(Shocking) News!!!!!

[Richard]

RudyHuxtable said:
It will be a loss for Shrapnel, yes, but I also think Aaron lost out on SEIV because of the limits on distribution. It's generally accepted that SEIV is current pinnacle of 4X gaming, and if he had reached a bigger audience, wow. Lexus anyone?

Now, I'm not saying that bigger is better. Give me the chintzy bitmap graphics over flashiness every day (I play War in the Pacific regularly, which features NO graphics).

But let's be honest. He deserves all the success (and capital) that he's entitled to, and a bigger distributor would make that possible. Not to mention the funding it would provide for SE6

I like Shrapnel Games, and appreciate their efforts to help indie developers. Even Electronic Arts operated out of a garage at one time. I'm just wondering if there is something they can do that is more aggressive and would attract a bigger market. I think TheGamingNews.Com will help a bit. Even I would like to see more games like Dominions or SEIV make it mainstream.

Well we can differ on this subject but I don't think SE:IV in retail would have helped much. I also can guarantee you that SE:IV in Retail would have meant less money for Aaron over it's sales cycle.

We have been offered retail deals, and even considered taking Dom 2 and SE:IV (as well as other games) into retail ourselves through our own contacts in the industry, but it just isn't a good deal for developers or any one else involved.

I wish him luck, this has always been my personal favorite game that we currently publish.

[Ragnarok-X]

Pretty surprising. In my opinion Aaron did a mistake here. Shrapnel is known for publishing of "niche" games, i dont think a better publisher for SEV could have been found. In addition im wondering if the publisher/sale change will have any effect on the development of the game.

[Puke]

Im sorry to see it moving away from Shrapnel. This company publishes alot of good games. I might not like all of them, but I certainly enjoy a larger percentage of them than any other publisher that I have met.

Being in "good company" can attract the attention of like-minded individuals that might not be shopping for your game, but would be interested based on the quality of other games under the same unbrella. This works for both Malfador and for Shrapnel.

[Renegade 13]

I read in the blog that Shrapnel will sell the current stores of SEIV and Starfury, but that's it...or at least that's the implication. After the stock here at Shrapnel is depleted, where will we be able to get SEIV and SF?? Will it even be possible?? Maybe I should buy my second copy now...

[Combat Wombat]

Renegade 13 said:
I read in the blog that Shrapnel will sell the current stores of SEIV and Starfury, but that's it...or at least that's the implication. After the stock here at Shrapnel is depleted, where will we be able to get SEIV and SF?? Will it even be possible?? Maybe I should buy my second copy now...

I think thats what I might do too

[Raging Deadstar]

Dam... I never expected that. But i guess that's business.

And I have to say Thank you to Sharpnel for the forum offer, This place is great and the effort you put here is immense, There isn't a forum i've been on that I've enjoyed more than here. I'll have to go buy a copy of Dominions II or some other Shrapnel Sold Product now out of Loyalty

[DeadZone]

Yea, I kinda found out about this when not long after it was decided (was in contact with Aaron during a now-abandoned project we were doing)

[Alneyan]

Surprising indeed. I am not sure the game will be any better by getting into the retailer stores; if all goes well (not a given in itself), it might result in a better market penetration abroad though. At least in France, a game *has* to be available in stores and in French to sell really well, and will usually not even be reviewed in the mainstream press if the first condition isn't met. Strategy 1st may be able to help in those areas... or perhaps not.

I gather Strategy 1st does business like everyone else in the retail industry? That is, will the game drop in prices once it has been available for a few months? If so, it will be another matter: I would expect many sales of SEIV to have been made months or even years after the game was first published, and those were still profitable. SEV is unlikely to get that kind of window of time while nearing games selling much more quickly.

Well, we shall see I guess. I am glad SEV will still be "sheltered" on those boards; hats off to Shrapnel for that.

[Puke]

well, S-F has some very flashy looking games. The game designers all have some very flashy looking web pages. Even the glamor shots of SE5 dont stack up with whats already out at S-F.

So I honestly think that MM is going to sink like a rock in that environment. The kiddies just are not going to be interested when the bells and whistles are not chromed.

[Tim Brooks]

I gather Strategy 1st does business like everyone else in the retail industry? That is, will the game drop in prices once it has been available for a few months? If so, it will be another matter: I would expect many sales of SEIV to have been made months or even years after the game was first published, and those were still profitable. SEV is unlikely to get that kind of window of time while nearing games selling much more quickly.

Alneyan, this is the retailers' bad and there isn't much the publisher can do about it. If a game doesn't hit a certain turn level (so many copies per week), then the retailer either wants the publisher to take it back (free the shelf space for something that turns faster) or reduce the price (bargain bin it). The publisher can't pay to bring the games back from retail, then turn them around again to get them to the consumer - it would be a losing proposition. So there only option is to reduce the price.

It is why retail is so undesirable for niche games. They can't do the numbers quick enough to keep them out of the bargain bins. They aren't allowed to develop a following, the shelf space is too precious to the retailer.

You should read our blog on "Why Traditional Retail and Niche Games Don’t Work" - posted on 2/24/2005 - for the scary numbers.