Matrix -- Highest Selling/Most Popular

[SireChaos]

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

ORIGINAL: SireChaos

Weird. I mean, I understand that neither forum activity nor clicking a link means there is or was a sale - but I have no idea why the "click per sale" or "post per sale" rate would be different between games.

The only way that makes sense to me is that the majority of Matrix customers never even look at the forums. They do not decide to buy a game based on forum activity so they do not even have an opportunity to click on the "buy now" link. They simply search for the game online and go directly to the store.

That is a foreign idea to me. It never even occurred to me that is how most people do their game purchasing-apparently it must be so.

Okay, that might make sense.

That way, I´d expect the more complex, grognard-level games like WitP to have a high forum-to-sales and click-to-sales ratio, as people inform themselves about the game there before they buy it, whereas comparably simpler games such as UFO Extraterrestrials or Hired Guns have a low rate as people tend to buy them after more cursory investigation.

[Andrew Williams]

The Close Combat series has over 7000 (quick count) Buy now clicks between them   

[Nikolaj]

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro
The only way that makes sense to me is that the majority of Matrix customers never even look at the forums. They do not decide to buy a game based on forum activity so they do not even have an opportunity to click on the "buy now" link. They simply search for the game online and go directly to the store.

That is a foreign idea to me. It never even occurred to me that is how most people do their game purchasing-apparently it must be so.

Personally, I never even noticed the "buy now" links. I usually research a game before buying it (at least when it's a Matrix game, since they tend to be a bit pricy), both on these forums and elsewhere, and then I go to the store and buy the game from there.

I usually take at least a few days before making up my mind on whether to buy a game, so using the "buy now" links wouldn't really be any easier, even if I had noticed they were there.

edit: as for forum activity, one explanation might be that some developers have their own forums, which are sometimes a better place for asking questions about a game (like Ageod, for example).

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: Nikolaj
edit: as for forum activity, one explanation might be that some developers have their own forums, which are sometimes a better place for asking questions about a game (like Ageod, for example).

Good point-that would help explain this little anomaly.

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

The only way that makes sense to me is that the majority of Matrix customers never even look at the forums. They do not decide to buy a game based on forum activity so they do not even have an opportunity to click on the "buy now" link. They simply search for the game online and go directly to the store.

That is a foreign idea to me. It never even occurred to me that is how most people do their game purchasing-apparently it must be so.

I don't see forum activity as particularly relevant, some games generate long and long-lasting discussion and some don't. Obviously forum activity will die off quickly if the game is total cr*p, but in some cases there just isn't that much to say and in others excellent titles never really took off, for whatever reason. In some cases as well, such as Field of Glory, TOAW, Close Combat and Harpoon most of the forum traffic is elsewhere.

[06 Maestro]

ORIGINAL: Hertston

ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro

The only way that makes sense to me is that the majority of Matrix customers never even look at the forums. They do not decide to buy a game based on forum activity so they do not even have an opportunity to click on the "buy now" link. They simply search for the game online and go directly to the store.

That is a foreign idea to me. It never even occurred to me that is how most people do their game purchasing-apparently it must be so.

I don't see forum activity as particularly relevant, some games generate long and long-lasting discussion and some don't. Obviously forum activity will die off quickly if the game is total cr*p, but in some cases there just isn't that much to say and in others excellent titles never really took off, for whatever reason. In some cases as well, such as Field of Glory, TOAW, Close Combat and Harpoon most of the forum traffic is elsewhere.

From what I have seen at this site a dead forum is strongly indicative of a lousy game. In some cases it is just an older game that players have lost interest in. Of course, what is lousy to one may be great to another, but there are averages in preferences too.

Of course, your point in other forum traffic is very correct in some cases. However, that group could be further sub-divided by games that are only sold at Matrix (TalonSoft titles) and games that have multiple outlets. Some of those older games must have many dozens of forums each. Some spread of forum activity would be expected-even with first time buyers of an older title. Ageod is a special case-there may be good reason for someone to prefer to buy their game at Matrix even though most forum activity for any of their games is at the Ageod site.

