AI War & Arcen Games Laid Bare

[spelk]

An epic post for Chris Park, detailing a lot of sales figures and his vision for the future of niche "dead" genres - such as hardcore strategy (perhaps we can have hope for wargaming titles like this?)

http://christophermpark.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ai-war-first-four-years-postmortem-and.html

The model that I'm proposing are a fifth and sixth, which I don't think I've seen used aside from AI War.  Or at least that isn't publicized very well, and that not many developers use:
Release at a normal price, then do copious amounts of free content updates as well as occasional paid expansions.
This is the model AI War uses, and I think that the results above speak for themselves in terms of finances.  But more on that in a bit.
Release at a low price with a smaller base game, then if it's popular do lots of free content updates as well as occasional paid expansions.
This is the model that Skyward Collapse uses, and it's a refinement of my thinking based on the AI War model.
The premise here is that this is the same as the AI War model, except that the base game is cheaper both for customers to buy and for us to make.  So it's lower risk for customers and for us, in other words.
Then if the game takes off (as Skyward has), we do more free updates (benefiting even casual customers of the base game), and more paid content (thus keeping us steady while also satisfying the desires of the core playerbase for yet more and more content).
The benefits of the models used by AI War and Skyward Collapse are manifold.  Certainly there are financial benefits to the developer.  However, the benefits to players are also immense.

Assuming that each paid content expansion gives players an exciting value and isn't over-expensive for the developer to produce, that's a win on all sides.  However, it also does something that you can't accomplish any other way: making huge huge huge game worlds that players can inhabit for years.

We have players that have logged more than 600 hours in AI War, and loads and loads more who have logged 100-200 hours or even more.  There are some who still consider themselves "new" to AI War despite having more than 100 hours logged in the game.  That sort of longevity just isn't possible unless you are running an MMO subscription, or you happen to have an incredible outlier bestselling title like Terraria or Minecraft.

What I believe is demonstrated by AI War is that niche products can still be treated in similar ways, and see similar growth.  AI War is a poster child for the success of serving a small niche: Strategy games themselves are a small niche in gaming.  But ultra-hardcore strategy games are a small niche even within that niche.

That AI War can gross more than a million dollars (and growing) while serving that sort of niche -- and have players happy about the prices they've paid, and not grumbling about it as they do with certain $80+ titles that I can think of -- is quite something.  It shows that there is a lot more life in the "small spaces" that the big AAA publishers are ignoring.  And it's something that I think should be a hopeful sign to players who love various "dead" genres.  Most "dead" genres could provide this level of developer income and this level of player happiness for the right game sold the right way, I'm convinced.

The Skyward Collapse model takes things even further.  It broke even within three days, but we're already working on the first paid expansion for it (as well as already having released tons of free content updates).  We expect to put out two expansions for Skyward this year in total.  The thing is this: it will take 5 Skyward expansions plus the base game of Skyward to equal the original cost of the base game of AI War.  That's... an astoundingly good value for customers, really.  And obviously doing great for us as a developer, as well.

[LongBlade]

A million dollars? That's awesome!

[Nefaro]

A million dollars? That's awesome!

No kidding.  And well deserved.

Hell.. I had the whole set minus the very latest expansion yet at the sale price I went ahead & bought the whole pack all over again. 

AI War is on sale quite often, and this just goes to show that lower price points can definitely garner a lot more sales.   People like us buy them even if they don't plan on playing them anytime soon.  ;D

[son_of_montfort]

I remember, around the release of Tidalis, Park was very worried about the future of the company. I'm extremely happy to see that things turned around dramatically!

[Jarhead0331]

I just don't get it.  I simply cannot get into his games.  What is wrong with me?

[Zulu1966]

Yet still curiously depressing, when you read 91% of his income comes from steam.
Still cant be healthy for indies when the market is so reliant on a single distribution source - I am suprised at the low showing for other distribution outlets and methods.

[son_of_montfort]

I just don't get it.  I simply cannot get into his games.  What is wrong with me?

