Privateer Press's money maker is, of course, it's Warmachine/Hordes line. However, they have many more games that are considerably less popular:
- Bodger Mania
- Grind
- Monsterpocalypse
- Iron Kingdoms RPG
- Scrappers
- Infernal Contraption
- Level 7
- Warmachine Tactics (coming soon)
- High Command (coming soon)
The thing that really got me thinking was the rules release for High Command, another deck building game like Thunderstone, Dominion, or Ascension. I've been keeping a wary eye on the game's development. I love the Warmachine universe, and another game that doesn't just use the Warmachine universe, but features many characters and locations from the war game itself had me curious.
The quick explanation of a deck building game is that players have a shared pool of cards that they use to build decks. Each turn they choose a card from one of several stacks, play cards from their hands, and in the end try to end the game by using cards to earn the most points. This isn't like Magic - it's more like two people building Legos together. While High Command handles this a bit differently by letting each player build their own army-specific pool of cards, it's still just another twist on a popular game type.
Looking at that list, there's one thing I can't help but notice - Privateer Press is very similar to Wizards of the Coast, with one difference. While the company is best known for owning Magic the Gathering, they also have several other games. Their library is extensive, but here are a few more popular games they own[ed]:
Looking at that list, there's one thing I can't help but notice - Privateer Press is very similar to Wizards of the Coast, with one difference. While the company is best known for owning Magic the Gathering, they also have several other games. Their library is extensive, but here are a few more popular games they own[ed]:
- Dungeons & Dragons [and their D&D Miniatures games]
- Pokemon TCG
- Star Wars Miniatures
- Heroscape
- Duel Masters TCG
- Risk 2210 A.D.
The difference I mentioned earlier is that all of these games stand on their own. While WotC has been around longer and has had time to acquire many more successful and defunct games, they have also been able to support these games well enough to have expansions, updated rules, tournaments, etc. If someone likes the Pokemon universe, they have a game to play. If they like Star Wars, they have a game.
Unlike PP, their audience isn't diluted by taking the people who like the Warmachine universe and spreading them out over several games. If someone doesn't like Warmachine, then odds are they won't like the flavor of 7 of their 9 games. Even still, the number of Warmachine fans who have time and money to enjoy several games is going to be fairly low.
To be fair, Warmachine is sort of their cash cow. Level 7 hasn't really taken off, and Monsterpocalypse seems to have more of a cult following. However, that also makes it so that no game can really be a close second. In contrast, WotC is known for Magic, but people have also heard of Dungeons & Dragons, Heroscape, and the Pokemon TCG (though it's now owned by Nintendo). They are games that were supported during their life span, and were big enough to be considered a person's main game, as opposed to a "once in awhile" game like most of PP's library.
Now to PP's credit, they do have one thing WotC has never really had, and that's pride in their product. While WotC buys and sells licenses to games, PP has direct control of what they produce. This of course spreads their teams quite thin, but also lets them make sure that it's up to their standards. This also lets the team work from a source they understand, and from there they just build a game around it.
I also get the marketing behind it. Their lesser products act as gateways to their bigger product, always pointing people towards their money maker. They are also a nod to fans, giving them a way to cut loose from the competitive game of Warmachine and do something else. Regardless, the games are always keeping our minds on the big picture.
Unlike PP, their audience isn't diluted by taking the people who like the Warmachine universe and spreading them out over several games. If someone doesn't like Warmachine, then odds are they won't like the flavor of 7 of their 9 games. Even still, the number of Warmachine fans who have time and money to enjoy several games is going to be fairly low.
To be fair, Warmachine is sort of their cash cow. Level 7 hasn't really taken off, and Monsterpocalypse seems to have more of a cult following. However, that also makes it so that no game can really be a close second. In contrast, WotC is known for Magic, but people have also heard of Dungeons & Dragons, Heroscape, and the Pokemon TCG (though it's now owned by Nintendo). They are games that were supported during their life span, and were big enough to be considered a person's main game, as opposed to a "once in awhile" game like most of PP's library.
Now to PP's credit, they do have one thing WotC has never really had, and that's pride in their product. While WotC buys and sells licenses to games, PP has direct control of what they produce. This of course spreads their teams quite thin, but also lets them make sure that it's up to their standards. This also lets the team work from a source they understand, and from there they just build a game around it.
I also get the marketing behind it. Their lesser products act as gateways to their bigger product, always pointing people towards their money maker. They are also a nod to fans, giving them a way to cut loose from the competitive game of Warmachine and do something else. Regardless, the games are always keeping our minds on the big picture.
In the end though, I just don't care for the spread of shallow products. Based on reviews, I have little interest in getting involved in any of their other games. IKRPG isn't too bad for a combat RPG, and High Command could be fun, but otherwise they don't really have a track record for making good games, and I think it's because they aren't reaching enough of an audience.
I'd like to see PP develop more interesting universes. Making the the sci fi universe of Level 7 more than a weak version of Betrayal at House on the Hill would be terrific. Heck, they could make a true contender against Warhammer 40k! Anything that could make new game announcements be met with pure excitement, rather than having it mixed with a large dose of trepidation.
What do you guys think? Does Privateer Press have too many "meh" games set in the Warmachine universe? Do you think they're a company who should expand their products, or stick to what they know?
See you tomorrow!
I'd like to see PP develop more interesting universes. Making the the sci fi universe of Level 7 more than a weak version of Betrayal at House on the Hill would be terrific. Heck, they could make a true contender against Warhammer 40k! Anything that could make new game announcements be met with pure excitement, rather than having it mixed with a large dose of trepidation.
What do you guys think? Does Privateer Press have too many "meh" games set in the Warmachine universe? Do you think they're a company who should expand their products, or stick to what they know?
See you tomorrow!
I think PP ends up doing a lot of games that not many people really care about - Heap, Bodgers, etc. Grind, for a good example. They pushed Grind really, really hard for about a year, and now you find boxed copies on the discount shelf for 60% off, because it just wasn't moving.
ReplyDeleteI'm always sort of amused when I see a new card game from PP, because I have a feeling that it won't do terribly well, and I'm sure on some level it takes away from the Warmachine/Hordes development cycle. Oh well.
I hadn't considered that they may be pulling resources from WMH for these other games. I'd hope they'd have a team dedicated to "the rest" so that WMH could continue its momentum with a large team.
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