Summary
Developer Hooded Horse’s CEO, Tim Bender, has addressed the ongoing query regarding the undisclosed price ofManor Lords, attributing this to management issues. Additionally, Bender took the opportunity to address concerns regardingManor Lordsmarket scams and unauthorized stores.
Manor Lordsis a medieval city-builder and real-time tactics gamecreated by Greg Styczeń and published by Hooded Horse. Set in 14th-century Europe, the game offers three distinct modes, each focusing on different aspects such as city-building, warfare, and a balanced experience. Players can customize various in-game elements, manage settlements' growth and internal stability, and tackle challenges like taxation, weather, and environmental concerns.Manor Lordspromises a historical experience while offering both isometric and third-person perspectives for exploring settlements.
In a detailed Reddit post, Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender shed light on the complexities surrounding pricing strategies for games, particularly on platforms like Steam where regional pricing plays a significant role. He emphasized thatManor Lords, like many other titles on Steam, will have regional prices tailored to different parts of the worldwhereManor Lordswill be released. These prices are not merely currency conversions but are adjusted to reflect local economic conditions, allowing players in various regions to afford the game without facing undue financial burdens.
Manor Lords Developer’s Statement on the Game’s Undisclosed Price
Bender explained that declaring a single price in advance could lead to misperceptions about affordability in different regions. “Sharing the US price alone will lead to misunderstandings,” Bender said. This approach aims to prevent players from prematurely concluding that the game may be unaffordable for them based on initial price announcements. Another critical factor influencing the decision to withhold pricing information is the rise of gray market and scam stores attempting to sell “pre-orders” forManor Lordskeys. These unauthorized sellers often engage in deceptive practices and could potentially scam unsuspecting players. By not disclosing the price publicly, Hooded Horse aims to mitigate the proliferation of such scams and protect players from fraudulent activities.
Despite the lack of a revealed price, Bender assured the community that Hooded Horse has never adopted AAA pricing models for its games and has no plans to do so. Additionally, the studio has a history of offering launch discounts ranging from 10% to 25% during Early Access releases. Bender’s message emphasized transparency, fair pricing practices, and a dedication to ensuring that players can enjoyManor Lordsand all its exciting features confirmedwithout concerns about overpricing or deceptive pre-order schemes.
Sharing the US price alone will lead to misunderstandings.
With overthree million wishlists on Steam forManor Lords, Hooded Horse’s approach to managing expectations and pricing underscores its commitment to fostering a positive relationship with players. As the release date draws near, players might be eager to know whatManor Lords' price will be.
Manor Lords
WHERE TO PLAY
Manor Lords is a strategy game that allows you to experience the life of a medieval lord. Grow your starting village into a bustling city, manage resources and production chains, and expand your lands through conquest.Inspired by the art and architecture of late 14th century Franconia, Manor Lords prioritizes historical accuracy wherever possible, using it to inform gameplay mechanics and visuals alike. Common medieval tropes are avoided in favor of historical accuracy to make the world feel more authentic, colorful, and believable.Manor Lords provides a gridless city-building experience with full freedom of placement and rotation. Building mechanics are inspired by the growth of real medieval towns and villages, where major trade routes and the landscape influenced how settlements formed and developed.From boots to barley and hides to honey, Manor Lords features a great variety of goods fitting of the era. Materials need to be transported and processed into finished products through production chains, and you must balance the basic needs of your people against the desire to produce luxury items to ensure happiness, manufacture trade goods for export, or forge arms and armor to aid in your conquests.