The Limiting of Trial Accounts

Nabru · #1 10-01-2005, 02:52 PM

Ok, the arrogance, of the typical trial person has reached its final line with me. So now I am going to propose limiting the play of trial accounts.

1:

Quote:

Originally Posted by From Graal Online Site

The main purpose of this Trial Mode is to make sure you can successfully install and run the Graal game client on your computer. Secondly, this gives you a chance to check out what Graal worlds look like before you decide on a subscription plan.

This means that the purpose of a trial account is to TEST THE GAME AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS. NOT TO CONSTANTLY USE IT FOR PLAY. So I propose we put a limit on trial play. 2 hours a day. 8 hours a week. and 30 days. Once they hit the 30 day mark the account expires and they can no longer play without reupgrading.
This will help in two ways:
1: Giving graal more income.
2: Less arrogant trials who can't afford the game.

Those of you who still play graal have most likely have had a run-in with the common trial newbie. You know, about 8-10 years old, think they're all that, usually cracking a sexist and/or racist joke, and tend to annoy the players who PAY for the game and want to have a good time playing it. Those of us who have stuck hundreds of dollars into this game are sick of it. Had the trial account of existed when i had started playing I wouldn't of paid! It's Bull****. We need to stop this. They're ruining the fun of the game for everyone. The common players and even the staff...

So Unixmad, Stefan, Spark, Ibonic, Lyndzy, and anyone else associated with accounts, you people should get together and discuss this because a lot of us are getting sick of it.

MC_GUNNER · #2 10-01-2005, 03:11 PM

something needs to be done. im sure that those that have paid constantly e-upgrading their account for VIP know that the typical laming newbie will turn up within a few tiles. well on Classic most of us more experienced players with VIP or just a normal P2P know that something needs to be done about these annoying and ignorant un-polite newbie's who think that Laming is a good way to make themselves more popular within the urban popularity.

I am sure that when i talk about this, i am talking for the other thousands of Graal Experienced players who have come accross the average laming newbie who the that he " ownes " you and all that he or she is doing is laming and breaking the chances of you winning Events. i speak for all when i say that something needs to be done and yes i agree with Urban on this. Trial accounts should be banned from events because untill they buy the p2p or VIP account, they are just going to stop us more experienced players from getting what we deserve for paying 44 - 53 $ for Graal. i am sure by now that you are pretty much convinced and want something done. well then please contact Stefan or Unixmad or the Manager of the server you come from and tell him about this issue. remember that withought you, this would remain a mysery of our Graal enjoyment.

MisterMarre · #3 10-01-2005, 03:15 PM

Disable Trial accounts for now, or reinstate GHOSTmode on graal again

Malinko · #4 10-01-2005, 04:12 PM

Guest Mode.

Darlene159 · #5 10-01-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMarre

Disable Trial accounts for now, or reinstate GHOSTmode on graal again

The problem with ghost mode is that a person cannot really experiance the gameplay.

I do agree that trial accounts are becoming a problem, not all trials.
The problem is people who are really not new to Graal (for the most part), who make a bunch of trial accounts just to harrass people and cause trouble on servers. Then you have some trials who are new, and try to copy other people to be cool (mostly very young kids).
There are those who make trial accounts, getting banned constantly, then making new accounts...and alot of times there is nothing to do because of a large range in IP's except keep banning every trial the person gets on (which most staff don't want to bother with).

It is sad that the people who do this, ruins it for the decent trials who are actually on a trial to experiance and play the game.

This problem lies within the reasons why I quit my Management position on NP. In my opinion, something needs to be done to keep players from making mega trial accounts (ideally, people should only be allowed one trial) to keep getting on when they get banned, and if that cannot be done, then seriously limiting trials needs to be done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malinko

Guest Mode.

That is a good idea, if there would be a way to disable it for trouble makers.

Malinko · #6 10-01-2005, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darlene159

That is a good idea, if there would be a way to disable it for trouble makers.

It's already made on Graal if you notice on the v4 login screen. I'm guessing there is a way to ban that certain computer from GraalOnline, though we are not sure how to yet!

Darlene159 · #7 10-01-2005, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malinko

It's already made on Graal if you notice on the v4 login screen. I'm guessing there is a way to ban that certain computer from GraalOnline, though we are not sure how to yet!

