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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself?

 
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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:37:26 AM   
New York Jets


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quote:

ORIGINAL: mjk428

...Generally, though I think Riverbravo has a good point. Is it a coincidence that the best selling games tend to be games that utilize the latest computing power, especially graphically?...


Sad but true. Marketing is about money. But my issue is asking some kid with his ball cap bill turned at a 45 degree angle is a war gamer. He says yes. Then you find out all he has played is Command & Conquer on the PC or Halo on the X-Box, etc. You know the type. Some idiot who wouldn't know Gerd von Runstedt from Kurt Russell or Georgi Zhukov from Anna Kournakova. But those are the ones with the liquid capital. That's why real war gamers are considered a 'niche' market.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:39:40 AM   
New York Jets


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quote:

ORIGINAL: mjk428

quote:

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

chess isn't checkers with fancy graphics. and chess plays the same whether the pieces are plastic or ebony and ivory.


Yes, but who would you rather play chess with:

A stupid smelly person that looks like a cast member from Deliverance or a highly intelligent supermodel?


That depends on which one brings the free beer and war game well while simutaneously discussing baseball with a degree of intelligence.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:51:38 AM   
New York Jets


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

"highly intelligent supermodel"

And now for other famous stupid oxymorons.

Military Intelligence
Jumbo Shrimp

I bought my computer to do work on, that it can play games is handy, not required.
I only "upgrade" when the part breaks down.

Designed obselence, what a wonderful phrase. Sort of says "sucker" but without sounding rude.

Hey let's design a game, but we'll design in new features just so the customer has to buy entirely new hardware if they want to play it. Then we'll explain to them, these new features are actually enhancements which will ensure their game is better than it might otherwise have been.

Come on, we all know they don't want a game that doesn't require an upgrade. That would be to easy. Besides, think of the repercussions. If we prove we can make a decent game without bells and whistles, they will expect us to finally get around to actually making AIs smart.


You need to lighten up a bit, Sarge. Crotchety 'old timers' like you are driving off some potential good, young opponents out there.

Not all graphical enhancements are bad. As long as they don't interfere with the game play or are added as a substitute for crappy game play. I actually enjoy the graphical representations of the battles in Uncommon Valor. Because they don't substitute for a poor game they only enhance a good one. But there are/were some 'wargames' that had great graphics capabilities but possessed a p1ss poor interface and had crappy gameply. (Can anybody here say Braveheart?)

There's nothing wromg with having a set of principles to 'game by'. But, don't alienate future opponents.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:54:21 AM   
New York Jets


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

If I run my eye across the Korsun Pocket map, I can spot one graphic and understand in an instant what it means. Before computers I would have needed to consult half a dozen charts.



You're why Milton Bradley made 'war games'. Leave the 'difficult' hex map graphics to us 'old timers'.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:56:13 AM   
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quote:

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

i am that smelly single wide guy from deliverence. it took me 20 years to see that movie uncut on cable. all my family was in there.



Remind me to stay away from your part of Arizona.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:59:26 AM   
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Joe 98



<snip>

...In the bottom right corner are some artillery units. You can tell that by the GRAPHIC on the counter...



What's the matter? You need graphics to tell an artillery unit from an infantry unit, etc.? You never heard o' NATO symbols?

Kids.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 5:05:15 AM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

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The Avatar threw me a clue, funny thing is I know a few guys using that one too Miclogic hehe.

Regarding dumbing down games guys, hmm well all should have heard the term "rules lawyer" I would assume.

Normally it is a term used derogatively. But in this conversation, it is actually different in how I want to employ it.

Ok computers are handy, in that they remember the manual with complete perfection, flaws included.
The only reason computer games come with tutorials, is because sometimes you just can't play the game the way you can play a pinball machine.
Insert quarter, begin playing.

The arcady shoot em ups are no different. Spawn, run about, kill things. Did I miss anything?

Dumbing down implies the game has gotten dumber.
To imply a game is dumber because it is more serious me thinks speaks volumes about how little one might actually know about old style wargaming.

