How well is DW selling ?

[Bartje]

I think DW is selling very well and I also think that the market for space opera's is somewhat larger than many people realize.

Especially considering that DW is played in realtime and is not turnbased like the MoO, Armada, Civ, SoTS, Space Empires, or BotF.

In essence DW can cater to all players that like strategy and sci-fi not just the far more limited consumer base that likes turn based games in sci-fi settings.



Myself, I think I came to DW looking for a galactic simulator close to the realtime game Imperium Galactica 2: Alliances.

IG2 is one of those great games I've never had the luck of seeing since and it was woefully underappreciated.

DW, like IG2 has the concept of strategic play in a living galaxy as opposed to a "static" or artifially looking & feeling environment.



I remember quite well the missions IG2 offered that simulated a private presence in your empire such as banking heists, espionage plots, civil uproar, fraudulent traders etc...

Distant Worlds incorporates this concept as well and does it in a much more agreeable way. (the graphics may be somewhat dated but the depth is awesome)



Having said that; I think DW could learn from the concepts & ideas used in IG2.

(Take a look here it has an 8.4 on gamespot: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/imperiumgalactica2alliances/index.html) 



After being introduced to the Space Opera setting through IG2 I never quite found a game like it again until DW.

I've played Sins, SotS, Space Empires series, Armada, MoO series, BoTF, etc..

DW just really fills a nice empty place for anyone wanting to run an empire in realtime and see it grow.

Ideally Distant Worlds is not only a war strategy game but also a construction game.

It simulates the birth and growth of Space Faring society, the troubles, intrigue, plotting, development and rewards.


Because of this it really plays into a major human "desire".

Distant Worlds is a game that "grows".

Growth and development is a concept that can be found in almost all games, from RPG's to SimCity to the Sims & even many action games these days.

People just like growing things; It's natural I suppose.



My opinion there for is that while DW may have the somewhat dated and old-fashioned graphics of a niche game it has the heart of a true best-seller.

I realize that I presume that many people like growth & managing growth though, perhaps it's less common than I though which in turn implicates that the market for Space Opera games is smaller than I imagine it to be.

It is also true that DW could emphasize this aspect better, but that's actively being worked on!


All in all I've got just one thing left to add:


Hurrah for DW!



By the way: I totally agree that DW would sell even better (perhaps muuuuuuuch better) if they also went with Steam & D2D services. I don't know why they don't do that, it seems like a very sound commercial decision to use them and it also may improve the player base of other matrix games because of the increased visibility those platforms offer.

[Ocid]

ORIGINAL: Col Zin

I had not heard about Distant Worlds, let alone Matrix or Code Force, until ~1 week ago. A member posted a link to this game, and I bit. I grew up with Star Control, Imperium Galactica-type games, which I haven't played in ages, and I suppose DW has that nostalgic appeal that I miss from those type of game. Throw in the similarities to Civ, and you've got a VERY addictive game here that has some serious appeal beyond the niche market that others have suggested. I don't play too many games, honestly, but occasionally I'll stumble across something that I really, really dig.

Anyway, I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in these forums, but I was wondering why Matrix or Code Force does not use services like Steam, or D2D? Is it a marketing/cost decision? I've seen comments from those outside these forums where people would be much more willing to try it out if it were available through either of these rather popular services, and as a limited demo. I think as new as this is, and the relative Beta nature of the current release, the current price is a bit steep for many to jump on this type of game with such limited exposure.

Of course, I have no idea what is involved when distributing through these services, and feel free to banish me if the mere suggestion is offensive. Honestly, I have no idea!
I suppose it just makes sense to some of us that the nature of limited weekly deals and free trials, and ease of use offered through these services vastly increases exposure.

This.
It was just by pure chance that i stumbled across DW earlier in the year and it piqued my interest as soon as i saw the saw the trailers.

However i do agree that Matrix should release there games on Steam/Impulse/D2D. I won't buy from Digital River and the £40 it costs to get a boxed copy in the UK. Sure i get the fact that matrix is a niche company but they aren't exactly helping themselves by being so limited in the options of purchasing their games.

Still interested in DW though but until means are made availible its unlikely i'll buy it.