What's up with the prices?

[Nistenf]

Patience, of course, I'm not expecting a $5 on release. But this game has 3 or four years, and is a remake of an even older game, but still at release price. I understand that Matrix, not being a super big company can't afford to reduce prices that much, but still, a little could be nice. Nice to know that there're sales

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Nistenf

Patience, of course, I'm not expecting a $5 on release. But this game has 3 or four years, and is a remake of an even older game, but still at release price. I understand that Matrix, not being a super big company can't afford to reduce prices that much, but still, a little could be nice. Nice to know that there're sales

Yes the sales are nice but look at it from their standpoint. How many companies out there support their games after 3-4 years? Most of them just shovel them out the door as fast as they can, make as much as they can and throw a few inevitable patches to satiate the masses.Then its off to the next shiney bauble and that inevitable sequel.
I know here that I can play a title for years and have a forum and support. Try that with Silent Hunter V in two to three years.....and I dont mean fan based support..I mean honest to goodness company support....

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker

ORIGINAL: Nistenf

Patience, of course, I'm not expecting a $5 on release. But this game has 3 or four years, and is a remake of an even older game, but still at release price. I understand that Matrix, not being a super big company can't afford to reduce prices that much, but still, a little could be nice. Nice to know that there're sales

Yes the sales are nice but look at it from their standpoint. How many companies out there support their games after 3-4 years? Most of them just shovel them out the door as fast as they can, make as much as they can and throw a few inevitable patches to satiate the masses.Then its off to the next shiney bauble and that inevitable sequel.
I know here that I can play a title for years and have a forum and support. Try that with Silent Hunter V in two to three years.....and I dont mean fan based support..I mean honest to goodness company support....

Tell me about Panzer Command:Osfront now? [:)]

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker

ORIGINAL: Nistenf

Patience, of course, I'm not expecting a $5 on release. But this game has 3 or four years, and is a remake of an even older game, but still at release price. I understand that Matrix, not being a super big company can't afford to reduce prices that much, but still, a little could be nice. Nice to know that there're sales

Yes the sales are nice but look at it from their standpoint. How many companies out there support their games after 3-4 years? Most of them just shovel them out the door as fast as they can, make as much as they can and throw a few inevitable patches to satiate the masses.Then its off to the next shiney bauble and that inevitable sequel.
I know here that I can play a title for years and have a forum and support. Try that with Silent Hunter V in two to three years.....and I dont mean fan based support..I mean honest to goodness company support....

Tell me about Panzer Command:Osfront now? [:)]

But for the most part it works here just as I wrote ....I knew there were a few titles but luckily the ones I have picked up have been well supported for as long as my attention span had locked in on that title.That said, I have the attention span of a gnat.....

[pmelheck1]

Most if not all of the "old" games are not re-release as I understand the concept.  These "old" games have been given new life with new scenarios, new graphics, bug fixes ect.  For the most part they are not just dumping old titles on a CD and charging new prices.  The people working hard to make these new versions of these games deserved to be paid for the time they put in improving them.  Some of the close combat releases sold by Matrix were never released by Microsoft.  If you are looking for the old Microsoft version of Close Combat that has not been improved by Matrix you can buy them from Ebay in most cases for only a few dollars.  All re-releases of old titles I've seen Matrix do have been low priced and have been stated as merely re-release as opposed to improved versions in the message boards.

[bairdlander2]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

ORIGINAL: apathetic lurker

ORIGINAL: Nistenf

Patience, of course, I'm not expecting a $5 on release. But this game has 3 or four years, and is a remake of an even older game, but still at release price. I understand that Matrix, not being a super big company can't afford to reduce prices that much, but still, a little could be nice. Nice to know that there're sales

Yes the sales are nice but look at it from their standpoint. How many companies out there support their games after 3-4 years? Most of them just shovel them out the door as fast as they can, make as much as they can and throw a few inevitable patches to satiate the masses.Then its off to the next shiney bauble and that inevitable sequel.
I know here that I can play a title for years and have a forum and support. Try that with Silent Hunter V in two to three years.....and I dont mean fan based support..I mean honest to goodness company support....

Tell me about Panzer Command:Osfront now? [:)]

Panzer Command:Ostfront from the available screenshots looks almost identical to Kharkov 43 from Graviteam.That title has been reduced by %50 since release.Will PCO be?I hope it has a better UI than K43.I might buy if it does.