Oh the good old days of wargames that were board games, that came with manuals, that you either read fully, or tough luck, go back to playing checkers and Monopoly.

I remember reading closely the manual for games like Advanced Third Reich.
I can recall the discussions on the forums for Third Reich, and the questions that arose.
And often you could tell that most questions were originating from people that clearly could not speak english well at all.
And that was the thing, if your grasp of english sucked, your grasp of the game sucked.

But computers are handy, in that it won't let you play outside of the boundaries of the game's mechanics. A Lot fewer rules required to master. No you can NOT save movement points unspent to suddenly use up next turn.

But the game on the computer still had to be as good as the board game with the manual.

Why is it that everyone upon hearing Matrix Games was trying to port World in Flames to computer, suddenly thought the world was a better place all of a sudden :)
It was because the computer game would have to be as good as a humble board game, or they weren't interested.

You can't have it both ways might apply here.

If you want an arcady shoot em up, fine start off to make one.
If you want a serious historically accurate military history simulation, stop kidding yourself that bells and whistles will turn them into games that can sell like arcady shoot em ups.

I could fill a gym with guys that will play the arcady stuff with no effort.
It would be easy.
Invite the schools males into the gym.
Ask all the guys that play board game wargames to leave.
The rest are the arcady shoot em ups.
And half the board gamers might have counted as well.

But those board gamer types, won't likely buy your second game produced if you tried to sell them barely credible stupidity the first time.
And all the industry standard cutting edge spiffy graphics design won't change anything.

You better have a wargame first, before going and playing with the graphics.
Graphics can help a wargame, but they won't suffice to be the wargame.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 5:19:59 AM   
miclogic


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Can't argue that point, but I still think if publishers would include a hearty meat and potatoes introduction to the finer points of the game, strategy and history, we would see a larger influx of newer players, perhaps even allowing for some stretching of the genre. The popularity of movies such as Saving Private Ryan, and series like Band of Brothers shows there are many people out there who could, with the right introduction, appreciate and come to love serious war games. But few people have the background and sense of history that readers of this forum have, and that fact provides a fairly serious impediment when someone from outside of this community wants to venture into a game like HTTR or Korsun Pocket (especially given the somewhat obscure battles).

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 5:39:54 AM   
EricGuitarJames

 

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MicLogic, I hope you weren't saying that 'Market Garden' was an 'obscure battle'.

I still believe that the best hope for the future of wargaming is conversion of the RTS crowd. There's no reason why a player of 'Sudden Strike', 'Blitzkrieg', 'Rise of Nations' or 'Warrior Kings' should not hanker for something more 'realistic'. HTTR should be easy to get into for such a gamer. But they have to be aware that such games exist and since it's increasingly unlikely that they will see them on the store shelves, companies such as Matrix need to market their games aggressively.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:02:08 AM   
miclogic


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Not at all, and neither were the battles near the Dnieper River for some of you, but ask 90% of those younger than 25 in the United States what the Market Garden operation was and I'll bet you a dime to a dollar you'll get a blank stare. That's my point. It's not that they won't be interested, it's just that they need more information than they currently get when they open the game package. Aggressive marketing will make a difference, but even if they purchase the game, once they open it if they struggle to win even the most simple scenarios and have too difficult a time in learning, I'll bet they think twice before trying another wargame that isn't more approachable.

Now I'm not arguing for making simpler games, just the opposite. I happen to LOVE HTTR, and I will continue to support the development team in future releases (I was thrilled at today's news!). It's just that when I've tried to share this love with others, (aka my 20 & 30 something brothers) in hopes of some head to head play, they really have a tough time getting into these kinds of games. But then again, maybe we're just a bit slower than most, coming from Wyoming and all

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:14:19 AM   
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quote:

ORIGINAL: miclogic

...But then again, maybe we're just a bit slower than most, coming from Wyoming and all ...


That must explain the whole 'Alan Simpson' thing.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:21:36 AM   
miclogic


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Hey, that's personal! Besides, it could be worse. For example, ... um, ... well, ... er....

