WendellM
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Posts posted by WendellM
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Steve,
Your comments about Operational Art of War's sales sound like they might be based on Wm. Trotter's article in PC Gamer (pg. 141 of June 2000 issue where he stated 1,298 copies sold in 1999). FWIW, this figure has come under criticism.
However, the gist of your statement seems quite valid. "Real" wargames do tend to have small sales, and I agree that HPS's/BTS's choice of marketing is the way to go. With "wide" distribution they might sell 50% more copies (the grognards already know where to buy their copies and the layman will likely be put off by the "technical" subject matter), but with direct distribution they keep perhaps 100% more profit. It's a win-win situation. Hurrah for wargame sales on the Internet!
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Heh, thanks, Dar.
That's the first "you're too angry" reply I've ever gotten, and I couldn't pick a better subject to be overwrought about. It really does bug me.
P.S. That was real vitriol earlier, but I'm feeling better now
[This message has been edited by WendellM (edited 06-23-2000).]
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Capt. Manieri: "Everyday I wake up at 9, clean and go on the computer. The highlight of my day for the past week has been 12:00 Noon. That's when the mailman comes"
Steady on, Captain. Hold... hold!
jdmorse: "One of the things age does is give perspective. Do I wish I had it now, yes. Is it frustrating, yes. BUT there are a lot of things to just appreciate in the menatime."
True wisdom. I'm 33 (about halfway betwixt Mssrs. Morse and Manieri), and I understand this.
Zhammer: "I recieved my copy yesterday 6/22 and was totally surprised. I ordered this game 5 months back and forgot I ordered it"
Since I ordered mine a month before you, forgive me if I forget and drive a spike through your skull!
No, I really am happy for you (really). I have no trouble with the wait thanks to the recently released batch of wargames - this is actually an excellent period for awaiting CM (but actually stating that you forgot you ordered it - oy!). Thanks for the update, Phoenix. Your order and ship date give me hope that my copy (and our long-suffering Captain's) might show up tomorrow (or *gulp* Monday).
Wendell
[This message has been edited by WendellM (edited 06-23-2000).]
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Its obvious (even from the Gold Demo) that CM was developed by a group of people who have a great interest in the subject matter and who are wargamers themselves. [...] Congrats BTS, and may your business model bring you the high financial rewards you rightly deserve.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hear, hear!
It seems that this "business model" is becoming more common for wargames. HPS is the first I know of (I may well be wrong) to use it, followed by Battlefront (representing BTS and others), and Shrapnel. IMHO, nothing could be cooler: no "suits", no "ship it by X-quarter or else" deadlines, no dumb-it-down mentality.
Common wisdom says that grognards are a "marginal" market and that traditional business models can't make a profit from them. To this attitude, I snarl, raise my middle finger, and shout "So what, a**hole?! Think outside the f***ing box!"
Companies like BTS are doing "end runs" with distribution through outlets like Battlefront. We wargamers have always been able to find sources for our games, even in the retail world - the new electronic frontier just makes a wider variety of fine games more easily available. I don't care if "most" PC gamers are playing "Deer Hunter F***s Barbie II", I know where to find my hard-core wargames and I'm damn happy about it.
Sorry if the above is a bit rough (even with my self-censorship
), but I'm mad that so many are suffering through mediocre games while intelligent-gaming bliss is so easily available,Wendell
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A last quickie...
LouieV,
In the "The Last Shipping Update" thread, dated 6/22, Steve of BTS states "As of this morning all preorders, and all orders since last week, have gone out the door [...] nobody should get worried until about Tuesday or so if their order hasn't showed up. Priority Mail 2 day service is not a guarrantee, rather the normal delivery time."
That's the official word (so I'd say that while Monday isn't too early, Tuesday wouldn't be too late). Good luck!
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"You make my troops crap their pants, and i make yours wet theirs."
Hmm, just what kinky sort of game is the full release of CM? Shouldn't this exchange be on some "adult" newsgroup?
