Malfador Machinations hits Strategy First!

[Renegade 13]

I agree with you Narf. But their suggested retail price may make it more attractive.

[Q]

I wonder what ShrapnelGames thinks about this.

[Ragnarok]

Q said:
I wonder what ShrapnelGames thinks about this.

As some of you who follow us pretty closely may have already surmised, Malfador Machinations has chosen not to publish Space Empires V with Shrapnel Games, opting instead to publish through Strategy First and go after the retail market. Although we regret Aaron Hall’s decision, we respect his motivation and wish him the best of luck at retail with a niche product. We only hope he makes enough changes in his game to allow for a broader audience. All of us here at Shrapnel Games wish him a great deal of success.

We will continue to sell Space Empires IV Gold and Space Empires: Starfury until current inventories are exhausted. We want to thank everyone who has supported Shrapnel Games and Malfador Machinations with their purchases of these excellent games.

We have grown to love the Space Empires IV forum community and want to extend an invitation to these rowdy, crazy, and somewhat warped individuals. We would like you to stay with us, and to that end, we will install a Space Empires V forum for you to populate and enjoy! You are always welcome at Shrapnel Games.

Thanks to all who made Space Empires IV a roaring success.

That is what they think of it. It was posted on their blog back in March.

[dogscoff]

As some of you who follow us pretty closely may have already surmised, Malfador Machinations has chosen not to publish Space Empires V with Shrapnel Games, opting instead to publish through Strategy First and go after the retail market. Although we regret Aaron Hall’s decision, we respect his motivation and wish him the best of luck at retail with a niche product. We only hope he makes enough changes in his game to allow for a broader audience. All of us here at Shrapnel Games wish him a great deal of success.

We will continue to sell Space Empires IV Gold and Space Empires: Starfury until current inventories are exhausted. We want to thank everyone who has supported Shrapnel Games and Malfador Machinations with their purchases of these excellent games.

We have grown to love the Space Empires IV forum community and want to extend an invitation to these rowdy, crazy, and somewhat warped individuals. We would like you to stay with us, and to that end, we will install a Space Empires V forum for you to populate and enjoy! You are always welcome at Shrapnel Games.

Thanks to all who made Space Empires IV a roaring success.

Many other companies would have got all sulky about losing Malfador, but this response is mature and generous. I always knew Shrapnel were a great company, but this response really proves it to me.

[ioticus]

We only hope he makes enough changes in his game to allow for a broader audience.

It's those "changes to appeal to a larger audience" that worry me. Broader appeal almost always means better looking but "dumbed down" for the masses.

[Will]

... available for purchase at all major retailers at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

If it's that low of a price, it doesn't matter if the game has lots of flash. If StratFirst gets a decent designer to make the box, there will be some curious people who will buy it. Now, if it's enough people to cover the costs of duplication, distribution, and support... we'll see.

Releasing StarFury is probably more of a strategic marketing move, anyway. MM has likely already recieved a nice chunk of change from SE:SF sales here with Shrapnel, and so there probably will be little (none?) royalties from sales at retail. But it will get the Space Empires name out on shelves for a month or so at least, and probably in the bargain bin up until Christmas... which is the current expected release of SEV. THAT release will probably be closer to the standard $45-$55, and where both MM and StratFirst expect to get the money out of this deal.

Anyway, that's just what I think. If StratFirst is announcing sales of SE:SF, I guess that means Shrapnel is through with their stock now? Glad I grabbed mine in time...

[Atrocities]

The game begins.