If COTA is the first Panther Games product which you have purchased, then would you please be so kind as to respond to the following questions. (If you have yet to purchase COTA but are waiting for the boxed version or intend to purchase it soon, then feel free to respond.)
(1) How did you become aware of COTA?
(2) What led to your decision to purchase COTA?
(3) Why hadn't you previously purchased RDOA or HTTR?
(4) Prior to the purchase did you try the old RDOA demo that can still be found on the Net for download?
(5) How would you characterize your PC gaming interests?
(6) Prior to your purchase had you previously purchased other Matrix Games offerings?
Thank you for your time.
For first time customers and prior customers of RDOA and HTTR ...
I have gotten the impression over the years that the Mini-Guide AARs have helped to sell more than a few copies of these games. Of course, promoting the games was certainly one of the intentions of the Mini-Guides.
My question as I think about future games like BFTB is ...
Would a more polished AAR have been more effective at promoting the game? Some examples of more polished:
- 10-20 page downloadable PDF.
- Higher quality graphics; not just screen shots/MS paint.
- More structured, better written, less rambling and stream of conciousness.
- A more careful integration of game feature presentation alongside a walkthrough of a sample gaming session.
- A document that more reflected a professional marketting brochure than the musings of a beta tester.
Or would something such as the above had left you skeptical as to the true value of the game in the sense that it would have appeared too much like a creation of the publishers public relations department (focusing on hype as opposed to substance)? (For example, the COTA Mini-Guide included give and take discussion between community and the developer and acknowledgement and highlighting of bugs in the code base currently under development.)
Another thing we have discussed in terms of promoting products is the use of 3-5 minute multi-media tutorials illustrating some of the basic aspects of the game: giving orders, micro/macro-managing, following the action, ... What do you think of that idea?
I am asking these questions, because I see the biggest hurdle for this engine is getting more people interested in trying it. Over the years, it has been rare for customers to come back and say they were really dissappointed with what they had purchased. I suppose there are some who did purchase a game, but never really grasped the game play. (This was another thing that motivated the Mini-Guides.) For the most part, once purchased I think the engine gives a very good accounting of itself. The challenge is how to reach that point.
Thank you for your time.