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 2:46:11 PM   
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quote:

ORIGINAL: miclogic

My point is, wargames can be fun and immersive, most of us have experienced that, but not without the right kind of understanding on the player's part.


Hi!

Actually, this is a very good point.

I have been playing "Spartan" recently, which is admittedly a strategy game, not a wargame. Nevertheless, what miclogic says rings true.

When I got the game, I placed the manual in my cupboard (never read them), steared away from the intro scenarions, and went directly to the Grand Campaign. After 3 or 4 abortive games, "the little light" turned on, and off I went to win my first campaign as Sparta in 314 moves (normal setting). As I played this game I also posted in AAR (which was actually a progress report as the game was on-going) at The Wargamer.

Well, to get to the point. After the game, I began visiting Sliterines Forums, and low and behold I found threads by people asking for help ("even easy isn't easy") and claiming the AI cheated. So there I am reading posts by what appears to be young people who bought the game and are so frustrated they are about to uninstall it.

I would imagine that most of the veterans around here have a pretty good grip on the history of warfare and not much problem with computer AI's. When I was young, I read books (lots of them) about warfare. This helped me a great deal, but may not apply to the new generation.

Now I know many companies are getting real good at providing tutorials on the "mechanics" of the game (how to win, so you can have fun). But, I think, if we want to grab the youngs one, what we need is to not just present them with a good game, but also the history. Would it be so difficult to include a new feature such as a "slide show" with photos and commentary outlining the basic history of the period and the units which fought? Seems to me it might just help those young people understand what is being simulated and would be an investment in the future.

My 2 cents for what its worth...

Ray (alias Lava)

< Message edited by Lava -- 6/12/2004 12:48:56 PM >


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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 3:06:46 PM   
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Hi!

Which reminds me. Anybody remember Frank Hunter's ACW game from I-Magic? It had 2 CD's. One was the game, the other a multi-media overview of the war.

I don't think a second CD is necessary, but a short "slide show" with some kewl pictures, just might kindle that flame we all have burning inside us...

Ray (alias Lava)

< Message edited by Lava -- 6/12/2004 1:37:43 PM >


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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 3:41:32 PM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

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Blank stares for Market Garden?

Well of course you get blank stares hehe.

Same reason I get the same response when I talk about the first Gulf War.

"Ahh Les, I was only 6" was the last response I got from a young friend of mine.

One decidedly unfortunate side effect of today's electronic world, is reading is becoming less thrilling, and if it isn't blathered about online in the current news variety threads on forums, then it's likely it is something the younger crowd will not even know about.

Everyone seems like an expert on Iraq, but try finding good solid discussions on anything more than 10 years in the past.

What I see is a conondrum. We need new blood for our hobby. But where to find them.
We also have to accept, that only a portion of society will ever be predisposed to care about the past, and those people are often the achievers in school that most call geeks.
It is easily possible nothing we ever do will ever magnify the portion of society that is ideally suited to becoming wargamers.

So in the end, it is possible that nothing we ever do to a wargame, with regards to dumbing them down, will ever convert a person from being what they already are.

Which would be nfortunate, but might be a reality.

< Message edited by Les_the_Sarge_9_1 -- 6/12/2004 8:42:41 AM >


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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 4:52:18 PM   
Cap Mandrake


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At some point, the technology will make it will be possible to enter a plain text order or draw on the battle map with a "crayon". That would make the Luddites happy:

General Hill, take your Division across the Chickahominy via the Mechanicsville Pike and make your right the low ground of the River.

General Longstreet, take your boys across the River at Meadow Bridge Road, then form up on General Hill's left. You will attack together in echelon at 11:00.

General Jackson will attack the enemey's rear upon the sound of your guns.


That would be cool. eh?

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:13:56 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris Trog
Wargames don't have to have crappy graphics to be good. I'll settle for a good AI. As one of those 'old timers' you decry so much I'd be interested to have you give me one example where the 'bells & whistles' have compelled you to continue playing an otherwise piece of crap war game? Us 'old timers' prefer historically accurate and well developed games. Great, flashy graphics are 'gravy'.




I guess I decry oldtimers.

