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[atyourservice]

Random thought that came to mind: No matter how good your game is, if you're in the truck simulator genre, you automatically lose mindshare to one specific game/franchise.

*The* Flight simulator, despite there being several different flight simulator games
*The* farming simulator, *The* car mechanic simulator, and so on.

Now, and for all time, you will have to put in that much more effort to distinguish your game. SEO optimization is also heavily favoured toward whichever game has the name

I understand first mover advantage is fair and expected in a free market, but it's still kind of a uniquely shit position to be in.
Relatively minor though. A name only goes so far.

 

[jufonuk]

 

[lh032]

its niche i guess.

 

[RaZoR No1]

its niche i guess.

It is so niche, that nobody cares.
How many Farming Simulator games do we have?
AFAIK 2
Flight Sims?
Currently one?
Therefore there is no need to fight for those games

Look at games like train Sim
we have train world etc.
If someone wants to make a good sim, than they do not need the name Simulator.
Of course it helps, but is not needed.

 

[RagnarokIV]

Sausage Gangster Simulator

 

[Kacho]

I will never understand the appeal of farming simulator. Like, wtf... lol

 

[Wildebeest]

I believe flight simulator is a generic term and Microsoft don't defend it. It's called "Microsoft Flight Simulator". I don't know if Microsoft would bother making "Microsoft Farming Simulator" but I think they could if they really wanted to.

 

[Sorcerer]

To literally have any interest in the genre of flight simulation, farm simulation, etc, etc, you literally have to think about the specific genre as a whole and repeat those words to yourself. It does not matter what another company names there game you have to think about those words when seeking out other alternatives anyway.
So those who got there first in a stroke of genius get free marketing that cannot be avoided. Generic is a big win in this case because there is no other way to describe these games.

 

[Hrk69]

 

[SHA]

I think it's less risky this way, devs wanna stay in one place and never feel they have somewhere else to do the unlearning process, it's for technical /business reasons.

 

[Diseased Yak]

I will never understand the appeal of farming simulator. Like, wtf... lol

Can't speak for everyone, but as someone with almost 1000 hours in Farming Simulator 22 alone, I can say it's a very relaxing game for me. Sort of like grinding in Diablo, in FS you plant crops, tend them, harvest, etc. Raise cows, chickens, produce milk and eggs, use those to make things, the list goes on and on.
I just chill with it, and enjoy the loop.

 

[atyourservice]

its niche i guess.

It is so niche, that nobody cares.
How many Farming Simulator games do we have?
AFAIK 2
Flight Sims?
Currently one?
Therefore there is no need to fight for those games

Look at games like train Sim
we have train world etc.
If someone wants to make a good sim, than they do not need the name Simulator.
Of course it helps, but is not needed.

I understand your point, but I don't think the genre being niche is relevant. To the people who care about it, the discoverability of a game is important.

I also considered that maybe a tiny part of the reason we don't hear about Professional farmer or Agricultural Simulator are that they really just don't have an equal name ground. Of course, none of them seem anywhere near as polished as 'Farming simulator', which probably doesn't help.

There *is* a point to be made that none of them offer the depth of features or graphical realism to claim the definitive name of 'x simulator', but eh

 

[FoxMcChief]

 

[Cakeboxer]

Random thought that came to mind: No matter how good your game is, if you're in the truck simulator genre, you automatically lose mindshare to one specific game/franchise.

*The* Flight simulator, despite there being several different flight simulator games
*The* farming simulator, *The* car mechanic simulator, and so on.

Now, and for all time, you will have to put in that much more effort to distinguish your game. SEO optimization is also heavily favoured toward whichever game has the name

I understand first mover advantage is fair and expected in a free market, but it's still kind of a uniquely shit position to be in.
Relatively minor though. A name only goes so far.

As someone who tried severay tarming games: It's simply the best and from what i've seen i think MFS is also the best in it's genre.

