The Future of BF Evo - and a Poll. . .

[xeoran]

You have some good points however thats to big of a kick in the teeth for me. I mean, I have 3 of the 4 factions, all very very large.

Yeah, I know, sucks big time for existing players. Like I said though, I'm convinced MGP will only be able to sell minis by making them 28mm and making them good.

Considering MGP were/are mostly about RPG's I thought I'd put it this way. Create a rules system rather like GURPS, FUDGE or whatever, flog it cheap then make tons of settings so there is something for everyone. There are plenty of backgrounds and settings available. Call the system Evolution, short name EVO and then make:
EVO: Ghost Recon
EVO: SWAT
EVO: Iraq
EVO: Afghanistan
EVO: Cyberpunk
EVO: Steampunk
EVO: Dieselpunk
EVO: Horror
EVO: Battlefield
EVO: SpecOps
etc.
Make each "setting" £3-4 or so via PDF for say 60 pages, cover art and a couple of illustrations. Take as a model the success of "Song of Blades and Heros".

1/50

I take it you mean 1/65

Oook, that is what I meant.

I think the idea of supporting the game through S&P is a clever one.

 

[127th Angry Angels]

I dunno if I like moving even further into the future, a large part of the game's appeal to me is the near-future aspect with upgrades of current gear mixed with the now-bleeding edge. I do like the idea of semi-officialising fan input, but what I really want to see is the continuation of the minis line, as there's too much bittiness in what's easily availible from model manafactuers. Even to put out infantry of various stripes and the vehicles that aren't gettable from other sources...

Agree, the setting felt right and has alot of milage.

 

[Sgt. Scream]

BF Horror
BF SpecOps
BF GhostRecon

do more or less already exist on www.evocommand.com

 

[xeoran]

BF Horror
BF SpecOps
BF GhostRecon

do more or less already exist on www.evocommand.com

Yup, I know. I just mean if there is the demand for that (and there obviously is) then MGP should think about building on that and adding to it.

 

[Col_stone]

I think xeoran has a very good idea there..

 

[127th Angry Angels]

Looking over computer games such as Ace Combat 6, there is little pretense to make a real world setting, allowing them to mix and match eastern and western equipment to their content. Potentially, we could look at doing something similar, and thus avoid any issues raised by depicting real world combat.

Let's not hold up Ace Combat 6 as a influence though! It's story telling was PAINFUL. I was skipping the cut scenes after the third one. To be honest it was all i could to do to ignore the mix and match approach and the horrendous mission briefings. The game was all about game play.

 

[MongooseMatt]

1. That would have been an excellent liecence to get. Shame that it's dead, was the whole BF:Evo line to prove that you could pull it off?

>>> No, BF Evo came before any contact with Ubisoft. What happened was (at the time) a nice coincidence.

2. Why can't you ressume where you left off?

>>> There are several issues with pre-paints that just don't work for us at the moment.

3. I'm not sure what difference turning the game over the public would really make. We've sort've already got it what with Evo command's community. How would it really change things?

>>> Well, if we went the OGL route, you would actually be able to publish things for the game.

4. We want miniatures. Are you completely against putting out new mini lines for BF:Evo?

>>> Not at all. But they have to be the right miniatures

 

[xeoran]

>>> Not at all. But they have to be the right miniatures

Can one suggest 28mm sculpted by the likes of Kev White, Yannick Hennebo, Gael Gourmon, Shane Hoyle etc. :wink:

 

[Hiromoon]

>>> Well, if we went the OGL route, you would actually be able to publish things for the game.

What sort of fee for the OGL are we looking at?

 

[MongooseMatt]

What sort of fee for the OGL are we looking at?

_If_ we went that route, I imagine there would be a free to use SRD, plus a logo licence that you could use to indicate compatibility. The SRD would have only OGL restrictions, the logo licence a few more in order to preserve our own rights - so, we might reserve certain titles for books, for example. If you have a look at the RuneQuest or upcoming Traveller logo licences, you'll see what I mean.

However, the financial cost would be zero. You would just have to do certain things in certain ways.

 

[soulman]

Well what a blow to you at mongoose and of course us...

As i thought Endwar was the way to go, and dealing with ubi, means alot of options with rainbow and ghost recon, and the TC aircraft game as well..!!!

Thats lawyers for you, they should have sighed the deal it would have been sweet for both sides, and to bring the computer games onto the tabletop for all to play.

I myself think stick with the Books ideas for settings as people use other peoples figures anyway, get the system up and running 100%, and then pick a setting and run with it with a figure line..

I love evo, and cannot see this end...

I`m behind you 100%
Lets makes this 2008 " Year of Evo "

 

[rvrratt]

4. We want miniatures. Are you completely against putting out new mini lines for BF:Evo?

>>> Not at all. But they have to be the right miniatures

Huzzah! Like I said earlier, if you focus on miniatures that are not availiable, like for instance the Stryker or AAAV you would have next to zero competition. Thats not to mention all the troop types and future models that are not even out yet.

Another thought is a partnership with another miniature company, like you are doing with the upcomming WWII evolution rules.

 

[xeoran]

Company B make a 1/56 Stryker.

 

[rvrratt]

Company B make a 1/56 Stryker.

