Matrix/Slitherine

[panzerde]

After fruitlessly again browsing the products at Matrix, Slitherine, and AGEOD, I realized that they haven't published a game I'm interested in for at least two years. Aside from the fact that they haven't published much, what they have published has been shallow, trite, and often quickly abandoned.

Matrix used to publish wargames. They really don't seem to, anymore. There's only so many ways you can retread Panzer General and expect to maintain interest.

I really hope someone comes along and starts to sell computer wargames again. It feels to me like there's a completely untapped market now that the former "big dog" has decided to publish Camouflage Candy Crush.

[mirth]

Seems like Tiller is the only one doing real computer wargames these days.

[panzerde]

Pretty much. There are plenty of people that will complain about the engine and the graphics, but at least there's an actual wargame  there.

I used to enjoy the stuff from Battleground, but I haven't been able to rouse myself to buy Shock Force 2. I haven't seen anything different enough from Shock Force to justify $125.  I can buy three board games for that.

That's where my money is going these days: cardboard.

[mirth]

I'm too put off by Steve's attitude toward his customers to buy anything from Battlefront these days.

And yeah, my money is going to cardboard as well.

[panzerde]

I'm too put off by Steve's attitude toward his customers to buy anything from Battlefront these days.

I feel like that's a problem at Matrix, too. It's more subtle there. In both cases there's a pretty significant contrast with people like Dave Heath, or Tom & Mary Russell, or a host of other boardgame publishers who seem so much more connected to their customers. Even GMT is pretty customer focused, despite being the 800 lb. gorilla of the industry.

I'm eagerly awaiting General Staff. That's a real computer wargame, and Ezra is good people. It goes without saying that the OTS crew are as well, and I'll definitely buy FPC: Southern Storm when it's released. As far as I can see though, those will likely be my only 2019 computer wargame purchases outside of Tiller stuff.

[mirth]

Southern Storm will be a must buy for me, but there is very little else from Matrix/Slitherine that grabs my interest these days.

[panzerde]

I'm not as interested in super hard core wargames as some of you - so Matrix/Slitherine keeps vacuuming my wallet. 

Still, we should count our blessings.  There are a lot of wargames and strategy games being released both on computer and board games.

You've entirely made my point. Matrix, which used to be a hardcore wargame publisher, no longer is. They're selling to you, not to me.

Wargames and "strategy" games are not the same thing. There are almost NO wargames being released on computer these days. There's a lot of light weight war-themed "strategy" games. More power to people that want to play those. Paradox does a far superior job at that than Matrix does, IMHO. What Matrix isn't doing is publishing wargames. It's be good if someone would fill that gap in the market, that they did under David Heath very successfully for a long time.

[mirth]

They are a long way from being the "Home of Wargamers" that they were when David owned it.

[Staggerwing]

Matrix is the late 90's Montenegro to Slitherine's Serbia

[Capn Darwin]

I smell a new Dragooncast in the future. Seems to be a rich topic. I think almost all computer gaming has fallen to the lowest common denominator in search of the almighty dollar. It is flashy eye candy, simple mechanics, and trophy achievements that own the market  Most of us grew up in the opening days of the computer games and remember thick printed manuals, keyboard overlays, rare bugs, no mods, and hours spent learning how to play. Can't have that in today's instant gratification world. At least we are slowly working on a real wargame with a number of PDF manuals  Maybe we should try a keyboard overlay as well.


Such a rant worthy topic. From many sides.

[mirth]

I miss keyboard overlays

[bayonetbrant]

I smell a new Dragooncast in the future.

maybe we do one at Origins with everyone in the same room together

[bayonetbrant]

I miss keyboards




---  Generation Z, 25 years from now

[panzerde]

This is how bad it is: I have a 40% off coupon from Matrix that I've had for months now. I can't find anything they publish that I'm even willing to buy with a 40% discount.

[mirth]

I miss keyboards




---  Generation Z, 25 years from now