Matrix -- Highest Selling/Most Popular

[Arctic Blast]

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.

Would it?

First off, they would have to build this entirely new game from scratch from the ground up. So the development expense would, I'd imagine, be more significant than it was for SPWAW where they at least had an engine to start from.

And second, how many avid fans of SPWAW actually BOUGHT it? How many just play the outstanding free version with all of that content? You can't look at every person who still plays SPWAW as a sale of a future release because the majority didn't pay for anything with SPWAW.

[JudgeDredd]

ORIGINAL: Slick Wilhelm

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]

I know - but I did manage.

What is a shame is because I'm an impulse buyer that is a lost sale to Matrix now. And they probably won't get me to buy it...the moment has gone, if you will. I don't suppose it matters too much to them. I'm sure, as other people have said, they priced it right to maximise profit...but they did lose my guaranteed sale because of the "price shock". I don't know if it would've been any different if they had announced the price earlier...it might have given me time to think about it and get used to the price - even stay away from buying other games to get it (like I have done for War in the East)...but it's a "might have".

I still haven't got BftB and I'm unlikely to pick it up now...when games go past the shiny new, I seldom go back. Look at Highway to the Reich. I steered clear of getting it because it was a couple of years old and a shiny new (CotA) was round the corner. Turned out CotA was about 2 more years round the corner - but I NEVER picked HTTR up - why bother? All that was in that game and more was going to be implemented in the latest release.

[diablo1]

because the majority didn't pay for anything with SPWAW.

You got any PROOF of that? I think NOT!

[JudgeDredd]

Hasn't Steel Panthers been/was free for quite some time?

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

because the majority didn't pay for anything with SPWAW.

You got any PROOF of that? I think NOT!

Common sense dictates that if there is a free version of something and an $80 version of that same thing with mega campaigns, the majority of people are playing the free version.

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

ORIGINAL: diablo1

because the majority didn't pay for anything with SPWAW.

You got any PROOF of that? I think NOT!

Common sense dictates that if there is a free version of something and an $80 version of that same thing with mega campaigns, the majority of people are playing the free version.

The game was out years before there was a free version.. so common sense dictates that the publishers made sure there weren't many sales coming in before putting it out there for free. Plus it's more like a demo after that because the GENERALS edition offers so much more now. Thus common sense dictates all those that got the free version then jumped on the GENERALS edition and paid for it. But, you can have your opinion doesn't mean it's the truth as you have no proof by numbers or documentation just words. And since we both are using nothing more than common sense as proof mine is just as valid if not more valid than your usage.

[Lützow]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

Common sense dictates that if there is a free version of something and an $80 version of that same thing with mega campaigns, the majority of people are playing the free version.

Depends, I bought the CD version of Shrapnel's SP just for the high resolution and would do the same with Matrix edition if they eventually pimp the engine.

[junk2drive]

I bought both Camo CDs to show support and the higher rez. But that was a while ago. I've tried to find something else in Shrapnel's catalog but nothing does it for me.

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: Lützow

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

Common sense dictates that if there is a free version of something and an $80 version of that same thing with mega campaigns, the majority of people are playing the free version.

Depends, I bought the CD version of Shrapnel's SP just for the high resolution and would do the same with Matrix edition if they eventually pimp the engine.

And I have no doubt that a number of others would do the same. My point is that a lot of the people who are playing SPWAW are not the usual core strategy gamer. I know a number of people personally who gave it a chance simply because it was free...as much as some of them have enjoyed it, they probably wouldn't lay down cash for a follow up. And I suspect that a lot of the people playing the game are in that same boat.

And honestly, if Matrix know for a fact that a follow up WOULD be a cash machine, they would have continued development on the follow ups.

[junk2drive]

When they quit CL and CA that was the nail in the coffin. Either they couldn't see a good ROI or there was a legal issue behind the scenes that we will never know.

[diablo1]

And honestly, if Matrix know for a fact that a follow up WOULD be a cash machine, they would have continued development on the follow ups.

They don't own the rights to re-engine or update SPWAW but I believe made some special deal to sell SPWAW:Generals Edition. Shrapnel owns the rights and if you notice they DID create a new higher resolution version for sale not long ago. It's also a windows version. They too offer a low resolution version for free but if you want the high resolution with the spiffs then you have to buy it. Isn't that right Erik? ERIK??! YOU UP THERE?! I SAW YOU EARLIER!!

[Arctic Blast]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

And honestly, if Matrix know for a fact that a follow up WOULD be a cash machine, they would have continued development on the follow ups.

They don't own the rights to re-engine or update SPWAW but I believe made some special deal to sell SPWAW:Generals Edition. Shrapnel owns the rights and if you notice they DID create a new higher resolution version for sale not long ago. It's also a windows version. They too offer a low resolution version for free but if you want the high resolution with the spiffs then you have to buy it. Isn't that right Erik? ERIK??! YOU UP THERE?! I SAW YOU EARLIER!!

I know they don't own the rights...they had permission to sue the SP3 (I think it was 3?) engine to make SPWAW, but they don't have the rights to it free and clear. And that's also what limits their ability to 'modernize' SPWAW. So yes, they would have to build a new game (such as Combat Leader) from the ground up. Obviously, they've decided that it doesn't make sense to do so from a profits perspective.

[diablo1]

I know a number of people personally who gave it a chance simply because it was free...

And I know a number of people personally who gave the free version a try and liked it so much they bought the GENERALS edition AND the new Shrapnel edition. So that basically proves that it's still popular after 10 years+ and people are still buying it AND playing it for free. But, without evidence there's no proof of a MAJORITY of either side. [:)]

Main point being it's the most POPULAR wargame ever from the Matrixgames site free or bought it rules them all. For once WitP has to take a backseat to the king of computer wargames. [:)]