Model kit or gaming miniature? If its a model, I don't count that. Even so, thats only one company. Besides, you can't argue that its common nor could MGP be competitive.

 

[Hiromoon]

What sort of fee for the OGL are we looking at?

_If_ we went that route, I imagine there would be a free to use SRD, plus a logo licence that you could use to indicate compatibility. The SRD would have only OGL restrictions, the logo licence a few more in order to preserve our own rights - so, we might reserve certain titles for books, for example. If you have a look at the RuneQuest or upcoming Traveller logo licences, you'll see what I mean.

However, the financial cost would be zero. You would just have to do certain things in certain ways.

I like the sound of that really.

 

[SisterSoul]

Sorry 'bout da deal
My little ole suggestion is release the current rules for free to the public to get more people into EVO now and stir up interest again and more opponents and then go with a slight revision and the ogl thingy.
Will the ogl stuff be subject to mongoose playtesting etc........

 

[JayRaider]

Firstly, thanks for the update Matt.
I'm sure your as disappointed as us.

I haven't voted in the poll yet. I'm waiting till the disappointment passes and i can think clearly.
All of the available options don't include pre-paints. Which alot of BFE gamers liked. So they'll all desert now to AT-43 (if they hadn't already).

So the gamers who are left are those who like the hobby aspect of gaming, (painting etc).

Whats gonna happen to the current Evo models. Is there a possibility they could appear un-painted? Or is the line discontinued?

I see alot of talk about using other companies models. Thats well and good except that Mongooses Evo figures scale have very few alternatives from other companies.

 

[metalminimadness]

I'm for new minis, I'm for fan fiction, and I would definitely buy tomorrow if you made the FULL ruleset free. I think that would be a huge draw.

I like the idea of setting it 20-30 years ahead as there's not really much out there to compete in that genre. Out of curiousity (and I admit I haven't researched much) is there a Battlefield EVO type RPG Mongoose has created?

If you do go with new minis (and I know people haven't been fans of what's already come out) I admit pre-painted plastics that I could put on the table out of teh box would really make me buy versus the bare metal. I save that little bit of painting time I have for Wyrd Minis and Privateer Press stuff.

 

[Slider]

Largely repeating what Jayraider had to say --

First, sorry to Mongoose; obviously this deal falling through was not your doing, and it has to sting for you as much as for us.

Also holding off on the poll for now.
Really, the deciding factor for me getting into the game was the prepainted aspect. I loved the Star Wars minis line, both the individuals and the starships game. Having something similar, but with a modern combat game, was too good to pass up. Even with the game's future in limbo, I continued to pour money into buying more boxes because BF:Evo, in its original form, was the game I had always wanted to play. And still want to play.

Metals, resins? Sigh. If they're in the same scale as my already-large collection, I may eventually pick a few up, but with nothing like the enthusiasm for prepaints. Honestly, I have buckets of unpainted minis from GW lying around, convincing me that assembling and painting miniatures -- no matter how much the game appeals to me -- is a significant hurdle.

As for a change in setting... in the sense of allowing us to "zoom in" to a more detailed squad-level game, sure, that sounds great. And allowing the rules to cover a broader range of conflicts, ok. Personally, though, pushing it 20-30 years in the future isn't too appealing -- my understanding is that warfare will change more in that timeframe than it has in its entire history thus far. So, minis for nano-swarms, rules for genomically-tailored biological agents, blast wave accelerator guns with global range? A d10 roll for the effects of civilization-crippling information warfare? The appeal for me of a wargame is playing with toy soldiers and tanks, and both of these are guaranteed to disappear from the "real" future battlefield.
(look here to get a sense of what I'm on about: http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2001testing/bushnell.pdf )

So, if prepaints are completely off the table for the indefinite future, I'm afraid to say that I'm not really that interested in what else happens to the game. I'll continue to download stats from people like Pietia at Evocommand. I may buy an OGL book or two.
And I'll wait for someone to (re)make the game I actually like, whether it's Mongoose or someone else.

Sorry if that's gloomy or mean, but that's where I stand.

 

[JayRaider]

I voted Option 1.
1)Endorse Pietia's Evo "World in Conflict cards". Recommend them for gamers interested in present day combat.
Also recommend Liberations Miniatures as a supplier of 20mm modern mini's. Armor 1/72 can be bought from other companies pre-painted or kits.
Seperate Evo WIC and Evo FW.
2) Battlefield Evo: Future Wars. I would include all Mongoose official cards that have been released to date in this category. Re-launch with new timeline 20-30 years in future. New metal mini's as close in scale to the pre-painted Evo figures as possible. The market seems to prefer Sci-fi elements so give it to them.
3) Expand the game settings into all ages! Evo Nam. Evo Babylon 5. Evo Horror.Evo ancients! Evo Napoleonics etc.
4) Make it a priority to release un-painted metal mini's that would complete the pre-painted range. Snipers, Revered leader etc.
5) Work more closely with Evo Command, collaborate and discuss etc.
6) Development of Evo: Ultra for detailed squad level games. Sounds like a great idea.

Basicly i think Evo should offer something for everybody! Whether you want to play realistic modern warfare or futuristic battles or Squad level skirmishes with more detailed rules.
Personally i think Evo could be groundbreaking in lots of gaming genres and ages.