About the "buy now" link; during these sales it is likely that games would be purchased without actually hitting that link. If you are buying 2 or more games, there is no point in returning to the forum to click on that link. Come to think of it-I have likely done this myself while making a multi game purchase. In my case, that still would have been a small percentage of games purchased.

[martok]

I know the staff has stated on a number of occasions that they've been pleasantly surprised by how popular Distant Worlds is.

Obviously we don't know how the game stacks against Matrix's other titles. However, it's at least popular enough that that an expansion is already near completion....and additional future expansions are planned as well.

[hgilmer3]

We've had this discussion before and I made mention of forum activity, and someone said "maybe it is because of more bugs".  Now, the obvious reply is "How can that be possible with a Matrix game?"  [:)] I have not had much bug trouble, although I have had CTDs with Forge of Freedom.  Not enough to worry about or even complain about, probably 3-4 in the 2-3 years I have owned it.

It's an easy way of looking at it and not scientific, but if you have WITP-AE and it has 20-30 threads started by different people in the last 2 weeks and you have another later release game with 2-3 threads started in the last 2 weeks, you can easily see that there is SOME direct correlation with forum activity to sales.

[Zap]

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

ORIGINAL: V22 Osprey

ORIGINAL: bairdlander

WitPAE

+1 other than that, I don't know about anything else, Matrix gives us no clue on sells.....

... which I think is a mistake.

First it would put a stop to many price complaints, but more importantly it would let people gauge how much effort it would take to find a pbem opponent or what game is "dead" from a MP perspective, which would mean the AI becomes more important.

It's for this exact reason that Avalon Hill used to publish a list of their Top 10 sellers : this way you could see what their popular games were. They didn't publish absolute numbers, just a Top 10 ranking which I think would be good enough for us as well

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

Good reasons, I would like to know just out of curiosity.

But I see one possible problem with the top 10 list. Buyers might not take a look at the other games. There would be a certain prejudice to looking at the less popular games. People may feel since they are not popular they are not woth the effort.

I think this is one the reasons for Matrix policy

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: Zap
But I see one possible problem with the top 10 list. Buyers might not take a look at the other games. There would be a certain prejudice to looking at the less popular games. People may feel since they are not popular they are not woth the effort.

I think this is one the reasons for Matrix policy

Good point.

Avalon Hill didn't really care if they sold an extra copy of game A or one of game B, but Matrix is a publisher who needs to treat all developers somewhat equal and this Top 10 games idea would ruffle some feathers all for very little gain. In this case it's don't rock the boat I guess.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[diablo1]

Hey I know let's us make a top 10 list of Matrixgames?

01. Steel Panthers Generals Edition

02. Panzer Command:Kharkov/Winterstorm/Osfront(soon)

03. Tin Soldiers:Julius Caesar

04. Advanced Tactics

05. Forge of Freedom

06. Distant Worlds

07. Field of Glory + all expansions

08. Spartan/Troy

09. Close Combat:The Longest Day

10. Making History I & II

There now we have a top 10 list of Matrixgames. [:)]

[Yogi the Great]

ORIGINAL: Zap

But I see one possible problem with the top 10 list. Buyers might not take a look at the other games. There would be a certain prejudice to looking at the less popular games. People may feel since they are not popular they are not woth the effort.

I think this is one the reasons for Matrix policy

Well maybe for a few people who can't make their own decisions, but I don't think it would detract from sales. I enjoy seeing the top sellers just for curiosity and to see what others are buying. I think most of us choose based on topic, scale, features etc. that match our personal preference. Probably for me, I would have little or no interest in many of the games that could make the top ten sellers. Why? Because I'm an old fart who likes classic style wargames. I don't buy for graphics or glitz. I don't play fantasy games. I don't much care for real time games. I don't like arcade style shoot up games. I guess I'm boring. Hence, I have a hunch I already don't buy all that many "Best Sellers".

