A single-player campaign, when done well, can be extremely useful to new players as an introduction and walk through of all areas of the game - introducing slightly more features in each scenario and letting a new user get used to the ideas that make up the game. They can also be used to give purpose and structure to a game.
But most of the people demanding the campaign did indicate that they needed someone to explain how to the play the game. No, their main issues stem around the fact that since it possesses an intro or that the manual briefly touches on the abstract of races, that it deserves a campaign. In terms of purpose, the campaign, unless well designed, will be series of bland missions constricting the player to simple task, whilst introducing new units slowly. Again, I don't see the real point of this, but
that is merely my own opinion. There may indeed be benefit in instructing players, but again, no one's really mentioned that. They want a story.
Lots of people seem to be knocking campaigns in general, but I bet the majority of people who buy games actually play through the campaigns.
Of course, since, as I stated, those games feature infinitely small maps, with a few choke points, and one or two bases. They rarely have multiple fronts, a large,expansive playing field, or give you the feeling that you're fighting a real war; more like you're managing a small battalion. No, you just build a base, and churn out units. Victory comes quick and easy in most of the strategy games mentioned. A story, to retain interest, is necessary when considering the usual bland a.i. and limited skirmish maps. A tutorial, if it so desired, could explain almost everything in relatively short amount of time.
Because these are the sort of gamers a game this good should be appealing to?Not necessarily, if some of the user reviews are any indication. I've seen some complaining of slow pace, not enough diversity, or the fact that game doesn't possess enough "pretty" explosions. So, even it possessed a campaign, it's doubtful everyone is going to fall in love with it.
But it'd go a good way to explaining a lot of the fairly subtlities of the game to the more casual gamer who is trying to get into this. Its called cross market appeal.
I think the play style of the game will affect more people than having a campaign, since having campaign is not the primary foundation of a game, nor will it keep people coming back once it's done.
are going to be put off by the steep learning curve and the fact every review I've read has said "Pity it doesn't have a campaign
Hmmm, the IGN review made a good point in regards to this:
"Some people complain that the game doesn't have a single-player story campaign. While I certainly think that a storied campaign would help establish a clearer sense of who each of these races are, what they're capable of, and why they're fighting, the dynamic and unpredictable situations that arise out of the open-ended campaigns are much more engaging than any scripted scenario. I mean, no one complains that Civilization doesn't have a campaign, and I see Sins of a Solar Empire offers a similar, if less varied, approach. The one reason that I think a scripted campaign could have been included is to expand on the rather superficial tutorial."
Again, I could care less if they introduce a campaign, I just don't see why it's so devastating that this game doesn't possess one.
