"Oh not another talk about the Stone Giant
If I got over it, so can you"
The Stone Giant was just an example, it annoyed you at the time when it was cut didn't it!
"Besides, Dionysos, if ES did consult us everytime they had to make a big decision, then the release date would in all likelihood be pushed back even further, and we don't want that, now do we?"
I only mean for them to put the MAIN things up for a vote, like cutting units etc. ONLY the things likely to annoy vast numbers of potential AOM players!
"You see, ES has actually PLAYED AOM
And you think ES people haven't played games all their lives either??? Give 'em a break."
True, they've played AOM, they know what they want of it, but then WE'LL ALL WANT THE X-PACK BECAUSE THE MAIN GAME DID N'T FEATURE WHAT WE WANTED. This will be how the AOM community will see it. Those lesser fans of AOM who buy the game, will think "rubbish game, play something else", or "boring, first person shooters are far more exciting" or "WW2 stratedy games like Sudden Strike 2/ Commandos 2 are far more exciting." Get the picture? AOM will be crucified by bad media ratings. Loose awards.
THE GAME IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE NUMBER WHO BUY IT.
At the end of the day, the Game's magazines determine a game's future. Let's see SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER it's now due for release is it? Sudden Strike 2 will be out then, and I dare say a good few other extremely engrossing games, which believe it or not, MOST PEOPLE WILL WANT MORE THAN AOM. That's not even including the other Genres of Game!
AOM is just another title, one in a million, nothing special to the game reviewer (not to us, mind, who enjoy it's mythological content)
He will play the Devil's Advocat when marking this game. He'll mark it ruthlessly when looking for weaknesses. Things like 'lack of realism for enjoyment' and 'Giants not eating humans' and "Fire Giants scorching snow" and "Fire Giants not being put out by water based god-powers", the list is near endless with faults. Other features which have stirred popularity and been cut will do no favours for ES.
Infact, the reviewer will wonder why they were cut and try to mark them down, trying to write a subtle way for "it doesn't seem like they are clever enough to do that!" or that shows how poorly the game's been put together. If the reviewer gets this impression, for the sake of ES not having a good relationship with the AOM community. Then the game's disaster-bound.
ENSEMBLE SHOULD CONSIDER ITSELF VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A STRONG AOM COMMUNITY NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND. IF WE'RE INTERESTED, THAT INTEREST SHOULD BE REWARDED WITH AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS WITH AN ES MEMBER (or range or members) as moderators who pose questions and regulary post the game's progress in these forums.)FOR LET'S BE HONEST HERE, HOW MANY OTHER GAMES HAVE YOU GOT ON YOUR MIND FOR GETTING THIS YEAR? (TO TELL THE TRUTH I'M GETTING AROUND 10! BUT I"M LOOKING FORWARD MOST OF ALL TO AOM, OF COURSE!)
THE MORE PEOPLE's IDEAS CATERED FOR THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR ALL.
[This message has been edited by Dionysos (edited 05-19-2002 @ 01:05 PM).]