Classic Comeback

[ffcmike]

There's always been a small crowd of players throughout the couple weeks following the bigger releases of the last couple years, which would naturally subside. Since the last few months have been spent focussing on event related development (much easier and quicker than decent quests), thus events being tested and made public fairly regularly, the activity has been more consistent as one might expect. Therefore it's an encouraging sign but not a surprise.

Interestingly enough the players within that picture other than yourself are split half and half between having played Classic prior to the redevelopment, or began playing since the redevelopment. The project has never been aimed at just getting older players to return to an old server, but also to create an improved server which appeals to newer visitors.

What stands in the way of a full revival at this point is the continuation of event development, a final touchup of overworld locations, the preliminary rebuilding of staff divisions, and ideally the removal of observer mode.
That last criteria however is not within our hands, despite all of the planning and preparation towards it, on top of existing progress from scratch over nearly 3 years, the responses from the powers that be have been pitiful to say the least. The progress that has occurred within the time I began presenting those plans exceeds the significance of the responses so much, that it's looking increasingly likely that I may be faced with a decision to either go live without a conclusion, or hold out longer for the sake of a potentially greater immediate success.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by ffcmike

the responses from the powers that be have been pitiful to say the least.

-work hard to develop a server you have a passion for
-dont ask for compensation, just easier access to the server for players
-get rejected as if you're not the one doing them a favor

i know that feel bro -_-

[Fulg0reSama]

Originally Posted by Crono

-work hard to develop a server you have a passion for
-dont ask for compensation, just easier access to the server for players
-get rejected as if you're not the one doing them a favor

Likewise.

[ffcmike]

Originally Posted by Crono

-get rejected as if you're not the one doing them a favor

The plans have not actually been rejected, the gist of the responses is that the plans have not yet been read (but they will be soon!), that said economies need to be secure, and that it's wrong for some players to play the game without paying so there needs to be hard limits.

Had the plans actually been read it might have been noticed that the said economies are fresh and organised as a result of us wiping, that there are several scripted systems in place to prevent abuse and monitor the said currencies, and while I do not personally agree with the idea of enforcing restrictions on trial players, it has nevertheless been factored in.

That said a certain video I linked within an email got 2 unique views from France on the exact day it was sent, with no views from France at any other time, or any other videos of mine being viewed from France around that time, which raises some suspicion.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by ffcmike

and that it's wrong for some players to play the game without paying

not at all, graal started off being free to play and had a reasonable playercount. now, 10 years after p2p graal, f2p with micro-transaction luxeries is the way for a lot of multiplayer games to go.

[ffcmike]

Originally Posted by Crono

not at all, graal started off being free to play and had a reasonable playercount. now, 10 years after p2p graal, f2p with micro-transaction luxeries is the way for a lot of multiplayer games to go.

I'm not particularly concerned whether their ideals are based predominantly on micro-transactions, subscriptions, or both (which seems to be the case, they want Playerworlds to be more like GK and Zone, not the other way around as most people think). I'm more concerned with what level of freedom is given to free players, and whether it's sufficient for them to actually get a proper experience of the game, in order to properly decide whether it's worth paying for.

I would have hoped that as a result of iPhone, they would've learned that if you have X free players contributing to the fun of the game, then this is contributing to the incentive towards those Y players who do pay.