Interesting article about our hobby

[jhdeerslayer]

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles ... e=1&cat=59

[simovitch]

Good article, thanks.

I forwarded it to my wife to help her understand the enigma of the economics of wargame production.

[06 Maestro]

It’s good to know that the genre is not dying off; it’s also frustrating that so few people engage in this type of recreational activity. I wonder if the problem is all about exposure, or are the masses just uninterested in history or the military arts.

Perhaps a 3 thousand man march on Washington DC, chanting “COTA on the shelves now!” would do the trick.[8|]

I still would like to believe that if there was greater exposure for this game, the sales would get up to 100,000. Maybe next year sale will make the jump.

[MarkShot]

It was an interesting article.

I have only one issue with it. I used to believe, like the author, that CM suceeded while RDOA/HTTR/COTA lagged, because of the 3D versus 2D thing. But I think there must have been more to the success of CM than just a very good game with a 3D.

I say that, because in the last couple of months it became clear and publicly known that MMG with their CWBR/TC2M had hit a major bump in the road. They had an acceptable 3D and one that certainly compared well with the CM series in terms of immersion and yet the three year effort of two part-time developers didn't launch them into full time game development/publishing a la Battlefront.

After PG having done three titles, it is clear that it is going to be an uphill struggle to keep sales moving. But whatever the obstacle to further sales may be, I don't think it is simply the lack of 3D. There are other factors. (I know Dave believes the key factor is for traditional hex/turn board style gamers to manage a pardigm shift to a new model of combat based on continuous space and time with delegation to AI agents.)

[jhdeerslayer]

I think you are right on for all points Markshot. MMG is a mystery indeed.

[HansBolter]

At the risk of sounding conceited, I'll offer the observation that "strategy" wargaming as opposed to "shoot-em-up" wargaming is a high brow, intellectual pursuit.

Anyone who can sussessfully wade through an Advanced Squad Leader or Advanced Third Riech rules book and go on to play the game probably represents some of the higher tiers of intellectual capacity in our societies.

If one considers what a potentially small group those with the intellectual capacity to be capable of such a pursuit truly is, coupled with the even smaller percentage of that category with a an interest in things military, one can easily see why the market is so small.

As an old hex boardgamer who has made the transition, although I still play and enjoy hex/turn based games, I agree with Arjuna that the key to success is capturing this group. However, even "this group" represenst an exceedingly small segement of our population, so one shouldn't get carried away in thinking there are bright prospects for the sales of hundreds of thousands of units.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter
At the risk of sounding conceited, I'll offer the observation that "strategy" wargaming as opposed to "shoot-em-up" wargaming is a high brow, intellectual pursuit.

Depends on your background. If your background is ASL with it's gazillion rules to digest I concur, but if you just like to play with toy soldiers it's not. I know plenty of guys who are no brainiacs, yet by applying common sense, basic military principles and 2 decades of practicing the "art of war" have become fierce opponents across the tabletop.

They all share an intrest in military history, but that's as far as I'd go.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: MarkShot
C.O.T.A.......There are other factors.

It is difficult to explain the game. Perhaps we could start a thread - "Suggestions on how to explain the game".

Many of the screen shots used to promote the game were chosen poorly.

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98
It is difficult to explain the game. Perhaps we could start a thread - "Suggestions on how to explain the game".

Good idea. Go for it. One thing you could use is Eddy's new 5 Minute Guide video. This is now available HERE.

Many of the screen shots used to promote the game were chosen poorly.

OK, you know this would come. Put up some alternatives then. We're always open to a bit of help.

[JeF]

Joe,

ORIGINAL: Joe 98
Many of the screen shots used to promote the game were chosen poorly.

Do you mean the ones on the game page at Matrix ? On the official website ? On the Drop Zone ?
As a participant of two of them (and part time magazine writer), I'd like to know what can be done to improve this.
What is poor ? zoom level ? too many units ? symbols ? terrains ? Selecting a screenshot ain't easy. I wouldn't mind some indications.

Cheers,

JeF.

[Fred98]

I'll take some sample screenies and upload them to this thread.
 
Joe
 
 
 
 

[JeF]

This thread is already hijacked enough.

Pls open a new one. So that anybody can come and comment. It might prove very interresting.

JeF.

[GoodGuy]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

I'll take some sample screenies and upload them to this thread.

You gonna create a new thread? I really wanna see these screenies.

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

OK, you know this would come. Put up some alternatives then. We're always open to a bit of help.

Ok, you know that this would come, too : Unlike him, I've presented an alternative (the flash/PHP thingy [8D]). hehe