Quoted from Tranquilize:I agree that we've just been unlucky with original themes. TNA is awesome and sold very well, all things considered. I think a space theme would do very well, but yeah, it would need to be a good game. I'd love to see Keith do one to see if the profit ratio would be different.
The profit ratio would be different in that it would be worse than his other games... barring some once in a generation lightning in a bottle sort of situation.
Saying the "art, sound, layout, rules" has to be perfect for it to sell says enough. The only thing for sure is people would not agree on what is good here.
See "Dialed In's theme is the worst ever" vs. "It is a great homage to prior games". The art on Dialed In is fine/great (ACDC / Iron Man are examples of state of the art "art" from around 10 years ago...). But "he is wearing the wrong jeans", I know the game sucks even before giving it a chance because he is wearing the wrong jeans".
Why would you risk your company trying to launch a one in million game, vs. just rehashing a theme people are fighting each other for LE spots for sight unseen? It literally makes so little sense it boggles my mind how often this comes up.
I wonder if car forums are full of people saying "why don't the big auto makers sell 3 wheeled cars?". With the perfect stability control, styling and packaging the would sell some!". And I am excited about some 3 wheeled cars (see the new Aptera) but I am not sitting there dumbfounded GM is not hopping on board the 3 wheeled "trend" at this point... "if they really wanted to beat Toyota they would for sure start selling models almost nobody wants". If that sounds absurd it is because it is.