Another Trivial Game For The Pocket PC!

[Brad Adrian]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=92897' target='_blank'>http://www.handango.com/brainstore/...productId=92897</a><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.handmark.com/home/index.php">Handmark</a>, which has a history of porting some of my very favorite board games to the Pocket PC, has done it again! Now, they've released another favorite, Trival Pursuit Handheld Edition.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/trivialpursuit.gif" /><br /><br />"The world's most popular trivia game is now available for users of Windows Mobile™ handheld devices. With incredible new game features, the TRIVIAL PURSUIT® Handheld Edition rewards the clever, while still highlighting everyone's trivia talents. The game features over 1600 questions in six categories- Sports and Leisure, Arts and Entertainment, History, Science and Nature, People and Places, and Wild Card."<br /><br />This looks so cool! You can download a free demo version or the full version from the <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=92897">Handango site</a>.<br /><br />BUT...Here's where I have a couple of problems. First, the demo only allows you to load and play the game a total of five times (whether or not you finish the game); I think a time-limited version gives potential buyers a much better feel for the game. Second, Handmark is sticking to its practice of pricing its games at $29.99. These are admittedly great games, but I think $20 is much more reasonable.

[arbitrajeu]

As a UK member, I looked at the animated GIF in your item and couldn't work out what most of the questions were referring to, and couldn't answer any of them. I think games like this need alternative question modules for different regions - trivia in the US is very different from UK trivia.

Any idea if there are plans to offer alternate question sets?

[trachy]

It's probably a great game to play, but what gives with the true/false questions? Last I checked there's no such thing in the board game version.

[BugDude10]

I agree that Handmark makes great apps. I also agree that it prices them too high. $30 for a game is just too much, no matter how pretty or licensed. What Handmark apps I've purchased, I purchased only when I received some discount.

Just my $0.02.

[yawanag]

And here's my $0.02.

There isn't a board game I love better than Scrabble, but I'll be darn if I'd pay $30 for it.

Handmark does a beautiful job, but I think it slashes its own throat by being so pricey. How do you buy two of their games? I'd love to have "Wheel of Fortune" too, but there are other games out there FREE or reasonably priced that will provide hours of fun for me.

Hope Handmark gets into the Christmas spirit.

[disconnected]

Wheel of Fortune seems even more overpriced (I think this is a Sony game, not Handmark). It's a little vague about what you get for 25.00 -- "Dozens of Games"?, and then another 5.00 for each add-on of an unspecified number of games. It's not clear whether you download the additional add-ons, or if they're already included with the original game and you just buy a key to unlock each one.

[PPCRules]

Second, Handmark is sticking to its practice of pricing its games at $29.99. These are admittedly great games, but I think $20 is much more reasonable.

Handmark does a beautiful job, but I think it slashes its own throat by being so pricey.

I've often made arguments about PPC software being priced too high, but I will admit that in many cases publishers may be wiser to accept far less customers and charge a higher price in order to limit the number of people calling for support, which can quickly eat up the profits. But that would usually be more complex or specialized software. These are games; games everyone already know. From what I see, Handmark makes quality products that look and play like the original. So if they get the bugs out before shipping, noone is going to be calling for support. So not having to bear that cost, I'd say they'd be far ahead selling bigger volumes at lower prices. x units at $30, maybe 2x at $20, 5x at $10, it only gets better for them at each point (I suppose it depends on how much Handango, et. al., gets).

And, no, the licencing isn't that big a part of their costs (or else Handmark doesn't negotiate very well). I often see 'value priced' physical editions of these same games priced at say $10-$15, so if those people can make the physical components and packaging and tranport it and market it in a retail store, and everyone gets enough to make it worthwhile, then the licence fee isn't very much.

I am encouraged by many recent 'sales' on PPC software. This might be a way for authors/publishers afraid to tinker with pricing (after all, most of these people are programmers, not marketers) to see what a lower price point could do to their bottom lines.

[Islanti]

I often see 'value priced' physical editions of these same games priced at say $10-$15, so if those people can make the physical components and packaging and tranport it and market it in a retail store, and everyone gets enough to make it worthwhile, then the licence fee isn't very much.


Where are you shopping that you see Handmark games for $10-$15? Staples, Circuit City, CompUSA, and BestBuy all charge $29.95 for the retail packages from what I've seen.

[karen]

The REAL question is whether or not you can just flip through all the cards without playing the game itself.....

I have three TP games and I'd bet each has been played maybe 2-3 each. But sitting and quizzing others on the trivia has been done hundreds of times...

[PPCRules]

I often see 'value priced' physical editions of these same games priced at say $10-$15, so if those people can make the physical components and packaging and tranport it and market it in a retail store, and everyone gets enough to make it worthwhile, then the licence fee isn't very much.


Where are you shopping that you see Handmark games for $10-$15? Staples, Circuit City, CompUSA, and BestBuy all charge $29.95 for the retail packages from what I've seen.
Couldn't think of a better term: by 'physical' I meant the cardboard/paper/plastic version you set up and play on the table (most of these Handmark games were originally developed like that).

Come to think of it, though, I did once see some Palm OS Handmark games on clearance at Target for a reduced price.