around 350 dollars for the basic kit (yeah, that was an option before all the LE stuff they're doing now). I picked up a copy secondhand for maybe around 300. Don't know if I'd pay 450 bucks for the game now though.

 

[SNKorSWM]

It was 359 Euros for the "regular edition", which was sold out long before the limited Edition did at 100 Euros more.

 

[SSS]

It was 359 Euros for the "regular edition", which was sold out long before the limited Edition did at 100 Euros more.

Really? That much.. I could have sworn I spent way less than that on the used copy.

 

[SNKorSWM]

The prices climbed only after NG: DEV announced that they are sold out. It also matters if it's upgraded or not.

If you bought it while they were still in stock, chances are you got it for cheaper.

 

[SSS]

The one I've got is from the first batch. I flashed the 1.5 upgrade later