Is Matrix dying?

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer
Matrix won't be absorbing anyone any time soon.

Do you have inside information? [&:]...or is this more endless speculation? [8|]...

[VPaulus]

Guys, Matrix Games and Slitherine are the same company. [:)]

[Qwixt]

ORIGINAL: VPaulus

Guys, Matrix Games and Slitherine are the same company. [:)]

I think part of the reasoning/confusion behind this thread is that it's not clear the two are the same. Because it looks like the two are trying to carry on as if the merger did not happen in some ways (2 separate forums, 2 stores,...). Then as a long time Matrix customer, you see more and more stuff getting redirected over to Slitherine's site, which gives the impression that Matrix games is going away. Now I am not saying I thought Matrix games was dying, but I understand how someone could get that impression.

[VPaulus]

ORIGINAL: Qwixt

I think part of the reasoning/confusion behind this thread is that it's not clear the two are the same. Because it looks like the two are trying to carry on as if the merger did not happen in some ways (2 separate forums, 2 stores,...). Then as a long time Matrix customer, you see more and more stuff getting redirected over to Slitherine's site, which gives the impression that Matrix games is going away. Now I am not saying I thought Matrix games was dying, but I understand how someone could get that impression.

Matrix Games and Slitherine are just brands of the same company.
All in all we are the same company, with the same board of directors and staff.
Soon we will have only one store, but the 2 separate forums will remain.
It's true that some games on Matrix forum are redirected to Slitherine but the opposite also happens (Victory & Glory, Tiger Hunt, etc.). It's just a question of perception really.

[Zap]

It could be for legal reason's they keep the two companies (just a guess on my part). When I worked for a company they had two separate companies set up. For protection against lawsuits and legal penalties from the government. So, if one company went bankrupt because of massive fines from the government the other company was not effected and could continue to serve the customers from the bankrupt company. That was the oil tranport business.

[RyanCrierie]

ORIGINAL: Zap
The only indication I use to measure the health of Matrix is the amount of members who comment on the boards. And I believe that is down.

It's not just Matrix, but other forums I've been on are down as well.

I think because of facebook taking over our lives.

[MrsWargamer]

ORIGINAL: wings7

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer
Matrix won't be absorbing anyone any time soon.

Do you have inside information? [&:]...or is this more endless speculation? [8|]...

Well inasmuch as they are the same company on the day in history. But yes, I do know things. And none of them worth any real fuss

[Qwixt]

ORIGINAL: Zap

It could be for legal reason's they keep the two companies (just a guess on my part). When I worked for a company they had two separate companies set up. For protection against lawsuits and legal penalties from the government. So, if one company went bankrupt because of massive fines from the government the other company was not effected and could continue to serve the customers from the bankrupt company. That was the oil tranport business.

Long winded way of saying "Never trust the British" [:D]

[Pvt_Grunt]

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

ORIGINAL: Zap
The only indication I use to measure the health of Matrix is the amount of members who comment on the boards. And I believe that is down.

It's not just Matrix, but other forums I've been on are down as well.

I think because of facebook taking over our lives.

I agree, forums are a very "Pre Social Media" way of using the internet. There is just so many more forms of communication available now.

Example, I dont bother emailing my 2 adult children, they never check emails. AN email is something they give out to get a free sample of something, then quickly forotton about. Also dont even think about calling them on a "gasp" phone! [:D]

[IainMcNeil]

The Slitherine site is actually about to be updated to be more in line with the Matrix one. The Matrix forums will probably be brought more in line with Slitherine. We are standardizing things but it takes time and our main focus is on making great games so these things tend to lag behind. Basically we're taking the best of both companies and using that as the standard to go forwards. For example the production process Matrix had established was much more thorough and professional so we're using that as the basis while the marketing team was more structured at Slitherine. Its taken quite a few years but its slowly all coming together

[stormbringer3]

I use and post on both forums and I very much prefer Matrix.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Iain McNeil

The Slitherine site is actually about to be updated to be more in line with the Matrix one. The Matrix forums will probably be brought more in line with Slitherine. We are standardizing things but it takes time and our main focus is on making great games so these things tend to lag behind. Basically we're taking the best of both companies and using that as the standard to go forwards. For example the production process Matrix had established was much more thorough and professional so we're using that as the basis while the marketing team was more structured at Slitherine. Its taken quite a few years but its slowly all coming together

warspite1

Please don't change the layout of this forum.

[aaatoysandmore]

Making it like the Wargamer would be nice. Have a "General Discussion" forum and then a "Computer Wargame and Strategy game" forum.

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

On the War in the East forums they said they are working on WiTE 2 right now.

My perception as a long time developer of serious wargames is that Matrix is alive and well. The combining of Matrix and Slitherine has led to what was hoped, a place producing many different kinds of games, where they can continue to build a market for all kinds of generally more serious strategy games. Slitherine has a better developed marketing department, while the core management of the combined company includes people that like and play serious wargames and more playable strategy/war games. Keeping this going, growing, and paying the bills is not an easy thing to do, but so far Slitherine/Matrix seem to be making as good an attempt at it as anyone. Things can always change, but from my viewpoint, it's so far so good.

