Nice game, but gee, for $50 can we at least get a jewel case for the cd?

Bcasner · Post by **Bcasner** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:10 am

Just a minor rant, it really makes Matrix look cheap when they make a quality game, charge a quality price and then skimp on the jewel case. You may have saved yourself a quarter, but you look like a second rate game provider....

That said, wow, nice game. One question for you, I'm working through the tutorials right now and getting familiar with it. The tutorial is using the manuel though right? I shouldn't be hearing any instructions should I when i use the tutorial?

Just want to be sure!

Thanks!

Fred98 · Post by **Fred98** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:22 am

Thats right, your not hearing instructions

BrubakerII · Post by **BrubakerII** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:16 pm

Hi B

You are correct, when following the tutorials you are not hearing 'sounds' such as a voiceover etc. Who knows, with further iterations of the series maybe such a thing will develop.

I understand where you are coming from about the jewel case etc but you have to remember a couple of things.

Matrix is a (relatively) small company as compared to for example EA games etc. What seems like only a few cents spared might mean the difference between turning a profit and/or just being a garage company. I too think that for $80 dolars I would like a fully developed package but am willing to forgoe a few 'luxuries' in order to get a production on the road.

If we are here in 2 year time talking about TAO5 and why there is no jewel case then fine I am willing to stick the boot in but right now lets sit back and be proud that we are assisting a (future) company to its mutually beneficial success.

PS: Out of interest I renmember in 1991 staying with my folks in Sydney and beggin them to take me around the town to chae down this 'shareware' program called Wolf3D. Cmputers were way smaller then and it was something to get windows 3.1 working efficeintly let alone having a game other than mnesweeper work okay on it. Wolf3D was marketed in a cheap hangsell plastic package that belied its genius. I bought it, played it to death and then went out and bought the f ull version/expansion. Today I still play heaps of games built on the backbone of ID's original strengths. I am not suggesting that John Romero owe anything to me in particular but in a small way I am sort of proud I took a chance and laid out the dosh for that cheap shareware program.

I am not suggesting for a second that you should feel the same about Korsun. In my opinion it is a (expensive) work of art in its own right. But I think if that by purchasing it and sharing its genius, you may too be paving the way for some real software achievements to come.

Be part of the dream.

PS: In no way do I personally benefit from anybody buying the game. I simply think it is a great product and that by buying it you will be benefiting the community as a whole which is by definition where Matrix evolved from.

Hertston · Post by **Hertston** » Sun Sep 28, 2003 10:18 pm

Matrix deals in a specialist market, albeit one people feel very passionately about. But sales of even a particularly successful wargame, like Uncommon Valor, are peanuts compared to the more mainstream RTS and FPS games. Anything they can do to cut costs will be done, and as long as the core product remains of sufficient quality I can go with that. I'd rather have Matrix in business and producing games without the frills rather than go under trying to compete with the likes of EA.

You see it in the products (rather than box and bumpf) too. Take something like Titans of Steel. A terrific game, but the graphics really are very dated if not actually "bad". But.. a flash 3D RTS style engine really isn't necessary, the graphics don't hinder gameplay and the costs of doing something significantly better would mean we'd probably never have seen the game at all. Graphs or not, it's a great game and well worth the money - something true of all Matrix products.

HPS (essentially a one-man-band) are another company producing "full price" wargames that in that respect are far "worse" than Matrix. But, again, Tiller churns out (and that is the right phrase in his case

) very good wargames again usually worth the money - at least if don't already have two or more in the same series.

Wargamers have a great deal these days IMHO compared with a few years ago, when computer wargaming almost died a death. HPS, Shrapnel, Matrix and Battlefront (the last two becoming more mainstream with "box" releases) are all producing great games. You just have to accept that, as wargame sales are almost always small relative to the mainstream, some of the "froth" might have to go so they can still turn a profit.

Miller Logan · Post by **Miller Logan** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 3:42 am

I too like having a jewel case but I notice some more "mainstream" game companies doing away with them. In particular Atari (Infogrames) released Neverwinter Nights, its sequel, and recently "Temple of Elemental Evil" w/o jewel cases.

Charles2222 · Post by **Charles2222** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 4:35 am

One thing that's almost worse than getting no cd case, is getting one with nothing on it to distinguish it from any other jewel case, which is precisely what a lot more companies are doing, in which case (pun intended) the case is basically worthless. I would think you could get those cases for .50 - $1.00 apiece in a set, and with the fine face art on most cd's, providing you're not playing it, the game is clearly demonstratable. Failing that, you could always just trash a Madonna cd we know you have hidden in a back corner somewhere, and use that jewel case.

And as a last resort, you could always buy one of those neat music cd carry-alls and place lots of your favorite music in it and leave it in your car. Then when somebody steals the cd carry-all you'll have lots of empty jewel cases looking for a home. Apparently I believe in doing things the hard way, as I have a reserve of about 10 jewel cases that came as a result of this sort of action.

I wonder if skipping the jewel case is enough to reduce costs for shipping due to loss of weight?

DPoM · Post by **DPoM** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 8:31 am

OMG is that Hertston from Steel Fury I spot?

Vertigo024 here =D

Hertston · Post by **Hertston** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 3:56 am

DPoM wrote:OMG is that Hertston from Steel Fury I spot?

Vertigo024 here =D

Bloody `ell, hello m8

Those were the days, hmm ?

What are you up to these days (other than playing KP, anyway) ?

DPoM · Post by **DPoM** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 4:15 am

Other than playing KP? Wasting time in SWG and WWIIOL, but I still miss the good old Allegiance

BrubakerII · Post by **BrubakerII** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 12:46 pm

Charles_22 wrote: Failing that, you could always just trash a Madonna cd we know you have hidden in a back corner somewhere, and use that jewel case.

:sleep: