Hope that additional content is hefty because this sounds quite iffy.

I'm not sure what additional content could make this worthwhile.  Making this into a retail release will at least double the price, if not triple or quadruple it.  It sounds like Europeans are just getting a raw deal.

On the other hand, I just learned that Europe's getting Eternity's Child and America isn't (at least for now) so it's hard for me to feel too bad for you poor saps.

Yeah, this is definitely a raw deal, but if it was between this and the game not releasing anywhere due to their funds entirely depleting, I'll take this.

Double could only happen if it was 1500 wii points and 30 Euros (lowest Wii games get released at), 40-50 is more likely, especially when they say it's not budget (40 counts as budget for publishers here...).

Meh, I don't think I'll buy it at that price.

How much you wanna bet after the game bombs they will put it on Wiiware and lick their wounds. Certain games just won't work for retail release, this is one of them.

Just put some hooks for downloadable content.

This is one stupid ass move.

Well the motivation is clearly because they are running out of money. I think that 2D Boy doesn't have any other option. Given that the publisher RTL Playtainment has the publishing rights in Europe now, it is entirely up to them as to what the future of the game is in Europe.

WHAT?

Downloads are cheaper as they don't require plastic for boxes, paper for the packaging, printing of disks of plastic, and shipping costs. I am about 50/50 on if I would buy this Wiiware game but I am 100% sure I won't buy it at retail. I can't imagine how they couldn't work out a deal with whatever company to put it on Wiiware.

WiiWare doesn't require a publisher, as there is no logistics behind distribution. Companies who make WiiWare games pay Nintendo part of their earnings as an bill for publishing the game.

Regardless of whether or not you would buy it in retail form, it WILL sell at retail outlets, and RTL Playtainment must agree or else they wouldn't even consider footing the bill for the game's development. There is nothing crazy or unusual going on here, just a common Publisher/Developer relationship where the publisher agrees to pay for development and some royalties in exchange for the rights to distribute the title.

This is one of the few games on Wii Ware that I really can't wait to play. It looks so friggin cool.

Part of this is that also, with a retail release, publishers pay up front. I read something from 2DBoy in which they admit that it i9s nice to be paid upfront now since they're already so deep in debt and with savings wiped out.

Actually, WiiWar CAN have a publisher if you want. The WiiWare business model allows for that if, for example, Nintendo wanted to contract an outside developer to make Dr. Mario, they can. Wait a second, isn't that what happened?

Sure, but in most cases you aren't going to see that. Your example with Nintendo is more the exception than the rule.

That's a bit like saying iTunes doesn't require a label.