Okay guys, sorry for the long post. I have addressed a lot of posts individually and some as a group. Later today I'm going to release
a document which outlines a business strategy for Graal Online - I submitted it a few weeks ago but it was dismissed. Eurocenter doesn't have the time to focus on Graal Online, and isn't competent enough to put someone in charge who has the time to focus.
That's really the base problem on all of the servers right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanthien
(Post 1572633)
I wonder who runs Zone..Hmmm...I wonder who runs Gk..HM..
What administrators do they have in common?
Maybe that's to blame, although prob it's lack of content as a major factor.
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Graal Online is dying, and the Gold products - which people must pay for - are no longer products of interest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustyPorViva
(Post 1572654)
If any server has the benefit right now when it comes to the pricing system, it's GK(and Zodiac, I think). GK has no observer mode, so players can try the server out to a large degree without the suffocation of the observer mode. Sure, the pricing is still steep, but at least they don't have to deal with observer mode like most other servers.
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The problem with Zone is that our little french friends put too much emphasis on paid content and didn't think to consider that the majority would have little interest in paying for ****ty content.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fowlplay4
(Post 1572662)
Unless the embarrassment stems from the lack of players, that's a very contradicting statement.
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We need some great new content and an even better system to support it before we start throwing money down the advertisement hole. I'm sure FP knows this, so consider it an FYI for everyone else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crimson2005
(Post 1572707)
So are the quarterly updates out the window then? Maybe if GK got more attention than updating it 4 times a year there'd be activity; then again it's a struggle to manage 4 updates a year it seems :rolleyes:
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Quarterly updates were a great idea. Sadly, Stefan couldn't give us access to the stuff we ask for a year in advance - so quarterly updates couldn't work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crimson2005
(Post 1572710)
The GK management just keeps lowering the bar for themselves and as a result, everyone else has to suffer while the place just stagnates. The fact they couldn't manage 4 updates a year, and the fact that making a windmill move is considered an update, really says a lot about the people in charge.
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I realize your quote essentially gives the same message as I already addressed, but I just wanted to point it out to people so they can see how clearly you're head hunting. You don't want anything but trouble - or you'd bring some suggestions to the table.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joel34
(Post 1572709)
There haven't been any new dungeon in like a year.
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I'd really like to make a new one geared towards level 25-50 players, with emphasis put on larger parties (than crypt) of 6-8 players.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Draenin
(Post 1572725)
I imagine that agreeing to run GK is a lot like climbing into a coffin.
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More like an iron maiden.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elk
(Post 1572755)
If I ran it, I would make a new GK :)
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quoted for the lulz.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullify
(Post 1572845)
Back on topic, management can't even handle quarterly updates now. The last "update" we seen were bug fixes and crap that didn't even need to be changed (avatar timeout). That kind of stuff shouldn't even be considered an "update". If there's a bug it should be fixed immediately and not treated like "new" content.
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Quoted to illustrate the doppleganger effect Xaphan had. Again we will observe no actual suggestions are brought to the table - only the dastardly "anti-suggestions" I have mentioned in the past.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullify
(Post 1572854)
And the crypt is STILL broken. You'd think after nearly 3 years now it'd be handled.
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Stefan will probably be angry at me for this, but again - we're waiting on Stefan to fix a scheduling error in the gserver.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustyPorViva
(Post 1572856)
Quarterly updates were a good incentive to give the players someone to look forward to, based on the assumption there was always going to be an update every quarter. However, that fell through. And to add to the problem, quarterly updates should have been reserved for larger and exciting updates and additions, and more minor updates and fixes(in fact, ALL fixes) should be done on the spot.
Think of how bad it feels to have to wait around for fixes to the Graal client because of the same mentality. Why do this to the players, too?
However, whether these problems are because of management or the limitations brought on by Stefan's need to be involved, I don't know.
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I have a pretty good list of concepts and improvements that Tig and I optimized for our quarterly releases. I should share them sometime. People would begin to understand how disappointed Tig and I. Our nice concepts, which the players would have loved, may never see the light of day because Stefan is spread too thin on the QuattoPlay engine and iPhone development.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CABAL49
(Post 1573015)
Graal just doesn't have the appeal it used to have.
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It really doesn't. Later today I am going to release a document I presented to our Little French Friends. They dismissed it, but we will all agree that it's a good concept.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OasaTor_PK
(Post 1573037)
Release a "classic" version of GK where everyone is reset.
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I would love to do this - I observed a long time ago that GK is badly diluted with ****ty content that only confuses players.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MajinDragon
(Post 1573043)
Although a reset appeals to some. GK is not built for a reset, there's not enough content for players to recoup their old items through 'playing' and the new server would just be like the old, reliant on events. Restarting the decade long cycle just isn't the answer.
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If we did a reset we would have to make all new islands and change some of the basic systems so that people with experience in the existing systems don't walk in and immediately begin profiting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Supaman771
(Post 1573139)
-Obviously- The Quarterly updates are whatever Tig could think of changing the day beforehand. The only -new- content I've seen happens on holidays (2x a year?) and are usually things that if Tig -tried- to do he could do in a day or so. The overall problem is a lack of new players on Graal thus a lack of new developers on Graal. But seeing as how it got all of us addicted despite the few yearly updates, crappy graphics, and 90% idiotic playerbase all they really need to do is advertise and get the players to log in. And maybe when there's a steady higher player count, Stefan can lower his prices (opposite of what'd happen, but lets hope?) Thus GK (and Graal) go ^.
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Again, I am only quoting this sort of post so people can see the trash we have to deal with regularely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OasaTor_PK
(Post 1573350)
A reset will fix everything.
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It would be so difficult to effectively re-organize all of the systems... I don't think an optimistic outcome is realistic with a reset. It's a happy idea, none the less though. :(
Quote:
Originally Posted by Demisis_P2P
(Post 1573371)
They can't be. Stefan is ****ing neurotic about this ****. He's only given Tig limited access to stuff, and he'll only copy over content from the Dev server to the main server once every 3 months. But if the items were made on a daily basis, when that 3 months come around it'll be like having 14 Christmases at once.
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I don't think releasing new content daily would help much - it would just dilute the economy. Perhaps I misunderstood?
Quote:
Originally Posted by StormYs
(Post 1573433)
A reset wouldn't be favorable for GK, ppl already mentioned the reasons why it wouldn't be.
Putting faith in items isn't a wrong thought.
The more items craftable the funner GK can get
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Right strategy, wrong execution. We need to focus on some creation and interaction concepts, but I'm not sure item creation is where we need to focus. Houses, farms... things community oriented.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gothika
(Post 1573436)
The problem with most players not sticking around is because they find it too hard to level up. Making it even harder would just push more people away.
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I mentioned a new dungeon earlier in my post - I'm hoping that the larger parties (6-8) will help form those friendships and bonds needed to pull people through some of the tough levelling gaps. It worked for me when I was a new player.
This message is for the people who read my whole post. I want to help illustrate the problems to the players so they recognize the confines in which we must work and the opportunities they have available to them. I will again remind players that I have posted a nice community project they can work on in the mean time - it sounds like "work", but the team would quickly find out that it's all fun. Sorry if I insulted or offended anyone, my intent is solely to inform the players so that a progressive conversation can take place.
