Slitherine

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I recommend focusing more On The American Civil War & The American Revolution

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ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

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I recommend focusing more On The American Civil War & The American Revolution

I thought that both of these subjects have been done to death. No problem with Napoleon games but I agree it would be good to see some variation in historic subject manner. War of the Roses and English Civil War spring to mind.....Even the cold war wouldn't go amiss.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD
Any American Revolution / War of 1812 titles on the horizon?

Erik Rutins
CEO, Matrix Games LLC



For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

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ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

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ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD
Any American Revolution / War of 1812 titles on the horizon?

Did you miss this one?

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/360/details/Birth.of.America.2:.Wars.in.America

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ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Believe me, you're not the first to think of trying to sell computer games in such stores. I've looked into it already and, to give you the bottom line, it's hardly worth the effort. These places insist on receiving the lion's share of the profit from anything they sell... and that assumes that they actually begin to sell a product after an approval process that can take well over a year, due to the need for the Park Service to sign off on it at each site where it is being considered (i.e., a single game has to be approved over and over and over again!). And that approval depends on the product, whatever it is, having "educational" value -- and these places tend to have a fairly narrow definition of "educational." Plus, some of these sites told me that they used to carry computer games that didn't sell, and are therefore hesitant to experiment with wargames again. I know that I, for one, have given up on my dreams of becoming rich through selling FOF at Civil War battlefields...

I definitely agree with you that our little niche market of wargaming needs to find ways to expand, but I'm quite certain that this is not it.

On the other hand, I do think that getting a booth at a reenactment could be far more lucrative, assuming that the cost of a booth at such events isn't super-expensive. And it well might be, so you might have to sell dozens and dozens of units just to break even.

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ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD

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ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Believe me, you're not the first to think of trying to sell computer games in such stores. I've looked into it already and, to give you the bottom line, it's hardly worth the effort. These places insist on receiving the lion's share of the profit from anything they sell... and that assumes that they actually begin to sell a product after an approval process that can take well over a year, due to the need for the Park Service to sign off on it at each site where it is being considered (i.e., a single game has to be approved over and over and over again!). And that approval depends on the product, whatever it is, having "educational" value -- and these places tend to have a fairly narrow definition of "educational." Plus, some of these sites told me that they used to carry computer games that didn't sell, and are therefore hesitant to experiment with wargames again. I know that I, for one, have given up on my dreams of becoming rich through selling FOF at Civil War battlefields...

I definitely agree with you that our little niche market of wargaming needs to find ways to expand, but I'm quite certain that this is not it.

On the other hand, I do think that getting a booth at a reenactment could be far more lucrative, assuming that the cost of a booth at such events isn't super-expensive. And it well might be, so you might have to sell dozens and dozens of units just to break even.

Gil ...

As per selling products per Park Service Gift shops ... nowadays its who you know. If you have a friend or two up the ladder in that service... you may get that process simplified, but until then ... as you said... it will be difficult. What a good alternative always is and is readily available is main street and surrounding stores. Gettysburg for example... has a large town ... all devoted to the battle. The town lives on the income of tourism. The Park and Vistors Center account for approx 40 - 50 % of the total number of tourists at any current time. The other 50% are touring the musuems that surround the battlefield. These shops swarm with visitors... so much so that many known authors such as Jeff Sharra ... do public signing frequently there. Many of these shops turn up a high profit. What I recommend is if you recieve difficulty with The Park Service... look to these shops on the outskirts of the park and throughout main street. If you are able to develop a merchant contract a few of these Musuems and Learning Centers ... the profit gained would exceed what you would derive from selling at The Park service.

Interesting idea about the stores. They'd probably be more decisive than a federal bureaucracy! Of course, this assumes that a store owner will believe that he can move enough units to make it worthwhile to devote shelf space to a product. But if there are one or two believers out there...

The reenactment field booths and tents are inexpensive. If you tour these areas you will come to see that local small business shops which are based in the main town are able to afford space. Also Setting up your presence at these events would be less of a hassle since you deal with the owner of the land and not the government. Many reenactments are done on 'leased' lands provided by a private owner.

That may be true, but you have to include travel costs, hotel costs, etc. (which I forgot to mention in my previous post). Personally, I'd love to go even if we only broke even, since then it would be a free trip to a reenactment!

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ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD

Any American Revolution / War of 1812 titles on the horizon?

I think Napoleon and WW2 titles have been done to death... so much so that people have been leaning away from those titles. Im shocked many companies are still focusing on these eras.

I recommend focusing more On The American Civil War & The American Revolution. Both conflicts have large audiences as well as tourists who visit the battlefields.

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ORIGINAL: Hertston

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ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD

Any American Revolution / War of 1812 titles on the horizon?

