Strategy First acquires Malfador Machinations
 

According to Wargamer.com:
http://www.wargamer.com/news/news.asp?nid=3216

Aaron will stay on in a management role for Space Empires. But otherwise I'm not sure what to say at the moment... we'll have to see what word comes from MM, SFI.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Bah.

"The remarkable, ongoing sales of existing games and the tremendous, built-up anticipation for the release of Space Empires V give us confidence that the intellectual property we have acquired will have long-term value as the preeminent space genre game franchise."

Another cow to milk.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Is this true? Or is it a late April Fools joke...I don't know which to hope for...stunning news to be sure.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

It is definately true.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I really hate to be the one screaming, "the sky is falling," but this means that it is possible for Aaron to lose control of the franchise in the future.

However, at least a company with a proven track record of listening to the users is the one to aquire it.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I hope this turns out well.....And is not just a way of turning the game into some online FPS-Snipehunt-makebelieveRP game.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Any speculation on what this will do to SE5 and the future of the franchise?

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Rather than speculate, I am awaiting reply from the man himself. I recommend you all do the same (wait, that is).

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I also fired off an email, and asked Aaron if he would visit us here and explain what this means for the franchise and the future of SE games.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Yoda would say: The future hard to see it is…

I would say: This does not bode well for the future!

I guess I am not as optimistic as Yoda may be. I predict the first few years may be smooth sailing but after that we will all be saying our final goodbyes to each other as the game falls into the gutters.

I have been wrong more than once in my life and I hope this is one of those times.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Even if the franchise dies, it doesn't mean that this forum of these people will go their separate ways. Look already, the OT posts probably outnumber the on topic posts!

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Eh, it probably means he just wants to retire and either there won't be an SE6 or it will suck horribly... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif But really, did we expect him to keep working on Space Empires this long? I was a bit surprised even to hear the official announcement of SE5 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Still, I fear that Strategy First might be about to "Crisium" Malfador - i.e. buy out SE5 and then just drop any plans to publish it, much as happened to Crisium's Stars! Supernova... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif It makes absolutely no business sense, though, unless they're developing something of their own which might compete with SE5... in which case we might just be in for a treat rather than a disappointment... you never know...

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

That’s true and I should have been more clear about my comment; my bad. By go our separate ways I intended to refer to the moding topics and any one who comes here for those bits of insight; how many members that would be I can’t speculate as I have been gone for a very long time. Anyway it was a very poor choice of wording but hay, it is late at night and I am getting sleepy.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

You can add the paper back slash board game StarFire to that list. Same deal as you describe; bought the rights than introduced a competing game and killed the old version. In the case of the new version it was a massive disappointment!

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

SE:V is getting close to being ready for release so I doubt that would happen. I guess I'm just nervous about the loss of our influence on future patches/titles losing our direct line to Aaron. And the potential that the title might be controlled by someone who isn't familiar with the series.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Personally I think after SE5, the franchise will have run its course... I mean, what else can you do with it, make a FPS game out of it? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif The only thing left to do is to iteratively improve the game, and while I haven't seen SE5, if it's as good as I think it will be, I think there's not much room for improvement http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Actually, it'll probably be a good thing if they have really purchased Malfador. I know we all support Aaron, and he has a tremendous community behind him, but right now Malfador is just a one man show. Creating a game as ambitions as SEV is probably taxing him terribly.

Strategy First is an established game publishing biz with a pretty good reputation. With some financial backing maybe Aaron will finally be able to hire a dedicated development team.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Established... ok, I can grant you that. Pretty good reputation? I don't think so... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif Not after the bankruptcy debacle http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif
edit: oh, and did I mention their penchant for publishing things which the original developer claims they (SF) no longer have the rights to, such as "Uplink: Hacker Elite"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Lots of doooomsaying going on, as is expected from a message board.

I suggest to relax, have a drink, and see what happens.

This could actually be a move for the better. At any rate, I hope Aaron has gotten a good deal out of this.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Theres was thing going on with them selling the orignal GalCiv again witout Stardocks permission, not sure what happened

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I have to wonder why nothing is said about this on the MM site?

