The whole world revolves around money, and why should a game developer be any different.
What makes the difference is the company culture.
Example 1: Digital Illusions and 2015 rocked the world with Battlefield 1942 and Medal of Honor Allied Assault.
Nowadays, EA has completely taken over the task of building "their" games and produced a number
of sequel games NOT better than the originals. Reason; money.
Example 2: Thirdwire has made Strike Fighters: Project One, Wings over Vietnam and Wings over Europe.
It could have milked out the popular basic game. Instead they tweaked it, built First Eagles and Wings over Israel
and always gave the freedom to the community to built oodles of add-ons. THAT is the way to create
a crowd of followers, THAT is the real way to make games.
In my view most game developers who create simulation games belong to the category as described in example 2,
because it is known simulations never are blockbusters but are still made for the small crowd. Therefore it is
safe to say that the main drive is NOT money, or they should have made crappy FPS's instead!
I do not know how long you are dwelling the simulation forums, Rugrat, but you should take the effort in
really discovering this site in order to see what potential a small company as Thirdwire has given the community
to make something fun and nice, with games costing almost half what giants like Activision, Ubisoft and EA ask.
There will always be something to complain about, but the last time I checked there wasn't a man from a game
company behind me forcing me to buy and play a game....
So, concluded, enjoy the games, enjoy the add-ons, enjoy the forum.
Muesli