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Player Population And Retention. Here Are Some Ideas.

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#101 TheBlackMegadeus

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 07:28 PM

View PostBlitxll, on 27 April 2016 - 07:18 PM, said:


Is there a referral system? cause I couldn't find one.


none so far :[

#102 Deathlike

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 07:40 PM

View PostDEN_Ninja, on 27 April 2016 - 06:29 PM, said:

To Deathlike, you while I disagree with you make some valid arguments and while it is backed by anecdotal experience. Winning is determined by many things and while it is fair to say that the lack of teamwork is the essential reason for why large groups can still lose you forget that argument is can be used for casual and pug groups because overall a team that has more people will often or can be far more coordinated then a casual or pug group. You forget that casual or pug groups innately have for more disorganization because they are complemented of people who DON'T play with each other.


All I expect that when you're told to push, you push. If there's a mech you can double or triple team, you should.

None of the stuff being taught is the most complicated nor requires being in a unit to know this. Yet, I see people doing everything BUT the simple fundamental basics in MWO.

Maybe I'm asking for too much, but if you actually want to be a good teammate or good team player that isn't going to go all out, at the very least... DO THE SIMPLE THINGS RIGHT.

There's literally very few complicated strats executed in the pub queues ever, and yet the reason for losing is mostly the basic stuff.

I dunno, I don't expect greatness...I simply expect competence and there's very little of that to be seen.

#103 Silas7

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 08:03 PM

LoL

You expect nubs that panic when the lrms start raining and the AC's start rattling your cockpit to have the confidence to push? They're just trying to grind some c-bills for gods sake, and not die within the first 3 minutes of the match. It's like you expect people to have been given a real tutorial on basic Lance tactics.

#104 N0MAD

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 08:22 PM

View PostDeathlike, on 27 April 2016 - 07:40 PM, said:


All I expect that when you're told to push, you push. If there's a mech you can double or triple team, you should.

None of the stuff being taught is the most complicated nor requires being in a unit to know this. Yet, I see people doing everything BUT the simple fundamental basics in MWO.

Maybe I'm asking for too much, but if you actually want to be a good teammate or good team player that isn't going to go all out, at the very least... DO THE SIMPLE THINGS RIGHT.
d strats executed in the pub queues ever, and yet the reason for losing is mostly the basic stuff.
There's literally very few complicate

I dunno, I don't expect greatness...I simply expect competence and there's very little of that to be seen.

See brother, look at your last sentence..YOU expect, well let me fill you in on a little secret, not all people play or want to play like you, and they, having paid same as you want to play how they want not how you expect them to play and that doesnt make them incompetent, noobs, scrubs or anything else.
You wana write essays on balance//tactics etc, want to become leet, want to devote your life to the game? sure go ahead, dont EXPECT others to do the same.
No where in the Eula was it written that people had to become hardcore groupy neckbeards to play this game when i signed up, has it changed since then?

#105 Mechwarrior Buddah

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 08:25 PM

View PostSilas7, on 27 April 2016 - 08:03 PM, said:

and the AC's start rattling your cockpit


lol my favorite example of this is running any mech with just 2 ac2s. Back in CB, damn near the first few days actually, when Id shoot someone with them, and watch them jump around like Id dislodged a bee's nest in their cockpit

#106 Deathlike

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 08:34 PM

View PostN0MAD, on 27 April 2016 - 08:22 PM, said:

See brother, look at your last sentence..YOU expect, well let me fill you in on a little secret, not all people play or want to play like you, and they, having paid same as you want to play how they want not how you expect them to play and that doesnt make them incompetent, noobs, scrubs or anything else.
You wana write essays on balance//tactics etc, want to become leet, want to devote your life to the game? sure go ahead, dont EXPECT others to do the same.
No where in the Eula was it written that people had to become hardcore groupy neckbeards to play this game when i signed up, has it changed since then?


See, the thing is...

I hate the solo queue. I still play it.

I expect very little from the teammates that are there. I mean, once in a while you see someone epic, try to follow and help them, and still lose. It's what I expect.