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Because Aaron has always been pretty bad about updating his website. Sometimes it seems like he might be afraid of this "Internet" thing, and he just sticks to what he knows best: making good strategy games.

But, I'm a little bit hesitant to believe the article. While it takes some arm twisting for Aaron to update, you would think purchasing a development studio, even one that is basically a one-man house with some contract workers, would make SFI's website in a press release. But, nada.

Until at least one of the parties involved confirms, it's just rumor and hearsay.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

yeah, my thoughts exactly.

I mean, how reliable is Wargamer as a source? They say MM announced it. But how and when? I see nothing on SFirst or MMs website.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Well, if it turns out to be bull droppings, we can all go to kwok's house and let him splain it to us http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

If true, I feel a bit betrayed. If not true, they got me. (Praying that it is not true.)

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

A clever well timed April Fools day hoax?

Where? Where did he announce this?

"consumer aceptance of the Space Empires franchise since entering into an exclusive distribution and publishing agreement."

Really now, after sitting on the games re-release and only after about seven or eight months of interent sales?

"The remarkable, ongoing sales of existing games and the tremendous, built-up anticipation for the release of Space Empires V"

Oh give me a break, their forums are on life support so what are they basing this off of? Certainly not insider info.

And they are a canadian company. The taxes involved with being employeed by them and working in the US, especially CA, would be a nightmare.

My vote is that this is just a well played, brillant April Fools day hoax. Good job Chris.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

NOTE: I am posting as a concerned fan of the game here, there is no inside info here and these are personal opinions, NOT official Shrapnel Games opinions.

Wow! Interesting, to say the least,huh?

It is also here:
Game Tab

And SF is very bad about announcing their own releases. Usually takes them a cople of days to get the 'news' up.

I hope you are right. Every game produced by SF has been a big disappointment, including the JA series. That one was really bad and I liked that series!

Good deal? Hmm, sounds to me like one of three possible scenarios:

1. He made lost of $$$$ and that is why he did this.
2. He was tired of the struggle as an independent developer.
3. He needed the increased support (dollars again) to finish the game.

Wow, where did that come from? That is not how I would characterize SF. Maybe I've missed something...

Here are my concerns:

1) SF promised SEIV at retail. This hasn't happened to myknowledge. Rumors are that they are having a hard time getting back into retail after the bankruptcy due to distributors still being owed money from before the bankruptcy.

2) They are offering alot of titles at a huge discount through these 6 packs. Titles are not selling and they need cash is my guess.

3) I wonder if they will even be around in 2-3 years. They have already played the reorganization card. Another management slip up and they will have to sell themselves off or close the doors. Of course, SEV alone, if handled properly, will go along way to making them solid.

Good luck Aaron. Pulling for 'ya!

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Read a fuller article here...

Press Release

I'm Sure Aaron knows what he is doing, and remember SFI is now fully under the reins od Silverstar Holdings.. Before you bash SFI,.. check out their new boss, Silverstar has an exceptionnal reputation.

Nuf said, cheers!

P.S. Silverstar Holdings last public financial report,.. looks like they sitting on 22mil in assets. So I'd say they are here to stay.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Ah boy, so its no joke. Well s**t. I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. It just seems sad somehow that it has happened now. I really have mixed emotions about this and all though I wish Aaron the best, I cannot help the sense I am feeling that something great has just died. Like I just lost my best friend or something. I know, its like he just got married and no longer will be around to hang with. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I hope he got a load of $$ for this. So David what does this mean for you? Are you still going to part of SE V's future? Are you going to be a part of SFI to?

Thanks Tim, your comments do address some very real concerns about SFI's future. I do wish them the best but I simply don't know.

Yup, you are 100% correct here CK. I am really more so dissapointed over being nervous about the loss of our influence with Aaron and the development of the Space Empires games. I think this is what is eating me up inside at the moment. The thought that SEV is now firmly in the hands of the bean counters, no offense SFI, just seems wrong to me. Its quite possible, in order to save $$, that they will force Aaron into dropping support for the game long before he would have done so if had remaned on his own.