Sorry... I'm going a little "nuts" (as Gen. McAuliffe would say
) waiting for my copy. Oh well, back to 16th Century Japan for another day: I do await CM eagerly, but Shogun: Total War isn't a poor way to pass the time at all. -
Glad to hear it, Arien. I believe the Captain wanted to know where you are (though I can see your profile shows Ohio), when you ordered, and when the package was postmarked (I imagine to refine the model of where CM is going when); I'd be interested, too. Naturally, enjoy checking out the game first (as if I have to add that
).[This message has been edited by WendellM (edited 06-23-2000).]
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Don't feel bad, Capt.; you're still not alone. My mail's arrived, but no little soldiers. Oh well... "tomorrow is another day."
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Good luck, Captain! You're not alone in waiting - I just *knew* mine would show up yesterday ("Barbarossa Day"
), but no dice. It was ordered in December '99, with credit card charged 6/15. I'll let you know if I get lucky today . -
Come on, guys. They may not have been the funniest, but at least the guy tried. (I at least liked #5 due to the heat John Woo's gotten about his overuse of doves in his films.) It's better than the endless "I have/haven't gotten my CM!" posts...
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I'd be interested to see a list of best-selling wargames myself. Unfortunately, the best data I've been able to find is:
The top-selling "strategy" titles of 1999 were:
4. Microsoft Age Of Empires II: Age of Kings
5. Starcraft
7. Command & Conquer 2: Tiberian Sun
14. Starcraft Expansion: Brood Wars
For 1998:
1. Starcraft
10. Microsoft Age of Empires
And for 1997:
8. Command & Conquer Red Alert
15. Warcraft Battle Chest
Sorry, there just wasn't any data for real wargames. This data is
from http://www.pcdata.com/hitslists/ - the only source I've been able to find so far.
Wendell
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Felix Kersten. Oddly enough, a simple HotBot search for "Himmler's masseur" turned this up.
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>the AI still hadn't attacked! It was there for over 7 hours with 2 tanks doing a tango in the middle of the map and the rest just sitting in the rear.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Those must have been the superior PzKw Planierraupe (bulldozer) type the Germans used from time to time.
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>what sites are you seeing it mentioned on?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
IGNPC has a link to the demo at www.pcgameworld.com/ign/combat.htm. They say:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The move to the 3rd dimension is not just to look cool, rather it it improves the accuracy of the simulation. Think of the world around us - it's all 3D. True 3D LOS, 3D spotting, 3D terrain, and 3D trajectories are a lot more realistic than 2D approximations, so that is what Combat Mission delivers!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The actual demo page at www.pcgameworld.com/gamedemos/c/combatmission is more verbose, including:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>There is so much new, different, and better about Combat Mission that it is hard to know where to start [...] Whether it is the detailed TO&Es (Tables of Organization and Equipment), accurate OBs (Orders of Battle), weapon characteristics, or the intense armor penetration algorithms (be prepared to be surprised!), Combat Mission brings historical integrity to a new level. Just think about it... amazing historical detail, unparalleled features, incredible ease of use, and cutting edge 3D audio and visuals all wrapped up into one package.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wendell
[This message has been edited by WendellM (edited 05-17-2000).]
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MajorH wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Or ... you can purchase my Military Reference Library CDROM and carry 167 field manuals in your pocket<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
A very cool reference package.... I used to go downtown to the local US Gov't printing office and buy these FMs individually (along with other gov't military publications - your tax dollars at work
, but Major H's compilation has them *all* way cheaper than paper copies, plus they're *searchable*. Maybe I'm a sucker for such things, since when I was a kid I discovered my dad's FM 21-13 "The Soldier's Guide" from 1952 when he served during the Korean War. However, I'm fascinated by them.
They're very useful. When's vol. 2 due out, Maj. H.?... though I haven't yet memorized the first 100+ FMs!
Wendell
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Pretty spiffy, Major - thanks for the link.
I also found the other tours interesting: AH-64, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and best of all, the Barracks! However, the barracks tour clearly shows the new Mk IV shrubbery while the TacOps database has only the old Mk III type. Please fix this as soon as possible!
