Forums » General
STOP!
Before you throw a hissy fit, this thread redux is NOT about comments wich derailed the previous one. Take your fighting elsewhere.
The original thread raised a valid point and I'd like people to continue discussion on THAT. Nothing else.
On THAT subject, I'd like to resume discussion with this...
I've played VO for some 28 months, almost non-stop, before I ceased playing a few months back. I've been around. Not as long as many others here but long enough to have seen these attendance slumps on more than one occasions.
Generally, early and late in summer are occasions where these slumps have occurred in the past, just like in the winter holiday period.
Thumbly, I wouldn't worry about this slump and I assumed you've been around long enough to have noticed this cycle before but, it's always nice to have confirmation from someone else.
Yes, some long-time players are leaving, some are taking a break, some are waiting for X or Y feature to come back. New players come in all the time, some stay longer and become vets, others leave earlier. In almost 3 years of following VO, I've seen this cycle plenty times.
One recent peak in user activity was caused by a severe discontent of some EvE players who moved in droves around. This might have given some people the false impression that VO had suddenly reached stardom but you have to understand VO doesn't have the same niche as EvE has, because the combat system is vastly different. So, evidently, some of those new players stayed, others left.
The departing users, having come along with that big wave of users from early this summer, does make it look like VO is LOSING big number of players but that isn't really the case. It's just that the last user peak was artificially higher than usual.
Obviously I dont have billing information from Guild Software and can't back this assessment with concrete numbers but as a total VO addict (yes, still today), I can tell you that I check the active players list at LEAST twice a day (and the forums in general, as some have seen me crawl in there once in a while). Every day. And I have two different VO widget for active users too (one in Leopard and one published by one of the players (I dont remember who made that thing and it's not in the info of the widget).
I can tell you that user activity hasn't changed much over the past 3 years.
What could Guild Software do to bring more people has already been discussed many times already. There's not much they can do for now but work on the backend which didn't grow nicely but they're turning the table around somewhat. Performance seems next on their plate (and this is what I've been waiting for really) which will subsequently give much more room for content growth.
If you feel you still have fun in VO, keep on. Keep playing. Get involved, is what I think one should do. Players come and go for various reasons and that's life. In any game or community.
-- Martin-Gilles
Before you throw a hissy fit, this thread redux is NOT about comments wich derailed the previous one. Take your fighting elsewhere.
The original thread raised a valid point and I'd like people to continue discussion on THAT. Nothing else.
On THAT subject, I'd like to resume discussion with this...
I've played VO for some 28 months, almost non-stop, before I ceased playing a few months back. I've been around. Not as long as many others here but long enough to have seen these attendance slumps on more than one occasions.
Generally, early and late in summer are occasions where these slumps have occurred in the past, just like in the winter holiday period.
Thumbly, I wouldn't worry about this slump and I assumed you've been around long enough to have noticed this cycle before but, it's always nice to have confirmation from someone else.
Yes, some long-time players are leaving, some are taking a break, some are waiting for X or Y feature to come back. New players come in all the time, some stay longer and become vets, others leave earlier. In almost 3 years of following VO, I've seen this cycle plenty times.
One recent peak in user activity was caused by a severe discontent of some EvE players who moved in droves around. This might have given some people the false impression that VO had suddenly reached stardom but you have to understand VO doesn't have the same niche as EvE has, because the combat system is vastly different. So, evidently, some of those new players stayed, others left.
The departing users, having come along with that big wave of users from early this summer, does make it look like VO is LOSING big number of players but that isn't really the case. It's just that the last user peak was artificially higher than usual.
Obviously I dont have billing information from Guild Software and can't back this assessment with concrete numbers but as a total VO addict (yes, still today), I can tell you that I check the active players list at LEAST twice a day (and the forums in general, as some have seen me crawl in there once in a while). Every day. And I have two different VO widget for active users too (one in Leopard and one published by one of the players (I dont remember who made that thing and it's not in the info of the widget).
I can tell you that user activity hasn't changed much over the past 3 years.
What could Guild Software do to bring more people has already been discussed many times already. There's not much they can do for now but work on the backend which didn't grow nicely but they're turning the table around somewhat. Performance seems next on their plate (and this is what I've been waiting for really) which will subsequently give much more room for content growth.
If you feel you still have fun in VO, keep on. Keep playing. Get involved, is what I think one should do. Players come and go for various reasons and that's life. In any game or community.
-- Martin-Gilles
....so, there are or will be LESS players than i thought?
And the playerbase, even though it hasnt decreased, after 3 years, it HASNīT increased that much either?
/me is kinda worried : (
And the playerbase, even though it hasnt decreased, after 3 years, it HASNīT increased that much either?
/me is kinda worried : (
If we're loosing players, we could just tighten them up and it'll be all okay.
But, on topic, like clockwork these threads appear. Oh joy. VO isn't going to vanish anytime soon. When the devs are ready they'll advertise the game and then we'd have more than 40 people on at a time, blah blah blah.
