Turn 2310 - Game over?

[Gran]

Congratulations my friends, we lost a small language zones whole population equivalent... why just not know why it grew and entered decline so fast?

[Doug R.]

The decline is due to a lack of sign ups. The rate of dropouts is fairly constant.

The initial surge in players is the natural result of a new game burning through the population by word of mouth. That fuel's been exhausted, and now dropouts exceed sign-ups. The old font's been tapped out.

[joo]

Here's an idea for an ad that might attract new players:

[Doug R.]

It's an interesting banner, except that you can't make helicopters, and calling it "Massively" multiplayer seems a huge stretch. Is it a stretch? I consider WoW massive.

I'm also wondering what message the banner is supposed to be sending with the established player smacking the newspawn?

Don't get me wrong - I like the concept of the banner, but the content could use some tweaking.

[nkycarbon]

Join a world devoid of Liberal vs. Conservative noise

Cantr II

Meaning is what you bring to it

[joo]

Well I threw in the helicopter engine as a joke, just to get people's interest. And I believe it's technically an MMO since (in theory) an unlimited number of people can play at once. Perhaps it would be better to describe it as Multi-User Dimension though.

[Doug R.]

Meaning is what you bring to it

I like this saying. It sounds profound, and can be taken on multiple levels.

[Gran]

I don't know if massive marketing solely would be enough, as Cantr isn't quite appeasing for many new players so it would still be a limited solution. Making Cantr "cuter" would be nice. And of course, marketing and banners.

[Doug R.]

I don't know if massive marketing solely would be enough, as Cantr isn't quite appeasing for many new players so it would still be a limited solution. Making Cantr "cuter" would be nice. And of course, marketing and banners.

Cute only keeps people around a few days longer. The game fundamentals are what keep us here, and cute won't mask fundamentals that people may find unappealing. I've quit more games because they were cute but very busy/complicated than I've quit because they were ugly. Actually, I've never quit a game because it was ugly. Some of my most favorite games are quite ugly.

That said, another way to keep people here is to have more of a support network for new players. Now, they're left on their own when they start. Yes, there is the forum and irc, but those require extra effort. I think a help request box right in the interface, where a player can correspond with noob helpers, would be a better solution, and it could utilize the existing communications infrastructure. Might end up being more trouble than it's worth though.

[Cdls]

Actually, I've never quit a game because it was ugly. Some of my most favorite games are quite ugly.

That said, another way to keep people here is to have more of a support network for new players. Now, they're left on their own when they start. Yes, there is the forum and irc, but those require extra effort. I think a help request box right in the interface, where a player can correspond with noob helpers, would be a better solution, and it could utilize the existing communications infrastructure. Might end up being more trouble than it's worth though.

I agree that a game should first focus on being functional before improving the "look" and that some of the best games around lack superior visuals.


I think a "help box" would be a good idea, but overall wouldn't that be a bigger strain on the server?

What about putting a link on the main page titled "A noobs guide to Cantr" or something like that with a direct link to the Wiki article. I know it already exists as "(especially check out this page before you begin)" but giving it its own space below "New User" might make it more accessible. I also think the wiki page on new users should be more in depth.

[nkycarbon]

How well does the game look on a mobile phone? (I don't own one because I like to be out of reach)

If it plays ok there then you could mention it on "free games for your phone" kind of sites.

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/ ... 12/st_jsgw

[nkycarbon]

http://www.operamini.com/demo/

[nkycarbon]

http://www.testiphone.com/

[Idriveayugo]

Here's an idea for bringing in new players, lets have people spawn where they are wanted....Like you must build an alter or something and have 2 people actively trying to bring about a newspawn or something.

This I think is the most effective way of introducing people to the game of cantr.

One could argue that newspawns spawning inside of a town with a lot of people, or newspawns spawning in random locations is better, but I disagree.

If newspawns go where they are wanted, people will become more interested in the game.

If newspawns go where they are ignored however, people will think the game is lame.

[DylPickle]

I've been playing quite a bit on my iTouch, when I have access to wi-fi. So people with iPhones can play it pretty damn easily. Other smartphones are probably good too. I think Randi was telling me it's good on Blackberries too, a long while ago.