Wendell
P.S.
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"So, why do you wargame?"
One reason is that I love to see all the system of a good wargame interact (I'm mostly talking about board games, but there are some fascinating computer ones out there, too). For me, a well-done wargame makes all the factors that drove the historical events fit naturally. While I do enjoy competitive play, I also like just reading the rules and enjoying their interplay.
Capt_Manieri's reply about it being an alternative to playing with toy soldiers has some resonance, too
.Meaning no ill-will, I've had problems with opponents who have attitudes that seem like the one expressed by Bullethead. They're so focused with winning and seeing this an a serious contest that play becomes less enjoyable. This isn't intended as a slam against that type of gamer; it's just that I see it as more of an abstract learning exercise.
Lastly, I love playing a historical wargame to augment books when learning about a given period in history. It's one thing to read what happened, but much more immediate when you're able to actually "go into" the environment and experience it yourself.
Wendell
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"April 29th, 1945, Western Germany"
With a detailed map that showed the allies' advance, it'd be possible to narrow that down to a single line
. Sadly, my maps are too vague. -
War really is hell and the civilians are the victims. I hate war (though I'm fascinated by modeling it), and I *fully* agree that the best way to avoid it is to be prepared to wage it. If you're weak, then your enemy will try to take advantage of you; if you're strong, then he won't. Cuts in military spending cost human lives.
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This is good. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be a nervous, exausted bazooka or tank crew and hearing an ominous rumbling as a *shape* appeared on the hill top. A panzer??? Do we fire???
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"Programs crash and computers hang"
Too true....
"If you ever get a crash or system hang, immediately locate the AutoSave file and [...] run the combat phase again"
Thanks for the advice. I try set all the programs on the systems at work for maximum "auto-backup-ability" but some otherwise-professional software doesn't do this very well.
Wendell
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RhinoBones:
I am especially interested in WWII/WWI era scenarios and customization of the existing unit icons and/or capabilities.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
To my knowledge, this just won't happen with TacOps.
For WW II, the best choice IMHO is The Operational Art of War: Wargame of the Year Edition (a great source for operational WW II). For WW I, unfortunately the best choice is the above game, with appropriate user hacks to make it WW I. Sorry, if I knew a better WW I source, I'd let you know.
FWIW, TacOps is great for the modern era.
Wendell
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Big Time Software:
Charles and I very much wanted to do this for CM 1. However, a HUGE and fundamental system would need to be created to handle this realistically and present it [...] No idea when we might tackle this.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Interesting: "when" and not "if". Since the entire span of CM2-5 has been planned out on this board, I may safely conclude that it's only a matter of time
. More seriously, something like this does seem to have great merit.Wendell
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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>For a lot of folks printing a decent sized manual is going to burn up a ream of paper and most of an expensive ink jet ink cartridge. That makes for a mighty expensive hard copy manual unless you do it at work.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Have you considered offering a version of TacOps with a printed manual for a higher price, or making the manual available separately? With the economy of scale it's *much* cheaper for one person/company to make 500 copies of something all at once than 500 individuals doing it one at a time.
I know this since I happen to work and a print & copy shop, though I haven't (yet) made a bound copy of my manual at work - hmm, maybe that could be considered "market research"
.Generally, I prefer a printed manual to reading .PDFs online, but the low $20 for TacOps makes it easier to deal with. On the other hand, I bought Military Reference Library vol. 1 at the same time, indirectly *because* it was all-.PDF: there's no telling how much hard copies of all those field manuals would run!
Wendell
Is BTS Business Model a Success?
in Combat Mission Archive #2 (2000)
Posted
"we passed the 1000 mark a long, long time ago [...] No fears. We'll make it."
Glad to hear it, Charles! That should help put to bed the perception that wargames are "dead" (common not too long ago, after showing up in the mid 90's, the early 90's, the late 80's, ad nauseam - when will "they" learn?)
[This message has been edited by WendellM (edited 06-23-2000).]