In the group queue however, I'd like to think people bother trying to regroup, try to focus fire... try not to do dumb things (it'll still happen, but at least come to help shoot the same target as much as possible).

These are the things you should reasonably expect in the group queue. If working together is OP, then should it not be a goal to work together? There's nothing less complicated than that.

#107 Johnny Z

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 08:51 PM

View PostN0MAD, on 27 April 2016 - 07:10 PM, said:

You are all kidding yourselfs about pop numbers..
The Steam numbers were greatly inflated by vets attaching old account to steam to Counter the bitter vets, they stated this on this very forum.
Current player numbers are inflated by people having multiple accounts, again stated by many on this forum.
I would bet most of you would have or have made multiple accounts for one reason or another..
So real players numbers? im betting they are a lot less than you think..
Increasing the Player base depends alot on word of mouth,, Base is not growing steam shows you this so word of mouth cant be good.
Retention is due to quality of game for new players that aint happening either..
Alot of players hung around for the last year waiting on the all new all engrossing phase3 of Beta Gw/FW.
Im expecting another downward trend in numbers because of the success of phase 3 FW.


The argument about group cap is irrelevant because most players are in solo queue anyway. Group cap is only related to faction play because if they split the queues between group and not group in faction play or make it 12 v 12 split then its just more of the same problems this game has already had. It is a tough problem though, even if the heart of the matter has been mostly missed so far in this topic.

This quote about player pop and alts and such is partly right. All Steam games take a dive in player numbers even 10/10 games with very positive player opinion like Fallout 4. This game has a positive player opinion also.

Increasing player pop is maybe word of mouth but the single biggest factor on Steam is being front page. This games player pop would go through the roof with one high budget intro and being on front page for a month. Obviously other advertising routes are available to. Its no mystery. I don't think this game is going in that direction until it is fully baked though so everyone should quit panicking. :)

The most accurate reply in this topic was from the guy that said this game is half baked. :)


- A few other things about groups. This game tried 12 v 12 groups only queue. It did not work.

- Do the math.

- This game is putting a lot of effort into making large groups work by putting them up against smaller groups. Also creating content that only groups can take part in. A lot of effort is going into the entire group thing so complaining to the contrary is just wrong.



Personally I don't like split queues, never did. Player experience/skill and cheats created more stomps in this game than large groups ever did multiplied by 1,000,000.

Edited by Johnny Z, 27 April 2016 - 09:34 PM.


#108 Brimbooze

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Posted 27 April 2016 - 09:27 PM

View PostZakerystrife, on 27 April 2016 - 08:05 AM, said:

...

Building a mech from salvage would cost c-bills, but a considerable amount less than buying the mech new. Also the parts would be pretty rare, so it would take a long time to collect these parts. We have more ideas for salvage and the factory, these are only examples. But you must remember this is a game, we believe it would make it more fun for the casuals / new players.



...


You have a lot of great ideas there, but I think out of all of them this is my favorite. This would go a long way towards helping with the immersion of the game.

A+ suggestions here

#109 Endimra

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 06:09 AM

In addition to removing the skill tree, I'll add my voice to those requesting a global chat which everyone is automatically placed into. It would help, I think, with the first mech purchase issue. After all, what's simpler?

Discovering the forums, finding metamechs, doing research and possibly making a thread asking for advice,

or,

[Global]Seal420: what medium should i buy?
[Global]Endimra: The Vindicator Blackjack 1X is currently considered the best for your money.

The latter would take about 10 seconds, and would be easily accessible, whereas the former could take over half an hour, and require significant leg-work.

Global chat offers a ton of other benefits, but giving new players a way to actually ask for help outside of matches would, I think, make a pretty big difference.

#110 Roughneck Cobra

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 06:11 AM

Global chat with MWO's toxic playerbase, can tell this threads lone fighters already.

#111 Endimra

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 06:16 AM

View PostStryker Ezekiel, on 28 April 2016 - 06:11 AM, said:

Global chat with MWO's toxic playerbase, can tell this threads lone fighters already.