Loosing our direct line to Aaron is something that time will prove to be a truly great loss to us all. However, I do wish Aaron the best of success in his new job and role at SFI. (Say, are they hiring?)

It was a real joy ride we had with the freedom and independence of being part of space empires over the last five and half years. But like all rides, eventually they end. I just hate to see the passing of this era of independent game development.

This seems to be a very sad day for many of us. Its SFI's ball now, so I wish them all the luck in the world.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

NOTE: I am posting as a concerned fan of the game here, there is no inside info here and these are personal opinions, NOT official Shrapnel Games opinions.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

If it all it took was a company with huge assests, then all those publishers (remember the movie studios) of late 1980s and early 1990s would own the industry.

Name something that SF has done right since the takeover. They are bundling flawed software into 6 packs, rather than taking it off the market, they are releasing games that need major pathches immediately, they are promising games at retail and not delivering, and they went to Steam. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

The only real games that it would seem they have are the Malfador ones. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif Perhaps it was Aaron who bought SFI and not the other way around.

Tim, I read last week on a gaming site that the independant gaming developer is an ever increasing rare breed. The cost of developing, not to mention learning to code, new pc games has dramatically thinned the hurd in recent years.

Whats your take on the garage game independant scene?

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

You are right. With the hardcore games anyway. You can find tons of arcade style games from independents, but the companies like Malfador are an increasingly rare breed (and Malfador doesn't even exist anymore). We find it very hard to find games we think are worth publishing.

And most of the developers that are out there have expectations that are way beyond the reality of what is possible in the PC Strategy Game Industry. We get requests all the time from companies that want us to fund -- usually to the tune of 6 figures their strategy game (and not the whole game, just the last six months or so of development). A game that has that kind of overhead, won't make money -- the developer or the publisher, not even at retail.

When I was developing wargames for the retail market, this could happen although not very often. Back then a strategy title had about a one in twenty chance of making money at retail with a budget of around $500,000. Now, I bet it is one in 50 and the budget would need to be half that amount. There is a reason why the mainstream publishers are sticking with frnachises or going after movie themed products. They stand a chance, but even then the chance is probably no better than one in twenty.

So the outlook is grim, to say the least, for independent strategy companies. Still it can be done. Illwinter (Dominions Series) is on there way up the ladder -- at a stage that Malfador was at with SEII - really ahead of them, because I think they "get it" and have a plan that is working. Another good example is Digital Eel, they are growing.

But, those developers that think that going into retail with hardcore stratgy is going to make them money -- well that is very rare. Just watch what happens with SEV. If they use retail as their major avenue, it will be in the bargain bins within a month or so, and if not, well then we will have to see. Very few companies can make the retail market work, one that is doing so (but I still think there main income is from web sales) is Stardock. But they have a franchise product in Gal Civ.

I spent too many years at retail and know what that is like. Thus our philosophy at Shrapnel. I only hope that the devs that are out there, making strategy titles, can figure this whole thing out. Or there will be even fewer independents in the next several years.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Too late now, but Malfador should have sold shares to us gamers in order to retain a level of independence/ closeness to the community. I'd have bought some.

I think thething to remember is that SE5 has been in beta for months so it ought to be at least playable, if not very close to being finished. That means the new owners, unless they really are mind-bendingly stupid, are unlikely to wreck it with demands for loads of unfavourable new 'features'. I guess they might manage to bury it before release somehow, but in that case I'd be willing to bet a few beta copies made it onto the 'abandonware' circuit shortly after.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Thanks Tim.

I just hate to see the independant developer base going exstinct. SFI really did a good thing here by grabbing up Malfador before some other company swooped and snared him.

Besides, Aaron can always form a new company later on if he so choses. The sad thing is, Space Empires, and all things associated with that franchise, are no longer his to control. So the name Phong, now belongs to a new master.

I guess at this point, now that SFI owns the rights to the SE franchise, they can force Shrapnel to end its long, much appreciated, friendship with us by having them discontinue support for this forum.

