Why this game is so low in sales ranking?

[DanTheTimid]

I only recently learned of this games existence because it was mentioned in a recent Penny-Arcade blog. If not for that blog I would not have known this game even existed and would have missed out on it. So yeah, this game isn't selling bad because it lacks an audience, but because its audience doesn't know it exists and its a real shame.

Hopefully I'm not the only one who read that penny arcade blog and is now checking this game out, and rest assured I do plan on telling people about the game to help on the word of mouth front, but the game really could use some more advertising then it seems its gotten so far. Its always tough for a relatively unknown company with a low budget to do the advertising necessary to compete with the big name companies, but you need to really do SOMETHING. Your not going to reach everyone on a low budget, but if you have have a quality product, all it takes is to reach a few here and there and word of mouth can start a chain that ends in tons of new players. You've already got the hard part done, your selling a quality game, the trick now is advertising in enough places to intrigue the first few who will start the chain.

[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)

[Wildrose]

Originally Posted by aaaaa

It is shame that great game like this is ignored by the mass due to lack of adequate advertisement. Nowadays when numerous rubbish games are rushing to us like hoards of rats, we have been thirsty for good game like this for many years.

Please write user review/experience on game review site, game shopping site, Amazon, EB, and other game fan site especially RPG related site. Tell potential customers how great this game is and how you enjoyed it.
Word-of-mouth ad from heart of truly satisfied users can compensate (lack of) million dollar budget advertisement campaign.

By making more people buy this game, we can ensure release of expansion of KBTL, or help it to be better one. Capitalism is about appreciating good company/ good product with consumer's money to let them become better one. Let the the capitalism do the job!

Good suggestion!

[Jinix the Elder]

Americans have to be told over and over again before they will trust enough to buy a product because they are used to buying crap which means advertising for a product must be constant in all media, at all tradeshows and hyped on cable's pc shows. They will believe it must be good if they are told enough times.

But advertising to a mass market to gain maximum sales costs millions of dollars to do and a company must be capitalized enough to brush it off and afford the losses if it turns out to be a dud.

King's Bounty - The Legend will have a great long term legacy amoung pc gamers like 10 year old Thief series does. The owners of that game went bankrupt because the company done more than they could afford to do and yet the game still has a huge fan attraction. New mods are released constantly and fans are begging for more.

It really doesn't matter if the game reaches number 1 or even number 25 in the 'charts' it all depends on whether the developers make enough to pay for the work they do and get a nice bonus at Christmas time.

Get busy on a worthwhile expansion to the game King's Bounty - The Legend, and release a decent editor with the expansion. Sell both, the expansion and the editor together for $30 on your buy & download website. Keep the interest - keep the customer.

Jinix the Elder

The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time.
Henry Ford