Yes, I know
Use your magic, and figure it out!

Malinko · #8 10-01-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darlene159

Yes, I know
Use your magic, and figure it out!

Hm.

*Uses Magic*

Where is Spark911 to ask?!

napo_p2p · #9 10-01-2005, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darlene159

That is a good idea, if there would be a way to disable it for trouble makers.

Computer ID. And there won't be many 'trouble makers' who will know how to spoof it. Plus, the system Stefan has set up (where he has computer IDs saved as an index on the servers) sounds pretty good.

DarkFireXZ3 · #10 10-01-2005, 08:55 PM

I say just get rid of the Trial feature and only allow the Guest mode, It saves time and may force alot of annoyence to be gone.

Crono · #11 10-01-2005, 10:37 PM

Either keep trial accounts the way they are or go back to pre-june 2002 graal.

Darlene159 · #12 10-01-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFireXZ3

I say just get rid of the Trial feature and only allow the Guest mode, It saves time and may force alot of annoyence to be gone.

I agree, at least people wouldn't be able to make a bunch of different accounts

Inspiration · #13 10-01-2005, 10:42 PM

I actually strongly disagree with this, as it will lower the player count greatly and harm the community.

Instead of practically forcing people to pay money to play the game, why not just offer them more incentives to do so?

Think about it like this: Why would anyone want to spend the money on Graal, when they could pay for any other number of games out there with much larger communities? What is there, besides simplicity, to draw a new player to this game? Nothing, really. Part of the simplicity is the ability to play without paying, if you wish.

Doing something like this would literally be a nail in the coffin.

Drakus4 · #14 10-23-2005, 09:45 PM

or you could limit it so that only 1 account per IP adress could be made rather than 1 per e-mail...if anybody has gmail they could simply send them selves as many invites as they want, and create a trial account. If you set it to an ip then it would be much more difficult for them to make multiple accounts, this would cut down on all the people who have payed and make an account for harrasmentm, to cheat/hack on, or to use as a guinua pig for kills. bounty, spar rating, money, and other such things.

excaliber7388 · #15 10-23-2005, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakus4

or you could limit it so that only 1 account per IP adress could be made rather than 1 per e-mail...if anybody has gmail they could simply send them selves as many invites as they want, and create a trial account. If you set it to an ip then it would be much more difficult for them to make multiple accounts, this would cut down on all the people who have payed and make an account for harrasmentm, to cheat/hack on, or to use as a guinua pig for kills. bounty, spar rating, money, and other such things.

many people have IP addresses that change, and if you make it for one IP address, the person may not be able to log on at times (for some people, the entire address changes) so this wouldn't work out too well. oh, and btw, people HATE playing as ghosts, I have tried to get my friends to play my server with trial accounts, and they hate the ghost thing, to the point that they have lost intrest. You don't want people to loose intrest in graal. Maybe set up a PK protection thing, they cant kill other people, and other people cant PK them. That way, people cant use them to boost stats etc. (although, you could do this on your own server on your own)

petro1212 · #16 10-25-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malinko

Hm.

*Uses Magic*

Where is Spark911 to ask?!

Just use the same methode as IRC ban's. the whole [email protected]j18912 weird numbers ect. Dunno how it works but i'm to lazy to even check. Ayhow I know that this isn't permanent. But you could make people install a program (Like Windows Updating Verification) you need to open it and you get a number that you need to enter on the page. The number can simply check the computer id and other important data and forward it to a database.

Or graal could switch to a simple 7 day trial period. 7 Days is more than enough. (Games like there.com do it) and seriously trials don't bring so much to graal certainly not playercount. You could even let them save but order all servers to exclude them from any form of trading and some other things (guilds ect)

MysticX2X · #17 10-26-2005, 01:58 AM

how about just let them have fun with there non saving accounts. I was a trial for like 2+ years, it sucked and i kept on coming back and leaving. who cares if they harrass you.

PrinceDark · #18 10-26-2005, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticX2X

how about just let them have fun with there non saving accounts. I was a trial for like 2+ years, it sucked and i kept on coming back and leaving. who cares if they harrass you.

