Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl
But, there was a SERIOUS PR problem on the PCOWS forum. A troll was actively involved in subverting discussion of your game. Rather than providing useful insight into Winter Storm, I honestly believe that he was doing so to undermine the work and credibility of another developer.

That was an issue, but I doubt it had any significant sales effect. While the forums contribute to sales, they are not the driving force.

With that said, if he tries that again he's outta here.

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl
Good enough, Ravinhood, but why didn't folks, modders, generate more scenarios for the game?

We thought that editing XML files would not intimidate most designers/modders, but we were wrong. So for this release, there are full fledged editing tools. I expect that will make a pretty big difference.

ORIGINAL: ravinhood
Mainly because Matrixgames doesn't put some of their better developers games out for the public to view. Hiding them on a direct download site like this I would say cuts sales by 50% while cutting overhead perhaps the same. I don't know Matrix's gains and losses. But, I've said before they should at least give KOIOS a try at a retail market level in brick n mortar stores like Bestbuy and Circuit City...as a consumer those are the two places I go to look for software. Walmart's wouldn't be bad also, at least for awhile it would get some FACE (shelf life). I don't see how they can sit there an expect these "unknown developers" to blossom when Matrixgames site is already a niche site for viewing prospective wargame purchases. Look when I found out about Matrixgames compared to its start date (my joined date).

Um... Winterstorm had a full North American retail release.

Regards,

- Erik

ORIGINAL: Phenix
Regarding the maps and setting i do hope you stay on the eastern front for your third game also ?[;)]

Honestly, I think by the third release it will be time to give the Western Front its due and I think a lot of folks are waiting to see that. With that said though, I expect every future release will continue to add a bit to the Eastern Front as well.

I prefer wargames that have all the units already built in, support interesting campaigns either dynamic or static (prefer dynamic). After playing CM and CM2 I came to conclusion that I don't really care for 3D in WW2 tactical wargames...it's not necessary feature for me. It adds a lot of work to developers...making it look pretty, lot of 3D models work which basically mean that there won't be that many units/vehicles in the game. Then the interface compared to 2D games isn't that great and as easy to use. It takes more time and energy to navigate 3D battlefield than it takes to navigate in 2D/top down like in say Steel Panthers or Close Combat. Actually there is a great 3D engine that is an exception to this rule and it's used in Supreme Commander game. A good tactical WW2 engine for me also has to have a good support for Eastern Front...if it doesn't I don't bother. Wargames with no campaigns, with limited list of units don't really appeal to me...which is one of the reasons I'm not really getting much into Panther Games Airborne Assault games. The engine is great but only few scenarios with very limited airborne operations and limited selection of units just doesn't do it for me...and I don't feel like spending $40 for every little battle that comes next.

So in the end give me all the units from 1941 - 45, give me Eastern Front, campaigns and I'm there...preferably in 2D or top down design. With good quality game play/deep game rules/not brain dead AI and I will be there in a second...and I will happily pay $100.

I haven't really seen a good WW2 tactical 2D/hex based wargame for a few years so I have decided 2 years ago to try ASL and boy am I happy! I want the depth of ASL (ok computer wargame doesn't really have to go that exactly deep), I love the Red Barricades historical campaign module - I'm in WW2 tactical wargame heaven. It has depth, it has lots of scenarios, campaigns and all the unit/vehicles I will ever need. I'm actually porting the ASL Starter Kit rules into computer...

Hi All,

I tried the Winterstorm demo and found it to be a little flat. The Graphics worked for me but the game felt unfinished. Too many details left out. These days if a game does not have a comprehensive and intuitive Scenario/Map editor then my interest is already diminished. The facility to easily Mod is quite important too.

One particular thing that really annoyed me was giving orders to a platoon sqaud or vehicle to break off and do scouting or simply move seperately to a different position. I found that when I next gave orders to the platoon the "detached unit" reverted to following those orders. I found it quite tiresome not to be able to have sqauds follow my orders as I directed.