Well, that last question is probably too long to answer here...  ;)

You ARE wearing a pink tutu!

I can see why AI Wars would not appeal. It takes forever to play the game, is a bit "flat" in the sense that the graphics are flat (literally) and there is not a huge amount of tactical change throughout the game, and it is very "clicky."

[spelk]

I just don't get it.  I simply cannot get into his games.  What is wrong with me?

He bends genres. For AI War you need to have a touch of RTS love inside you, a hint of Tower Defense, a smidgen of 4X, and the ability to comprehend the myriad of interconnecting units and their powers to be able to delve into the game and enjoy it. It's built with Co-op in mind, and playing it that way slowly with someone who knows what they're doing is the best way to experience it. I was totally sucked into it early on,  but with every new expansion I've felt the grip of understanding and comprehension move just a step or two away from me. Taking in the huge array of unit specials and interplays starts to feel like Dominions 3. I think its a game that can suck you in and keep on giving for hours on end. But you have to be able to make the first few steps and get something out of it.

Try a smallish map, lay down a few turrets, build a few fleets of fighters, bombers, and torp ships, and then try and pick your way through the galactic map, without angering the AI too much.

You could give Skyward Collapse a go, it's probably quite accessible compared to AI War. Turn based, tile based, armies and mythical beasts.

Shattered Haven is probably only worth a look, if you are a 2d RPG fan from the bygone console era. It is a puzzle action roamer, with a storyline, and small zelda like graphics.

Tidalis is a half decent tile matcher. But it is a lot more complicated than your usual casual offerings, for mindless zen stroking. I think thats where it fell down, it needs mental agility to be able to play it, in a genre full of mindless reward soaked swipers.

Valley, well, it's a weird brew of action platformer, rpg elements and strategy game. I admired the ambition, and the tenacity to pursue the game into two different incarnations. But I found the twitch combat mechanics tied into platforming a bit off putting. All the rest I was well behind him 100%. I'm just not a fan of Super Mario platforming for my strategy/rpg fix.

Arcengames can be a bit marmite, love or hate, but for me I know I'll get a good game experience no matter what genre is melded and bent together. So I'm almost at the honour-bound purchase stage, that if it has Arcen written on it, I'll buy it regardless. I'm at that stage with Cryptic Comet, Joni Nuutinen and VR Designs also! Good honest game developers, who are pushing the frontiers, without milking the past need my cash, and I need their games :)

[Arctic Blast]

Yet still curiously depressing, when you read 91% of his income comes from steam.
Still cant be healthy for indies when the market is so reliant on a single distribution source - I am suprised at the low showing for other distribution outlets and methods.

I'm not. Steam has really made a push in promoting indie games in the past couple of years, often featuring entire sections of sales events catering specifically to them. I remember reading that they worked with him in giving AI War some promotion when he was hurting a few years back, too.

Everyone else is starting to catch up with indies, but it's another example of Steam gaining traction first because they're ahead of the rest of the market.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I like AI war until you are at their main base. Then it just gets ridiculous with the amount of stuff they are swarming at you. If you leave that part alone, games are enjoyable.

[Longdan]

I have always really like that guy and bought his stuff.  My kids, who are also avid gamers, (except they are adults) are the same.
He is a most straightforward fellow in my opinion and I am glad to give him money.

[Staggerwing]

http://christophermpark.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ai-war-first-four-years-postmortem-and.html

That AI War can gross more than a million dollars (and growing) while serving that sort of niche -- and have players happy about the prices they've paid, and not grumbling about it as they do with certain $80+ titles that I can think of -- is quite something. 

I, uh, wonder what particular title he might be thinking of...

[son_of_montfort]

I think I have a distant guess, but I doubt it would shock the world's people.  ;)

[solops]

I just don't get it.  I simply cannot get into his games.  What is wrong with me?

Your tutu is 1/4" too long.

[JasonPratt]

I think I have a distant guess, but I doubt it would shock the world's people.  ;)

Nah, that game costs more than $80.   ;D