No,wargamers like Les and obviously yourself are more than likely very set in youre ways.

Did you not read the part in one of my posts were I say the core of the game is the AI and the game isnt worth a dime if its not 'spot on' in the historical department?Obviously not.

The point Im trying to make is...Why not add the graphics if it can be done?

Dont add them for the 5% or so that dont want to upgrade?

Like everything else wargamers come and go.In order to bring in new gamers the games are going to need to be spiffed up in the graphics department.In no way to I want a crummy AI or historical facts that are so far out its laughable.

I dont see wargames growing as a market.In fact it seems quite the opposite.

SSI,talonsoft....gone
Atomic....gone for a while,but back to make console shooters?And some kinda CC game.

Im sure there are more that have gone belly up.

Also,games like C&C,SS and other horde style games were you mass up troops and blindly hurl them into battle hurts wargaming also.

I never said graphics make the game.

There is no reason to leave them out just for a few that dont want to upgrade.

There is no shortage on the games that you and Les like.OTOH there is a huge shortage on the games that I and plenty of other wargamers would like to see.

Tell me the great chit style game that is going to breath life into the hobby and all the new wargamers are going to flock to?

Read the title of the thread again...

It is killing itself without advancing,it is DIEING.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:14:58 PM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

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We can dream eh.

Voice recognised attack commands, that would impress me.

Computer tell Patton to send 4th Armoured up to Bastogne.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:23:48 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

Nice imitation of a clock Riverbravo :)

But were you trying to say something?


Either you or me is losing it....I havent realy figured out wich one

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:27:31 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chris Trog

quote:

ORIGINAL: Joe 98



<snip>

...In the bottom right corner are some artillery units. You can tell that by the GRAPHIC on the counter...



What's the matter? You need graphics to tell an artillery unit from an infantry unit, etc.? You never heard o' NATO symbols?

Kids.


I let you in on a shocker.

I own both KP and HTTR.I like KP a bit better.

IMO KP is the pinnacle of 'chit style' wargames.

NATO...hmmm....must be a rock band or somthing

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:27:36 PM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

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All things die Riverbravo.

But then again, change is change. But not change just to change.

Change can be an improvement, but then don't fix it if it isn't broke.

Keep what you have, while making progress. Don't start all over again when you are already doing well.

Avalon Hill .... gone.

Matrix Games .... here.

SPI .... gone.

John Tiller ..... here

Talonsoft ..... gone

HPS ..... here

MMP ...... here

Avalanche Press ..... here

SSI ..... gone

Battlefront ...... here

Neppa Games ...... here

I could write this list a while longer, but I can assure you, the list of new names here only gets longer, while the list of names gone fizzles out rather shortly (for me at least). And I am just selecting from my own relatively narrow selection preferences.

Wargaming does not need me and my grognard approach, nor does it need the cutsey approach, to date, wargaming needs efficient circulation.
Say what you want about the game, but no one has to my knowledge out done Axis and Allies for market awareness.
Stupid looking game with idiotic looking plastic playing pieces and infinitely playable design.
And they are STILL making it. And it is STILL spawning clones coipies and variants of itself.
And it is NOT played on a computer.
And EVERYONE has heard of it.

Want to compete, you have to have your wargame appear in conditions similar.

Impress me, get your item on every Toys R Us shelf and Walmart. Then you can say you actually know what you are doing :)

None of us , and I mean NONE of us seem to have mastered this one particular reality.

Just found a new forum the other day. Several posts by people that have never even heard of Steel Panthers World at War. That means they have no clue who Matrix Games is either.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:36:53 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: miclogic

The popularity of movies such as Saving Private Ryan, and series like Band of Brothers shows there are many people out there who could, with the right introduction, appreciate and come to love serious war games.


And when peoples interest in wargames is sparked by a movie such as SPR or BoB and gets a look at the heartstopping action of chit style games well,you can imagine the turn off.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 7:52:58 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:


Dumbing down implies the game has gotten dumber.
To imply a game is dumber because it is more serious me thinks speaks volumes about how little one might actually know about old style wargaming.

