Did Space Empires V kill Space Empires?

[Azselendor]

To imply that it's the Microsoft model is a bit wrong. If you look, Microsoft only throws its money into games that print money (looking at you Halo), companies like activision, ea games, etc. tend to take on semi-safe bets while others yet take biggest risks. Just look at the quagmire that is Duke Nukem Forever.

The current model in game publishing seems to be very similar to that of the music, movie and book industries at times, which works sometimes and other times it doesn't. Just imagine how much money was pissed away in Tommy Wisaeu's "The Room" or on any SyFy original movie.

I think shrapnel's model is fantastic for what it does and hopefully can only bring them greater success.

[Gandalf Parker]

Of course its not wrong. Its just different with its own pros and cons. Its a money-chasing template which makes many other things secondary. Shrapnel would have to change alot to pursue it.

[S.R. Krol]

Originally Posted by Azselendor

Just look at the quagmire that is Duke Nukem Forever.

Actually DNF is a unique situation. For the most part they will self-funded until I believe near the end, where they then needed a cash influx from Take 2. If DNF hadn't been self-funded there's a good chance it may have actually come out years ago, since the problem was 3DR constantly tearing it down and rebuilding it every six months. A publisher would have just said, "Screw it, ship what you got." Sure, it would have tanked and would probably have been crap, but at least it would have shipped and everyone would have moved on.