Why this game is so low in sales ranking?

[ganjatron]

It's Atari right? Look at The Witcher, which was an awesome game IMHO. They don't know how to market the products.

[NelsMonsterX]

Fantasy TBS really are a niche market, but I think Stardock CEO Brad Wardell summed their success up nicely by saying:

"Turn-based strategy games will probably always be a niche. However, they are a steady niche. As a developer, I have a pretty good idea what a well-produced, well-marketed turn-based strategy game will do. By contrast, if I’m making a first-person shooter, for instance, I really have no idea how well it will sell. It could be a major hit or it could totally bomb regardless of how well produced and marketed."

I think this is why we've seen Fantasy Wars and King's Bounty, with Elven Legacy forthcoming from 1C. Not to mention Disciples III, HOMM Kingdoms, possibly HOMM6, Stardock's new fantasy TBS, etc.

I started PC gaming exactly 2 years ago and immediately swore off console gaming for good. My favorite games now are all PC TBS titles, and I had to do a lot of digging to find them. But as long as they keep getting made, I don't mind doing the work hunting them down as opposed to having a hundred ads shoved in my face.

[vanedor]

Can't find the games on the shelves yet in Canada... no wonder the sales are low. And not a single store can tell me when they are going to have it in stock. Sounds like a poor publishing work. I remember for Oblivion my local ebgames knew exactly when they would get the copies. My only option would be to purchase the downloadable version which is something I would prefer to avoid or order it from the US and pay a high shipping fee.

[aaaaa]

Originally Posted by NelsMonsterX

Fantasy TBS really are a niche market....

Old KB was TBS. HOMM series are TBS. But....
KB:TL is NOT turn-based strategy game, but tactical fantasy RPG.
I agree that TBS is indeed a niche market as Stardog CEO said. But fantasy RPG is quite popular genre, especially on game console. Turn-based battle is standard battle system of most fantasy RPG out there. this game has lots of quests which is hallmark of RPG, but needs not much strategy to name of.
Don't be fooled with similarities with old KB and HOMM, which is genuine TB strategy game.
.

[Shd]

Sorry, but...

<offtop>

"Strategy" is not "Tactic"....

HOMM is much more strategy than tactical game. Old KB and KB:TL is much more tactical game and very little strategy. And that i like in KB:TL as i liked in Old KB... You cannot just breed 300 black dragons in castle and then "kill them all". You must think how to win even much stronger opponents with army/skills/magic etc you has.

</offtop>

[NelsMonsterX]

Ok, if you want to split hairs . . .

You're right, the overworld, campaign map has no turn mechanic or move limit, etc. BUT, the combat itself (which is a huge part of the game, since it cannot be skipped or avoided) is TBS. It's identical to chess in the way the battle is played out, and chess is considered a game of strategy. Nobody ever calls it the classic game of tactics. The combat is also nearly 100% identical to the HOMM games. There are many games that travel outside of a particular genre and cannot be called RTS or FPS or RPG, but a mishmash or hybrid of genres. At the very least, King's Bounty is one of these hybrid games. It cannot be compared to Diablo, or Final Fantasy, or any others. It's closest similarity is the HOMM series, which was originally derived from the first King's Bounty back in the stone age of PC gaming. KB-TL is HOMM minus castle ownership and the campaign map turn mechanic.

[Shd]

Ok, if you want to split hairs . . .

I don't... and i suppose neither you do....

You're right, the overworld, campaign map has no turn mechanic or move limit, etc. BUT, the combat itself (which is a huge part of the game, since it cannot be skipped or avoided) is TBS.

By using current classification - yes. But i think you will agree that there is difference between KB combat (i have only these weak guys) and homm (just few upgrades and wait in city and i'll get/breed much better units).

It's identical to chess in the way the battle is played out, and chess is considered a game of strategy. Nobody ever calls it the classic game of tactics.

Sorry, but this is "logic" flaw.... You
compare one thing to another and automatically give all second thing attributes to first thing.

It's closest similarity is the HOMM series, which was originally derived from the first King's Bounty back in the stone age of PC gaming. KB-TL is HOMM minus castle ownership and the campaign map turn mechanic.

Naahhh... HOMM is totally reduced KB (no normal talants trees, no rage spirits, units abilities suck compared to KB (and in HooM they really suck)) only thing is castles and upgrades for weak players to breed up unbeatable armies

Joking, of course, because i am very pleased with HOMM series, but are you sure "KB-TL is HOMM minus castle ownership and the campaign map turn mechanic"?

P.S. I think we are a bit of "offtopic". Lets just continue our arguing in private (if you want to continue it)

[memanme]

Originally Posted by ganjatron

It's Atari right? Look at The Witcher, which was an awesome game IMHO. They don't know how to market the products.

Witcher made the enhanced edition (good marketing) which drove interest to the game, it made top 10 sales lists etc and while the advertising and talk about enhanced edition was going around.
It was also released to steam and got onto the shelves in game store once again, people were trying to buy witcher before the enhanced edition because it was a download and didn't make a difference, but stores didn't have it, but the stores did indeed have the enhanced edition a few weeks later when it was released.
It's sold over a million copies, not a failure at all for a pc only game.