Oh the good old days of wargames that were board games, that came with manuals, that you either read fully, or tough luck, go back to playing checkers and Monopoly.

I remember reading closely the manual for games like Advanced Third Reich.
I can recall the discussions on the forums for Third Reich, and the questions that arose.
And often you could tell that most questions were originating from people that clearly could not speak english well at all.
And that was the thing, if your grasp of english sucked, your grasp of the game sucked.


No no,I needed to be a bit clearer on the 'dumbing down' bit.

The 'dumbing down' of pc specs needed to run the game.

In no way do I mean to take away from the AI.

If anything should be 'dumbed down' it should be the interface.wargames should strive to be complex with a lot of options and yet at the same time have a very simple interface and overall be user friendly.But given the often complex nature of wargames this isnt always as easy as it seems.

Some games achieve this others dont.

I agree that when I buy a wargame I want a manual that looks like a NY phone book.Why not?Im paying 50 bucks for it.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 8:10:10 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

All things die Riverbravo.

But then again, change is change. But not change just to change.

Change can be an improvement, but then don't fix it if it isn't broke.
.


But I guess if its a graphics change for the better and some people cant run the game then thats a change that should be left out of the designers plans?

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 8:12:42 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

We can dream eh.

Voice recognised attack commands, that would impress me.

Computer tell Patton to send 4th Armoured up to Bastogne.


Its already here.

It just hasnt made its way to wargames to yet.

SOCOM has voice commands.No need to press anything to issue orders to other soldiers.

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 8:13:42 PM   
riverbravo


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1
Just found a new forum the other day. Several posts by people that have never even heard of Steel Panthers World at War. That means they have no clue who Matrix Games is either.


And why mite this be?

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RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 8:27:29 PM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

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Hmm reading your replies Riverbravo, I think we are arguing the same argument, just speaking in different languages hehe.

Your last post is perhaps the only one I wish to address (as it might not be me saying what you have already said the least hehe :) ).

Advertising, and product placement.

Being visible. Being seen.

That forum now knows about Steel Panthers, because one of us mentioned it.

I don't expect Matrix Games to be suddenly flooding Toys R Us or Walmart, but hmm would be cool eh David :)

The key question is, what is actively being done to see that the Matrix Games logo name and product is being seen by MORE people sooner?
And not just Matrix Games, but our whole hobby?

Cost it all comes down to cost. But frankly, you don't make money till you spend some.
That is a brutal reality of business that could care less about objections.

The only free advertising I know about, is "us", we posters, we forum dwellers.

Every time I post, I am basically employing a chance to speak out.

Is your sig line doing anything useful for instance? :)

When was the last time you discovered a new forum?

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Post #: 87
RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/12/2004 9:09:58 PM   
riverbravo


Posts: 1320
Joined: 1/16/2003
From: Bay St Louis Ms.
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Les_the_Sarge_9_1

Hmm reading your replies Riverbravo, I think we are arguing the same argument, just speaking in different languages hehe.

Your last post is perhaps the only one I wish to address (as it might not be me saying what you have already said the least hehe :) ).

Advertising, and product placement.

Being visible. Being seen.

That forum now knows about Steel Panthers, because one of us mentioned it.

I don't expect Matrix Games to be suddenly flooding Toys R Us or Walmart, but hmm would be cool eh David :)

The key question is, what is actively being done to see that the Matrix Games logo name and product is being seen by MORE people sooner?
And not just Matrix Games, but our whole hobby?

Cost it all comes down to cost. But frankly, you don't make money till you spend some.
That is a brutal reality of business that could care less about objections.

The only free advertising I know about, is "us", we posters, we forum dwellers.

Every time I post, I am basically employing a chance to speak out.

Is your sig line doing anything useful for instance? :)

When was the last time you discovered a new forum?


The only disagreement we have on this topic is the using of graphics.

I feel the graphics are a must to bring in new players just due to the fact I feel its a must to attract attention to the genre with almost every other style of game showing flashy eye candy.That will be the first thing to grab peoples attention IMO.Look at the cover art,flip the box over to see screen shots.Then read the box and look at the specs.We all know the first impression is the most important.

