Re: For PBM game moderators

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Fri, 07 Feb 2003 10:52:07 +0000

>>But
understand, in this future market against a mega giant such as EA, your
competition is not for the current player base. It is for the future
players; <<

Not only do I understand that, I count on it.

>>those players pre disposed to playing this style of gaming and
the upcoming Internet generation who already quite well know who EA is<<

Again,  you assume you know what people are "pre-disposed" to playing, and what
the upcoming "internet generation" will want.  Again, I question whether you
necessarily do.

>>Do not
discount the power or branding on the market. <<

Discount the power of branding? <grin>  Me?  <chuckle>  You've got the wrong
guy.  Tell him, Carol.

>>Or do you REALLY believe
Dungeons and Dragons offers the best reply value of all RPGs on the
current market?<<

Well, actually, D&D is by far my favourite RPG, as unpopular an idea as I know
that is.  Although I still cant quite enjoy D20 as much as 2nd Edition, but Im
sure it'll grow on me eventually.

>>But what they haven't done is play a sexy looking game with wonderful
graphics with game play in this style yet.<<

Again, I dont think that'll swing it.  It would have to have the game depth.
And I do not believe that a company will be able jump into the market with
these things intact, no matter who they are.  History does kind of prove my
point.  A few companies have sniffed around PBM, big ones, then failed.

>>What you need to worry about most, should a big giant move into the
market, as EA or some other company, if they do it wisely they'll BUY
one of the above mentioned companies or someone else with an established
history of solid game design in this market segment,<<

Worry about that?  No way!  Thats my retirement plan! <chuckle>

>> They have the resources
and technology to bring plenty of programmer to bear and the best
artists and a marketing infrastructure than no niche producer could hope
to match.<<

Nonsense.  Small firms with good organisation can compete with large firms in
just about every area, with a fair open market.  Sure, its an uphill struggle,
but its certainly not an impossible struggle.  In my opinion anyway.  After
all, huge firms were small firms once.

>> If they have enough forsight to bring onboard someone with
experience in the market presently with a proven history of game design,
then, most certainly, they will be well positioned to utterly dominate.<<

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree.  I dont deny that the situation
would be interesting, but It wouldnt scare me or prevent me competing (and
thats assuming  its not me who's "acquired")

>>Really now? So, your company has toppled a software giant of that
magnitude already?<<

That isn't what I said.  I said I've "heard" it all before, not experienced it.
 These sort of scenarios have been proposed in one form or another for years.

>>its almost *always* the major brand leaders that dominate the market and
slowly squeez out the little guy.<<

In PBM we *are* a major brand leader.  Your assumption that a large software
company would dominate and overshadow us may be right, or wrong, I guess time
will tell.

>> *IF* they can produce a game on par
with the ones you produce currently,<<

Thats a pretty big IF.  Anybody could cause us problems if they could make
those games the same way we make them.  If their ideas for doing so match your
own, I feel fairly secure.

Steve T.

References

Re: For PBM game moderators
"Ryan S. Johnson" <dowrie@guildofblades.com>
Fri, 07 Feb 2003 01:54:25 +0000

Referenced By

Re: For PBM game moderators
"Ryan S. Johnson" <dowrie@guildofblades.com>
Fri, 07 Feb 2003 01:54:25 +0000