Probably the most objective reason for Winterstorm not selling is the Combat Mission series. If a person has these games they would be hard pressed to feel a need for Winterstrom as it was released. There was just not enough that was different and/or improved when compared to the Combat Mission series to my point of view. This is not a knock at Matrix. I actually prefer them as a game company. Aside from developing good games, they seem to be nice people.

Winterstorm falls into the category of games I really wanted to like but just could not.

Perhaps Kharkov will be different. I very much wish good luck to Matrix and Koiois games with this title. When the demo comes out I will give it a try.

regards John

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

....

So in the end give me all the units from 1941 - 45, give me Eastern Front, campaigns and I'm there...perferably in 2D or top down design...

Tried SP but the top down view gave me a distinct feeling of vertigo, which is strange since I have a private pilots license. [&:]

The 3D view in this series with the movable camera angle and replay is much better IMHO. I have as much or more fun watching the turn replays from different angles as planning my moves. [:)]

ORIGINAL: z1812

Hi All,

I tried the Winterstorm demo and found it to be a little flat. ....

regards John

Yes the billiard table terrain was disappointing. [:'(] I believe that is "fixed" in Kharkov.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: ravinhood
Mainly because Matrixgames doesn't put some of their better developers games out for the public to view. Hiding them on a direct download site like this I would say cuts sales by 50% while cutting overhead perhaps the same. I don't know Matrix's gains and losses. But, I've said before they should at least give KOIOS a try at a retail market level in brick n mortar stores like Bestbuy and Circuit City...as a consumer those are the two places I go to look for software. Walmart's wouldn't be bad also, at least for awhile it would get some FACE (shelf life). I don't see how they can sit there an expect these "unknown developers" to blossom when Matrixgames site is already a niche site for viewing prospective wargame purchases. Look when I found out about Matrixgames compared to its start date (my joined date).

Um... Winterstorm had a full North American retail release.

Regards,

- Erik

I never saw it on the shelves here Erik was it suppose to be in stores like Best Buy and Circuit City?

Your 50% figure is way off, way way way off. We actually profit from taking this route

If you actually PROFIT from taking the RETAIL route then why did you pull out of the RETAIL route so long ago? Perhaps you misunderstood that I meant going retail COST YOU MORE to produce than using direct download? I was just guesstimating around 50% because I can't see your figures. SO now you're telling us you make more by going the retail route method? Hrmmmm interesting very interesting.

ORIGINAL: ravinhood
I never saw it on the shelves here Erik was it suppose to be in stores like Best Buy and Circuit City?

Best Buy doesn't take wargames much anymore, but it was in EB/GameStop and CompUSA, for example.

If you actually PROFIT from taking the RETAIL route then why did you pull out of the RETAIL route so long ago? Perhaps you misunderstood that I meant going retail COST YOU MORE to produce than using direct download? I was just guesstimating around 50% because I can't see your figures. SO now you're telling us you make more by going the retail route method? Hrmmmm interesting very interesting.

I'm not sure where that came from. Some games do well in retail, but retail for PC games is increasingly a poor proposition. We usually look very carefully at which games will do well enough to attempt a retail release with and even then the goal is more to raise awareness than make any kind of mega-profit. The retail market of 2007-2008 is virtually unrecognizable from the way it used to be (for PC games).

Regards,

- Erik

Hrmmm I don't even goto EB/Gamestop gameshops anymore because they hardly have a PC selection ONE SHELF and it's usually just EA stuff. Best Buy and Circuit City here have HUGE shelves full of PC games still. Circuit Citys goes from the front of the store to the back which is about oh 8 of those 4ft or 5ft wide shelves and Best Buy OMG it has so many shelves full of PC material I couldn't even give an accurate figure, but, for mainstream PC games I'd say it also has at least 6 to 8 of those 4f or 5ft wide shelves. Do you ever approach Best Buy or Circuit City for selling some of your titles that you do go retail with?

