What Sonalyst Got Wrong

[LoBlo]

I had a discussion on a newer game about DLC and it sparked a discussion about DW and what they got wrong.

The game probably didn't come close to the expectations of SCS. They had plans for frequent DLC to introducing new ships and models at time intervals for profit. Their plans however required them to stifle the mod community and forbid modding of the game in any meaningful way.

The game's persistent shortcomings were then compounded by the mod community's inability to freely improve the game experience. Those combined stifled enthusiasm and the player base fizzled out. There were some mods did develop but they were limited hack/slash jobs, or black market mods band from the forums.

Here's what SCS got wrong about modern gaming customers.

1. Your mod community is your *base*.
They are your most die-hard customers and have the most enthusiasm for your product. Their enthusiasm will last the longest and will continue to bring new customers more effectively than your DLC. Alienate them and you cut off your most loyal fans.

2. Some of the most successful games started out as mods.
Counter-strike's is one of the most successful games published and has its origins as a mod of Half-Life 2. It brought a whole new community to the original product and CS's developers were able to recognize and capitalize on. Unlike SCS

3. Mods are like a free focus group
Mods reveal what the fanbase really want. The mods that become popular tell the developers what direction to go and where the best return on investment for the future is. Its best if a developer to pay attention and then repackage what the mod community has done in official, professionally made products that mimic the mod's focus. The existence of the mod doesn't detract from future sales. The community will always prefer an official game development and a refined product over a mod and will still pay money for it. Its the responsibility of the developers to make sure their product is refined professional work to overshadow the mods hack and slash approaches.

In the end, SCS greediness and inability to see the advantages of an actively engaged community lead to their failure.

Odds are they didn't really even see their mistakes and missed opportunities. They don't understand the market and their customer base. They at one point could have cornered the market on modern sub sims reliably. It doubtful SCS will return to the gaming world as they've demonstrated that its a market they don't understand or can capitalize on.

What a shame.