If a game, or genre, isn t profitable, it won t succeed. With programming talent in short supply, game development costs rising and increased competition for shelf space, only the strong will survive. That end-run is online gaming. Warbirds and Fighter Ace never competed against retail games, yet these have somehow managed to avoid the layoffs, killed projects and bad publicity of their retail brethren. Because Warbirds is profitable.
Nobody kills the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Because Falcon 4.0 wasn t profitable. The Online Process Online game development has many advantages. Game companies can develop a prototype game, push it to market and test the waters without committing fully to the game. If the game fails to pique any interest, they cease development. If the game looks promising save for a few minor flaws, the game can be continually tweaked even after release.