I have to agree with this guy. Let them do their BS.
You don't like what a trial does to you, then so what. You can ignore pms, or report their actions to staff. This section is for suggestions not crying and whining about what people do to you.

Quote:

Had the trial account of existed when i had started playing I wouldn't of paid! It's Bull****.

What the hell is that supposed to mean? You paid for it when trials existed before and you enjoyed it, because if you didn't then you likely wouldn't have upgraded again or even spent hundreds of dollars on upgrades like you say you did.

Zergling · #19 10-26-2005, 10:18 PM

Killing trials a easy job let them be dumb we can just kill them... I mean some of us can... But killing all the trials is a little too much don't you think like when i was a trial i was stupid too...

Methril · #20 10-27-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excaliber7388

Maybe set up a PK protection thing, they cant kill other people, and other people cant PK them.

I'm sure people will love being pk'd constantly on their first try at the game. I suspect it would be their time playing the game.

excaliber7388 · #21 10-27-2005, 02:34 AM

gotta say, trials aren't so bad (XD i think im the oldbiest trial-only user XD W00T!) Trust me, having a trial account sucks more than they hurt graal (in fact they lead to people buying accounts and generating revenue == helping graal)

Inverness · #22 10-29-2005, 01:06 AM

There are good and bad points to having Trial accounts, we just need a better way to deal with those who cause problems.

Admins · #23 10-29-2005, 01:49 AM

The guest account will be enabled in a few weeks, and trial accounts either removed or switched to guest mode, where you have 1 or 2 weeks for playing, and then the computer cannot play anymore or must subscribe.

excaliber7388 · #24 10-29-2005, 06:42 PM

awwww ;( it's so hard to get my friends to like graal when they wander around as ghosts

raiden0899 · #25 10-29-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticX2X

I was a trial for like 2+ years

That's a long time to be trial. If you liked the game enough to play for 2 years you should have just paid. I was only trial for three or four days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticX2X

who cares if they harrass you.

Paying players care. You might not care but I think I speak for everyone else when I say we don't pay to be harassed.

Guest Mode is a good idea.

EDIT:
Gerami, why do you care about the playercount so much? The players that leave because of Trial accounts switching to Guest accounts don't do anything to contribute to the Graal community. If they want to keep playing, they can pay too.

EDIT 2: *Moved to a new post*

Crono · #26 10-29-2005, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

The guest account will be enabled in a few weeks, and trial accounts either removed or switched to guest mode, where you have 1 or 2 weeks for playing, and then the computer cannot play anymore or must subscribe.

Well you heard it kids, get ready for another drop of players on graal.

Darlene159 · #27 10-29-2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

The guest account will be enabled in a few weeks, and trial accounts either removed or switched to guest mode, where you have 1 or 2 weeks for playing, and then the computer cannot play anymore or must subscribe.

Excellent

excaliber7388 · #28 10-29-2005, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raiden0899

Gerami, why do you care about the playercount so much? The players that leave because of Trial accounts switching to Guest accounts don't do anything to contribute to the Graal community. If they want to keep playing, they can pay too.

New Plyers = new money

that simple

Graal is a business, they need profits
guest mode will hurt the business, but it may also get people who are using trials to get a p2p account (doubtful, since they must still be using a trial for a reason)

raiden0899 · #29 10-30-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excaliber7388

Graal is a business, they need profits
guest mode will hurt the business, but it may also get people who are using trials to get a p2p account (doubtful, since they must still be using a trial for a reason)

Moved the second edit in my last post to a new post:

Quote:

Originally Posted by raiden0899

EDIT 2:

I know it needs profits but what profit are they making from the players who use a trial account for a long period of time? None. This will increase profits. I think the only real reason players won't pay for an account is because they are greedy or too lazy to do something to raise money. They could easily sell some old games or something to raise extra money and buy an account.

People will still be able to try Graal before they pay for an account. The only difference is that they will eventually have to pay if they want to keep playing.

If a player can have a free account that lasts forever (Trial), they probably won't pay for an account.