Edit: The playerbase has increased over the course of the 4 and something years I've been playing, Shadoen. Slowly, but surely. See above about advertisement.
*Sets his watch for the "Let's advertise for the devs" threads to start showing up.*
But, on topic, like clockwork these threads appear. Oh joy. VO isn't going to vanish anytime soon. When the devs are ready they'll advertise the game and then we'd have more than 40 people on at a time, blah blah blah.
Edit: The playerbase has increased over the course of the 4 and something years I've been playing, Shadoen. Slowly, but surely. See above about advertisement.
*Sets his watch for the "Let's advertise for the devs" threads to start showing up.*
Shadoen, the current VO numbers are just about rock-bottom average. I'd be surprised if it dipped any more.
Expect the number of players to get higher within a couple of weeks, as school resumes and vacations are over.
Expect the number of players to get higher within a couple of weeks, as school resumes and vacations are over.
Yes. VO topped 40 rarely in the time I was here (A few months less than upper case here before I left). I'm the practical sort, so all this talk of "one day" rarely convinces me; when I see it, I'll believe.
Well seeing as VO isn't GOING anywhere, it will experience waves of interest anyway.
I agree players come and go, but the numbers always stay within a wave. Some times lower, like now, sometimes higher.
Shadoen: I been playing since its official release. And the numbers are static. Players do come and go, put the amount of player in the game usually stays constant. I'm sure Guild software has more people paying though. Lots of people, me included, take months off and don't play, but my account is usually current.
Part of me doesn't want thousands of player at a time. We would lose the community feeling that we all share now. Even though we do fight, sometimes a lot, we know everyone and respect them. Even the ones that get on our nerves.
As always i wish guild software well no matter what they do. But i don't mind the "Cheers" aspect of the game. Where everyone knows your name :)
Shadoen: I been playing since its official release. And the numbers are static. Players do come and go, put the amount of player in the game usually stays constant. I'm sure Guild software has more people paying though. Lots of people, me included, take months off and don't play, but my account is usually current.
Part of me doesn't want thousands of player at a time. We would lose the community feeling that we all share now. Even though we do fight, sometimes a lot, we know everyone and respect them. Even the ones that get on our nerves.
As always i wish guild software well no matter what they do. But i don't mind the "Cheers" aspect of the game. Where everyone knows your name :)
"losing" is the word you want.
I am not at liberty to disclose more, but I know that VO's paid membership has continued on an overall growing trend.
I am not at liberty to disclose more, but I know that VO's paid membership has continued on an overall growing trend.
This thread is long and the title was stupid, so I didn't bother reading it, but I DID find a nice youtube video I'm sure is very relevant:
link.
link.
genka -> english translation:
tl;dr (too long; didn't read)
I agree--VO always hits a slow point during the summer (ironically, when most kids are off from school), but previous years have shown that it will pick up again within a month or two.
tl;dr (too long; didn't read)
I agree--VO always hits a slow point during the summer (ironically, when most kids are off from school), but previous years have shown that it will pick up again within a month or two.
Our subscribership is up compared to where it was at this time last year. I'm not terribly concerned about user densities right now. The only real solution is adding new content.. which is exactly what we're trying to do. Our number of subscribers has always oscillated a lot, because our new-user retention isn't very good, hence the above focus.
I appreciate the concern, though.
Also, let's not get too far off on a discussion of the previous thread. Thanks.
I appreciate the concern, though.
Also, let's not get too far off on a discussion of the previous thread. Thanks.
Ideal situation: lots of paying customers who don't actually play the game (and annoy the devs). A win-win, huh? :)
I cleaned up this thread. Stay on topic people.
There are a lot of us who, unable to justify paying for an account with the game in its current state, are still keeping an eye on things while unsubscribed. A lot of the players following in this manner will return at the drop of a hat once there is something to return to.
Thanks Suicidal Lemming :)
well, today's numbers were pretty nice, almost 60 players online.
this time of years is busy simmer is ending and there are alot of things that need to be done, people returning to school need to prepare for that, parents need to get ready for their children returning to school and other people have half finished outdoor projects that need to be wrapped up before it starts getting colder.
Myself I'll become somewhat less active once hunting season starts in late September.
Myself I'll become somewhat less active once hunting season starts in late September.
/me giggles at 'look... no hands' as he tries to kick a rabbit.
[/off topic]
I'm not the least bit worried about Guild's ability to load up the universe once they are happy with the content.
[/off topic]
I'm not the least bit worried about Guild's ability to load up the universe once they are happy with the content.
"/me giggles at 'look... no hands' as he tries to kick a rabbit.
[/off topic]"
I've got teeth too, and I'll be deer hunting.
[/off topic]"
I've got teeth too, and I'll be deer hunting.
As others have said, I have seen this happen before too, active players slow down, then it picks up, then something new arrives and it picks up even more.
/off topic
*rigs up look a gun with voice activation
/off topic
/off topic
*rigs up look a gun with voice activation
/off topic