[pmelheck1]

When it comes to support Matrix is a publisher.  It is up to the software developer to provide support in the form of patches.  Matrix desires support as much as every one does and they are even more unhappy then users as it destroys their reputation.  Matrix is like your local car dealership.  They rely on the manufacturer to send them the cars.  They are capable of providing support of the SALE but they do not have a production line on the property.  Matrix is a publishing company with some in house development and the in house development support I have seen has been excellent.  Matrix provides a pipeline for small developers to get their titles published which I think is fantastic.  But it can get discouraging when the individual or small company doesn't support a title as fast as we would like.  Matrix I'm sure includes a support clause in their contract with their publishers to try to resolve such issues. 

I've been a fan of Matrix for a while and their have been titles I would have like to have seen faster support, but I try to keep in mind that Matrix may not be the culprit in all cases.

[diablo1]

Well the reason I brought up Panzer Command:Osfront is because the actual developer of the origional series jumped ship, quit said goodbye right in the middle of a MAJOR update/patch. So, it's not being supported by the actual origional developers it's being put together by a bunch of fans to the series (a little annoying they can be sometimes when you ask them information but otherwise a great bunch of guys for doing so). So when Apathetic Lurker brought up that support came from the company and not the "fans" I had to bring that game up. Support at Matrixgames appears to be able to come from all kinds of avenues. What sets them apart is they do TRY to fix the games they sell and continue many years intot he future with support and updates and in some cases even free content. Of course they are to be commended for this, but, well that doesn't keep us from still wanting a "bargain" from time to time. Christmas is the usual bargain time and that's when I usually buy. Just some games over 5 years old still at full retail price sort of puts some disbelief that they are still that high. But, if you compare them to Shrapnel and HPS they do the same so oh well you either buy or you don't. [:)]

[ilovestrategy]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Well the reason I brought up Panzer Command:Osfront is because the actual developer of the origional series jumped ship, quit said goodbye right in the middle of a MAJOR update/patch.

Dang, I never knew that!

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Well the reason I brought up Panzer Command:Osfront is because the actual developer of the origional series jumped ship, quit said goodbye right in the middle of a MAJOR update/patch.

Dang, I never knew that!

My biggest fear is that we'll never see a western front game now with the Panzer Command engine. It took these fans two years to do this patch/update (they still working on it but say it's near soon release). I'm just hoping all that needs to be done for the western front is some new skins made for the allies and drawing up some bocage maps of France and of course the usual research for the numbers for the allied equipment?

[bairdlander2]

So PCO is a patch?

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: bairdlander

So PCO is a patch?

You didn't know it was a patch? All the owners of Panzer Command:Kharkov get it for free. Once it's released I don't even think they will sell Panzer Command:Kharkov anymore. I guess you could say it's a remake of a patch into a full release version.

[IainMcNeil]

We were over visting Erik last week and I had the chance to see Panzer Command : Ostfront for the first time. You guys are in for something very very special! Some of the mission design & campaign construction features are unbelievable but I'm not sure what has been said and what is still secret so not saying anything here!

[Phatguy]

ORIGINAL: Iain McNeil

We were over visting Erik last week and I had the chance to see Panzer Command : Ostfront for the first time. You guys are in for something very very special! Some of the mission design & campaign construction features are unbelievable but I'm not sure what has been said and what is still secret so not saying anything here!

You tease !!!!!

[SuluSea]

The prices Matrix charges on their older games are pretty good for the entertainment dollar spent.
 
Wargames aren't like FPS and hold their value much longer not to mention a game is only as old as it's last patch and no one in the industry offers the customer support as this publisher does.
 
 

[diablo1]

no one in the industry offers the customer support as this publisher does.

I beg to differ. Brad and Stardock does.

[Bane_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

I beg to differ. Brad and Stardock does.

There's a world of difference b/w offering support and fixing a broken game on release. A game that cost $60 - element or whatever that travesty of coding is/was called...

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: Bane

ORIGINAL: diablo1

I beg to differ. Brad and Stardock does.

There's a world of difference b/w offering support and fixing a broken game on release. A game that cost $60 - element or whatever that travesty of coding is/was called...

