Graal Online.
 

Well, usually I post here with ideas to improve programming capacities, but this is not case in this thread. I do realize that the coming of the major clientelle having exams lately has shown a lot on the decrease of players. But there are many things I do wish to improve none the less.

Global Staff
It may seem contradictory to my beliefs however I believe a wider amount of global staff, or more precisely an increase in support personal, would help players who are not capable of fixing their problems. VT aswell as Spark910 have left PWA (Spark going to a more broad responsibility), as well as several other staff. I know that global staff can risk repeating the event of Nemesis, however the lack of player support is causing more harm that that done by Nemesis.

Motivation
There is no motivation to improve Graal on the side of the players. The only thing I believe that motivates people in this time of the year is the insightfulness to become famous or powerful... There is nothing for people like me to aim to surpass Graal's standards. For this, I do believe if you don't only publicize Graal as a game towards the world but as well host competitions it would make players want to learn how to use Graal's Game Engine and eventually surpass the abilities of the past generation.

If either Unixmad or Stefan can comment on this (I perfer Unixmad to), it would be quite nice. Please, if you don't have constructive comments, please don't reply to this.

You're completely right on both counts.

The only motivation for owning a playerworld is power. It's true. It doesn't make a manager corrupt because he enjoys power, but why else would he manage a server?

The only incentive for making a good world is to get your server to classic tab so that it is free power. I don't know how that's going to work, since the only PWA I see on very often is Houdini (though the others are in alternate timezones, I think?). The system needs restructured. And definately, definately, Graal needs more advertising.

Money is a huge factor in advertisement(s). Money it seems we don't have (the company).

Isn't unixmad trying to sell graal? If so, I will put a bid on it ;O

I manage a pw because I enjoy it, my incentive is to watch it survive

Many websites will sell advertising cheap enough that if a single person bought a VIP account due to the add, it would pay for itself.

I think Unixmad should get in contact with the people over at ragnarok and gunbound and major online games and try to get Graal advertised on their website(s). I'm sure something could be worked out.

In principle, I'd agree. But I look at some of the recent hirings and I think maybe it's best not to chance it.

Most players can't improve Graal, so that's not such a bad thing. But it would be nice if Graal offered real, substantial rewards to those that built successful playerworlds.

Never!

Outwar.com. Their's usually like 1k people on a day ;o.

I personaly would not want to surpass Graal. I'm not getting paid or anything..

I was thinking more about advertising on popular webcomics, and things like that.

Someone who plays Ragnarok would be less likely to find a game like Graal to be interesting, than someone who does not currently play an online game, but perhaps is interested in gaming.

Yeah, you might be an exception.

Support is a little lacking, I'll have to agree.

Rather, effective support...Seems we have some trust issues.

I have always been like that too, my only incentive on Graal is help the community and enjoy the game-play. I don't really care for power or be well-known. I think Graal had more people before the playerworld renting thing; It was pretty fun to see playerworlds reviews, to see people working hard to create a brand new world, with new systems and all. Now, anyone can be a Manager.

Nowadays, all we see, unfortunately, are copies of some populated worlds. Graalians has lost interest of working, enjoying to discuss possibles game improvements (like this thread) , but all we see is one bashing another.

It's just a problem happen and someone will say that the game isn't good, the management is crap. The game is good, the management is good, maybe it's up to us to stop being silly some times and act like a fellowship, that way, I see future.

If he is ill buy it ^^

Not quite. This thread has been relitively bashing-free (is proud). As for the working: I constantly am working on my server right now. It's pretty nifty! I was thinking of showing it to the people in a month, as a preview, however, I don't want people bugging me about it in the meanwhile.

I personally find my motivation in creating a playerworld as I deem appropiate. It's more like an idea or concept I'm trying to show the people, but it takes a lot more time to construct then this thread.

working on a server is nice but for every one good manager with a entent to make graal fun for its playes there are 5 others who want power on a server :-/

When I managed Graal 2000, I abused my powers (setting hacker's hearts to 0, warping everyone into a level I was testing without asking, etc), but I did my job, a lot more. My activity there and the work that I put into that server made it a great place to hangout. I was able to take a playercount of 4, and turn it into 40 in a couple months.

Stefan and Unixmad aren't going to give up the "rent a playerworld" deal if it's making them money. Even if changing the system would be good for Graal in the long run, it won't happen.

shows where there hearts are even though this game was suppose to be free :-/

I agree, currently I am discussing this with unixmad.
He is willing and sees the need for more people being able to do things, and we have decided on some new support centre software which will allow more people to help (e.g: There will be GK staff, Zone Staff and Classic Graal staff able to help. There will be short F.A.Qs for each playerworld, and graal generally, there will be a walk through trouble-shooters for self help. And hopefully more people who will have the ability to help with account support, so you really get a good response at any time of the day with maybe 2/3 people able to do that).

As for advertising, last month graal did have some banners up on some sites, which turned out positive and no doubt it will continue. We also have some ideas for some future promotion, which we hope will attact new players as well as be useful for current players.

There is a bigger cost in having it free for a few people, then hundreds, then thousands. And then removing in-game advertising (which was in PMs at one point), and then hirring full time office staff etc...

thats why all the god damn players should not buy playerworlds so that option would be removed and only worthy playerworlds get private -_-

too bad it wont evar happen.

By the way, what happened to the PR job thing? I thought about applying, but I just don't have any contacts in the media.

Sorry for bringing back an old thread, but this was the point at which I ran off to do my exams so I didn't reply to you.

Anyhow, I am not sure - it may or may not have been filled now. I think it's more likely the not filled, although someone (maybe unixmad though) has gotten some advertising done on places, although that's only part of PR so I'd guess it's still open.