A utter failure.

[The Jacob]

I remember when I heard about this game, I was so excited. I love the books after all, so a game based on the books would have been so fun. Then I saw the pictures and I was amazed, even from those first pictures I could see that this was not going to be a good game. This game could have been a gold mine. The series have a lot of fans and with the TV-show, it reached out to people from all over the world. And if any one did even the slightest research in advance, there would have been more than a few fans who would love to give ideas about how the game should have been.

But instead you went in a different direction, which no one liked. People wanted battles and the feeling of being in the world of a song of ice and fire. It should have been such an easy task.

Now all we have a game that was an utter failure. So I would really ask you to give up any rights regarding making computer games in the world of a song of ice and fire. But no hard feelings. You tried at least.

[soapflavored]

So far, I've read the first book, and I'm about a quarter of the way through the second. It may change in the coming pages obviously, but it seems to me, that while combat is important to the story, it is in no way the main focus of the books.
Nor is it the focus of the game, it is a real-time strategy game, with quite a bit of strategy involved. You're right, the scale is small, but so is most of the fighting in the first book and the fighting I've read in the second book is the same way.
The game may not be what you were expecting, and that's fair. To say that the concept is terrible goes too far I think. The game has a lot of glitches, the reason I suspect it is failing is due to the lack of progress in fixing those glitches, no more.

[soapflavored]

Also.. If you'd like a different take on ASOIAF in game format, strategy there's a mod for Medieval 2: Total War, I haven't played it yet, but it's located here:
http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/to ... eta-v0-53/

[Skjuludde]

It's true that combat is not the main theme of the books in any way really
However there are tons of ways that cyanide and focus failed utterly with this game
The most prominent being with PR and community communication. Had they had that this could've been much better. Reviews on hand at release, demo/guest passes, community involvement, gameplay trailers
There are tons of things in that area that resulted in poor sales meaning few multiplayers which quickly resulted in no multiplayers. Add to that that there's barely been any updates in 4 months time, oh yes I know there's been a few, small ones but hardly enough to revitalize the game

[soapflavored]

Failing to update it yes, failing to advertise/create a market for themselves, yes... But aside from the (numerous) glitches, it is quite a good game.
I don't think I've actually had any recurring problems since the black terrain, which is half fixed.
It's an inventive RTS that's main focus is something other than combat, which I think is really great. So are there problems/failures, yes.. But is it an utter failure? I'd say no.
Not every game can be a minecraft or world of warcraft, and it's not all up to the developers to get multiplayers (though some assistance would be nice)... there are enough of us out there that if steam made communicating a little easier we could play with one another.

[Skjuludde]

Failing to update it yes, failing to advertise/create a market for themselves, yes... But aside from the (numerous) glitches, it is quite a good game.
I don't think I've actually had any recurring problems since the black terrain, which is half fixed.
It's an inventive RTS that's main focus is something other than combat, which I think is really great. So are there problems/failures, yes.. But is it an utter failure? I'd say no.
Not every game can be a minecraft or world of warcraft, and it's not all up to the developers to get multiplayers (though some assistance would be nice)... there are enough of us out there that if steam made communicating a little easier we could play with one another.

I doubt that the game broke even. With all things considered it was indeed an utter failure. That the gameplay was half-unique/innovative (despite being a revised capture-the-node game) doesnt at all make up for the other shortcomings of it. I was on alot before and after the game was released about how the lack of coverage and promotion was alarming. I was right, the game failed almost all expectations and sold poorly. No major magazine had a review of the game until far after it was released which is horrible promotion wise. Everything apart from the spy sort of minigame within the game was subpar to any comparable title. Were talking customization, graphics, campaign, sounds, voiceacting, story, combat, all other mechanics etc. Etc.
Add to that, as mentioned that the promotion, PR, community involvement, updating of the game itself failed I think we can say that the game was a failure.
It's a shame as I found the spy mechanics and deception to be interesting, but they by far can't make a game on their own. Hopefully some other company will pick up the idea and do it right, since cyanide doesnt care at all for this game anymore, and why should they really considering their english community consists of like 2 people, one of which are heavily critical to the game

[soapflavored]

Touche salesman.

I'll concede most of your points. I do still really enjoy the gameplay, but, that's subjective rather than objective. The graphics could be much better, you're right, but (and this is also subjective) i don't mind it- in part because I'm running a 4-5 year old laptop-... of course better graphics are always fun when your system can handle it.

Their french and german communities seem just as dead. There was a post from tech support in french today (Tue 17 Jan 2012 04:53, gasp!)

It would be neat to see what another company might do with this game, or what might happen if somehow cyanide gets some good funding and puts some energy back into the game..
But seeing as they are doing the same with the RPG that they did with this, seems unlikely (hardly any website, their community page consists of twitter and a not-yet-released facebook RPG no forums...sub-par graphics) does seem a bit improved though... a little more advertising/outreach/etc. Hope the gameplay is higher quality.

[Skjuludde]

The way they treated this game, I've lost all faith in cyanide as a game developer and in Focus as a game publisher. This of course means that I won't be buying the rpg unless it receives excellent review and feedback from the players.
With that said I severely doubt it and all purchasers of this game should get a refund back just for the sheer mismanagement. GRRM should fire his agent and heavily reconsider his way of choosing who gets to use his IP

[Winters]

there is also a MOD for Crusader Kings (Paradox game like Europa Universalis)
very detailed, huge world

and I know that author of this Mod is preparing for updated version for Crusader Kings 2 (which is coming soon)