There's no reason to keep arguing. Stefan has obviously already made his decision on the matter.

excaliber7388 · #30 10-31-2005, 02:35 AM

Maybe they should be limited, by a month, not a week or twom, thats not long enough to get hooked

plus, no one want to play if they played as a ghost, it's depressing X_x let me put it this way, I don't play gold servers much, even though I can, because I played there as a ghost first

Minoc · #31 10-31-2005, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excaliber7388

I don't play gold servers much, even though I can, because I played there as a ghost first

That's a pretty foolish reason.

excaliber7388 · #32 11-01-2005, 03:36 AM

Well, it was SO lame as a ghost, i guess that was my first impression, you cant talk to people (ack) and you cant do anything but float (in fact the ghost gani is the most interesting part of graal at this time)
Plus i like good old clasic more

MysticX2X · #33 11-01-2005, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raiden0899

That's a long time to be trial. If you liked the game enough to play for 2 years you should have just paid. I was only trial for three or four days.

Paying players care. You might not care but I think I speak for everyone else when I say we don't pay to be harassed.

Guest Mode is a good idea.

EDIT:
Gerami, why do you care about the playercount so much? The players that leave because of Trial accounts switching to Guest accounts don't do anything to contribute to the Graal community. If they want to keep playing, they can pay too.

EDIT 2: *Moved to a new post*

i did like it and i was gonna upgrade summer 2003 with my cousins paypal but it broke off since stuff just popped up and then i forgot about graal for a while. Then i didnt have a paypal to upgrade since my cousin left when i came back in somewhere of early 2004 then waited for that paybycash thingermajig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

The guest account will be enabled in a few weeks, and trial accounts either removed or switched to guest mode, where you have 1 or 2 weeks for playing, and then the computer cannot play anymore or must subscribe.

Thats gonan suck. Im gonna miss those kids.

excaliber7388 · #34 11-01-2005, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticX2X

i did like it and i was gonna upgrade summer 2003 with my cousins paypal but it broke off since stuff just popped up and then i forgot about graal for a while. Then i didnt have a paypal to upgrade since my cousin left when i came back in somewhere of early 2004 then waited for that paybycash thingermajig.

For some people it's hard to get their parents to allow them to buy an account for an online game, so they play with trials. At least when they are able to pay to play they do

osrs · #35 11-01-2005, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malinko

Guest Mode.

I second that.

Inspiration · #36 11-01-2005, 09:54 AM

All I really have to say is, this is just another step in the fall of Graal's community.

It's been falling, and all that's being done is stuff to make it fall faster.

Obviously Stefan wants people to subscribe, but he's barely offering them anything for it.

Now they're being forced to, so they just won't do it.

Fairly simple.

cptmetal · #37 11-29-2005, 01:20 AM

DUDE theres something called "Hosted/Gold/Private" servers no trials allowed thats one fo them ain reason i play if i meet a good trial whom is nice and is a good friend i update his account for him (so far like 15 trials got updated due to this lol) so leave teh trials alone!

Nabru · #38 12-14-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cptmetal

DUDE theres something called "Hosted/Gold/Private" servers no trials allowed thats one fo them ain reason i play if i meet a good trial whom is nice and is a good friend i update his account for him (so far like 15 trials got updated due to this lol) so leave teh trials alone!

Not all of us want to buy a ****ing server when something can be done about it elsewhere.

excaliber7388 · #39 12-15-2005, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nabru

Not all of us want to buy a ****ing server when something can be done about it elsewhere.

then play on Dark Rival :P
anyway, you can't force someone to subscribe because they will get something better. I say offer a better tutorial in offline mode, it used to be pretty good, however the new one isn't so great. Also let them see the ways graal is unique. It can have servers like Zone, or classic and RP ones. Just make them learn how to play before playing. You could even make something that would save progress in offline mode (make a small game in the tutorial) this way, when they start playing, they realize there's something missing online, and they'll want to subscribe(the offline version would be useless after you beat the short game). Give them maybe 100hrs as a trial, this way they can get used to graal, and decide for themselves what they will do. I'm sure that if they play graal long enough, they'll subscribe. Maybe the offline tutorial could be manditory for all new trial accounts.

Rick · #40 12-15-2005, 06:30 AM

You guys are aware that any upgrade automatically gives you classic right? it's not like you have to continue to renew a subscription.