I dont doubt for a second that we BOTH want to see our hobby grow and have a bit of everything for people to enjoy.

The roots of wargaming will never die.

If I had it my way the game would include a marker style along with a 3d style to get down and dirty with youre troops.

I dont think there will ever be a shortage of the games you prefer.It seems you have found a style you like and want to stick with it...thats fine.Some of us are still searching for the "holy grail" so to speak.

As far as forums and sig lines go....

I have found the boards I like so I stick to them.

I have gone beyond the call of duty when it comes to spreading the word.To the point of going to peoples houses at the request of some of the staff so new players could get a better grasp on certain games.When I find a company that I like and feel they make good products and dont have snooty attitudes then yes,I have no probs with it.

Advertising plays a strong part in any products success.Word of mouth is one thing but proper advertising is a must.

youre sig line says it all.Board games, the other wargaming :) Why settle for just one way to wargame

Why just settle for one way to wargame when multiple styles are available no matter what the style.

Edit

If you had a high end pc that would run more graphicaly demanding games and the games were great would you stil shy away from these types of games?

< Message edited by riverbravo -- 6/12/2004 7:11:33 PM >


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Post #: 88
RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/13/2004 1:49:26 AM   
Les_the_Sarge_9_1

 

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Joined: 12/29/2000
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Odds are if I had the latest incarnation of industry standard PC on my desk here, I would still be me :)

Although it is likely I would have zero concern if it could run War in the Pacific or Combat Leader when they get released :)

I don't hate the shooters, they just don't have what I am looking for in a game for the most part.

My first reaction to seeing Battlefield Vietnam was "holy sheeeeeit that sure looks like a cool game". That's based entirely on the notion of combining period music with scenes out of films I can relate to though.
The Apocalypse Now map is just a hoot.

But I have no doubt, that the amusement would eventually dull soon enough.

Still, I won't say the game isn't fun.

But it is still just an arcade experience to me. The fact that all flying options move the same speed really is of zero importance to me. The game after all is not serious in the first place. Jumping out of a jet and leaping into a vehicle will do that :)

Several of us here have used an image of the Korsun Pocket game graphics. What must be said though, is that game, or HTTR or Strategic Command they are all going to be out of hand dismissed and seen as being equal to a non hard core gamer, even if one is clearly more graphically impressive than the other.

An unfortunate detail is this, most everyone here knows I am a total turn based board gaming fanatic, but that's just here.
Off this forum, telling someone you are a wargamer, is the same for the most part, as labelling yourself as being the same as me.
The public tends to see wargamers as looking like me.
Might not be flattering, obviously isn't true, doesn't alter the fact.

We will get farther with cleaver marketing than we will will cleaver graphics enhancements.

I have already witnessed people claim that Korsun Pocket was "too hard" to learn. And they cited the graphics.
I find that incredulous, but I still managed to hear it said.

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I LIKE that my life bothers them,
Why should I be the only one bothered by it eh.

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Post #: 89
RE: Is the Wargame Genre Killing Itself? - 6/13/2004 2:02:51 AM   
Fallschirmjager


Posts: 6793
Joined: 3/18/2002
From: Chattanooga, Tennessee
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I think another reason wargames arnt as popular as other games is because of the 'immediate satisfaction' factor.

Lets take two of my recent purchases for example.

FarCry is the latest FPS game to come out and probably the best game I have played all year.
HttR is probably the best wargame I have played.

Farcry lasts about 20-25 hours.
If you are an average gamer the game takes about 15 minutes to learn.



I have had more fun in those hours than with any other game this year.
HttR takes about 1-2 hours to learn and another 10 or so to learn every.
The game has just about unlimited playability.

Both to me are just about as fun. However one was fun immediatly and offered the fun in much higher doses in a shorter period of time.
HttR was harder to get into initialy and the fun came in an even out spread over a longer time.

So...the idea is to hook the player quickly AND keep them entertained througout the experience.
How do we as wargamers acomplish this?
Any ideas?

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