Still no HTTR here

[Tommi]

Well, it's early March and there's still no sign of HTTR in Finland. Too bad. I know there are several internet stores that I could order it from, however, I was under the impression that HTTR was to be released in Europe as well, so that it'd be possible to buy it from local game stores. What's the hang up?

[Tzar007]

I'll tell you my friend, just buy straight from a net store. The truth is that wargames are a niche market and most retailers won't carry wargames because sales are too weak to justify shelf space from the retailer's perspective (unless it is a specialized retailer).

I know, it will be much more expensive ordering through a net store with duty fees and such, but you have a much better chance of getting it this way. And you won't be missing anymore on such a great wargame [:D]

[JudgeDredd]

ORIGINAL: Tzar007

I'll tell you my friend, just buy straight from a net store. The truth is that wargames are a niche market and most retailers won't carry wargames because sales are too weak to justify shelf space from the retailer's perspective (unless it is a specialized retailer).

I know, it will be much more expensive ordering through a net store with duty fees and such, but you have a much better chance of getting it this way. And you won't be missing anymore on such a great wargame [:D]

I'm sure that's the case, Tzar007, but I, along with many others (I'd guess) have been told European release was in the pipeline. Therefore, I, along with many others (I'd guess) have been waiting on said release.

So the question is still, is it going to be released in stores in Europe? If not, then I can get down to the business of buying it online (I don't want to and, in fact, that may affect my decision on buying). I'd just like to know one way or the other if a European release in stores is being looked at.

Thx

[Firefly]

ORIGINAL: Tzar007

I'll tell you my friend, just buy straight from a net store. The truth is that wargames are a niche market and most retailers won't carry wargames because sales are too weak to justify shelf space from the retailer's perspective (unless it is a specialized retailer).

My local retailer (not a specialist, but part of the EB group) has copies of all three Combat Missions, Korsun Pocket, Strategic Command, Uncommon Valor and even a couple of copies of RDOA, so it appears that European retailers are more willing to to stock wargames than those in North America. Like Tommi and JudgeDredd I'd like to know if a European release is still on the cards or not. I can get an import copy from a specialist shop not far from here, but as that will cost at least 33% more than a locally produced version, I've been holding on. Matrix's silence on the subject may be due to the fact that their arrangements have hit problems, but a simple 'Hey, we're working on it' or 'Sorry not for this game' would be appreciated.

[Arjuna]

Our efforts to secure a retail publisher for Europe have not been successful. Negotiations with Just Flight were terminated a few days ago. The big store chains are cutting their PC title inventory by half to make room for console titles. So low volume wargames are first to be cut. Sad but a reality. We are continuing to seek alternate retail distribution, but I must say at this stage it is looking bleak. [:(]

However, on the positive side, Matrix are in the process of finalising a new European warehouse from which they will be able to ship direct orders throughout Europe. This should be ready in a few days. Matrix will make a formal announcement as soon as it is open for business. The effect of this will be to reduce shipping costs and eliminate customs duties to most European end users and it will mean you will get your order fulfilled very quickly. [:)]

[Firefly]

Thanks for the update Dave, I'll await the announcemnet with interest.

[JudgeDredd]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Our efforts to secure a retail publisher for Europe have not been successful. Negotiations with Just Flight were terminated a few days ago. The big store chains are cutting their PC title inventory by half to make room for console titles. So low volume wargames are first to be cut. Sad but a reality. We are continuing to seek alternate retail distribution, but I must say at this stage it is looking bleak. [:(]

However, on the positive side, Matrix are in the process of finalising a new European warehouse from which they will be able to ship direct orders throughout Europe. This should be ready in a few days. Matrix will make a formal announcement as soon as it is open for business. The effect of this will be to reduce shipping costs and eliminate customs duties to most European end users and it will mean you will get your order fulfilled very quickly. [:)]

That's fair enough. Thanks Dave. I now know not to wait any longer and try to find the best deal I can.

