The Decline of Playerworlds

[killerogue]

This is true. I meant for non-testing servers servers that are actually meant to do something. That have promise.

[James205]

I see what you are trying to say here, but your whole concept needs a bit of a make over. You can't simply shut down a server that someone pays for because there is simply no development. However, there should be check-ups on playerworlds. There are simply way too many out there and each one just ends up dying. Graal has a significant amount of quality talented players that can produce great work. The real problem is each one of them try to make their own playerworld and don't realize the massive amount of work that truly takes.

Take this into consideration...

50 Great scripters play Graal
100 Great level designers play Graal
80 Great graphics designers play graal
5 Multi-Talented players play graal (Meaning they can do it all).

You have scripter, levelers and graphics designers all trying to create their own playerworlds. So the level designer starts creating their playerworld and makes the overworld... but they need scripters and graphic artists! They then need to find more staff.

You then have a scripter that has recently started their own playerworld and gets all the basic functions out of the way but to continue they need gui graphics and levels and so on, so they need staff!

Then the graphics artist starts, they really don't have anything done but they have a concept and the tileset done, but they need a leveler and scripter.

Graal in total has about 100+ playerworlds (this is a rough estimate) and each individual seems to try to take on their own project. So every person is looking for constant staff, but with each player (since Graal's population isn't anything to brag about) making their own projects and trying to find staff... then starts what I like to call "Recycle Staff" cycle. Basically players start ending up working for one playerworld, then decide to take on 2 playerworlds then 3...4 and 5. Then they simply drift from the other jobs and never eventually get things done. This usually concludes with a playerworld failure because the lack of dedicated staff.

Playerworlds that I see becoming more successful are the ones with multi-talented staff because they simply can do everything. The other staff are talented people but are not consistant enough to actually get a full project done. Even the so called "Legend" playerworlds end up failing (ToT,Faheria and Oasis). There seems to be so much hype about one specific playerworld because of simple previews but they never got past the big part that truly makes a playerworld successful... getting released.

Now many people say "Unholy Nation sucks!" but in an honest answer... look at what number they are on the playerlist. They are always #1, even when other playerworlds are released they still manage to climb up that ladder. Many people will say because they have been around so long and more people are addicted to it... I don't think that's the case. It seems to be more consistant than most players. It doesn't try to bring some bogus big project around every week. As much as I hate to say it, they actually pay attention more to player interactivity than any other playerworlds. Other playerworlds are just way too concentrated on the look/appeal of the overworld that they forget what really makes an online playerworld worthy.

If you're going to make a playerworld don't just come up with a dumb concept them buy a playerworld. Make sure you can do your own work to some extent and make sure you have some dedicated staff that will support you. And also don't go around posting screenshots on the OGCC of just one level that you completed. Keep the project more of a secret because in the end, people will appreciate the surprise more rather than get a bunch of people hyped up about it because of how it looks... then when it's released it just seems like another playerworld. Also, be original with your ideas, don't just do what everyone else is doing (like every single job and event). I guess I kind of got off topic a bit and typed too much, oh well!

As for my final suggestion and where I was kind of going... Graal doesn't have an unlimited amount of quality staff. I really think there should be more official graal playerworlds so more quality staff work together and get the job done and get it released. Once it's released let it be player maintained (with few staff) then create another one and see which will be successful and what works and what doesn't.



AS FOR CRONO'S RESPONSE:

Man those numbers are exaggerated. I said there is roughly around 100 playerworlds on graal, and I was giving an example of how the numbers I said (In no way represent the correct numbers of scripters, levelers and graphics designers) and how there just isn't enough staff to complete any of the playerworlds. You kind of missed the whole point.

[Crono]

50 Great scripters play Graal

Are you able to name them?

100 Great level designers play Graal

I have a hard time naming 10.

80 Great graphics designers play graal

Names?

5 Multi-Talented players play graal (Meaning they can do it all).

Sounds right.

[killerogue]

He said roughly Cron. :P

[Sum41Freeeeek]

I don't care.
If I pay 100 dollars for a playerworld, it's not fair that just because I'm not doing anything
(or next to nothing) that it should be tooken away from me :s
If you start taking playerworlds away people are going to be afraid to buy one, thinking
they might waste their money and it will get tooken away.

[killerogue]

Exactly. People won't waste their money and will think twice. And people that really want to keep it will repay. But what James says is cool too. Their should be Monthly PW Inspections but they shouldn't shut it down if it doesn't pass. Maybe 3-5 fails get's it shut down or something.

[KuJi]

No, not at all should a PW be put down after paying.

Clearly a lot of people play with them etc.., some people dont work on them for several months but go back - doesn't matter. They payed, unless they cancel it @ graal.net it should NOT be closed until it expires.