You obviously didn't see or know about their support for Galactic Civilization, Galactic Civilization 2 and now Elemental:War of Magic which everyone that bought it is going to get TWO I repeat TWO free expansions. Support is support it's all about "fixing/improving" any game. Stardock is just as good if not better because they will put years into their games and support.

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: diablo1

no one in the industry offers the customer support as this publisher does.

I beg to differ. Brad and Stardock does.

Customer service isn't only a potential purchase issue FWIW..

I have to admit I know nothing about Stardock but if they are as good as Matrix they will have in tow:

No DRM or internet connection to activate games and purchases can be installed on both your laptop and desktop.

Atleast one game patched 3 years after release (Uncommon Valor) one member on the team was listening for issues just last year for a game released in 2002. You won't find many that do that in the industry.

A weboard with a vibrant community that helps people that are willing to give their time to help others learn a game including writing their own tutorials, videos and such. Someone hosts this and the web isn't free you know.

Matrix listens to is fanbase and makes positive changes- See Digital River ( who I never had an issue with) and the BFTB pricing for examples.

Polished games upon release, admittedly all games need to be patched as the developer and their volunteers will never be able to put in the man hours that a released game gets playwise.

Top notch wargames such as BFTB, War in the East and Admiral's Edition that no other publisher has in its library.

Those are just a few off the top.

Have a good day Diablo. [:)]

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: SuluSea

ORIGINAL: diablo1

no one in the industry offers the customer support as this publisher does.

I beg to differ. Brad and Stardock does.

Customer service isn't only a potential purchase issue FWIW..

I have to admit I know nothing about Stardock but if they are as good as Matrix they will have in tow:

No DRM or internet connection to activate games and purchases can be installed on both your laptop and desktop.

Atleast one game patched 3 years after release (Uncommon Valor) one member on the team was listening for issues just last year for a game released in 2002. You won't find many that do that in the industry.

A weboard with a vibrant community that helps people that are willing to give their time to help others learn a game including writing their own tutorials, videos and such. Someone hosts this and the web isn't free you know.

Matrix listens to is fanbase and makes positive changes- See Digital River ( who I never had an issue with) and the BFTB pricing for examples.

Polished games upon release, admittedly all games need to be patched as the developer and their volunteers will never be able to put in the man hours that a released game gets playwise.

Top notch wargames such as BFTB, War in the East and Admiral's Edition that no other publisher has in its library.

Those are just a few off the top.

Have a good day Diablo. [:)]

Yep Stardock does every bit of that and MORE!. There's more updates coming or have come for Galactic Civilization 2 which was released in 2006 so let's see now that's 5 years. [:)]

Stardock community easily has a vibrant and I would say even "better' community than here. A banning is rare there. Brad likes to let players have their say no matter how bad they chop up something as long as it is valid and not just a bold faced lie.

There is no "activation" online requirement with Stardock but there is a requirement if you want "updates/patches" which I have no problem with since it is not intrusive and you'd need an online connection to get those patches/updates anyway. Matrixgames on the other hand requires you to apply for "membership" if you want to download the beta patches so they have their little must apply and info grabbing features as well. You also have to download through Matrixgames distribution system which right now is having some MAJOR issues with shipping prices and prices of games in general. PLIMUS I think it's called.

Well I don't know about polished games upon release. Empire in Arms was pretty bad and I do recall some uproar with WitP when it released as well. Plus I can check any games tech forum and find lots of issues with systems not running or working with their games.

The only thing I will give you and it has nothing to do with "support" is Top Notch Wargames as that is what Matrixgames does is make wargames.

Now let's talk about their PRICING routines? hrmmm shall we? They try to sell 10 year old games for retail prices. That puts them a mark down in my book. Niche market or not. It's just not "normal" practice in the software, gaming industry.

Bottom line is both offer most of the time good quality service. Nothing is intrusive about how they deliver their games to you or their updates (although I do have a beef with having to put that damn CDKey in everytime there is an update/patch, you don't have to do this with Slitherine games...why with Matrixgames?). Their games get high marks with various review sites although you won't see the majority of Matrixgames on any of the Mainstrem sites get glowing reviews like you will Stardocks.

remember your main quote was

no one in the industry offers the customer support as this publisher does.

and there certainly are in that respect. Hurray for Stardock! Competition is good as even Erik et al have stated before.

Have a good day Sulu. [:)]