There are a number of things that all of us players can do to help improve the game without spending more of our own money.

- mentoring new players to get them started
- organizing and running in-game events
- participating in events
- giving the developers helpful suggestions
- maintaining active guilds for a variety of interests where like-minded players can find group of on-line friends

Put simply, we all have the ability to make this a fun place to be, which means experienced players continue to play, and more new players decide to hang around.

In addition to focusing on retention, we can demonstrate the game to friends and conduct other forms of grass-roots marketing that will increase the rate at which new players join.

As an example of something that I hope will increase "fun", see: http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/7/13423.

Well said!

Very nice...

/me *salutes*

AKA Estenk

I agree entirely with screwball's observations, particularly with regard to player organised events.

I tried to run an event once but it was a catastrophic, utter failure.
(Anyone remember the "The Mining Madness Scavenger Hunt of Death?" Yeah, thought not. Well, Maso did 'cause he lost like all of his XangXi standing.)

Anyway, yeah we need more people instead of me who can actually RUN things do do fun stuff. Screwball and Obsidian and Monk and Miharu and triple J are good at this kind of thing.

Oooh but I'm really good at giving the devs "suggestions."

I'm not sure about the 'mentoring' feature. For me, passing on knowledge doesn't require a special status, I just do it whenever a new player asks a question, without asking for a reward or going through the mentoring routine.

I will post a more detailed critique of the current system in the suggestions forum.

Tosh, mentoring newbs doesn't necessarily imply the use of the 'mentor feature'. Mentoring newbs is one of the most important things you can do, because a well-informed newb who has recieved generous assistance from the players is FAR more likely to pay for the game than one that is not. That's all it really comes down to when Screw mentions mentoring.

I remember that event Leber. We found out that several systems were entirely devoid of any good ore, after several hours of exploring. *_*

At least, in non bot sectors, but whatever.

Hear hear. Player organised events are great :D

Dihelical Synthesis, agreed. But with the presence of the mentoring system, I was mislead and thought he meant that. Of course teaching new players is the way to go. As said, I have been doing so as soon as I had played the game long enough.

Also, bringing people from RL (friends and alike) helps alot too ^-^

/me points at his t-shirts

I remember the mining madness and I thought it was fun. I salute those who orginized and ran the event. I thought it was a good event all in all and I wouldn't mind seeing it again. I hope you guys consider doing more events, according to your level of interest in doing them (don't over extend your selves).

Yes...everyone sign up for the "Donate $$$$ to Smittens" event, hosted nightly!

Smittens you left VO, remember?

Yeah, GET! Shoo! Skedaddle!

/me whines "Make it go away!"

-Calder