It was recently brought to my attention that I have not posted in a while. I tend to update the blog in fits and starts when the inspiration hits me. In the interest of completing one more post before year end, I would like to share some thoughts I had this fall about the release window of the game Torchlight 2. In this post on the Runic Games forum, I compare Torchlight and Diablo, but more importantly, provide analysis for some key business decision making. This post was made several months ago.
"Dear Runic Games:
Let me just start out by saying I absolutely loved Torchlight 1 and your previous work on Mythos (I was in the old beta) and the old Diablo games. The purpose of this post is to hopefully convince you of certain market trends as I see them because I want you to be successful and to continue making great games.
The success of any online multiplayer game like Torchlight 2 depends on two major factors. First, is the game itself. I have no doubt that Torchlight 2 will be a quality game that I definitely want to play and would be happy to fork over full retail for. The second is an online community to keep the game going in the long term and to also generate interest in your next project(s). While I am definitely excited for my first point, I am very concerned about the second. You posted not long ago your belief that Torchlight and Diablo 3 are very different games and that the sale of one should not affect the other. I think there are a few key points that you have not thought carefully enough about in this regard.
1) Fans of Torchlight are the same player base as fans of Blizzard and Diablo. Your player base will definitely be cannibalized by the Diablo 3 release. In order for players to remain interested in playing your game, they will want the one thing missing that we all wish you had put into Torchlight 1, multiplayer and a community to go with it. Sure, some will buy the game to play single player, but for long term sales and brand recognition, multiplayer will be a must. Diablo 2 is still played by tens of thousands of players in the US alone because the community is still there and there is still support from Blizzard. Also, there hasn't been a good alternative like Torchlight 2 to wick away those players.
2) When a player tires of playing one point and click hack and slash game, they will not take a break in order to play another point and click hack and slash game. My right hand tires of the incessant clicking after a while and the answer is rest or a different control scheme, not a different game using the same repetitive motion. Also, playing an alternate game of the same genre and control style is flat out boring.
3) It takes time to create and build a long-running online community. I'm sure you know this already. Late November/Early December is too close to the Diablo 3 release. You need months, not weeks, to build a Torchlight player base who will not just jump ship to Diablo. This is for a few reasons also. Whiel I applaud your stance that quality games need not cost $50 just because they are a new release, I worry that player will feel no commitment to Torchlight and easily stop playing. After all, they did not invest $50 in a new game, but only $20. This is barely more than a month of World of Warcraft subscription. You need to provide an incentive so that players will continue playing your game after Diablo 3 is released. A higher level, geared and experienced character existing in an established online community is the best way to do this. Players will not want to abandon the toon they put so much time and effort into.
Runic, I say all this as a 15 year fan of Blizzard games. I know where I stand. I will buy both Torchlight 2 and Diablo 3, but when it comes time to make a choice of which game I will be playing and which game I will be asking my friends to get to play along with me, the choice will be clearly Diablo if you do not release your game in the immediate future. I am a history teacher. My time is limited and I plan to stop playing other games when Torchlight or D3 comes out because this is my favorite genre. There is no way that I have time to play both your game and Blizzard's. You and Blizzard are my favorite developers. I hope you read this and understand that one of your fans just wants you to be successful and to continue to make great games in the future, rather than be dwarfed by the competition. Please release your game and give it the time to grow that it deserves.
Thank you for your time."
