So, what Matrix games would sell well on Steam?

[JasonPratt]

Now that Matrix is starting to release games on Steam (Panzer Corps, Pandora), what Matrix games do we think would work well on Steam?

Personally, considering how well Paradox Clausewitz games do, I'd think just about anything up to and including WitE and WitP:AE would do well. But for their next attempt, perhaps Great Battles: Medieval (since they converted that to tablet gaming recently) and its related predecessors back to Legion and Chariots of War? GB:M is a fairly simple but colorful strategy game with an equally simple yet RPG-ish strategy overlay.


Note: already released Matrixlitherine games ;)  also include Battle Academy (a wise choice imo);

and Pride of Nations with its DLC updates, which is by far the most ambitious and technically wonky Ageod game, even including pseudo-AGE games like WW1Gold, so if that's on there any AGE game would seem more feasible.

Edited to add: the Unity of Command series which didn't show up when I clicked the Slitherine category link for some reason.

[tgb]

Distant Worlds, along with the various expansions, etc.

[Steelgrave]

Distant Worlds, along with the various expansions, etc.

+1

[Martok]

Distant Worlds, along with the various expansions, etc.

+1

+100 

There's been periodic clamoring on the Matrix forums over the last 3+ years for the game to be put on Steam.  I'm thinking it'll happen sometime after the sequel is released (so in another 2-3 years, perhaps).  ::) 

[RooksBailey]

Distant Worlds, along with the various expansions, etc.

+1

+100 

There's been periodic clamoring on the Matrix forums over the last 3+ years for the game to be put on Steam.  I'm thinking it'll happen sometime after the sequel is released (so in another 2-3 years, perhaps).  ::)

+1000  :D  As soon as I saw the topic, this was the first game to pop into my head.

[Capn Darwin]

Apart from the Civ/Sci/RTS click-fest type games and the beer and pretzel wargames (PanzerCorp/Battle Academy), I wonder if a full blown wargame would sell on Steam. Would that crowd have enough Grogs in it to sell a good number of Command/Harpoon/WITP/etc class games? I'd love to see sales figures from those various areas.  8)

[Herman Hum]

I think FPC would stand a decent chance of success on Steam.  It's easy to learn (16 pg. manual) and folks can quickly jump into the game.  The minimal graphics hurt the game, but the gameplay is key.  The mouse-over tool tips help a great deal, too.

The other wargames mentioned have no chance on Steam, IMHO.  Their interfaces are too clunky to allow for ease of play.  Folks would need to spend days figuring out what each function does and reading the manuals.  There are few, if any, helpful mouse-over tips.  The only way to learn the game is to slog through it.  It's not like they cannot be successful.  They would need an incredible amount of work to make their UIs intuitive and helpful, first.  (May as well make a new game.)  Grigsby games have all been clickfests for minutiae.

[TacticalWargames]

Distant Worlds and Qvadriga. More risky Flashpoint Campaigns. Best way for them to test if a more groglike wargame would sell is try and get a older game on there very cheap. Say one of the Battles in "...." games for $10..see how well it does.

[GDS_Starfury]

Now that Matrix is starting to release games on Steam (Panzer Corps, Pandora), what Matrix games do we think would work well on Steam?

one thats costs less then $45.   ::)

[Apocalypse 31]

Close Combat, anyone?

[GDS_Starfury]

pleeeeeeease..........  just drive a stake through it's heart and be done with it!

[Nefaro]

pleeeeeeease..........  just drive a stake through it's heart and be done with it!

LOL!

[eyebiter]

.

[JasonPratt]

1.) Overprice -- I guarantee anyone picking up the Panzer Corps series or the Distant Worlds series or even the Battle Academy series at Matrix will end up paying as much or more than for WitE or WitP. And two of those are already on Steam, where there are occasional sales with deeper discounts than at Matrix.

Still...

2.) Interface/UI -- ...tis true that the super-groggy games have wonky interfaces and that this would be a problem for a high-retail game in a mass market. Then again, while the Clausewitz engines have had some major overhauls in polish recently they can hardly be said to be simple interface games. CK2 and EU4 have both been reasonably massive hits, and my impression is that Vicky2 and HOI3 (with their expansions) aren't far behind. Not even counting any sales for Clausewitz games prior to Vicky2/HOI3.

3.) Holy bleep yes Distant Worlds, why didn't I think of that immediately?! That kind of 4x game seems successful in many iterations already on Steam, and DW is arguably the king. Also yes, Qvadriga I agree makes sense.

4.) I see your DW and raise you SCOURGE OF FREAKING WAR. Cinematic, deep gameplay, a ton of expansions and mod support.

5.) If PCorps does well (and it should), I can think of no less than three other Matrix/Slither properties which also ought to run well. Including their series with the most expansions so far...

[RooksBailey]

4.) I see your DW and raise you SCOURGE OF FREAKING WAR. Cinematic, deep gameplay, a ton of expansions and mod support.

Yes, also a great suggestion!  I think that game would also sell quite well on Steam.  Easy to play with lots of sandbox goodness!