04-26-2012, 02:07 PM
Chat is not the reason for declining population. Chat is just a tool, it's the attitude of some people that needs fixing. There's always some back and forth banter in UO, it's the nature of the game but some players are taking it too far. It doesn't matter if chat would be disabled because sooner or later new player would run into those bad players and the bad encounter is still there, just delayed. I think chat is a good tool, especially now that the population is getting smaller. Disabling it by default seems counter productive, since I see new players ask valid questions there every day. It's not just a channel of unwanted bickering and whining, it's actually very useful channel of getting into the game mechanics if you are new to the play style or even the game itself.
Another thing is, there's many reasons for declining player base. Most fizzle PvPers left because they enjoy a different PvP system. Some others left because they enjoy OSI style pre-cast PvP. Some left because they were here just for the nostalgia and will go back to playing whatever they were playing before or find a new game. People come and go. Darken, you yourself said, and I quote:
This is very true, and this is a niche game and we are catering to a very small niche market (sphere .51 play style) within that already small crowd. What we really need is engaged players and those players making the shard lively again. I commend your efforts (and everyone else involved) on RPA and I think it'll be very good thing for the shard. This is what we need. We need something to have players engaged in and having fun doing it. Those are the players who are here to stay. RPA might not be for everyone but other players should make their own fun in their own way. What needs to stop is this catering for tournament pampered players that expect the staff to create all the engagements for them. Tournaments are good, but having too many makes players depend on staff to play the game at all. I have more suggestions but I have to go now, I'll add them here later.
Another thing is, there's many reasons for declining player base. Most fizzle PvPers left because they enjoy a different PvP system. Some others left because they enjoy OSI style pre-cast PvP. Some left because they were here just for the nostalgia and will go back to playing whatever they were playing before or find a new game. People come and go. Darken, you yourself said, and I quote:
Darken Rahl Wrote:UO is a dying game, and the players a dying breed.
This is very true, and this is a niche game and we are catering to a very small niche market (sphere .51 play style) within that already small crowd. What we really need is engaged players and those players making the shard lively again. I commend your efforts (and everyone else involved) on RPA and I think it'll be very good thing for the shard. This is what we need. We need something to have players engaged in and having fun doing it. Those are the players who are here to stay. RPA might not be for everyone but other players should make their own fun in their own way. What needs to stop is this catering for tournament pampered players that expect the staff to create all the engagements for them. Tournaments are good, but having too many makes players depend on staff to play the game at all. I have more suggestions but I have to go now, I'll add them here later.