Monthly Archives: May 2014
Home of the Wargamers Report: Interview with JD McNeil, CEO of Matrix / Slitherine
Boggit interviews J D McNeil at the Home of Wargamers 2014 Conference
J D McNeil, CEO of Matrix/Slitherine delivers his “State of the Company” address at HOW 2014
J D thank you for agreeing to do an interview with me.
It’s a very big step for new developers entering the gaming industry and quite fraught with difficulty. Why should new developers see Matrix/Slitherine as anything more than just another publisher?
There are a number of reasons why a developer would find a deal with us attractive.
The first and primary reason is that we can showcase their game and put it in front of a very dedicated audience. When gamers come to our websites they know exactly where they’re going and what they are coming here for. We track and check statistical analysis of all of this and the industry norms for sell-throughs and visits. It’s an analysis that many companies have and they don’t generally share it. But what I can tell you is that we outstrip any known factors for any other site that we have got information on. The sell-through from visits is enormous, people come, they know why they come, and they buy. So that’s the first reason.
The second reason is that we work with the developers/partners from the very start of their development. No matter how good a developer is, when coming to a new business sector or any business sector, they can make mistakes, they can make errors. That’s not saying that they do make mistakes or errors. But we will advise, cajole, help, push and prompt. We try and get them to a placewhere we know from our business experience that their product will sell. Now that’s invaluable time being saved, it can knock months off to be honest. It’s also the case that when a developer comes to us too late in the cycle, we are often faced with the situation that the errors, or the points, or the things that we think would improve his sales are beyond redemption, and to strip out and rebuild it could take an enormous amount of time.
GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory #45
Your semi-weekly wallet-blasting gallon of goodness is back! GARPA checks out some excellent new projects waiting for your pre-order dollars.
Kuzaarik Forgers: Freeblades Fantasy Miniatures (DGS Games)
$4100 of $8500, ends 18 June 2014
The boys from DGS are back with another nifty-looking expansion to Freeblades. Ramp up your fantasy games with some excellent new minis of the Kuzaarik, the Dwarves with a bit of a twist. The concept art is fantabulous, and if the minis are even half as good as the advance sketches, the backers of their new Kickstarter campaign will be some happy gamers. Pledge away, dear readers!
New York 1776 (Worthington Publishing)
$13k of $2500 – ends 27 May 2014, so hurry up!
A battle of the AWI, New York 1776 was a key campaign for the Brits following the loss of Boston. A hex-and-block game with integrated fog of war, New York 1776 has so ridiculously exceeded its Kickstarter goal that some of the stretch goals – terrain blocks? – almost seem like they were making it up as they went along. A combination of a strategic map and a tactical battle board gives battles some depth while retaining the ‘big picture’ of the strategic situation. Read more at their site, and hurry up with your pledges before the Kickstarter campaign ends.
The Scramble for Africa – A Civ 5 AAR (Part 8)
The battle for Africa continues!
By Brant Guillory, GrogDude
Click images to enlarge
With some post-Zulu consolidation on going, it’s time for the Boers to get more shovels into the ground and start rebuilding the cities they conquered.
Because we’re (not) happyyyyyyyyyyy
I guess fighting a war annoys the population. Hmmmm…
Launching a Caravan
Sokoto wants me to connect a trade route to them. I’ve got a caravan ready to launch that can reach Sokoto. Sounds good to me!
Home of the Wargamers Report: Frontline – Road to Moscow
Boggit hit the road to join Slitherine and Matrix at their unveiling of this year’s upcoming hits. This is the first of his reports from adventure.
Developed by “88mm” Games and Published by Matrix/Slitherine
Screenshots by Boggit
as always, click images to enlarge
The Blitzkrieg thunders East! Upcoming DLC will unlock with new time periods
Just released, I first saw this game just a few days ago over at Home of Wargamers 2014 in Italy. Whilst I haven’t had the opportunity to play it, I had the game presented to me, and had the opportunity to ask developer Ionut Georgescu about his debut game with Slitherine.
Lots of units add to the variety, which in turn affects gameplay
Tuesday Screenshot – Art School, WH40K Style
This week, the Tuesday Screenshot shows off the, ahem… “artistic” side, with the Army Painter feature for WH40K: Dawn of War.
Click to enlarge
