6 replies to this topic

[Orgasmo]

First, I don't have any objective measure since only PGI has those stats. All I can base my assumption on is my own subjective experience. However, in the last few weeks, I noticed same user names I recognize showing up in games showing up in-game more frequently. Furthermore, I noticed the EU Comstar TS server is always empty, save for one or two people inside. Even in NA Comstar, I notice longer wait in the finding a group than previously. I hope I am wrong, but are you getting the same feeling the player pool has shrunk as well?

[DEN_Ninja]

Here is the issue with basing it off voice chats. Everyone has pretty much started making their groups. Those groups have their own chats. They will migrate once they all join groups.

There use to be a counter for how many players were online and in a game back in closed beta. It rarely fell below a thousand players with only the founders and beta entry players. I'd like to think the player base has grown since I don't always see the same people constantly.

[Bguk]

Every game has population ups and downs. The bottom on the curve is higher than it used to be. Based on nothing more than observation. Now someone please link the bell curve post as I now have to go vacuum.

[NRP]

I play almost every night, and I rarely see the same people twice. For what it's worth.

[Bilbo]

Bguk, on 17 January 2013 - 01:33 PM, said:

Every game has population ups and downs. The bottom on the curve is higher than it used to be. Based on nothing more than observation. Now someone please link the bell curve post as I now have to go vacuum.

Bryan Ekman, on 20 December 2012 - 02:22 PM, said:

Misinformation is dangerous. Do you have a source for your comments? I can most definitely refute it had anything to do with bandwidth...

We removed the online counter for the same reason we don't release exact registration numbers, it's viewed as a business metric for now.

I know it's lame, but it's a double edge sword. Releasing the information is generally viewed one of two ways, positive or negative. Chances are we (PGI/IGP) view the numbers differently than you (players), because we understand better where the numbers should be, and why they are what they are. We can look at other indicators, like matches played, unique logins, MC sales, etc etc, and see positive trends where others would assume negative trends.

A good example is there was a massive spike of online players when we went OB followed by a quick drop and return to normal levels. We see this all the time when content is released. The trend however, is still one of steady average growth.

Looks something like this:



For those curious we had a record day on December 18th and continue to build week-over-week.

That it, or is there another one.

[DragonsFire]

When I've been playing of late as well, I generally am not seeing the same names on a regular basis. I do see repeats every so often, and I know there are other repeats that I likely miss, but for the most part I seem to be encountering unique players.

And Tichorius indicated, voice chat is rough to base your counts on as I know quite a few groups who previously maintained a presence on each TS server have since withdrawn as they are full of members and simply join their own voice server. I still see 100+ on both Comstar NA and NoGutsNoGalaxy most nights for North America, and we've generally been able to fill out any 8 man drops we do without any issues from LFG people. I still also actively encourage people to visit the TS servers whenever I can as I know some folks just don't have the info.

[pcunite]

The player base seems to be growing from what I can tell.