[killerogue]

:O Well let's say use James Revision that PWs should still pass tests or inspections but don't get shut down. Maybe get cited or a warning.

[konidias]

Shutting down PRIVATE servers that people PAID FOR is a REALLY bad idea.

There is no obligation to make a successful playerworld in x amount of time when you pay for a server. When exactly would be a decent time to shut it down anyway? Do you expect someone to have a server ready for release in 6 months? 8 months? 12 months? (hey that's a full year the server subscription is over anyway)

What I think needs to be done in order to see playerworlds be successful... is that there needs to be more benefits for successful worlds. Some examples:

1. If your private playeworld passes inspection and makes it online you and all of the staff on your server would get their accounts flagged for special advantages. Namely that you would be able to post on the forums even if your account expires as long as you're active staff on a public server.

2. You get a free item from the Graal store if you remain an active staff on a public server for x amount of months.

3. Public servers don't have to be paid for (obviously)

4. Access to a private forum where you can contact Stefan or globals really quickly. (of course abuse of the forum or someone non-deserving could be removed from access)

I just think there need to be more benefits for being part of the development for a public server that is bringing players to Graal and keeping the game alive.

These sort of benefits would hardly cost Graal anything...

[killerogue]

:P Let's use Koni's ideas and the edited idea of mine by James. Let's say Playerworlds should be inspected and if they don't pass they WONT be shut down. But will be cited or whatever or something. Then use Koni's ideas as well. Would be nice.

[killerogue]

Did you hear me say, "Not a month. Let's go with James idea and have playerworlds NOT shut down if they don't pass. But maybe cited or something?" Did you see that? No I don't think you did. And the main point of me starting this thread good sir was not to express ideas but to talk about the current state of Graal Onlines community and how it has been constantly since 2k2 been falling at a rate. :P I understand what you're saying. But please notice how I have changed my thoughts according to what people have said. As well as refer to some earlier posts. Come on man read things before you post to something I have changed. And actually some of my "ideas" would be put to good use. Such as if a playerworld was to be inspected then they as well if fallen behind could receive help. :O From a global help team? XD

Originally Posted by killerogue

:P Let's use Koni's ideas and the edited idea of mine by James. Let's say Playerworlds should be inspected and if they don't pass they WONT be shut down. But will be cited or whatever or something. Then use Koni's ideas as well. Would be nice.

[Loakey_P2P]

well let's look at it like this . if you went to the mall and bought a new pair on nikes . when you left the store you were stoped for jaywalking across the street so they confiscate your shoes and refuse to give them back so you have to go buy another pair . is this fair ? f*** no . when i bought my first server i had no intent to make a classic playerworld . my actual intent was to have a place i could go and learn to script freely without restriction . now being a paying customer i am intitled to this am i not . to do with this server as i see fit under the rules and regulation's placed on it by the graal authority's . which is , no racism , no sexual content , limited violence ect . no where does developemnt status fall into this , as it shouldnt .

or are you gona keep stealing my money just becouse im not doing what you want ? weither or not the server is going to go somewhere shouldnt be anyone's concern but the player who bought it , as long as they arnt just abuseing power's and player's they arnt doing any harm to anyone but expanding their knowldge of graal . franklly , i think you all need to either go start a player world , get a job on a playerworld or just stop playing graal all together . and give up with the money bs , stefan and unixmad arnt on wellfare .

they are aparently do just fine as they have kept graal going for this long and we havent heard them saying graal is in danger of going under . they aparently make enough from this to keep a company going and make a living for themself's . im sure they'd like to have more money but who wouldnt ? to make people buy a server , then take it away from them and make them buy it again is tyrant'ish . not saying stefan and unixmad are as they didnt bring this conversation up or back it .

however sooner or later we are all gona have to get a grip on the fact that we are not the harverd educated buisnessmen and this may just be abit out of our league . so rather then tell people how to do their job let's be thankfull that they have done their job well enough to keep us all eatertained for this long and leave all the decision making up to them . if people want more playerworld's comeing out them they need to start work on server's , help and already existing server get finished or just not worry about it . as making even tighter restriction's arnt gona help more stuff come out any faster . the problem is not quility control . it's the graal developmenter's number . it has been dwindleing and continues to do so . however good intention's you have with this , they arnt comeing out good . what your wanting to do is help server's by making it harder for them to grow . this is not helpfull , its quite the opposite .

[smirt362]

Yes I would imagine that shutting down a server that someone has paid for might result in a nasty lawsuit.

[MysticX2X]

not if graalonline changed their tos lol

[Sum41Freeeeek]

Then if they do, people won't buy playerworlds and they won't make as much money.