[EricGuitarJames]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Our efforts to secure a retail publisher for Europe have not been successful. Negotiations with Just Flight were terminated a few days ago. The big store chains are cutting their PC title inventory by half to make room for console titles. So low volume wargames are first to be cut. Sad but a reality. We are continuing to seek alternate retail distribution, but I must say at this stage it is looking bleak. [:(]

However, on the positive side, Matrix are in the process of finalising a new European warehouse from which they will be able to ship direct orders throughout Europe. This should be ready in a few days. Matrix will make a formal announcement as soon as it is open for business. The effect of this will be to reduce shipping costs and eliminate customs duties to most European end users and it will mean you will get your order fulfilled very quickly. [:)]

Ha! I hate to say 'I told you so!' but this has all 'panned out' as I feared when it was first announced that Panther were 'moving' to Matrix. As I expected, the 'trade in' deal was a bit of a fiasco for UK and European gamers and distribution has proved a major hurdle.

Now that I've congratulated [&o] myself for my prescience, I really hope that Matrix secures a good European distribution network, not just for HTTR but for the whole of their future catalogue of releases. It's sad that gamers may not see them on the shelves but at least we'll be able to acquire the games at a 'reasonable' price. And if we CAN get them at a reasonable price then we'll probably buy more - which will be good all round.

Here's hoping[:)]

[Firefly]

ORIGINAL: EricGuitarJames

It's sad that gamers may not see them on the shelves but at least we'll be able to acquire the games at a 'reasonable' price. And if we CAN get them at a reasonable price then we'll probably buy more - which will be good all round.

Here's hoping[:)]

The fact that the games won't be in the stores doesn't worry me too much as I find myself ordering more and more games online anyway - Amazon in the UK normally undercut the high street stores even on big budget releases for example. I ordered CM:AK direct from BFC in preference to buying the European release. The high level of Matrix's international shipping charges has so far prevented me doing this with Matrix's games though, which is why the prospect of a European warehouse is a welcome one as far as I'm concerned.

[EricGuitarJames]

The reason I'd like to see Matrix wargames on the shop shelves is the 'impulse buy' factor. I only bought 'Uncommon Valour' because I saw it in the shops and it's a purchase I don't regret. It was much the same with the original 'Airborne Assault' although I already knew a little about the game and had made my mind up to buy it when I saw it (it was my first 'proper' computer wargame!). Computer wargaming in the UK has a low enough profile as it is and the 'cutting back' that Arjuna describes only serves to reduce this still further. It's a particular shame for HTTR because it's such a good game that potential purchasers won't see on the shelves and so won't buy since they won't know it exists[:(]

[Mr.Frag]

Completely in agreement with you Eric. Impulse buyers are a large part of the market, and they buy generally for someone else and do so based on the pretty packaging (which is now reduced in size).

Had I not seen UV in a EBGames website, then in the store, I would not have met Matrix then I would not have the 5 Matrix titles I do now coupled with being a beta tester for WitP.

We are on our way out it seems. First was the shift towards small packaging, now console is taking up even more of the little space we have left. In another ten years, it will be rare to see PC games at all in a store assuming people still produce them. Sad!

[David Heath]

Hi Guys

Matrix has sold all of its games via retail in both Europe and in the United States. In fact we have more game titles in the stores then Battlefront does. So Panther Games moving to Matrix has nothing to do with the game being in the stores in Europe in fact the first AA never was release to retail in the US.

Dave and myself worked very hard to make a deal with would make enough profit to keep everyone alive and making new games. The simple fact is the retail stores are moving away from PC Games and to the set price console games. I expect both Best Buy and CompUSA will hold out longer since they have bigger stores and more room to play with. Less then 4% of EB sales in the US last year was PC games. Now that figure should really tell you something. The PC space in most of these type stores is down to one or two racks at best. I have over six stores in my area ( I live in NYC) and not one has more then two small areas of PC games.

The simple fact is the retail stores are moving away from PC Games and to the set price console games. I expect both Best Buy and CompUSA will hold out longer since they have bigger stores and more room to play with. Less then 4% of EB sales in the US last year were PC games. Now that figure should really tell you something. The PC space in most of these type stores is down to one or two racks at best. I have over six stores in my area ( I live in NYC) and not one has more then two small areas of PC games. With that said we will be expanding our online sales services to directly service our customers.