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Hey I know let's us make a top 10 list of Matrixgames?

Ha, there's a challenge! With apologies to the devs of those I haven't played, this must be a 'favourites' and not 'best',

1. BftB/CotA/HttR (will take the liberty of including those together)

2. WitP:AE

3. TOAW 3

4. Distant Worlds

5. Field of Glory

6. GG War Between the States

7. Advanced Tactics

8. Harpoon CE

9. TS: Julius Caesar

10. Flashpoint Germany

I just never could get into Steel Panthers, heretical though that may be!

[SlickWilhelm]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

lol - exactly. I hit the Buy Now for Battles from the Bulge so many times and chickened at the last minute

Wait, you mean you've actually been able to resist purchasing a game? LOL, what's next, pigs that can fly? [:D]

[Fallschirmjager]

Makes one wonder why Matrix gave up on their attempt to create a Steel Panthers 'sequel'
It would be a guaranteed seller if they could ever get one off.

[SireChaos]

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager

Makes one wonder why Matrix gave up on their attempt to create a Steel Panthers 'sequel'
It would be a guaranteed seller if they could ever get one off.

But how do you improve on something that´s already perfect (or very nearly so)?

Less frivolously, how do you improve this game enough that it justifies selling it as a different game than the old Steel Panthers, without changing those things that made the original game great?

[Lützow]

ORIGINAL: SireChaos

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager

Makes one wonder why Matrix gave up on their attempt to create a Steel Panthers 'sequel'
It would be a guaranteed seller if they could ever get one off.

But how do you improve on something that´s already perfect (or very nearly so)?

Less frivolously, how do you improve this game enough that it justifies selling it as a different game than the old Steel Panthers, without changing those things that made the original game great?

Rework gfx and adjust the engine to native screen resolution.

[Fallschirmjager]

ORIGINAL: SireChaos

ORIGINAL: Fallschirmjager

Makes one wonder why Matrix gave up on their attempt to create a Steel Panthers 'sequel'
It would be a guaranteed seller if they could ever get one off.

But how do you improve on something that´s already perfect (or very nearly so)?

Less frivolously, how do you improve this game enough that it justifies selling it as a different game than the old Steel Panthers, without changing those things that made the original game great?

Lets not let nostalgia get in the way of judging the game. SPWAW could be improve in a lot of ways. It looks terrible on modern large monitors over 20 inches. The artwork looks like it is 15 years old and I can see the individual pixels.
It does not work on a lot of modern systems. There are OOB limitations still in place because it is an old game. Scenario development is limited by tools and triggers that need to be updated.
A new game would breath new life for scenario and campaign makers. Matrix no longer supports the game with patches or mega campaigns.
The AI is pretty bad at attacking and buying it's equipment.

The game could really stand an update. It is close to 20 years old now (wasn't it based on SP2?) And based on activity of the forums I believe that Matrix know it could be a big seller. Plus the could spin out new fronts or mega campaigns for the next decade and have a steady stream of income.

[diablo1]

SPWAW easily works on any OS with Dosbox or Defend-Reloaded. So, there's no issue with it running. Graphics could be improved yes. I'd like to see isometric graphics from a 3/4 view angle. Even graphics like Combat Mission or Panzer Command would do. AI definitely could use some reworking and more difficulty levels even after that.

[junk2drive]

That's part of what I like about Battlefield Academy. It plays like a game, not a complicated simulation. The 3D units are low detail so that you don't need a super computer to run it. The units and map items are large enough so that my old eyes can see them and I can zoom in and out with the scroll wheel. It is IGOUGO so that I can keep up with it. It has details behind the scenes and dice rolls to keep it risky.

It's about as close to SP as you are going to get from Matrix/Slitherine. But you never know. Who would have thought that the guy behind PGF would get to make a commercial game of it.