If you think this game has a toxic playerbase, you must not play many other games.

#112 Roughneck Cobra

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 06:18 AM

View PostEndimra, on 28 April 2016 - 06:16 AM, said:


If you think this game has a toxic playerbase, you must not play many other games.


Oh man you got me good. Pro you. Point made already.

#113 pbiggz

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 08:26 AM

View PostZakerystrife, on 27 April 2016 - 12:43 PM, said:


I completely disagree with that, I believe having more than 4 players per team is directly causing an imbalance in the game. You can't sit there and tell me that a group of 10 people does NOT have a massive advantage over 3 groups of 4, who don't know each other, don't talk to each other, don't know what each other are running, don't have similar play styles or strategies.

I could care less how many friends you have, want to play with more? Go play private matches, or CW / FW. If its directly hurting casual balance, then its going to be scaring your new player base away. Yes it is in fact a team game, which is why I said communication is very important. You are forcing a pretty big imbalance with huge groups vs small groups. A leader telling 9 others to attack Alpha, will melt that mech very fast. Whereas a leader telling 3 others to attack Alpha might hurt the mech, but who knows what the other 8 people are doing. That's a lot of firepower difference.


"I want to play with my friends but you can't play with yours because yours are better than mine".

Stop trying to make a team game into a single player game. No single thing PGI ever did killed the player base as much as limiting teams to 4. Units could no longer play with each other for years, so units began to disappear.

Edited by pbiggz, 28 April 2016 - 08:28 AM.


#114 Imperius

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 08:32 AM

View Postpbiggz, on 28 April 2016 - 08:26 AM, said:


"I want to play with my friends but you can't play with yours because yours are better than mine".

Stop trying to make a team game into a single player game. No single thing PGI ever did killed the player base as much as limiting teams to 4. Units could no longer play with each other for years, so units began to disappear.


Well we discovered the OP's true intent which is to just limit group sizes.

/thread

#115 Blind Baku

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 09:46 AM

View PostImperius, on 27 April 2016 - 12:00 PM, said:


I'll agree with most of what you have said, because most of us here have already made those suggestions aside from 4 player cap... DO NOT EVEN GO THERE!!!

Other than that carry on. Remember it's a team game if you want to play with friends you need to accept some people have more friends than you.


N00b question, Posted Image

Seriously though, adding additional options to the group creation tab doesn't seem like a bad plan to me. I know this particular point has been hashed over a lot in this thread already.

EXAMPLE: I create a group with 2 buddies, we launch with all tabs checked, get into a 12 man on an Oceanic server... it's bad, we have 4 DC's and their team is made of filthy l33t clanners who head shot everyone to death.

Next drop we un-check some options, MM will now limit us to US servers and a max group size of 4. We can derp to our hearts content.

Hypothetically, this would also allow for 12 mans to be prioritized to 12 mans. That may already be the case, but again I'm new, be gentle.

With that said, I love most all the other ideas here and I'm glad there is a good discussion on new player retention!

Also PVE pls, make it co-op, and get the licenses to the older games... use the maps and assets that you can, and re-release them as "HD Remakes" or some non-sense. Start with MW2 pls.

#116 Endimra

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 10:27 AM

View PostBlind Baku, on 28 April 2016 - 09:46 AM, said:


N00b question, Posted Image

Seriously though, adding additional options to the group creation tab doesn't seem like a bad plan to me. I know this particular point has been hashed over a lot in this thread already.

EXAMPLE: I create a group with 2 buddies, we launch with all tabs checked, get into a 12 man on an Oceanic server... it's bad, we have 4 DC's and their team is made of filthy l33t clanners who head shot everyone to death.

Next drop we un-check some options, MM will now limit us to US servers and a max group size of 4. We can derp to our hearts content.

Hypothetically, this would also allow for 12 mans to be prioritized to 12 mans. That may already be the case, but again I'm new, be gentle.


Playerbase is too small, dividing them further with tons of options just gets you 10 minute queues. Same reason we can't select only certain maps or game modes.