Matrix next week will be opening warehouses in key areas such as the Europe, Australia and even in Asia. Customers outside the US will not need to ship our game from the US to them. This will make our shipping rates very affordable for everyone everywhere including our customers in the United States. After talking to many of our current developers we found almost all want to move from the retail market to the direct sales route. We will still release a very limited amount of titles into retail but for the most part it will on by online and from Matrix Games Direct. Let me say this again some items might end up at retail at some point but do not expect it for a while if at all. We will be handing this on a developer by developer basis. Gamers can expect most if not all of our future releases will be either digital downloads or direct sales only. We also planning to release demos and/or Virtual tours (see Highway to the Rich Virtual Tour) when possible. Our new store with our improve shipping rates will be online next week and we will post it here when its available.

David

[EricGuitarJames]

That's good news David! I hope you didn't think I was 'knocking' Matrix in my first post above, it was more a reflection of the 'Real World' as I saw it from a UK perspective.

I hope the venture is a success since it will be good to know that us Europeans will be able to acquire games at the same time as our American cousins, and at a reasonable price, so as to continue to participate in the Matrix gaming community.

So I'll be harrying everyone for some time yet[:D]

[David Heath]

Hi Eric

No I didn't take anything you said in a poor light. Matrix has spent a large amount of time getting our direct market setup in Europe, Australia and soon Asia as well. Half of Matrix full time staff lives in Europe with three guys in Australia. So you can see we would never leave any of you out. The real problem been money and us affording to get to this stage.

David

[EricGuitarJames]

I was lucky enough to have someone buy me HTTR as a Christmas present (such a nice surprise it was too). Quite how I would be feeling had this not happened I'm not sure - probably at least as aggrieved as some other European posters have been. I'm glad that Matrix is 'looking forward' and catering for gamers outside of the North American Continent - too often we feel left out as we read about new wargames that are outside our budgets due to the horrendous shipping costs and import taxes. Again, I wish the enterprise every success!

[Arjuna]

Thanks Eric.

It's an ill wind that blows no one any good. Often I have found in life that developments such as these, which initially on the surface appear to be a setback, invariably end up for the best. We will now focus more directly on meeting the needs of our customers. The key factor for success will be in getting people to know about our products and where to go to get them. So make sure you tell your friends that if they want the best in wargames then www.matrixgames.com and www.panthergames.com are the sites to visit.[:)]

[Marc von Martial]

The key factor for success will be in getting people to know about our products and where to go to get them.

I allready talked David into buying me a Hummer. It says www.matrixgames.com on the sides and I´ll drive through Bonn and Cologne at least 2 hours a day [;)]

[Arjuna]

Marc,

You are obviously a more persuasive man than I, especially with David. <g> I knew I should have asked for a bigger percentage. [;)]

[Tomus]

I think this could be a mistake. Again I am an impulse buyer one day I saw Korsun Pocket and bought it. From that I moved on to UV, EYSAWF, Airborne Assault etc. Taking it away from the shops will surely reduce the games profile? Will they still at least get reviews?

Finally please make any ordering as painless as possible and not use very US centric systems like paypal that require credit cards and currency conversions and what not. Please try and make this in house if at all possible and most of all please support UK based debit cards like Switch. Perhaps distrubute via Amazon.co.uk?

[EricGuitarJames]

Wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'mistake', just a reaction to harsh economic reality[:(]. Look at the music business, unless the act you like is a popular one you won't see it on the shelves of Virgin or HMV let alone Woolworths or WH Smiths. You might be able to order it via the shop if acts label has a decent distribution deal but otherwise you'll be ordering direct from the label or from a specialist store (which may be online only). I'm a big fan of the 'melodic rock' genre (yes, I know[;)]) and the only reliable sources for information are online as are the outlets for the cds. Yet this is a 'relatively' popular genre! But you'll find the same is true of blues, trad jazz, folk. Much as I'd like to see wargames on the shelves of my local games stores I just have to accept that they're not going to be there. Matrix could just sit back and focus on its North American market and would still probably turn in a reasonable profit but they aren't and for that they should be praised. They are still going to have to do some heavy promo work though, I'll 'evangelise' all I can for HTTR but there's still only one of me ('thank God' I hear some saying[:)]).