So in other words, tie-in games are usually bad?Silentpony said:I think what makes me view 40k as niche is that you have to handle it very carefully for 40k to like it, and then you have to handle the actual gameplay itself for gamers to like it.
Look at all the terrible 40k games: Firewarrior, Warhammer 40000: Space Wolf, Carnage, Storm of Vengeance, Regicide, that visual novel Dorn game, Squad Command, Glory in Death.
The bad/poorly done 40k games far outweighs the good 40k games, which number roughly half of the Dawn of Wars series, Space Marine, arguably the Deathwatch game, that Crusade game, Chaos Gate, and a few of the Epic 40k games.
The 40k IP is no guarantee of success. In fact, I'd think it invites even more scrutiny and pressure, and most of the times its not worth it. Devs just take previous ideas and add 40k wallpaper and expect it to work as well, and it doesn't.
I have no reason to doubt that the majority of 40K games are of low quality, but I can't say that's endemic to 40K. If anything, that developers can expect a 40K game to sell based on brand recognition is indicative that it isn't a niche IP. And there isn't anything about the setting that would make it difficult to base a game around - just get a Space Marine, some xenos, and have him shoot stuff. Bam. There's your game. Doesn't have to be a good game, but it's a far simpler concept to execute than in other IPs.