I think you should make a mandatory question/survey for everyone that plays to participate in. questions geared towards finding the demographic of the current player base. The correct questions, and number of questions should get a reward in itself. You will have a different tactic depending on the demographic. I believe age, schooling, income, # of people in house (this game can be a family event with multiple pcs) are just some of the things i would consider. Family (doesn't have to be imediate) and RL interactions will gain you more of a player base than any internet advertising. think of face book, people like to interact, family too, they post pics to share. that is an approach that will lead to long term player base. try linking the 2 somehow (any social interaction site, to this game). 2 previous posts hit the nail on the head and need to be combined. drizzly (getting RL people old fasion way), and the other guy who said that this is too hard to get get loaded (i used to be a programmer, IT support too). although, Rl interaction is key, they will help get people loaded (by whatever means). look at farmville (not beautiful graphics, but somehow they prevail). why? linked to social sites. how do you link to scoial sites? good question, i don't have the answer. I suggest making link happy site to stats that are social site compatible. One of the issues that has not been addressed is player retention. get them on? good. but what keeps them here? this has to do with dude with guild trying to help. but dude with guild is not the answer. helps, but not a GOOD answer. I suggest game mods. I would like to feal an EPIC fealing when first creating a char. WTF you guys (devs) put all your eggs in the basket making things happy with OLD players with kunark. then some other guy says let's do an account drive. has it ever occured to you to try and make the lower levels more fun first? one of the BIGGEST things that I have noticed is that lower lvls are just plain ass borring. you can make this game more INTERACTIVE at lower levels, while maintaining balance and same progression levels. people like to click, people don't like to fricking sit bored. make the lower levels more "click, less die or sit" friendly while maintaining current progression levels for a soling player. The RL friend gets them hooked, but then they have to go raid and can't log in HELPER toon? where is the zone that people can solo in at lower levels that is not totally F'ing boring for the click click click people? nowhere. trials of harclave on eq2 is what I'm thinking. something that keeps a person busy, they don't die, they progress, they can still talk to people in game. GOOD
keep all the high level stuff the same. also, make something epic fealing in the lower levels. currently there is NOTHING. NOTHING makes a person FEAL like they are getting something in the lower levels. WE can only recommend this game in RL, but it is up to YOU to make the game tangible at lower levels. YES STUPID EASY SOLOING, BUT CLICK EASY HAPPY SO PEOPLE ARE BUSY WHILE THEY ARE SOCIALIZING WITHOUT COMPRIMISING THE SPEED THAT THEY AQUIRE LEVELS. some dip poop had a theory of time, and i believe it has to do with how many times you can push a button (stupid add adults). let them choose easy or har mode. easy mode gets them into a beginner zone geared towards button mashing, low exp, low downtime, then ween them of it !!!) PLAYER RETENTION !!
bottom line. don't ask us to make things happen. I think you need to make goals upon your own geeky (I'm a geek) staff for player retention and recruitment.
if player base is your focus, you need to program for that too, not just higher level players (they can always make alts)
ease casual people (soloing) at lower levels into more difficult tasks. I blame lack of lower tasks(quests) as the majority of your problem, we can get people, it's up to YOU to keep them.
STOP CATERING TO HARFCORE PLAYERS !!! can you make a class that is K.I.S.S. yet sucks at higher levels? make them reroll? or have them quest (long quest) to change themselves into a regular player?
where are the EASY things to do at LOWER levels, that give GREAT rewards that yet will still suck at higher levels?
You need word of mouth, better programming at lower levels, synch stats with social sites, make it easier to FIRST TIME LOAD.
I would also like to add, PVP server, K.I.S.S. guild creation,
This game is social, get rid of the beginner anxiety, make a word of mouth promotion reward, make a guild leader reward?,
Don't expect miracles with a game that doesn't cater to first time experiences.
I'm drunk, I have nothing left to offer......so .............
me
