Michael Dorosh
der Spieß des Forums
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There are dangers of course to the moddability.
a) No two players are using the same mods - meaning you can't play scenarios H2H.
b) No two players can agree on whose Tiger stats are "correct" even if they want to play H2H and exchange files. Similarly, neither can agree on whose 3D model is the "best".
c) Operation Flashpointitis sets in - websites get created for all encompassing theatre modifications, fancy status charts go up - and they simply flounder around for months and do what Palantir describes for CM:N - show screenshots once a blue moon then dissolve.
d) Most importantly - generate zero revenue for Matrix.
I don't mean to be doom and gloom. I actually think modability is a great idea. Players will mod stuff and continue to buy from the developer because stuff with an "official stamp of approval" always gets a little more coveted, I think. This marketing model works with ASL, for example; despite there being dozens of third party products that actually exceed the quality of the "official" stuff in some ways, there are still many "official only" purchasers, and others who subsidize the official stuff out of respect, etc.
But there are certainly pitfalls. I'm looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with, and how it resolves some of these issues. It will be a true test. I did like some of the OFP stuff, just wish it got a bit more organized. Plenty of World War II Tiger mods out in the wild, even a Tyrannosaurus Rex, not many decent Shermans. There were some attempts to centralize them - good ones, too - we'll see what the PzC community comes up with. Having a strong publisher like Matrix behind it ought to help.
a) No two players are using the same mods - meaning you can't play scenarios H2H.
b) No two players can agree on whose Tiger stats are "correct" even if they want to play H2H and exchange files. Similarly, neither can agree on whose 3D model is the "best".
c) Operation Flashpointitis sets in - websites get created for all encompassing theatre modifications, fancy status charts go up - and they simply flounder around for months and do what Palantir describes for CM:N - show screenshots once a blue moon then dissolve.
d) Most importantly - generate zero revenue for Matrix.
I don't mean to be doom and gloom. I actually think modability is a great idea. Players will mod stuff and continue to buy from the developer because stuff with an "official stamp of approval" always gets a little more coveted, I think. This marketing model works with ASL, for example; despite there being dozens of third party products that actually exceed the quality of the "official" stuff in some ways, there are still many "official only" purchasers, and others who subsidize the official stuff out of respect, etc.
But there are certainly pitfalls. I'm looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with, and how it resolves some of these issues. It will be a true test. I did like some of the OFP stuff, just wish it got a bit more organized. Plenty of World War II Tiger mods out in the wild, even a Tyrannosaurus Rex, not many decent Shermans. There were some attempts to centralize them - good ones, too - we'll see what the PzC community comes up with. Having a strong publisher like Matrix behind it ought to help.