I think Napoleon and WW2 titles have been done to death... so much so that people have been leaning away from those titles. Im shocked many companies are still focusing on these eras.

I recommend focusing more On The American Civil War & The American Revolution. Both conflicts have large audiences as well as tourists who visit the battlefields.

I don't think your assessment is correct. There are as many Civil War titles as Napoleonic ones, indeed a quick finger-count only levels the score if you include naval games. And much as I would like to see a move away from WW2 there is no evidence at all there is a mass desire for that; indeed quite the contrary (consider Combat Mission as an example). WW2 titles, all things considered, generally sell much better than those relating to any other era. As to the American Revolution it may have a large audience in the US but, frankly, that outside the US is very small compared with any of the three alternatives mentioned.

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ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD


If you look at the market... you will see drastic changes the last few years in the production of WW2 era titles. The market is demanding less concentration of titles based on The WW2 era. Casual and Hardcore gamers are tend to avoid titles that focus on that era due to the drastic amount of coverage WW2 has seen over the years. Publishers have noticed this trend and have produced titles to suit the needs of their customers. Recently titles such as Halo, Half Life, GTA4, Spore have been developed and marketed and their financial profit overhelms that of any previous year. The flow of the market has shifted to Modern and Futureistic wargaming. As you will see throughout 2008 and 2009 ... titles such as Resistance 2, Command & Conquer RA2, Cyrsis, etc. will make their way to the market.

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You are correct about The American Revolution period having a larger audience here in The US than anywhere throughout the world. The reason being is that Americans have a greater interest in history than any other country throughout the world.

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ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Comments below.

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ORIGINAL: JeanNYGUARD

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Believe me, you're not the first to think of trying to sell computer games in such stores. I've looked into it already and, to give you the bottom line, it's hardly worth the effort. These places insist on receiving the lion's share of the profit from anything they sell... and that assumes that they actually begin to sell a product after an approval process that can take well over a year, due to the need for the Park Service to sign off on it at each site where it is being considered (i.e., a single game has to be approved over and over and over again!). And that approval depends on the product, whatever it is, having "educational" value -- and these places tend to have a fairly narrow definition of "educational." Plus, some of these sites told me that they used to carry computer games that didn't sell, and are therefore hesitant to experiment with wargames again. I know that I, for one, have given up on my dreams of becoming rich through selling FOF at Civil War battlefields...

I definitely agree with you that our little niche market of wargaming needs to find ways to expand, but I'm quite certain that this is not it.

On the other hand, I do think that getting a booth at a reenactment could be far more lucrative, assuming that the cost of a booth at such events isn't super-expensive. And it well might be, so you might have to sell dozens and dozens of units just to break even.

Gil ...

As per selling products per Park Service Gift shops ... nowadays its who you know. If you have a friend or two up the ladder in that service... you may get that process simplified, but until then ... as you said... it will be difficult. What a good alternative always is and is readily available is main street and surrounding stores. Gettysburg for example... has a large town ... all devoted to the battle. The town lives on the income of tourism. The Park and Vistors Center account for approx 40 - 50 % of the total number of tourists at any current time. The other 50% are touring the musuems that surround the battlefield. These shops swarm with visitors... so much so that many known authors such as Jeff Sharra ... do public signing frequently there. Many of these shops turn up a high profit. What I recommend is if you recieve difficulty with The Park Service... look to these shops on the outskirts of the park and throughout main street. If you are able to develop a merchant contract a few of these Musuems and Learning Centers ... the profit gained would exceed what you would derive from selling at The Park service.

Interesting idea about the stores. They'd probably be more decisive than a federal bureaucracy! Of course, this assumes that a store owner will believe that he can move enough units to make it worthwhile to devote shelf space to a product. But if there are one or two believers out there...

The reenactment field booths and tents are inexpensive. If you tour these areas you will come to see that local small business shops which are based in the main town are able to afford space. Also Setting up your presence at these events would be less of a hassle since you deal with the owner of the land and not the government. Many reenactments are done on 'leased' lands provided by a private owner.

That may be true, but you have to include travel costs, hotel costs, etc. (which I forgot to mention in my previous post). Personally, I'd love to go even if we only broke even, since then it would be a free trip to a reenactment!

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Reenactment:
Travel and Lodging costs may be costly, however the reward from such a venture will be more beneificial in the long term. By providing a presence at these events you will gain attention from thousands of tourists and reenactors. You will corner the market in that area on all products relating to gaming. These reenactors and tourists will become aware of your company and the products you sell. Along with selling your current titles... you will gain long term customers, who will visit your website and invest in your future products.

Travel and lodging costs also may be deducted if you have employees that are reside within the region. On my visit to Gettysburg... travel and lodging costs amounted to approx 200.00. Me and my wife drove from Upstate NY (Garnerville, NY) and my wife, a Hilton employee recieves a discount of 39.99 per night. This was also at a time when gas was approx 4.39 per gallon.

