This is the mail archive of the
xconq7@sources.redhat.com
mailing list for the Xconq project.
Re: Marketing Xconq?
- From: "Bill Macon" <pzgndr at hotmail dot com>
- To: vanevery at indiegamedesign dot com, xconq7 at sources dot redhat dot com
- Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 14:09:35 +0000
- Subject: Re: Marketing Xconq?
- Bcc:
do you guys make any effort to market Xconq?
I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I posted a message on the forum at
Wargamer.com. Jim Cobb, one of the game reviewers, mentioned that he would
take a look at it. If you guys want to attract wargamers who are interested
in designing their own games, Wargamer is a good place to start. I think
there's potential.
It's fair to mention that many gamers are using a Windows platform and
not Mac or Linux, so a Windows version is important. Also, most gamers are
not programmers and some are practically computer illiterate, so a simple
complete download like Eric has developed will be most helpful for expanding
the Xconq user base. Even I have had trouble figuring out CVS, so I don't
bother any more. Simple patch downloads to supplement the full install
should also be considered.
I've tried the recent download and it works somewhat, but there are still
bugs and graphics problems. At least on WinMe that I'm still using, and I'm
too busy with other things right now to spend time troubleshooting Xconq.
And so are most of your potential customers, so the sooner a clean v7.5 can
get completed and released the better. Once that happens, marketing efforts
should be more effective.
There were two items I mentioned a long while back that would improve
Xconq's appeal to traditional wargamers. One is some way of providing
conditional events within the game, like If-Then statements. There's no way
to simulate politics and diplomacy by having some sides or forces inactive
until something happens (declaration of war, surprise attack, specific
objective taken, etc.) There are a lot of possibilities with this. The
other is some way of providing multiple unit attacks and standard combat
results tables based on odds. Like three units against one getting 3-1
odds, or whatever when other factors are computed, and a "die roll" resolves
the combat all at one time. The current combat models do not lend
themselves to doing this well. So maybe with the newer Xconq programmers on
the list now, someone can think about addressing these things.
Bill
_________________________________________________________________
From Beethoven to the Rolling Stones, your favorite music is always playing
on MSN Radio Plus. No ads, no talk. Trial month FREE!
http://join.msn.com/?page=offers/premiumradio