#117 pbiggz

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 10:36 AM

View PostBlind Baku, on 28 April 2016 - 09:46 AM, said:


N00b question, Posted Image

Seriously though, adding additional options to the group creation tab doesn't seem like a bad plan to me. I know this particular point has been hashed over a lot in this thread already.

EXAMPLE: I create a group with 2 buddies, we launch with all tabs checked, get into a 12 man on an Oceanic server... it's bad, we have 4 DC's and their team is made of filthy l33t clanners who head shot everyone to death.

Next drop we un-check some options, MM will now limit us to US servers and a max group size of 4. We can derp to our hearts content.

Hypothetically, this would also allow for 12 mans to be prioritized to 12 mans. That may already be the case, but again I'm new, be gentle.

With that said, I love most all the other ideas here and I'm glad there is a good discussion on new player retention!

Also PVE pls, make it co-op, and get the licenses to the older games... use the maps and assets that you can, and re-release them as "HD Remakes" or some non-sense. Start with MW2 pls.



Have fun never finding a match ever ever ever. The CW solo queue took less than a week to die because nobody was in it. The more pools you add the smaller each pool gets and the longer your queue times are.

Edited by pbiggz, 28 April 2016 - 10:36 AM.


#118 Lyoto Machida

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 10:37 AM

View PostDEN_Ninja, on 27 April 2016 - 06:29 PM, said:

I need to address a few things, namely a few people in this thread. To preface this however I will say that I support what Zakerystrife has stated.

To Imperius, whom has proceeded to act like a coddled internet warriors; I will draw the exit markers to the door for this thread. You in your personal attacks have failed to present any single valid argument that can be considered reason thoughts that contribute to the overall discussion. Your arguments have consisted of strawman arguments about winning only to counter a valid denial with asking what size their e-peen is. When you can come back and make reasonable arguments perhaps written in pencil so you can erase your vitriolic attitude when you have revise it.

To Buddah, you have always existed to derail, mock, and provide no real discussion to this thread or any thread ever.

To Deathlike, you while I disagree with you make some valid arguments and while it is backed by anecdotal experience. Winning is determined by many things and while it is fair to say that the lack of teamwork is the essential reason for why large groups can still lose you forget that argument is can be used for casual and pug groups because overall a team that has more people will often or can be far more coordinated then a casual or pug group. You forget that casual or pug groups innately have for more disorganization because they are complemented of people who DON'T play with each other.

This thread has been derailed for the original idea of addressing new player experience, new player retention, and retention of older players.

Every single person that has had a dissenting opinion does not understand the core concept of any MMO game. MMO games THRIVE on having a engaging player base. Even the most niche communities that are well maintained and lively games number not in thousands but TENS of thousands.

You think that just 5 thousand ardent players can maintain this game forever? Steam stats and analytics are valid evidence that the shock of steam release has worn off and we have most likely retained no appreciable amount of players. http://steamcharts.com/app/342200
Shows a LOSS of players since january. These are hard numbers saying the game can't sustain new players.

You want to have more staff, more features, and esports in this community but have forgotten what it takes to get there. Money and people, the community builds the competitive scene but 5 thousand people is not a good representation of top class players.

The game needs to be able to retain players who will pay and pave the way for more development of the game and community.


On another note, some of you need to apologize your mother for wasting 9 months of their life.


Yes...it's the playerbase's fault and not PGI's.

Am I doing it right?

#119 Novakaine

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 10:40 AM

Contrary to some opinion, MWO requires some form of coherent thought process to perform at decent level.
The console button mashin crowd will always complain, about having to actually think.

#120 Lyoto Machida

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Posted 28 April 2016 - 10:41 AM

View PostNovakaine, on 28 April 2016 - 10:40 AM, said:

Contrary to some opinion, MWO requires some form of coherent thought process to perform at decent level.
The console button mashin crowd will always complain, about having to actually think.


Substitute "life" for "MWO" and you'll find that statement applies to everything...





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