I would hate to see forum close, all the years of posting here, all of the information, the memories, would be gone. When that day comes, it will be one hard pill to swallow.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I don't see why they would make Shrapnel close the forums - it's free publicity for Space Empires really. If anything, you'd think Shrapnel would want to close them for that reason. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I'm hoping that they are too late to have any influence on how SEV turns out, so we at least get one more great game not infected with 'mainstream' features to appeal to more people.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Actually, the game has started appearing on shelves in some places in the last few weeks. Quite lame to have taken this long to do it, of course.

In all fairness, SEIV was in need of patches on release day too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif But at least that didn't have teams of programmers behind it.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I agree that SFI's track record in the last few years ain't so good.

I would love to hear from Aaron about this, perhaps David can get a quote in betweeng flinging pictures on email back and forth.

SE:V is nearing release anyway, so I can't imagine this will change the outcome (release) of that much unless SFI wants to take it in-house for some polish, which if reports of GCII are correct, might not hurt anything.

The question is that what will the future for the series (i.e. the next iteration in four to five years?)

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

"I'm absolutely delighted to be part of the Strategy First family," said Aaron Hall

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

All shrapnel would have to do is rename the forum (For instance, 'The Spice Umpires Chat Forum') and label it as a general forum for miscellaneous off-topic chat. All the archived threads could remain available, and we'd all still hang out here, and no-one can stop us discussing whatever the hell we liked, be it SE-related or otherwise.

Any company that sent in the ambulance-chasers to shut down our forum would very quickly lose the support of the fanbase. I wouldn't want to support them with my cash, that's for sure, although I wouldn't want to do without SE5. What I'd probably do is pirate se5 and send a cheque for the cost of the game to Aaron in the post=-)

(Of course, this is all speculation. I've no reason to believe that they will do anything to force me to take such drastic measures. If the new owners behave nicely and don't hassle Shrapnel and release se5 Just As Aaron Intended, then I'll be only too happy to buy se5 in the conventional manner and support them.)

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I am not saying that SFI would ever do this, I am just speculating that anything is possible. I have never seen any company, aside from LucasArts, ever go after another game publishers forums. And even then it was for a ligit reason.

So the thing is, will shrapnel wanna keep footing the bill to keep us freeloaders around? And why should they given that there really is no return on their investment aside from the occational game purchase from one of us. (Looking very forward to Dom3 BTW)

They have been very loyal to us, and we to them, but at some point they might have to think about the bottom line. Not that any of this is anything more than pure 100% fear indused speculation and doom saying.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

my biggest fear is with mainstream appeal. The publishers want to get the biggest bang for their buck and will broaden the scope of the game to include mainstream users at the expense of anything and everything.

If its a one shot deal, as I surmise it is, I mean how much more polish can you put on the 5th installement of SE, then the publishers wont be concerned with a followup product and thus any support or follow on or add on or support features may be severely lacking, not to mention them possibly recoding much of it so the game isnt easily copied, ported, modded or otherwise so they protect their copyrighted material for any related future release.

Mainstream appeal is the kiss of death for hardcore players used to features and gameplay that allow us to easily mod and enjoy the depth of the game. I'm pessimistic.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Walking the line between mainstream and hardcore appeal is difficult and dangerous, since disaster lies on either side: If it strays too far toward the mainstrema it will become so diluted and weak as to become unplayable *cough*MOO3*cough*, or it will go too hardcore and fade into obscurity as it caters for an ever-smaller niche within a niche market. Capturing the best of these two options is difficult, so I suggest that the game branches: Allow Aaron to finish the game and release the first version according to his original design. Allow a few patches to iron out any serious bugs, and then begin the branching- one patch for mainstream, one for hardcore. You'd end up with two games developping in parallel. The mainstream branch would include eye-candy, dumbing-down and stuff like that, while the hardcore branch focussed on improved modding options, greater depth and more features. Sometimes, popular (and suitable) features from one version might migrate across to the other.

The mainstream version would keep the bucks coming in, while the hardcore version would keep the game true to its roots and retain the franchise's credibility and direction. As far as I know this has never been done before, except in open-source games. It's the ideal solution, and now Aaron has a coding house behind him, maybe it could become a reality. Anyone else think this is a cool idea?

