NeoSpartan raises a very valid point and got me thinking.

Gentlemen, for me,

the bottom line at this point in time is this “product” is now maturing, and quite rapidly in my opinion.

This release is going to have consequences as to where CA ends up going in the mid term future.

Like all maturing industries or products, it becomes much harder to maintain the sales, profit margins and success at this point of the cycle.

For me focusing on Graphics (while very important) rather than game play at this stage of the product life cycle, is like Ford releasing a Mustang with a new spoiler kit and electric windows. With some marketing excellence, the “Brand” knowledge and influence that CA enjoys in this market segment, MTWII will be more than likely be successful if that is all they have done.

But, the writing is on the wall since the last model was released (RTW).

If companies at this stage of product management allocate too many resources to the spoilers and electric windows and not enough to the real performance areas of the product, the consumer will make you pay.

Right now, what CA needs to do is not change the shape of the Mustang which looks great already (graphics), but deal with the engine and suspension (game play).

The game looks great, that is something most people will agree on, but if you don’t revise and improve the performance characteristics of a car through 2 or 3 models then you are going to decline, because that is where the real sustainability of a “mature product” lies.

Now maybe CA’s believes their niche gives them the ability to ignore this for a little while longer, and maybe they are correct. But this is a delicate time in the overall scheme of things and generally the dudes and dudetts that run companies in their early stages of development do not do well when those same companies move to the following stages. Some adapt and realise, and some don’t. Those who don’t realise that the dynamics are different generally fall by the wayside.

I think Screwtype is a valid and important voice, even though the tone may not be always pleasant.

Equally if you can’t get past the tone of voice to understand and comprehend what the message behind it is, then you’re in some trouble. For me when someone stays on a board as long as many do here then it shows that they care. And when people care, then their likely to get upset and emotions will make them sound unhappy. The bottom line is whether the point is valid or not. And when it is, and there seems to be no definitive response from the manufacturer, then I would not expect a different result form most people.

So, we’ll all see very soon how things have gone in the dark rooms of CA.

In the end we can cut of the XXXX beer supplies in Queensland if things have not gone too well