WCS in the "News"

[Gil R.]

Article from WCS's hometown paper, might be of interest to some of you. If nothing else, you can see what Eric looks like, and start dressing up as him for Halloween:

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008 ... .html#more

For the record, he's not the one who claimed we make "video games."

[Ironclad]

Interesting article and even more so in reference to the future:

"The company is focusing on adding more historical events to its Crown of Glory game and plans to move on to World Wars I and II or the Cold War."

"We're working our way forward through history".

I suppose that makes a game on the wars of German unification even less likely but I live in hope. The COG/FOF engine seems particularly well suited to simulating nineteenth century warfare and would probably be good covering earlier periods too. Like some others I would love to see you try out the ancient period - a good game on the rise and fall of Rome would be great to see. There seems so many companies producing WW2 games. Any news on your latest development?

[jkBluesman]

Yes, the Roman Republic is such an interesting period. There is enough war and politics for many games. Eric mentioned ones that Ancient games do not sell well, but I think that people wait for a good game covering that period.

[ericbabe]

I did mention a few other historical periods we were considering doing -- including more from the 19th c., as well as speculating about doing some fantasy or sci-fi titles -- but the interview glossed over those.  It also reversed my hope that we could eventually do "a couple titles per year" into "develop a new game in a couple years."

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: jkBluesman

... Eric mentioned ones that Ancient games do not sell well, but I think that people wait for a good game covering that period.

Doesn't sell well? Rome: Total War, Legion series, to name a few.

[General Quarters]

Interesting article. Thanks for posting it.

[moose1999]

My impression is that Rome is a real favorite among historical wargamers. And with the enormous success of a title like Rome:Total War the Rome brand alone will probably attract the attention of some from of that casual gaming crowd for some years to come.
So it might open up the market for WCS...

[ericbabe]

We are considering some ancient titles, even some ideas for Roman themed games, but I think a better comparison is with other ancient games in the strategy niche market than with $M budget games like Total War.

[moose1999]

Oh, definitely, but my point is, that every time a million-seller hits the market it will rub off on many other similar-themed games, even if they belong to other genres.
RTW may be too far back to have any effect - but I would really like to see you do Rome, so I was consciously being a little over-positive (stress 'little').
But I guess is settled then - you'll do Rome next.
Excellent.
When can we expect a release - this Christmas? [:)]

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: briny_norman

Oh, definitely, but my point is, that every time a million-seller hits the market it will rub off on many other similar-themed games, even if they belong to other genres ...

Legion supposedly got it's impetus from Russel Crow's Gladiator flik, so it's hard to say what's inspiring gaming these days.

[jkBluesman]

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

We are considering some ancient titles, even some ideas for Roman themed games, but I think a better comparison is with other ancient games in the strategy niche market than with $M budget games like Total War.

If not Rome, what about Greece? The Peloponnesian War was sort of a civil war and thus could be easily modeled with the FOF engine. And I cannot think of many games dealing with it, so it could be an interesting try.

[ericbabe]

The Peloponnesian War is definitely one we're considering.

I'd personally love to do the Sengoku Period, but I'm not sure how well that would sell.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

The Peloponnesian War is definitely one we're considering ...

So you'll be tweeking the game engine from nations down to nation states?

Sorry if I'm boring you guys, but I'm still waiting for my physical shipment of FoF. After it gets here, maybe I'll have something more intelligent to say re this game.

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

The Peloponnesian War is definitely one we're considering ...

So you'll be tweeking the game engine from nations down to nation states?

Sorry if I'm boring you guys, but I'm still waiting for my physical shipment of FoF. After it gets here, maybe I'll have something more intelligent to say re this game.

The Matrix store's screen still shows that physical copies are back-ordered, the result of more manuals having to be printed. I'm sure it won't be too long now, but don't myself know the details, since WCS doesn't play a role in distribution. I'm sorry it's taking so long -- I see that you posted about this three weeks ago.

[ericbabe]

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

The Peloponnesian War is definitely one we're considering ...

So you'll be tweeking the game engine from nations down to nation states?

Sorry if I'm boring you guys, but I'm still waiting for my physical shipment of FoF. After it gets here, maybe I'll have something more intelligent to say re this game.

Yeah, if we did Pel. War, then there'd be many city states represented as minor powers -- vaguely like the minor powers in COG.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

The Matrix store's screen still shows that physical copies are back-ordered, the result of more manuals having to be printed ...

And I understand the manuals are very long. I bought FoF during the Christmas sale; Matrix gave me 1st quarter '08 as a delivery date, then charged me about $7 for shipping!

Go figure.

[Punzer]

I'd like to see a Sengoku period title. I played the heck out of Nobunaga's Ambition from KOEI, back in the stone ages.

[Gil R.]

As an ancient historian by profession, I take it personally that ancients games don't sell well. Of course, that might partly be a function of the lack of good ones, especially at the strategic level. The Peloponnesian War was mentioned -- if there's been a computer game about it in the past decade or so, I'm at a loss to think of it. Same goes for Greece's wars with Persia (perhaps a computer version of "Meet the Spartans" is now in order?), the conquests of Philip and/or Alexander, various Roman conflicts, etc.

[Ironclad]

Now's your chance to correct this aberration by producing a quality new product. Whilst my preference would be 1. Rome 2. Wars of Alexanders successors, I would certainly welcome any other good subject. I remember many years ago buying a boardgame on the Peloponnesian War and being intensely frustrated when the rules turned out to be rubbish (the naval movement distance didn't allow one to recreate the Athenian expedition against Syracuse!).

[meisterchow]

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

I'd personally love to do the Sengoku Period, but I'm not sure how well that would sell.

Sign me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!