Matrix Games Forums

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.

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.

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

1. The “Coming Soon” section at Matrix Forums.
2. The description and AAR for COTA in the forum.
3. I read reviews which painted an un-interesting /un-playable game for me.
4. No.
5. Strictly of military interest.
6. Yes.

ORIGINAL: wodin

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

1. The “Coming Soon” section at Matrix Forums.
2. The description and AAR for COTA in the forum.
3. I read reviews which painted an un-interesting /un-playable game for me.
4. No.
5. Strictly of military interest.
6. Yes.

Blimey who the hell wrote that!

I read mutiple reviews on the game (HTTR) on different sites. Not all were unfavorable, but there were enough references to a "click fest" to keep me away.

ORIGINAL: Chelco

A complaint about the Panther engine I read more o less frequently from grogs is that they don't like to just sit and "watch the battle" as oppossed to give a command (BTW clicking on it) to every unit before unleashing a turn.

ORIGINAL: Chelco

Click fest? Hmmm. Do you remember who wrote the review, or where did you read it?

ORIGINAL: MarkShot

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?

I tried the Arnhem demo a looooong time ago but didn't like it too much. I skipped HTTR and saw that COTA was released on the front page of the matrix site when buying some other games. I like the look of the game now better than the older ones, and I thought at first it was battle for Crete only then i saw it covered all the other battles in Greece and Malta hypothetical

(2) What led to your decision to purchase COTA?

AAR's and the upgraded interface and content from the older versions. Also I was tired of Market Garden etc etc. i also like the company support in terms of questions being answered

(3) Why hadn't you previously purchased RDOA or HTTR?

Didn't like the way they played and didnt like the only demo you guys had. Need more demos! 99% of the games I try in demo I end up getting. Im going out on a limb here.

(4) Prior to the purchase did you try the old RDOA demo that can still be found on the Net for download?

yes I hated it

(5) How would you characterize your PC gaming interests?

Wargaming and MMORPG playing. If I am not refighting WW2 I am playing World of Warcraft

(6) Prior to your purchase had you previously purchased other Matrix Games offerings?

A ton of them. I own about 8-9 Matrix Games

Thank you.

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For those of you who are repeat customers, I don't mean to make you feel ignored. However, I just assume that most of you were pleased with HTTR and were eager to get the next installment.

I am encouraged by the COTA documentation mentioning maneuver warfare and the boyd cycle; it remains to be seen how well these concepts apply to this game, because so far no game has managed to simulate this well.[8|]