This is interesting, if a bit off topic - we've discussed those kinds of additional revenue ideas internally from time to time. In some ways, they could be a good fit for wargames.
To pursue this line of discussion, if we considered doing something like that (i.e. paid mini-expansions with extra unts/scenarios/maps) between the release of Kharkov and the next major Panzer Command release, what would you consider worthwhile?
Deeper exploration of, say, small unit actions within the existing battles. Kharkov and Winter Storm were huge battles. If you had detailed historical accounts that never made it into the release - add them in. The danger becomes an appearance that you simply held back stuff to simply charge more later. Picking other actions on the front at the same time would get around that. A Stalingrad title might have a later expansion that includes Voronezh, for example. The ability to use GoogleEarth (as you did in your preview) and new access to Russian archives, and stuff like Jason Mark is doing down in Australia means you can really sell stuff based on the research, and it will appeal just as much to the average gamer who doesn't even care about fidelity to the history - just wants a good, evenly matched game with interesting terrain and units.
As separate questions, how much content would have to be included to draw your attention? What price would you consider fair for that amount of content?
If we are getting a map editor to play with, new maps would not be a big draw for me - though large, detailed maps of historical locations might be. Say a detailed map of the Red October Ordnance Factory in Stalingrad - identifiable locations that were well fought over, but which would be hard for third parties to quickly knock out on their own due to research material availability or just plain old time to do. The PC maps right now are very open - great for tank battles - but once we get into more urban fighting, I think I'd like to see more variety in elevations, close in terrain (invisible trees will help navigate through all that) and you would be able to sell extremely detailed maps as an extra add-on particularly if they were of named locations and included historical scenarios based there. Places like Nijmegen or Aachen or Berlin come to mind.
At present? With the available forces, etc., I'd pick unit-themed campaigns. Grossdeutschland is always a big draw - maybe the GD at Kursk. GD in the winter of 1941 would be another.If you were in charge and had to decide on say three such mini-expansions, what would you pick?
I'd be willing to help research and work on such a project, *hint hint* though you need to know I have a reputation as a **** disturber and impossible to work with. :laugh: I did some GD scenarios for CM at any rate and while I can't do anything with 3D maps, I have some reference materials on the GD and a track record of scenario design - and an ability to collaborate in a supportive environment.
Oops. Am I off topic yet?
On a tangent to discuss a different revenue model, what do you think about a subscription model that guarantees a certain number of such mini-expansions per year and perhaps discounts or makes free future releases? Would you consider "subscribing" to a wargame series and thus supporting a particular development team in future efforts as long as you received some regular additional content in exchange? If so, what would be a fair price for that and what would you expect to receive?
Regards,
- Erik
I don't think a subscription would appeal to me, but I think you'd get a wide variety of responses here, simply because my big appeal is in creating scenarios and playing campaigns rather than playing solo. I like the community aspects as much as the games themselves.