Torchlight 2: The Missed Opportunity?

[Tranquility]

The months between D3 and GW2 have seemed vacant. I've personally been pretty desperate and delving into indie games that I was too preoccupied to play when they were released...and of course, many hours spent with Dwarf Fortress.

Every day that goes by, they are missing out on this primetime to release their game. In a few weeks, they are going to be competing with Guild Wars 2. A few weeks after that, they are going to be competing with Borderlands 2. Seems to me that means the game is going to kind of get swept under the rug by other, bigger, and more anticipated games.

Fortunately for me, I still haven't preordered, so I'll likely pick it up on the Christmas steam sale for like $4.99. Unfortunate for the game itself, though.

Thoughts?

 

[spartandude]

i agree with you, they have missed a good time to release it, i get it might not be ready yet but the constant set backs have unfortunately put it in an awkward place

 

[Smertnik]

Why would T2 compete with GW2 or Borderlands? They aren't even of the same genre.

 

[Tranquility]

Why would T2 compete with GW2 or Borderlands? They aren't even of the same genre.

You're saying there isn't any overlap of fans of TL and GW2/Borderlands?

Whether they are the same genre or not, one person can only play one game at a time.

 

[Scrustle]

But what if someone doesn't like MMOs or FPSs? What if they want to play a Diablo style RPG instead of those games? Or what if they want to play both?

I don't think those games will hurt Torchlight 2 in the slightest.

 

[Tranquility]

But what if someone doesn't like MMOs or FPSs? What if they want to play a Diablo style RPG instead of those games? Or what if they want to play both?

I don't think those games will hurt Torchlight 2 in the slightest.

Alternatively, what if they do?

 

[Scrustle]

But what if someone doesn't like MMOs or FPSs? What if they want to play a Diablo style RPG instead of those games? Or what if they want to play both?

I don't think those games will hurt Torchlight 2 in the slightest.

Alternatively, what if they do?

Then if they really want to play Torchlight then they'll find the time and money to do so. If they can't, they won't. The same is true of every single game out there. Not everyone wants to or can play everything. It's not like one game is being unfairly treated because other games exist which people also want to play.

 

[Tranquility]

Then if they really want to play Torchlight then they'll find the time and money to do so. If they can't, they won't. The same is true of every single game out there. Not everyone wants to or can play everything. It's not like one game is being unfairly treated because other games exist which people also want to play.

Yeah, I'm fairly certain that I've never suggested that any game is being unfairly treated.

Are you suggesting that games don't get overlooked by the masses because bigger games are released at the same time?

 

[Smertnik]

You're saying there isn't any overlap of fans of TL and GW2/Borderlands?

There's always overlap since hardly anyone plays only one kind of game but I don't quite see how this'd affect anything, considering how little those games have in common. It's not like you'd say 'Meh, I already have B2, GW2 or whatever else so there's no point in playing T2', they're all inherently different games, after all.

Whether they are the same genre or not, one person can only play one game at a time.

Really? I switch between games rather often, I don't think I ever played only one game exclusively.

 

[Tranquility]

There's always overlap since hardly anyone plays only one kind of game but I don't quite see how this'd affect anything, considering how little those games have in common.

Well, I mean, I for one am not going to buy TL2 for awhile if they release at the same time as other games I'm looking forward to. I know for a fact I'm not the only one, as my roommate is not going to either.

Acting like the games have nothing in common is a bit obtuse. They are all different kinds of RPGs. We aren't comparing the latest Final Fantasy with the latest Battlefield. Yes, I'm well aware that some people don't like MMOs, and that some people cut their wrists or something if they have to shoot a gun in a game. But acting like that is the entire audience of TL2 is just being willfully ignorant.

It simply will take a hit to sales releasing at the same time as other highly anticipated games. How big of hit it will take is the question. Maybe it will only sell 10% less than if it was released in the past 2 months. Maybe more, I don't know. But just plugging your ears, closing your eyes, and trying to say it won't have any impact at all is just silly.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

You're saying there isn't any overlap of fans of TL and GW2/Borderlands?

