Who do you respect the most on Graal?

[Tigairius]

Originally Posted by Door

People do not pay for something they don't think is worth the value it's being sold at. There has to be a mutual agreement on the equal value of the exchange from both ends. In a free market, if someone thinks that a product or service is too expensive, they just look elsewhere.

The problem with Graal is that it is too expensive for what it offers. What does it offer, I ask you?
- A disjointed community rationed out onto diverse servers, each created by a collective but also disjointed effort.
- A chance to create, improve, or otherwise contribute to the game itself, with almost no limitations or restrictions.
- Membership, at a cost. Without paying, players are highly limited from playing or contributing, and in the latter case, no compensation (or appreciation from management) is ever offered in any form.

So if we players feel that the game is not worth the cost, it's natural for us to do what all consumers are wont to do: leave. We should go and find a better game at a better price elsewhere. But we don't. Kinda curious, isn't it?

Why don't we leave?

Whether it be loyalty to a game they've played for many years, strong social ties with the community, or an interest in expressing creativity/being able to contribute to the welfare of other players, we have stayed. But we complain, we nag, we beg for change, we offer incentives, assistance, advice, tutorials, and overall motivation to change. We tried positive motivation. That was years ago. Now we've come to resort to negative. So why are you complaining about us? We're here, sticking with the game, many of us even still paying. We should be good, smart consumers and leave, but instead we are trying from the bottoms of our hearts to improve a game that we think is worth improving.

We are not going to lure fresh new minds into the pit we're stuck in, miserable and fighting just to be told "You are only making things worse" when in reality, we are the only thing keeping this game from completely sinking away. That is why you come to us begging for a new website. Does it come from the top? Hell no, they don't care. That is why you expect us to advertise and bring in new people to contribute in the same way we do, miserable and seeking true change. The worst thing you can do in that kind of situation is remain apathetic--or worse, content with it. Why accept what is wrong? Or even portray it as though it is all sunshine and grape vines to the ignorant? You should be ashamed of yourself, and you should stop protecting the people who need a serious wake up call.

Graal is like an apple rotting from the core outward. We are the skin, the only thing holding it together right now, and we are hard and sour, but what's important is that the inside, the content be delicious and crisp. Without a healthy core, management to lead the players and provide a quality product through their own sacrifice and hard work, there is nothing to keep the content edible. It's rotting, and it's not coming from those outside the inner circle, we complainers.


Yet for some reason we stay.

I really agree with pretty much everything you said here. I think you bring up incredible points, a lot of which intertwine with my own thoughts as well. The only difference is the negativity, and I understand your viewpoint. Honestly, I think some negativity is important because it can keep people in line, but too much negativity is very demotivating. This is where it becomes a problem.

Believe me, believe everyone who is an administrator under Stefan and unixmad, we understand that there are a lot of issues. We are not just turning a blind eye to the situation, and we try everything in our power to make things better. However, it has been an up-hill struggle, and this is also why I have been perhaps a bit too short tempered with the complainers lately. We are all fighting this, not just you guys.