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Well, really, that could be done with a single game, in the case of SpaceEmpires...

You'd have your Rock-Paper-Scissors stock, and your hardcore Carrier Battles / GrittyEconomics mod combos. (To use my own mods as examples)

You could go with a skiing theme, and label all the mods as green circle mainstream, to double black diamond mods for us diehards here.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Not that it is any of my business, but were your services part of the deal?……Perhaps even a staff position?…….I’ve seen some of their packaging, they could use you.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

I fail to share the concern of losing our direct line to Aaron and less fan input. Aaron is now part of SFirst and according to Wargamer 'in a management role to direct the Space Empires franchise'.

In a positive outlook that could mean: more manpower, and for Aaron less coding but more customer relations (i.e. talking to fans) and strategic decisions that will strengthen the franchise.

Now, both the doomsaying and my positive outlook are pure speculation, of course, until we have more information.

What I would like to know from Aaron: 1) Will you get more resources?, 2) How is your new role defined?

Re: Strategy First acquires Malfador Machinations
 

Hi All!

Not to worry, not to worry! Everything is ok. Here's some answers to those nervous questions:

1. What will this mean for future games? SE5?

Yes, SE5 is still coming out. We're beta testing and fixing it up for a release this summer.

This purchase means that you're pretty much guaranteed an SE6. It was looking doubtful with just my company backing it, but now with Strategy First in the mix, its much more likely. And with their help we should have even better graphics than SE5!

2. Will you still have control over development of the game, or is it now up to S1st management? Do you maintain creative control in this new arrangement? Or will it be up to people that have little knowledge of the series?

Not to worry, I still control development. In fact, very little will change in the day to day operations. Strategy First will have a say, obviously, but the games will still be developed by Malfador Machinations.

3. Does this new arrangement mean you will be getting help from more programmers from Strategy First? Will you still be programming the game in your new management position?

Yes and no. SE5 is pretty much done, so there's not much needed for it. For SE6 we'll be getting help in the art department, but not the programming department. But this will definitely help get development of the game done faster with more polish.

4. What will happen to your faithful beta testers? Will we be replaced by in house testing? Or will things continue as normal?

Things will continue as normal. I would never get rid of my faithful beta testers! If anything we may supplement our normal testing methods with Strategy First in-house testing.

5. What about the bevy of free patches that expanded functionality for SE3, SE4 and SF? Will this still be possible, or will we be forced into pay-for expansions for new content?

Things will continue as always, with patches coming out for quite a while. I will still be building the patches myself and putting in as much as I can. But with Strategy First's help, we may create actual expansion packs for our games with additional graphics, features, and more.


So all in all its good for both sides. I get the backing I need to stay in business and improve our future games. Strategy First gets a new product line and can make it available through more outlets such as Steam, Retail, Direct Download, etc. And heck, they may actually get me to make our games use standard user interface routines. Now, that can't be bad!

Here's looking forward to Space Empires V this summer!

Aaron Hall
Malfador Machinations

Re: Strategy First acquires Malfador Machinations
 

Sounds good. But will anything be 'dumbed down' to appeal to mainstream users? More often than not that kills the game. I can name half a dozen great games that when publishers got their hands on it they made so many changes to make it appeal to a broader spectrum of gamers that when all was said and done the games sucked.

Re: Strategy First acquires Malfador Machinations
 

As Dizzy said, it sounds good. But, no disrespect to Aaron, no developer with self-respect would say that they were 'dumbing down' or 'mainstreaming' the game to appeal to a wider audience.

"And with their help we should have even better graphics than SE5!"

That's one of the things that bugs me, because we all know the effect graphics has when it comes to selling games. And at least to me, personally, the graphics in any of the SE games never has nor will be an issue. So I feel at least some of the focus is being put in the wrong area. But I'm sure others disagree, and want better graphics.

Re: Strategy First acquires Malfador Machinations
 

I wouldn't worry about this. Aaron said the game will remain essentially under his control. The new "management position" and all that. "They" will have a hard time making changes Aaron doesn't approve of, I'd think.