Also, it was at Best Buy that I saw HTTR on the shelves and Korsun Pocket. Maybe they just don't know you exist any longer??

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

I prefer wargames that have all the units already built in, support interesting campaigns either dynamic or static (prefer dynamic). After playing CM and CM2 I came to conclusion that I don't really care for 3D in WW2 tactical wargames...it's not necessary feature for me. It adds a lot of work to developers...making it look pretty, lot of 3D models work which basically mean that there won't be that many units/vehicles in the game. Then the interface compared to 2D games isn't that great and as easy to use. It takes more time and energy to navigate 3D battlefield than it takes to navigate in 2D/top down like in say Steel Panthers or Close Combat. Actually there is a great 3D engine that is an exception to this rule and it's used in Supreme Commander game. A good tactical WW2 engine for me also has to have a good support for Eastern Front...if it doesn't I don't bother. Wargames with no campaigns, with limited list of units don't really appeal to me...which is one of the reasons I'm not really getting much into Panther Games Airborne Assault games. The engine is great but only few scenarios with very limited airborne operations and limited selection of units just doesn't do it for me...and I don't feel like spending $40 for every little battle that comes next.
So in the end give me all the units from 1941 - 45, give me Eastern Front, campaigns and I'm there...preferably in 2D or top down design. With good quality game play/deep game rules/not brain dead AI and I will be there in a second...and I will happily pay $100.

I haven't really seen a good WW2 tactical 2D/hex based wargame for a few years so I have decided 2 years ago to try ASL and boy am I happy! I want the depth of ASL (ok computer wargame doesn't really have to go that exactly deep), I love the Red Barricades historical campaign module - I'm in WW2 tactical wargame heaven. It has depth, it has lots of scenarios, campaigns and all the unit/vehicles I will ever need. I'm actually porting the ASL Starter Kit rules into computer...

I think I just found my long lost twin brother from Canada. I'm the same way Peter. Tell me do you like RTW and M2TW better than MTW and STW? Or do you like the TW series at all?

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

Tell me do you like RTW and M2TW better than MTW and STW? Or do you like the TW series at all?

Errrrmmm....what do all these acronyms mean ?

Sorry.. RTW stands for Rome Total War and MTW stands for Medieval Total War and STW stands for Shogun Total War and TW of course stands for Total War.
 
Wow guys look he even uses MY smiley face at the end of his sentences instead of one of the forum smileys!! I tell ya he's my long lost twin...OH BOY ARE WE GONNA HAVE SOME FUN HERE....hahaha Two of us now guys hahah TWO! lol

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

Tell me do you like RTW and M2TW better than MTW and STW? Or do you like the TW series at all?

Errrrmmm....what do all these acronyms mean ?

RTW = Rome Total War
M2TW = Medieval 2 Total War
MTW = Medieval Total War
STW = Shogun Total War
TW = Total War

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

....hahaha Two of us now guys hahah TWO! lol

Great, just what we need... [X(]

haha Elmo I type faster than you.

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

haha Elmo I type faster than you.

Yes but you left out the M2TW acronym so it doesn't count. [:D]

LOL too funny. [:D] Ok so you get 1pt and I get 4 I win. (dances around computer chair)

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

Your 50% figure is way off, way way way off. We actually profit from taking this route

If you actually PROFIT from taking the RETAIL route then why did you pull out of the RETAIL route so long ago? Perhaps you misunderstood that I meant going retail COST YOU MORE to produce than using direct download? I was just guesstimating around 50% because I can't see your figures. SO now you're telling us you make more by going the retail route method? Hrmmmm interesting very interesting.

I think it was poor wording on my side. I meant we actually profited from going the "direct download site" route that you critizised. It was a direct asnwer to that very sentence you posted, so I guess one could misunderstand the reply.