My Tank Is Fight - the inevitable Goonrush hits Dropteam

[Dominic White]

Hail, fellow space-viking-dudes! I come to you (and this forum) as representative of a terrible, nomadic invading force.

The Something Awful Forums.

(Dun dun dunnnnnn!)

Hailing from this forum thread here (with enclosed IRC channel) , we are drawing our ranks from a somewhat less serious bunch than the average Battlefront customer - generally people who are interested in sci-fi action gaming and multiplayer hijinks, and also the Mechwarrior/Battletech crowd.

We're currently learning the ropes. A good few of us have bought the game just recently, and we're currently monkeying around with server hosting. Join our IRC channel and server and shoot at us. It'll be fun. We plan on eventually providing a somewhat more united front under the clan/guild/squad banner of 'My Tank Is Fight'. A cookie if you get the reference.

It has also been suggested that once we know what we're doing, we should challenge 'The Upstarts' to a game of chess. Or tanks in space - whichever works.

So, heya. We're new. Don't spank us too hard, or we'll call you names and you won't like that. So there.

(WARNING: A HUGE DIATRIBE IS APPROACHING FAST)

I now would like to address the Powers That Be - the people responsible for the running of this game, and these forums. I know it's frightfully presumptuous to just come in here and shooting my mouth off, but if I don't, nothing will change.

I will not mask my intentions here. I think Dropteam could be doing a helluva lot better than it is, sales-wise. And it's currently held back by two key things - price and marketing. The $35 price tag is on par for a military sim aimed at the grognard market, but for an indie sci-fi action game, it's a figure that puts people off.

If I might suggest it - a price-tag of $15 or $20 would be ideal. At the SA forums, a whole range of people immediately bought the game when it was available at a discount via Game Du Jour (see previous SA thread, linked on the first), simply because it was cheap enough to be considered a 'safe' impulse buy. The kind of price low enough to not induce regret if you find out that you lose interest after a day or two.

Secondly, marketing. From what I've seen, this game has been promoted mainly at Battlefront customers - hardcore wargamers, grognards etc al. People who (generally speaking - I'm well aware there are exceptions) tend to turn their nose up at things like hovertanks and ion beams.

However, I believe there is a large market out there for semi-realistic sci-fi combat. The people who still maintain online communities for games such as Mechwarrior and Battletech, as well as people who are looking for something more realistic than, say, Battlefield 2142. I do believe that there's a large, untapped market of people who would jump all over Dropteam if they even knew it existed, and found it to be accessible.

So, this ties into a third point. Battlefronts store system isn't the most ideal distribution point for the game. It has been brought up on the SA forums that there are an increasing number of niche developer/publishers putting their games up for purchase via Steam, Valves internet publishing network. Sonalysts, notably, has a variety of naval simulators on the network.

So. That's my introduction, and my thoguhts on how this game could reach more people.

Why have I written all of that, you might ask? Well, it's simple. I like Dropteam. I just wish there were more people playing it - it doesn't deserve to be left on the wayside like this. On average, the single official server running for the game, Delta Pavonis, has ZERO people playing on it. Even a game like The Ship, considered a 'faliure' when it was published via Steam has in excess of 20 active public servers at this very moment.

If an esoteric multiplayer game about murder mystery on an art-deco cruise liner can support a steady and active community presence, then there's no reason why Dropteam shouldn't.

And now I've had my say. About as subtle as an orbital nuclear bombardment, I know. But that's how I roll.

[Scikar]

Hello DropTeam community! I'm probably an odd one here since I've been a fan of CM for a long time, but I hadn't actually heard of DropTeam until I saw Dominic's thread on SA. At $35 I don't think I would have bought this game for the reasons mentioned, but at $14, how could I say no? Even at $25 I think there'd be a significant uptake.

Finances aside, I'm certainly happy with my purchase. This game rocks. So far I've only played games with 4 players and the rest bots, but I'm really looking forward to playing this with more humans.

See you on the battlefield!

[Chilibird]

Nice to see the *gasp* Something Aweful guys here. Chilibird at your service. (Iceman in-game, but I've gotta remember to bother Clay about that) I've been around for a bit, but not been as active recently.

Looking forward to meeting you guys on the battlefield!

[ThePhantom]

Dominic White, I agree with you 100 percent. The only thing I can reply to you is, "Bring your Terrible Nomadic Invading Force. I want to shoot them."

[konstantine]

Haven't dropped onto the servers for awhile, nor these forums, but I just downloaded CMSF and popped in here.

I'll be back online playing now that it looks like some grassroots interest is being stirred up (I'm konstantine in game, just follow the smoke--that'd be my Apollo burning). Also I mostly agree with the first post. I don't think it's fair to comment on finances, Battlefront is basically a boutique gaming distributor (and by golly I paid $45 for the damn thing so everyone else should too!)...but this forum, and by extension this game has been dead, or at least in a deep coma for awhile now, if you ask me.

Now that CMSF is out I hope Clay starts posting updates and maybe Battlefront gives the game another little push.

That said I know the WWII mod is in development, and methinks Clay was helping with CMSF, so maybe that's one reason why it's been so quiet around here lately.

Nice also to see the power of the somethingawful games forums behind this game. I think I may have started the original Drop Team thread there...(when the demo came out)!

[poesel]

I, for one, welcome our new..err...cannon fodder!

The has been a tradition here to meet on Sundays around 1800 GMT (which suits both sides of the pond). This has faded a bit over the summer but it might be a good idea to start that again with the freshmeat.

I suggest Delta Pavonis for this. Count me in for The Upstarts.

[Redcon-5]

Welcome. Had fun Saturday afternoon. Its great to see new (team mates / Targets) circle one that applies!

[__Yossarian0815[jby]]

Welcome to DT, Dominic, Scikar, Dpope, Spacepope and ...!

[Imperial Grunt]

I had a chance to blast a few of these new guys and it is great that there is some new interest.

I am a very critical wargamer and I love Drop Team, there has to be lots more who would love this tactical scifi wargame.

[bboyle]

Bring it, new guys.

[Chilibird]

heh heh.

If I recall, we (the upstarts) challenged the Devs to a match wayy back when. I also recall giving them a spanking they wouldn't forget >

I'm in for that!

[Phonan]

Of course, you realize that now the folks from Something Awful are the Upstarts and we're the old fogies. How times change.

Welcome to the game everybody. Play with the Viper. It's the best. Also many thanks for:

a) Breathing new life into the game (and forum)

Having so many suggestions that I'm inspired to start playing again.

Looking forward to seeing you guys on the battlefield!

[Phonan]

So are we experiencing an epic battle on Sunday at the usual time? If so I'm looking forward to it.

[Junglist]

Well....what the f is this! A challenge to the Upstarts!?!? Hey, we were the upstarts! You can't upstart us....OR CAN YOU? Bring it when you're ready.

[ August 16, 2007, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: Junglist ]