DBC14 Modification Discussion

[Chief]

those were ex, niche ones have even better mods support like, arma1, witcher1, mount n blade warband, etc i could go on,when all these started, all had mod support that propelled them further

"niche" yes, but a bigger niche than Cricket cos - 'Merica and Europe, which are huge, HUGE markets.

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No one will hold back for a future iteration of dbc due to mods available for dbc 14.

I continue to doubt this.

 

[grkrama]

I expect a very small percentage of the user base to use mods unless we make them very easy to access

thats true.

"niche" yes, but a bigger niche than Cricket cos - 'Merica and Europe, which are huge, HUGE markets.

Its comparative, if you want something exact you can take EA cric 02 04 05 07 as examples all of them had mods and despite doing nothing more than roster and cosmetic update from 02 they managed to get there upto C07.So certainly they weren't loosing sales due to mods.

I continue to doubt this.

yes chief but we had this discussion earlier, as long the next iteration is going to have substantial updates thats not just roster update and little facelift, i dont see the people staying away.

Im sure even though the next iteration of DBC will be evolution(like you say instead of revolution)
it will still have plenty of new features to go on,

especially animations,
more shots,
more bowling actions,
better commentary,
fleshed out career,
scenarios.

Dont you think you will buy the game even with this simple list of features.None of this can be achieved by mods satisfactorily im sure.

Modification is like overclocking a processor or customizing your bike CC, it will provide you more enjoyment and extra performance with the current bike or processor,but when the new model with improvement comes you will definitely want to buy the new one.

 

[Chief]

Its comparative, if you want something exact you can take EA cric 02 04 05 07 as examples all of them had mods and despite doing nothing more than roster and cosmetic update from 02 they managed to get there upto C07.So certainly they weren't loosing sales due to mods.

I wouldn't think that the sort of numbers EA were selling back then and what Big Ant are selling would be comparative.

I'm sure they WERE losing sales, but they could afford to.

 

[IceAgeComing]

I expect a very small percentage of the user base to use mods unless we make them very easy to access.

Was Steam Workshop support ever considered? I've found that makes mods easy to access and install: although equality control is non-existent and there are usually tonnes of bad mods, although usually voted down to oblivion...

 

[Chief]

Dont you think you will buy the game even with this simple list of features.

Yep. I will. I'm not worried about the core. I'm worried about the more mainstream sales I lose if I make it easy for them to access updated rosters and mods.

 

[BigAntStudios]

Time will tell, we are taking risks for sure. I do think our five year plan has enough added features across the time to entice future purchases.

 

[Chief]

Time will tell, we are taking risks for sure. I do think our five year plan has enough added features across the time to entice future purchases.

You're only planned up to 2019??? RASH.

 

[Alberts]

Time will tell, we are taking risks for sure. I do think our five year plan has enough added features across the time to entice future purchases.

Pyatiletka!

 

[grkrama]

I'm sure they WERE losing sales, but they could afford to.

they were definitely loosing sales not due to mods but non existent new features, i really love how devs think that its not because that their product hadnt improved an inch over prev iteration as the reason they lost sale but OMG those mods, making our game more playable, they are the reason we loose sale.

Yep. I will. I'm not worried about the core. I'm worried about the more mainstream sales I lose if I make it easy for them to access updated rosters and mods.

ok, lets reverse the question, you have stopped mods for your games, and now you have made The New Iteration with new roster and tweaks.

Do you think you wont loose sales now?
Do you think people will buy the same way if the new iteration of game carries only roster and gamplay tweaks?

you will obviously loose sales with or without mods if the game itself is not improved.

only when you are hitting a block road from where you cant see major improvements to the game, you have to shutdown mods and rely on making the franchise survive through minimal updates.

It all comes to choice i think, if you can see more possibilities with your franchise you wouldnt be bothered or have the fear of loosing out to mods.

An expanding franchise will improve more with mods.

 

[Chief]

ok, lets reverse the question, you have stopped mods for your games, and now you have made The New Iteration with new roster and tweaks.

Do you think you wont loose sales now?
Do you think people will buy the same way if the new iteration of game carries only roster and gamplay tweaks?

Yes.
AC09 = 250k units.
IC10 = 220k units (in a non-Ashes year with 10% of the publicity: a perfectly acceptable drop.. and a game that, so so many people tell me, was merely a "patch").

If AC09 had been updatable with mods: we'd have sold half that number of IC10.

From a business perspective, for me, you *have* to keep control of your game. It just doesn't make sense not to.

 

[Alberts]

Yes.
AC09 = 250k units.
IC10 = 220k units (in a non-Ashes year with 10% of the publicity: a perfectly acceptable drop.. and a game that, so so many people tell me, was merely a "patch").

If AC09 had been updatable with mods: we'd have sold half that number of IC10.

From a business perspective, for me, you *have* to keep control of your game. It just doesn't make sense not to.

Is this just an assumption, or do you have some solid market research to back that up? It seems an awfully big assumption to simply make.

Also, to be entirely blunt, if you can't compete with your own modders there needs to be a serious look into the quality of the product on offer.

Don Bradman Cricket 14 has come into the market with ambition and bravery, hopefully that pays off for them.

 

[barmyarmy]

AC09 was updatable with mods!

 

[Chief]

AC09 was updatable with mods!

... for the 200 people with PC copies...

My arguments are all geared towards the console sales which subsidise it.

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Is this just an assumption, or do you have some solid market research to back that up? It seems an awfully big assumption to simply make.

Having not been able to ask everyone who bought a copy of both games whether they would have bought the next one if they could have had access to mods... Yes. Yes it is an assumption. Although I prefer to think of it as a projection based on market knowledge.

 

[BigAntStudios]

Having not been able to ask everyone who bought a copy of both games whether they would have bought the next one if they could have had access to mods... Yes. Yes it is an assumption. Although I prefer to think of it as a projection based on market knowledge.

IMO You would definitely be the best person here to make that projection.

There is no doubt that 2010 would have sold a lot less if mods were accessible for 2009 as there wasn't enough of a jump between them.

I am hoping that significant improvements in play and additional gameplay content will keep people coming back. There is so much we can add, I'm pretty excited by the things we want to implement.

 

[IceAgeComing]

... for the 200 people with PC copies...

Perhaps the 200 people who PAID for a copy, alas a lot more than that played on PC...