I agree it would be ideal if games that are released 'universally' had a fixed price but I fear this would lead to a 'mean' cost that would realistically have players in the US paying much more & those in the UK & on the European mainland paying just a tad less

I think Chrissie is right, unfortunately!
I personally think the right price for this game to be $ 19.99 for USA and £ 19.99 for UK, £ 29.99 is definitively too much.
I pre-ordered it on play.com for £ 14.99, before all the worldwide crisis came up...now I don't even know if the hard copy will be released in UK!

The cost of the game depends on the quality of the game.

In this case, the quality of Sherlock Holmes is top notch. All the naturalistic graphics, variable interface added for the gamers' pleasure (third and first), voice, music, story line, length... was done. The cost of making it is high compared to other games.

If they decide to cut the quality to lower cost, I think the loser would be the gamer who has to settle for a so-so game. I'm glad that they didn't.

Thanks for your explanation thehood. Well one thing for sure I am grateful I am not living in France, count my blessings I only have to pay Ireland's 14% vat instead of 20%.

I know the game is truly top of the line adventure game, and I hope it wins every reward given. I played the demo and won and now just wait for the hard copy to arrive from Interact, so I can play along with everyone else.

Download vs 'hard copy' ! So much for pre-ordering this from Dave at InteractCD in March 09 and yes I get it about having to wait until the game is actually released - and I have been patient, at least I think I have. Now I read here that there are several prices, several places where the game has been released as a download only and I am still waiting - phooey to this whole thing. In the past I have had misgivings about pre-ordering a game from anyone, finally came around to giving in to the urge and reassurances that it is/was OK to do so but this is now how we 'pre-ordering' customers are treated? Not nice at all. And so much for supporting Dave our dear 'friend' too. Leaves a very bad taste in my mouth and I know that Gameboomers has no control over this or any influence either. Not your fault, but someone should answer for this kind of treatment of loyal customers.
Love, Betty Lou

What are you talking about BettyLou?

Betty Lou -- the game has been available as a download for just two days. The disk version is shipping to stores now (and, I'm assuming to Interact, where it'll then be sent along to those who preordered it).

How have you been poorly treated?

Betty Lou, it's my understanding that more and more frequently, new games will be available as a download first, and within a short time afterwards retailers then begin to receive the boxed version (if there in fact IS a boxed version of the game). No wrongs have been done here; it's just the way things work now.

I guess I just got caught in this transition from "HEY pre-order (hardcopy) now and be guaranteed to get a copy of this game" to "now download will be the primary way to obtain games" and should have figured that "preordering" would be a thing of the past. I have not specifically been mistreated - and to be perfectly honest, while "download" may be the way games are now sold, that is not what I want or like. Now I am back to having misgivings about preordering any game. Thanks for helping me adjust to the way things are now going to be. That does not mean I am going to change my view - just have to accept what I cannot change, like it or not.
Love, Betty Lou

I understand, Betty Lou; I'm not thrilled with this trend either, but I suspect it is going to become more frequent rather than less. And given these tough economic times, I try to remind myself that thank goodness the games are still being made and distributed. Chances are that, since you preordered from Dave, you will still be one of the first to have received the boxed retail version.

Hi Betty Lou, please don't despair! I'm very optimistic that most games will be released in boxed versions eventually. You've only got to look & see how many Casual games are now appearing as hard copies after being initially only available as download. I suspect that many gamers will pay twice to get their hands on the boxed version if they liked it enough!

As far as SH vs JTR goes, the boxed version is following closely after the download which Frogwares made available as soon as the game was ready. I'm not a great fan of downloading but I've changed my attitude as it does help the developer/publisher to get immediate remuneration for the game minus the distribution costs. This has got to be a good thing for the genre, also many players like the immediacy of getting the game & not all want to keep their games.

Frogwares could have waited longer before releasing a boxed copy but are in the process of distributing one quite early on!

Carla, I have payed £29.99 for adventure games in bricks & mortar stores in the UK - that is about the top price for a PC game although they will be a few pounds cheaper on-line. £14.99 is an excellent price if Play.com get it in stock!

Hi!the downloaded games always come out first.pre-ordered games come out the same times that the retail stores get them.i ask best buy when they were getting it in and they told me 5/26/09 thats when there truck comes in,but since today is a holiday it might be 5/27/09.you should be getting yours in the mail the 26th 0r 27th.hope this helps!

Hi,

Did anyone who bought Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper game have problems activating their game. I keep getting an error message stating I have an "Incorrect Activation Code". I've e-mailed support about 3 times about it and all I get is the instructions on how to download and activate the game. I probably bought the French version instead of the English version also. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Rusty

to GameBoomers Rusty!

When did you download the game? The version out now is the English version. Have you read through the directions previously listed on this thread?

I've read an another site (justadventure or adventuregames?) that the people who downloaded the French version instead of the English will get a free download code (activation code?) sent to them by email on the 26th or 27th of May (or shortly thereafter).

Also, sometimes the letter O and the numeral 0 can be hard to tell apart, the same goes for letters like O and Q or U and V.
It could also be that you need to have caps lock on or to to not have caps lock on.

Karsten, that info regarding the free key was posted here on Friday also.

Ana

HI! can anyone tell me what is the difference between playing a game in 1st person or playing in 3rd person. thank you!

Abby, in first person, you are the person you are playing and you see things in his perspective. In 3rd person, you actually see the character move around the environment.

Ana

Just got a E-Mail from Dave that the game was just shipped.
Richard

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone had the link to this game the demo that actually works? I tried the one posted on this site and its talking about it doesn't match up error??? I want to play this game badly please help me!

MY game also was shipped today...

"Wonderful" Dave

Ancient, there is a demo on Gamershell here.

Ana

If I may add I find in 3rd person, you don't get motion sickness like in 1st person. I know I tried the demo of Sherlock Vs Jack the Ripper in 1st person, just to see if I would start to feel queasy walking the streets. I did. Quickly with a scroll of the mouse wheel back to 3rd person for me. I love that this game gives us all this easy choice.

I am happy to say, my pre ordered Sherlock is on the way. Thanks Dave, I love the service we get from Interact and the personal emails he sends.

Hi!

I downloaded the game on Saturday (5/23). Still haven't been able to get it activated - keep getting an error message saying it's and incorrect activation code. I finally got a better response from support at Adventure Shop but nothing has worked yet. I'm off to go do some research on this at a webpage support gave me. Not sure I'll get to play this game until it comes to my stores, and I re-buy it. Hopefully that won't be too long!

Rusty

Rusty -- I hope you get the activation problem worked out!