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Les_the_Sarge_9_1 -> (8/29/2002 9:12:10 PM)
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Living in a capitalist country as I do, where capitalism, in spite of it being seen as "evil" by other parts of the world, that just don't know how to do it correctly, I never get upset when a person or persons, or corporation elect to pursue gainfull access to my dollars.
That much said, there are bright ways to get my money, and not so bright ways to get my money.
Case in point, I purchased a pizza the other day. The delivery forgot my pop. I would not be overly upset if it had not happened from the particular establishment before.
They returned with two 2 litre bottles of the flavours of my orginal choice instead of 2 cans. This was their own decision without any request having been made by any comment from me.
The decision to do so though, has ensured my next pizza will come from them.
Their pizza is ok, nothing special or superior (it's as good as anyone else's in town really). But it was very good business to ensure that even while only an innocent mistake, they made sure not to anger and or annoy me by the late deliver of the beverage with my meal.
Now on the other hand, I have had my deliver so consistently mangled on a 9 out of 10 instances basis, by a well known fried chicken business here in town, that I have no trouble dragging their name through the mud publicly when I discuss fast food businesses with others.
It is always possible that a business might deliver an inferior product and or service accidentally. This is the nature of chance. It is entirely unforgivable though, when a business does so casually and with no regrets.
This is why when I see comments about my Mega Campaign having software design glitches (I have Lost Victories), I am not immediately resentful of having been sold a product that has failed in some capacity.
I could either whine and complain, or go on the forum and seek assistance fixing the trouble.
Here at Matrix the help is almost assumed. Therefore the business has stood behind its product faithfully. I won't punish them for an innocent mistake.
I have no personal knowledge of the actions of Talonsoft that has given rise to their name being sullied. I have several of their wargames, and I consider them in the top of their class.
But a superior product is not going to automatically permit inappropriate behaviour down the road.
That is why I have little problem with my condemnation of Critical Hit.
They have made products in the past for ASL (some of which have been deemed to be inferior by ASL players), they now seek to intentionally release products that are a direct attack on the ASL system, by shamelessly copying the design and attaching a different name to it.
It would be no different than me producing a game called Combat Commander, that had no appreciable difference from Combat Leader, after having worked on a design for a Combat Leader module and having a falling out with the Combat Leader design crew.
The decision to pursue a course similar to what mentioned above has left me disgusted. As a result, Critical Hit can design whatever games they wish it matters not how good they might be said to be.
I care not for how good they might be, or for their questionable claims of "selling fast". They have exhibited offensive marketing practices, and this consumer is boycotting them as we speak.
Matrix on the other hand, has shown that good marketing practices and customer service can ensure their name is never spoken in a derogatory fashion.
They are a business, I expect them to pursue the business of making money. That is why people go into business.
I won't say that I wish them to isolate turn based wargames and shun all others though. That is idiotic at best.
If in a few years Matrix ends up making cutting edge FPS games predominantly, I wish them success in their efforts.
That I hate FPS games won't make me like their company less, if it detracts from them selling yet more turn based wargames.
As long as they give us a healthy forum for discussion, and devote some resources to our sector of the hobby, they have served me well. If my beloved turn based game style ends up in a small corner of their site, it will be no big deal. As long as that little corner is a nice place to hang out for us turn based nuts eh.
I don't think wanting to sell games outside of my own personal interest range though is necessarily greedy automatically. If 9 out of 10 people want a specific something, you just have to accept that only 1 out of 10 will want the other. It is not good business or logical, to assume you can do enough business to survive on some product types. That's the reason most corner stores sell smokes and lottery tickets (you need to pay the bills).
To start with wargames of a high calibre though, and then convert to the games that are volume sales friendly, and foresake your prduct line that established your name in the community, is a choice that might not be a good one.
It is a choice though, and just a choice. Again I have no idea of what Talonsoft might have down, that might be seen as offensive (so specific examples are in order).
Critical Hit though, is using it's ASL past, and it's established name from having produced ASL after market products, to sell products that are ASL clones to consumers, that might be unaware they are buying products, that are essentially mean spirited attacks on a rival company.
Though not technically game piracy, I have the same feelings for Critical Hit's Advanced Tobruk, as I would for someone bootlegging copies of any of Matrix's games. And if I see a bootlegged Matrix product, I intend to tell Matrix (in private) the name of the individual.
Apologies if I have stepped over any boundaries with this post. But I won't sit by and let someone do something offensive and not speak (it's my nature).
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