Hey Steve -

Without giving out actual numbers, can you comment on how 3D games like StrayFire and Ploing2 are selling, compared to the 2D games. I know the 3D games are something of an experiment for you, so your findings would be enlightening.

Take care,
Bill

We don't have enough data yet because Ploing 2 and Strayfire are both arcade games, and arcade games have always outsold puzzle games for us. So we can't know the 2D vs. 3D effect until we publish some 3D puzzle games. Presently we don't have any in the queue, but we're still looking.

Also, it takes a good six months to build solid distribution for each game, and none of the games we've published this year have been out that long, so it's going to be a few more months before we're "into the long run."

I'll be happy to share what we learn, but it probably won't be until next year that we have enough meaningful data. And even then it may only be speculative.

Originally posted by Dexterity
We don't have enough data yet because Ploing 2 and Strayfire are both arcade games, and arcade games have always outsold puzzle games for us

Really? I was under the impression that puzzle games were your bread and butter and that Dexterity was primarily interested in acquiring new puzzle games to publish? (though with a side interest in experimenting with other genres)

Wow, that IS surprising. I also thought puzzles were selling better, from the hype and plethora of such games. I was actually adding more puzzle-like elements to our upcoming action-adventure game, despite my conflicting preference.

Yeah, I don't think it's ever a very good idea to second-guess the 'market' and then try to alter your game based on those assumptions. People too often end up just shooting themselves in the foot that way, by fudging up what would have otherwise been a great nitch-market product. I'm still a pretty firm believer that the quality of the game as a whole is still the major factor that makes for a good or bad sale, not if it happens to hit the hot spots in the market. Granted, if you want to be a blockbuster type game, you might have to sell out a bit. Otherwise, just focus on making it good and it'll all probably work out in your favor in the end. :)

- Air

Oops... got the words switched -- I meant to say that puzzle games have always outsold arcade games for us. Sorry for the confusion!

Oh ok, that explains it:). Do your "Arcade" games count as "Action" games? Or have you never released an "Action" game before? Just curious because on the list of the types of games Dexterity is most interested in, it sais:"puzzle games, board games, card games, and action games." No word about Arcade.

I'd include arcade games as a subset of action games in that case. It really just refers to games that derive their gameplay from action and reflexes more than from story or solving puzzles.

Ok, thanks, that's what I though as well:)

I am working on a puzzle game that is, at this point, fundamentally 3D. I've been putting a lot of thought into whether I ought to try to convert it to 2D, or do 3D but remove the requirement for a 3D card by writing my own renderer. I'm not terribly excited by that prospect.

It would be a shame to lose sales just because someone doesn't have a 3D card or has to download OpenGL drivers. But it also be a shame to lose sales by having a game that looked like it was made in the 80s, just to make it possible for other people to run it.

Take care,
Bill

I think people have come to associate Dexterity with puzzle games, which might explain why they sell better. In my case, I have 3 3D arcade games, and one 2D puzzle game. The arcade games outsell the puzzle game by a wide margin. Obviously that isn't enough for a good sample, and it could be the strength of the arcade games or the weakness of the puzzle game, but still interesting. I think people associate my company with arcade games, like they associate Dexterity with puzzlers.

That being said, 3D shouldn't sell as well because so many people STILL do not have 3D hardware. My games take the absolute minimum for 3D. Even the crappiest of cards can run them fine. But still, my data suggests that HALF of the people who download the games do not meet the minimum system requirements. My minimum requirements are a 350 mhz cpu and ANY D3D capable 3d card. Even Intel's integrated i810 chips run the games fine, yet people don't even have that.

That means my conversion rate is cut in HALF immediately!

So if I know that 2D would sell better, why do I continue to make 3D games? Because it's easier to do art for 3D games, and I am very unskilled. My next game will be 2D with outsourced art.