(07-17-2021, 03:02 PM)LuckyOne Wrote: Let's face it, it's an old game / mod, the numbers are right where you would expect them.
I think people tell themselves that a lot here, but it seems more so that there are a few other ways we're not fully utilizing the potential playerbase. There needs to be some serious changes finally to really open up the flow here again. Not allowing much open ended activity or player driven story impact is the number one reason the place can't grow or evolve to survive. Too many rules (proven to be outdated useless rules) also prevent growth and interest. It's a dark cloud that's been lingering here for years.
Not only should they send out a mass email, but it would be amazing if it included an announcement that they're adding new activities and player driven capabilities to refresh the experience. Certain changes to make new open ended activity would end the dread and hopeless feeling and people would be more inclined to log on anytime of day, any day of the week, like it was years ago.
Part of the problem is that it often seems pointless to log and fly most of the time, and it is. There's no open ended system that keeps activity cyclycal and fresh, and the depth of the ongoing immersion drops. It creates a chain reaction of disinterest. Unlike years ago when people saw players were online in a place like Tau-23 and would log to join in the ongoing battle. My suggested Faction Challenge System is designed to ensure a never ending 24/7 purpose for players within the online environment (just saying).
But the current system suppresses activity outside of weekend peak hours, instead of promoting it. The current mode of locking out player usage of game resources/locations combined with fixed storyline undercuts an enormous amount of potential player activity, and we're in a constant state of suppressed involvement. If they make a few changes creating some real opportunities we could modernize the game in no time with nothing more than rule changes and the addition of one new staff routine. Send a notice out saying that big changes are coming and I'll bet you'll see numbers start going up within weeks.
As an example, the removal of Aland Shipyard by story throws away an immeasurable amount of activity. (Where Gallia could not succeed, the Molly's do with an act of terrorism?) People would have fought battles and roleplayed for alliances, for jobs, etc, on top of potential supply and associated gameplay [if player factions could request to challenge for control of a base in an organized way, like earnable sieges to change control of a base]. In other words, we skipped weeks of potential 24/7 gameplay and RP by removing the station rather than let players make use of it in that way. So its no wonder the server is far more inactive than it was years ago. If we really wanted to allow for higher average player population, that has to change.