Should I listen to the review or buy it anyway?

GR Decker · #1 October 6th, 2002, 04:51 AM

M.U.L.E was always one of my Favorites, and I didn't go wrong buying Space Empires so I couldn't wait till Space horse came out....
But then I read the review from Gone Gold and they make it seem like it is not worth the price.
Who's all bought it? It dosen't seem like very many judging by the lack of activity in this forum and do you think it is worth the price. I'm not asking if it's a good game just is it worth over $30. (by the time you add shipping onto the price you're up to a $35. game)
How does it compare to other full price games? Is it in the same Category?
Gone Gold says it shoud be worth about $10. Am I gonna be wasting my money on this thing or not?

Thanks George
(what follows is an exert from Gone Golds review of Spacehorse)

The problem with Space HoRSE, as I see it, lies in its price. At 29.99 it is implying that it belongs in the realm of the big boys- as most major releases can be had near this price point on sale. We can all grab the Warcraft III�s and the Mafia�s of the world in the $30-35 price range within months after release. But since Space HoRSE is sold Online through Shrapnel, it�s likely to stay near $30 for awhile. It simply is not a good value at this price. Sure the game is solid and the AI is decent but the overall gameplay is not on par with that found in major releases. If Space HoRSE was a $10 game then I could recommend messing around with it the same way we mess around with Bejeweled or Atomic Bonds or Tetris. But at this price, I�m expecting a full-fledged game and I�m not getting it here.

jfossy · #2 October 6th, 2002, 02:26 PM

Why don't you download the demo and check it out for yourself. I personally feel it is worth the $35.00.

As for the activity, most of it is on a channel on Mirc in Dalnet called #Space_HoRSE

The demo can be downloaded here: http://www.shrapnelgames.com/gilliga...HoRSE_demo.htm

capnq · #3 October 6th, 2002, 09:33 PM

The only reason I haven't bought Space HoRSE yet is that my computer doesn't meet the minimum specs for it.

I get the impression that that reviewer has no concept of the manufacturing cost of software. Shrapnel's production runs are bound to be smaller than the "big" publishers, so they can't get the same economies of scale. I doubt that even the largest publisher in the industry could turn a profit on a $10 retail price.

Too many gamers whine about the cost of the hobby anyway; they don't seem to realize that games are a luxury item.

Gillissie · #4 October 7th, 2002, 06:15 AM

On the other hand, other reviewers have commented that $29.95 is a bargain for Space HoRSE. This is from GameSpot:

"If you just want a way to play classic M.U.L.E. on your computer with three friends, Space HoRSE is a good purchase and is perhaps even a bargain." - Bruce Geryk

The bottom line is, if you enjoy playing the game, then it is worth the money.

adam · #5 October 7th, 2002, 02:00 PM

Space HoRSE is well worth the $29.99. Anyone like me who has been waiting 20 years for an internet playable Version of MULE will agree with that.

Psitticine · #6 October 12th, 2002, 10:33 PM

I think it's a good game, and the fact the gameplay is still interesting even though the core concepts were laid out in the mid-'80s says something about its design. Download the demo, give it a try yourself, and you'll be able to tell what to expect for the price. Personally, I think it is well worth the money, but you can (and should, obviously) decide for yourself with the demo.