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progen · 09-30-2014, 03:00 PM

I was one who bought this game the day it was available, but having said that, I have owned several very successful companies throughout my career, and also am a consultant to both established and start up companies. I also "guest speak" at several colleges in my area, mostly addressing entrepreneurs, and hopefully some of my advice will help them along the way.

Anyway, the point of this post, is that I now use the disastrous rollout of this game, as how to avoid mistakes when starting a business, rolling out a new product, etc. Of course, in no way do I mention the name, and in fact I only say it's a software company rolling out a new software product. I don't even mention it's a gaming company. Being a huge supporter of OOTP, that's not what I would do.

I do discuss the "rushing" out of an unfinished product, missed deadlines for patches, trying to hit a "homerun" immediately, instead of starting out small, and getting those "features" right first. The terrible lack of communication with their clients, the fact that when the next version is rolled out, a "discount" should be given to those first time, "loyal" buyers, etc. And then I give them a small "task" to do, what would have they done, etc., and then lastly, HOW will you bring these clients back to spend their money on a "second version". It is amazing first of all, how many heads shake when I'm describing this scenario. One student came up to me afterward one night, and ask "this was just a hypothetical situation right?", no company would really do it this badly? I just grinned and said yea, right! Over the years of doing this now, without a doubt, the example that FHM has provided me, generates some of the best classroom discussion on a topic like this ever!!

But on the flipside, I do tell them that thanks to the excellent reputation of the main corporation, this subsidiary may survive. It will just take some huge vision for the rollout of the next product, and some business savvy on how to "retain" the original client base. I think that is a definite possibility, and have seen it in businesses that I've worked with in the past.

09-30-2014, 03:00 PM	#16
progen All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,530 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	I was one who bought this game the day it was available, but having said that, I have owned several very successful companies throughout my career, and also am a consultant to both established and start up companies. I also "guest speak" at several colleges in my area, mostly addressing entrepreneurs, and hopefully some of my advice will help them along the way. Anyway, the point of this post, is that I now use the disastrous rollout of this game, as how to avoid mistakes when starting a business, rolling out a new product, etc. Of course, in no way do I mention the name, and in fact I only say it's a software company rolling out a new software product. I don't even mention it's a gaming company. Being a huge supporter of OOTP, that's not what I would do. I do discuss the "rushing" out of an unfinished product, missed deadlines for patches, trying to hit a "homerun" immediately, instead of starting out small, and getting those "features" right first. The terrible lack of communication with their clients, the fact that when the next version is rolled out, a "discount" should be given to those first time, "loyal" buyers, etc. And then I give them a small "task" to do, what would have they done, etc., and then lastly, HOW will you bring these clients back to spend their money on a "second version". It is amazing first of all, how many heads shake when I'm describing this scenario. One student came up to me afterward one night, and ask "this was just a hypothetical situation right?", no company would really do it this badly? I just grinned and said yea, right! Over the years of doing this now, without a doubt, the example that FHM has provided me, generates some of the best classroom discussion on a topic like this ever!! But on the flipside, I do tell them that thanks to the excellent reputation of the main corporation, this subsidiary may survive. It will just take some huge vision for the rollout of the next product, and some business savvy on how to "retain" the original client base. I think that is a definite possibility, and have seen it in businesses that I've worked with in the past.