There's always overlap since hardly anyone plays only one kind of game but I don't quite see how this'd affect anything, considering how little those games have in common. It's not like you'd say 'Meh, I already have B2, GW2 or whatever else so there's no point in playing T2', they're all inherently different games, after all.

Whether they are the same genre or not, one person can only play one game at a time.

Really? I switch between games rather often, I don't think I ever played only one game exclusively.

You've never heard of bigger titles just leaving smaller ones in the dust? Happens quite a lot really, even in different genres. :/

OT: I think it is a fairly odd decision. It's still going to sell well no doubt, just like the first one, but if they released it around now or a bit earlier it'd probably have been the best for them.

 

[Scrustle]

Then if they really want to play Torchlight then they'll find the time and money to do so. If they can't, they won't. The same is true of every single game out there. Not everyone wants to or can play everything. It's not like one game is being unfairly treated because other games exist which people also want to play.

Yeah, I'm fairly certain that I've never suggested that any game is being unfairly treated.

Are you suggesting that games don't get overlooked by the masses because bigger games are released at the same time?

Well the fact that you singled out Torchlight specifically seems to show that you think that it's in some kind of exceptional position. I argue it's not. In fact it may even be in a rather good position because of the bad taste Diablo 3 left in a lot of people's mouths. People are looking around for similar games that don't disappoint them. In fact haven't the creators of Torchlight themselves said that Diablo 3 has been good for them since it's drawn attention to their game?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Why would T2 compete with GW2 or Borderlands? They aren't even of the same genre.

Games always compete for our time, and big releases always eclipse anything smaller coming behind them.
Sure the Torchlight faithful will buy it either way but for the general public it will be pushed out of view and it will hurt sales.

Not sure what the delay is because the initial plan was to come out even before Diablo 3, I hope this means greater content because the first one was mighty slim on that.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Yeah...they said the best time to release the game would be one month after Diablo 3 released because that's when the market would be 'primed'.

Then...they didn't.

 

[WoW Killer]

I'm in the same position actually. I'll be playing Guild Wars 2 at the end of the month, and then Borderlands 2 after that. I imagine I'll be swapping between the two for a good few months thereafter, and I don't see myself buying another game until Christmas time. If TL2 was out right now I'd be playing it in the weeks up till that GW2 release. Diablo 3 is just about worn out, so it would have been the perfect time to fit a new game in for me (I've ended up playing through Borderlands again instead; what a fucking good game that was).

So yeah, I don't know to what extent this goes for other gamers, but TC described me pretty well ^^. If TL2 was out right now I'd have bought it. As it stands, I won't be buying it until Christmas at least.

 

[ChildishLegacy]

Well I've already preordered Torchlight 2 with an 'earlier month's money' so I have no qualms with buying guild wars 2 and having Torchlight 2 anyway, but Guild Wars 2 will probably end up stealing the spotlight when it comes to playtime for me.

 

[Senor Smoke21]

Me and my friend were looking at Torchlight 2 to put us over until GW2 as we can't afford D3 and it's a shame that it's not out yet.
God I can't wait for GW2 to come out, such a gaming drought this time of year.

 

[ramboondiea]

different genre, costs about a third the price of the others, a load of pre-orders already in place...... yeah i think the game is going to do just fine, I am eagerly waiting for it now, I reckon its a September releases and I am going to play the crap out of it.

A lot of work as gone into torchlight, its going to be a good game, people will see this and will likely buy it, so no its not a missed opportunity, its a company that doesn't want to rush it game just because they may get a few more sales, its a company that wants to release the best damn game they can. and i hope it works out for runic.

 

[Norrdicus]

Not sure what the delay is because the initial plan was to come out even before Diablo 3, I hope this means greater content because the first one was mighty slim on that.

The cause of delay? The game's simply not finished. Just few days ago the Runic president Travis Baldree said that he has finished polishing Act 2 (out of 3.5)

Also, yes, there will be far more content. It was evident if you were playing the open beta, plus Baldree made this picture

Spoiler