‘I had to face a harsh truth.’ The creator of 4X strategy game World Warfare & Economics rebuilt it from the ground up to ‘do right by the players who believed in this game’

by

Typically, larger game developers are held accountable when their new releases fail. However, after Concord’s poor performance, Sony didn’t make an effort to salvage it; instead, they refunded every purchase. It wasn’t the best solution, but at least they took action. On the other hand, Civilization 7 had a rocky beginning with mostly negative early access feedback, but after some revisions and assurances, its Steam rating is gradually getting better.

Now, let’s consider smaller teams or even individual developers. When their heartfelt projects don’t succeed, most simply walk away. However, one developer chose a different path.

A messy launch with a lot of potential

This geopolitical simulator, named World Warfare & Economics, allows you to control any nation and sculpt its destiny. You’ll manage resources, trade, and taxes, engage in live combat, handle international diplomacy, and respond to ever-changing global events. Sounds perfect for strategy enthusiasts, doesn’t it? However, its Steam reviews might paint a different picture.

The game debuted on Steam’s Early Access platform in December 2023, however, it hasn’t attracted many players so far. The mixed feedback from reviewers didn’t aid its growth, with numerous complaints that while the idea was intriguing, the actual implementation was disorganized – featuring complex mechanics that were hard to understand, faulty systems, and excessive control requirements that made it difficult to play smoothly.

To sum up most of the negative reviews, candiedaphid puts it bluntly:

TLDR; Nothing works, everything is on fire.

A road to redemption

As a devoted admirer, I’ve seen how the team at Okron Studio tirelessly released updates for months post-launch. However, reading through the reviews, it seemed these efforts hardly made an impact. In the end, they bravely chose to discard all their work and embark on a fresh journey from ground zero.

As more time went by, and specifically on March 1st, 2025, Lotous21 – the primary developer of the game “World Warfare & Economics” – fulfilled his promise by rolling out a significant update. This update fundamentally transformed the entire game. In his announcement, he stated:

Reflecting on last December 2023, I unveiled a game that brimmed with enthusiasm and anticipation. However, in hindsight, it turned out to be a nightmare of bugs – causing frustration, disappointment, and justified anger among many of you.

As a dedicated enthusiast, I diligently perused each and every comment, evaluation, and feedback that came my way. It wasn’t merely a casual scan for me; I immersed myself in them, allowing their essence to resonate deeply within me. Months rolled by, and after numerous attempts at rectification through patches, the bittersweet realization dawned upon me – a stark truth that could no longer be ignored:

The game needed more than just patches. It needed to be rebuilt from the ground up.

At that moment, I had a choice. I could abandon it, start fresh with a new project, and try to move on… or I could own my mistakes, stay true to my word, and do right by the players who believed in this game.

Opted for the challenging yet correct route – instead of creating a fresh game and asking for payment once more, I decided to overhaul everything comprehensively and offer it as a complimentary upgrade. There’s no additional fee, no hidden strategies, just me delivering what I should have done from the very beginning.

In just a short while, we’ve seen numerous positive comments pouring in, with veteran players expressing their appreciation for the significant improvements made to the game. The game’s depth and economic systems are robust, although it could benefit from some further refinement. Now, it seems like an investment that was truly worthwhile. Additionally, many reviews commend the developer for their dedication to the project, as they diligently read through every comment.

This game shows a thoughtful creator who prioritizes enhancing user experience. Such dedication speaks volumes to me. It’s not just about its high quality, but the evident effort put into it. If you are drawn towards political games or grand strategy, then this title is definitely worth giving a shot.

-athf2024

Some players feel that the game lacks a comprehensive tutorial and needs more polishing before it’s fully ready. However, it’s encouraging to see a strong foundation laid down by the developers, and we hope they continue to improve the game based on player feedback.

Read More

2025-03-03 15:32