Why is the community population declining?

[ryoken]

I think this is a difficult situation. Many people are bored and this is a factor. Availability of the game is becoming a problem - legal availability anyway - we're going to try to do something about this too. I'm hoping we can use the demo FL version as a basis for discovery and thus allow anybody to more or less legally play it.

Steam and green man gaming both offer Freelancer for a very fair price for those who want a legal copy. I myself still have original disk from wayyyyy back.

What can we change to reverse this trend? Why are people leaving?

This right here. If people start with this attitude then there is a chance. For everyone out there that wants to complain and point and all the things that are being done wrong I will ask again, what are YOU doing to make this better. Every person who plays this game has the opportunity to improve role play, reach out to more players, and find new ways to make the game interesting. Are you doing this? If all you are doing is complaining in these threads and expecting other people to "fix" the game, don't spend too much time waiting.

You say people do not offer to help?
Sorry some of us have offered to help, and tried to help for many MANY years now. Thing is admins, and devs are only players who can really do a dam thing, and if your not thier skype pals then you are shut out, and ignored.
You claim i am very negative here. Ever wonder why? Could it be certain faction Leaders shut me out when i offer to help them? Could it be certain factions change rep ninja's to suit Thier RP, and screw the hundreds of indies without even asking thier oppinions?
Could it be admins/devs giving their pals on skype thier own secret factions, and ships over the years, while shafting any indie who does not want to join thier faction RP?
You been here a long time Hawk, and i used to respect you, but you should look at the above, and ask yourself just how many of these things you have done/fall under.
I would love to help Disco, but i have got 0 power to do so. I am no ones pal on Skype, Hell i deleted it. So i will never get any.
I have posted topics where many agreed with what i sugest, only to have admins lock it in past.
All the admins refuse to put a max to pirating demands, so go figure you get griefer pirates looking for blue messages, and traders going for the F1s. Hell i have seen pirates demand 100mil, and trader F1 saying the fine will in no way be more expensive.

So seriously admins/devs. Get off your thrones, and take a look at what you have done in past and ask yourselves. DID I EVER SHOW FAVORTISM TO ANYONE, OR ANY ONE GROUP/FACTION?
Then you might just understand why many are leaving, and why many rage.

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