As for 2by3, we are currently working on Steel Tigers and War in the East2, while also actively supporting WitW (and with great help from some of the community, WitE1). These are big projects, and they will take time. Steel (tactical WWII) is being done with the help and involvement of Matrix development staff. At it's core, we want this to showcase Gary's talent with game design, combat and AI logic, along with Matrix/Slitherine's talent with art and interface. If we get it right, it will be, like the original Steel Panthers series, something that will interest die hard wargamers and casual wargamers alike. War in the East2 is also going forward, and we feel it will be an improvement over both WitE1 and WitW. At the moment we can move both projects forward. At some point we may find that one will be delayed by needed work on the other, but we're trying to keep that interruption to a minimum. We are mostly limited by the fact that at the moment we have 2 core programmers (not counting Matrix support, which is a major plus on Steel), one of whom is part time, and these are big projects.

Of course both of these games also depend on a legion of dedicated hobbyists that provide the data that drives the games. This is where the Matrix forums and community have helped us over the years find those talented individuals that enjoy working on these projects. As far as I'm concerned David Heath did the wargame industry a big service when he started Matrix and began building this community. I thank him for that, and with luck this community will continue to grow.

[Missouri_Rebel]

ORIGINAL: Joel Billings

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

On the War in the East forums they said they are working on WiTE 2 right now.

My perception as a long time developer of serious wargames is that Matrix is alive and well. The combining of Matrix and Slitherine has led to what was hoped, a place producing many different kinds of games, where they can continue to build a market for all kinds of generally more serious strategy games. Slitherine has a better developed marketing department, while the core management of the combined company includes people that like and play serious wargames and more playable strategy/war games. Keeping this going, growing, and paying the bills is an easy thing to do, but so far Slitherine/Matrix seem to be making as good an attempt at it as anyone. Things can always change, but from my viewpoint, it's so far so good.

As for 2by3, we are currently working on Steel Tigers and War in the East2, while also actively supporting WitW (and with great help from some of the community, WitE1). These are big projects, and they will take time. Steel (tactical WWII) is being done with the help and involvement of Matrix development staff. At it's core, we want this to showcase Gary's talent with game design, combat and AI logic, along with Matrix/Slitherine's talent with art and interface. If we get it right, it will be, like the original Steel Panthers series, something that will interest die hard wargamers and casual wargamers alike. War in the East2 is also going forward, and we feel it will be an improvement over both WitE1 and WitW. At the moment we can move both projects forward. At some point we may find that one will be delayed by needed work on the other, but we're trying to keep that interruption to a minimum. We are mostly limited by the fact that at the moment we have 2 core programmers (not counting Matrix support, which is a major plus on Steel), one of whom is part time, and these are big projects.

Of course both of these games also depend on a legion of dedicated hobbyists that provide the data that drives the games. This is where the Matrix forums and community have helped us over the years find those talented individuals that enjoy working on these projects. As far as I'm concerned David Heath did the wargame industry a big service when he started Matrix and began building this community. I thank him for that, and with luck this community will continue to grow.

And a WitP-2? Has there ever been a wargame with such a dedicated fan base? Maybe it wasn't as commercially successful? I never got far into it but it seems like it is a very active forum especially considering when it was released.

[Missouri_Rebel]

You just know he's got a Busch Beer under that cooler. I see he splurged and bought bottles with grandma's chore money.


EDIT: A reply to a vanished post above mine

[gradenko2k]

ORIGINAL: Missouri_Rebel
And a WitP-2? Has there ever been a wargame with such a dedicated fan base? Maybe it wasn't as commercially successful? I never got far into it but it seems like it is a very active forum especially considering when it was released.

I don't mean this as any sort of slight against the actual game itself, but I would venture that a significant part of the appeal of a game like War in the Pacific is the fact that it exists at all.

Most other genres and subgenres within the computer gaming space have multiple incarnations capturing different points along whatever spectrum the genre defines itself across, but when you get to "World War 2 in the Pacific at the Strategic Level", there aren't really a lot of pickings.

I mean, even War in the East has competition in the form of Unity of Command and Decisive Campaigns Barbarossa (and Operational Art of War, and Panzer Corps to a degree, and Wasteland Interactive's offerings, so on and so forth).

[IainMcNeil]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Please don't change the layout of this forum.

Its not about layout its about the engine it runs off (Moving everything to phpBB). Layout may be adjusted at some point because the number of games is so big that finding things is an increasing problem especially for new users. We're not sure what the solution is right now but maybe some kind of custom view that lets you set the forum up the way you like. That's a longer term plan though! We'll bounce some ideas around when we get to that point.

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: Iain McNeil
Its not about layout its about the engine it runs off (Moving everything to phpBB). Layout may be adjusted at some point because the number of games is so big that finding things is an increasing problem especially for new users. We're not sure what the solution is right now but maybe some kind of custom view that lets you set the forum up the way you like.

I agree that it is increasingly difficult to track the handful of games I'm interested in among the dozens of Matrix releases; I'm using your "favorites" forums to show me only the games I'm tracking but am very frustrated that that means I'm I'm bombarded every day with e-mails about every new thread that opens on those forums--I don't want the e-mails, but only to be able to look at the game I'm interested in instead of scrolling through dozens of games. Why not separate the "favorite forums" forums function from the notifications?

I mentioned this in an e-mail to one of your tech people and he responded that the e-mails "were the whole point of subscribing to forums..." Uh, not really...

[wodin]

Check your Six, Chain of Command and GG Steel Tigers are all future games I'm really looking forward to and hope to review on my blog. However I'm surprised they don't have a forum yet. The coming soon forums are looking abit thin on the ground at the moment.