 

[IAmRei]

Reminds me into something, Monster Hunter, a game like no other (i know there are lot of clones before, but now as far as I recall, like no others)
That's also Kart as well. mario karts defines kart racing genre as well.

but all two above, not so explicit like what You mentioned.
well yeah, thanks for food for though

 

[atyourservice]

Y'know, now that I think about it, it probably helps the genre that Euro truck simulator was initially limited to european cities. Just having Euro in the name gives other games a chance

 

[intbal]

I'm officially reserving Nose Hair Trimmer Simulator.
None of the AAA publishers will be able to use it.
Can't wait to exploit my monopoly.

 

[atyourservice]

I believe flight simulator is a generic term and Microsoft don't defend it. It's called "Microsoft Flight Simulator". I don't know if Microsoft would bother making "Microsoft Farming Simulator" but I think they could if they really wanted to.

Yeah, good point. Adding this to my note about euro truck sim above kinda negates the whole thread now that I think about. There isn't really a single 'Truck sim' or a 'Flight sim' game dominating the genre. Just Microsoft flight sim and Euro truck sim

 

[SJRB]

If you come for the king, you best not miss.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

SEO (before googled destroyed their Search product...you know google.com) was an avenue for publishers/developers to mitigate the impact of stuff like this.

But those days are gone, or at least it is MUCH harder IMO (not a professional marketing person...but we've had to deal with it when releasing stuff).

For me, I think Steam does a good job of suggesting adjacent/similar products when I search for a specific game....but that's from years of pressing "IGNORE" on game pages.

 

[BlitzerRadic]

Random thought that came to mind: No matter how good your game is, if you're in the truck simulator genre, you automatically lose mindshare to one specific game/franchise.

*The* Flight simulator, despite there being several different flight simulator games
*The* farming simulator, *The* car mechanic simulator, and so on.

Now, and for all time, you will have to put in that much more effort to distinguish your game. SEO optimization is also heavily favoured toward whichever game has the name

I understand first mover advantage is fair and expected in a free market, but it's still kind of a uniquely shit position to be in.
Relatively minor though. A name only goes so far.

They dont have a monopoly. If someone wanted to use words "x simulator" as the name of their x simulator, they can.

 

[jufonuk]

 

[Punished Miku]

I will never understand the appeal of farming simulator. Like, wtf... lol

I unironically love Lawn Mowing Simulator and got all the DLC.

 

[Sorcerer]

I will never understand the appeal of farming simulator. Like, wtf... lol

It's about living the life you don't live. That can have a great appeal. I would be scared shitless to be in control of a Plane in real life, but would have no problem being a wannabe behind a computer monitor.

 

[Kacho]

I unironically love Lawn Mowing Simulator and got all the DLC.

That's one I always wanted to try. I enjoyed Power Wash simulator. Very satisfying and the DLC is excellent.

 

[Skifi28]

I would imagine "truck simulator" is not taken as both SCS games are "European truck simulator" and "American truck simulator" so you can probably use it combined with your own random word.

"Proctal truck simulator" or something.

 

[Games of Today]

Just like Afrika on PS3 is still the only actual photo safari simulation game? Lmao

 

[Slothbeing1209]

Goat Simulator

 

[Loomy]

The game that best balances realistic simulation and fun gameplay usually wins. I think if you care about flight simulation, you are aware of the 3 best options in the sub genre depending on what you're looking for.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

That's one I always wanted to try. I enjoyed Power Wash simulator. Very satisfying and the DLC is excellent.

Once they started adding fictional locations that game stopped being a simulator.
I want my money back.

Also, I have heard from reliable sources that being a goat is nothing like the so called "simulator" implies!

 

[notseqi]

Random thought that came to mind: No matter how good your game is, if you're in the truck simulator genre, you automatically lose mindshare to one specific game/franchise.

*The* Flight simulator, despite there being several different flight simulator games
*The* farming simulator, *The* car mechanic simulator, and so on.

Now, and for all time, you will have to put in that much more effort to distinguish your game. SEO optimization is also heavily favoured toward whichever game has the name

I understand first mover advantage is fair and expected in a free market, but it's still kind of a uniquely shit position to be in.
Relatively minor though. A name only goes so far.

because you didnt do it first
now you have to name your train simulator 'steel horse fucker' and your farm sim 'dirty dicks mud slinger'

or, you know, assetto corsa, gran turismo, beamNG etc pp