I would recommend you contract the work out to a group (Preferably fans who are fimilar with Civil War / American Revolution titles) that live within the region (NY, PA, MD or VA). Also if you contract out the work you will be able to pay the contractors less than you would your own employees.

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ORIGINAL: Neilster

Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of Rhine, Mediator of the Helvetic Confederation...how many titles does he want?

Cheers, Neilster

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ORIGINAL: sterckxe

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ORIGINAL: Neilster

Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of Rhine, Mediator of the Helvetic Confederation...how many titles does he want?

Cheers, Neilster

I think he aimed for "Tzar of the Russians" as well, but got a "chilly" reception

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

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ORIGINAL: Neilster

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ORIGINAL: sterckxe

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ORIGINAL: Neilster
Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of Rhine, Mediator of the Helvetic Confederation...how many titles does he want?

I think he aimed for "Tzar of the Russians" as well, but got a "chilly" reception

Nice. He did score "Eater of Horseflesh Seasoned with Gunpowder" during that one though.

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ORIGINAL: Neilster

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ORIGINAL: sterckxe

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ORIGINAL: Neilster

Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of Rhine, Mediator of the Helvetic Confederation...how many titles does he want?

Cheers, Neilster

I think he aimed for "Tzar of the Russians" as well, but got a "chilly" reception

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

Nice. He did score "Eater of Horseflesh Seasoned with Gunpowder" during that one though.

Cheers, Neilster

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I know that eating horse-meat sounds to Anglos the same as eating dog-meat, but this cultural inhibition doesn't exist in France

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ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

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I know that eating horse-meat sounds to Anglos the same as eating dog-meat, but this cultural inhibition doesn't exist in France

Obviously they weren't raised watching Mr. Ed.....

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ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper
ah but if only Black Beauty had the ability to speak the French may have been vegetarian

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ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

ah but if only Black Beauty had the ability to speak the French may have been vegetarian

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ORIGINAL: Neilster
No...they would have pretended they don't understand or speak English and given a Gallic shrug of the shoulders, just like when American tourists in hideous plaid pants shout at them

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ORIGINAL: sterckxe

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ORIGINAL: Neilster
No...they would have pretended they don't understand or speak English and given a Gallic shrug of the shoulders, just like when American tourists in hideous plaid pants shout at them

Common misconception. As I spend about a month each year in France I invariably run into a couple of USA-nians who equally invariably are always amazed at how friendly the average Frenchman actually is. I'm not talking Paris here, because those guys are rude to *everyone*, including their own countrymen who are not from Le Grand Paris.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

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Oh, I found French people to be very friendly and helpful wherever in France I went. I always ensured to make an effort to speak some French though, which helped a lot I think

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ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

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Oh, I found French people to be very friendly and helpful wherever in France I went. I always ensured to make an effort to speak some French though, which helped a lot I think

Will everyone behave and stop spoiling a good stereotype.

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As soon as you guys stop behaving like drunken hooligans whenever you're on the continent

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ORIGINAL: Gil R.

quote:

Reenactment:
Travel and Lodging costs may be costly, however the reward from such a venture will be more beneificial in the long term. By providing a presence at these events you will gain attention from thousands of tourists and reenactors. You will corner the market in that area on all products relating to gaming. These reenactors and tourists will become aware of your company and the products you sell. Along with selling your current titles... you will gain long term customers, who will visit your website and invest in your future products.

Travel and lodging costs also may be deducted if you have employees that are reside within the region. On my visit to Gettysburg... travel and lodging costs amounted to approx 200.00. Me and my wife drove from Upstate NY (Garnerville, NY) and my wife, a Hilton employee recieves a discount of 39.99 per night. This was also at a time when gas was approx 4.39 per gallon.

I would recommend you contract the work out to a group (Preferably fans who are fimilar with Civil War / American Revolution titles) that live within the region (NY, PA, MD or VA). Also if you contract out the work you will be able to pay the contractors less than you would your own employees.

I appreciate where you're coming from, but this is simply more complex than you realize. You have to bring large monitors, since you can't use small laptops and expect to draw attention. (And if Matrix is demoing multiple ACW titles, that means multiple monitors -- otherwise, Pocus, Joel Billings and I will end up enacting a new sort of civil war, as we fight for the lone monitor.) You have to be set up to accept credit cards, since people don't walk around with $60 cash to plunk down for a game, which may not be easy to do in the middle of a field. You have to be prepared for rain because of all the equipment. And there are several other considerations, as well. So in principle, I agree with you, but it's far from a simple undertaking, and far from certain that the benefits will significantly outweigh the costs.