Further Impressions

[TrimChris]

After further reviews, there just still isn't anything good to say about this game. So it's now official. This game just sucks.

The game may get more sales from being the first place to advertise A&A Naval Minis than from anything else.

[series]

After further reviews, there just still isn't anything good to say about this game. So it's now official. This game just sucks.

QFT

-series

[Imperious leader]

You cant trust some chump who once made a "good game" if you can really call Magic: the gathering a "good" game... all card based games are derivative of the "POG" fad when peeps were in the 6-10 year range and are allways doomed to collapse eventually... because parents see thru the scam of producing stupid "collectible pieces of paper" which is like selling snake oil or bags of sand to people in the desert. Because sucess was once achieved its not really possible to just sign him up and "poof" expect a glorious sales ride thru the next fiscal quarter for avalon hill. The whole idea of first 1) decide who is your target audience and 2) make games that are for them... is thrown out the window....

If games of "war" do sell because your audience has decided they like Avalon Hill because they design nice "wargames" .... then you freeking stop making these lame kiddie games and bust a move and perfect your WAR related games.. You dont try to do both and fail at each and in the process destroy your supporters...

Take a music group... the rolling stones dont play country music because they would tank on sales that dispatch their customers to favor other bands. If people understand your a "rock" band you just stick with that... Or you change your name....once your pegged as a wargame company and you choose to keep its namesake... people are only gonna expect and support games that are consistent with what you did in your past..

[series]

The whole idea of first 1) decide who is your target audience and 2) make games that are for them... is thrown out the window....


I don't even understand what they are thinking.

"All right, we came out with another top selling wargame! Our fans love us! Although there are mistakes we made, which we can learn from next time..."

"...or, we can start producing easy to make kiddy games to adbandon our current audience and attemept replace it with young kids who don't have money and only play video games and love them and probably never had and never will hear of Avalon Hill!"

"...I like it. Let's do it."

[boylermaker]

You cant trust some chump who once made a "good game" if you can really call Magic: the gathering a "good" game... all card based games are derivative of the "POG" fad when peeps were in the 6-10 year range and are allways doomed to collapse eventually...
I have to throw a flag on this one: even if Magic collapses tomorrow and no one ever plays it again, it will still be one of the most successful games of all time. Back in the day when I played it, I always got a kick out of it.

But yes, it appears (though I caveat that I have not personally played the game) that you are right: Rocketville is a dud.

Pray they learn.

[series]

I have to throw a flag on this one: even if Magic collapses tomorrow and no one ever plays it again, it will still be one of the most successful games of all time. Back in the day when I played it, I always got a kick out of it.

But yes, it appears (though I caveat that I have not personally played the game) that you are right: Rocketville is a dud.

Pray they learn.

Magic was like Pokemon for men and high school nerds.

[boylermaker]

Can't deny that.

[TrimChris]

You cant trust some chump who once made a "good game" if you can really call Magic: the gathering a "good" game... all card based games are derivative of the "POG" fad when peeps were in the 6-10 year range and are allways doomed to collapse eventually... because parents see thru the scam of producing stupid "collectible pieces of paper" which is like selling snake oil or bags of sand to people in the desert. Because sucess was once achieved its not really possible to just sign him up and "poof" expect a glorious sales ride thru the next fiscal quarter for avalon hill. The whole idea of first 1) decide who is your target audience and 2) make games that are for them... is thrown out the window....

If games of "war" do sell because your audience has decided they like Avalon Hill because they design nice "wargames" .... then you freeking stop making these lame kiddie games and bust a move and perfect your WAR related games.. You dont try to do both and fail at each and in the process destroy your supporters...

Take a music group... the rolling stones dont play country music because they would tank on sales that dispatch their customers to favor other bands. If people understand your a "rock" band you just stick with that... Or you change your name....once your pegged as a wargame company and you choose to keep its namesake... people are only gonna expect and support games that are consistent with what you did in your past..

AH had great fan support for their nonwargames too. But wargames were always at least half of their output.

And hey, Rod Stewart is having a better second career that beats his first when he wa a rock musician. So there's the exception that makes the rule.

Just some make some GOOD strategic games AH. The rest will fall in place.

[Imperious leader]

OK Trim chris... alas we first agree! good post.

[J.L.Robert]

Just some make some GOOD strategic games AH. The rest will fall in place.

What's your definition of a "GOOD strategic game"?

Axis & Allies (and all of its derivatives) = Beer & Pretzels strategy game

There hasn't been a good military strategy game put out by AH since Hannibal (maybe the GCACW series, as well). The direction of the gaming industry, in gereral, has been towards abstract strategy games (building and/or finance games, like the many games coming from Europe).

So, are you looking for any type of strategy, or are you looking for specifically a military game? Do you want the same old, tired and overdone subjects, or something unusual? Are you looking for something that will make you spend hours on end completing, or something fast and fun?

There are many directions that can be taken to design and develop a strategy game. Not wanting to single you out, TC (this comment applies to all), but specific suggestions will go a lot farther than simple bellyaching.

[boylermaker]

I want a game at the Axis and Allies level about "the same old, tired and overdone subjects."

[Podlet]

What if Avalon Hill accepted ideas for game themes and mechanics from the people who posted to these boards? Instead of having the company's designers be a closed fraternity, let the gaming public in on the process. Who among us players wouldn't like to be a part of the process of actually making a game? If someone outside the company has a good idea for a game and a credible rules system that plays well, have the humility and gumption to look at it and, if it's good, buy it from them and put their name on it under your company's logo. You guys at AH might have to wade through a lot of crappy submissions, but you'd come up with some real winners, too. Think about it. It's fun to hand things down on tablets from a mountaintop, but it's also cool to open the door and take suggestions from the people who buy what you make.

[boylermaker]

Would an essay on a well-though-out idea-game be a good article for the KA? I don't have any myself, but others might.