[MUD-Dev2] Fallen Earth

[Benjamin Tolputt]

Mike Sellers wrote:
> And these strike you as good selling points for a game to be a commercial
> success?  "Let's take everything that frustrates and drives away all but the
> uber-hard-core, and put those in our game!"
>
> It might well make for a game that die-hard MMO fans will love... but that
> doesn't make for a high probability commercial success.  I guess it all
> depends what they're after.
>   

Actually, I can understand the motivation of doing something like that.
Let's face it - the "high probability, high profit commercial success"
in the requires two major elements: game-play catering to the lowest
common denominator and a large marketing budget. WoW has successfully
done the former (quite successfully) and the latter is required because
of WoW. There are only a limited number of ways one can cater for as
broad an audience as WoW - so most people trying to compete for the same
market are going to look the same (I find most Asian games similar in
basic mechanics too).

However, should you decide that you are not going to go for the "anyone
& everyone" market, but focus on pleasing a niche customer/client
make-up, there is a chance you can succeed. You will not be as big as
WoW, but if you structure your team & business right, that may not be
necessary.

Personally, I think the "Next Big Thing" is going to come from a niche
market direction, probably surprising both us and those
developing/maintaining the game that does it. Personally, I never
thought EVE Online would get anywhere given it's "point & click"
spaceship simulation, but I am not too proud to say I was greatly
mistaken. EVE catered for a market of achievers I thought would have
moved on by now. It's not the "next big thing", but it is a "big thing"
in the scheme of MMO's. And not because of the simultaneous number of
connected clients they keep touting either (though that helps I suppose),

I think most people on this list will be looking at the "Next Big Niche"
rather than the "Next Big Market Changer". I know I am.

-- 
Regards,

Benjamin Tolputt
Analyst Programmer