I got a little introspective, today, when I realized the chunk of my life that is actually (in various degrees) this game.
Once upon a time I ran from the Tarsis shriners, waded through fields of their ham, got killed at the Palanthas fountain because it was "theirs", and wondered wtf Riverwind's cookie was and why people cared so much about it. One player, noticing my naked newbieness, handed me some pants.
I'm now 30, and those old memories are from my beginning days on Arctic, and are themselves 10 to 12 years old. I learned how to be quiet, how to get out of town, to plant myself in a zone and sit tirelessly at some random room in the game, trying to figure out a keyword. All the while working on my insane set of scripts and maps, shared with almost no one. Knowing, in good times, 1 or 2 players online, I've had a vastly different experience than most people on this mud - avoiding grouping, and staying away from clans. And I find I want something from Arctic now. There are other quiet ones out there, but I don't hear from them for the same reason they don't hear from me. So I'll say a little now, and maybe I'm 9 years late speaking up. I'm aware that I'm not elite the same way that some players are - everything I'm good at has been tightly wound into secrecy, and the standard definition requires far less.
I play less these days, and I know others play less too. But now I wonder who is left? Did we all enter our 30s together? Or did fresh blood come, and everyone who is here is somehow still a teenager? I see 21 people logged on right now, and it's the middle of a work day (in the US), so I know Arctic still has life left. I'm forced to admit I'd probably log in sometimes and play even if I were the only one left, despite periods of neglect of larger periods of time. And when I do log in, and see the number of active players I'm forced to reflect on less old memories of 100 or so players on at any time.
My real life, despite my own protests, has taught me a little marketing, and I think Arctic could use a dose. My suggestions are part of my overarching thought process, and while it may seem strange to include in an introspective post, I suppose I wish now just to help.
• I know email addresses have been collected for a long time. Emailing the players on a semi-regular basis (give them the chance to opt out) could help return interest - remind them that there are still improvements being made. I could help with these - I've written things like this. Summations of news, notices of upcoming quests - how many times notable mobs have been killed lately. Anything, just communicate.
• I said years ago that it's high time for a t-shirt (another tshirt? I vaguely recall one before, but I didn't participate, if it's even a valid memory), and I think that's still true. I wish someone would coordinate a t-shirt order. A good shirt, if you please. With any profit make a few extras, and use them as giveaways for tournament wins, or some other reason.
• I've always firmly believed that more data should make it on the site (think automated scripts that send data to the webserver). I'm a nerd, and am addicted to statistics and code - in that I'm probably NOT alone. I've always silently wondered why more didn't make it online (until recently, not even news was on the site). How about a shout log? I'd visit the site to read shouts, for no reason or to search for my name to see if someone wanted to reach me. How many shouts have I missed because I wasn't in world? Probably not many, but I'd check anyway, or just see the pulse of the game. And then after work, I may be more inclined to log in. Don't stop at a shout log - Lots of data should make it online.
• Maybe you all already know each other's names, but I think I know zero active players right now. Are we a small and shrinking community because we just don't know each other? This sudden introspection came about in a strange way, but I think it's important. In Justin's (that's me) fantasy-filled brain, present and past players would all meet in some large hall, and revel in what a nerdy thing we've all enjoyed. I don't think that's going to happen, and I've heard stories some do this among themselves on occasion, which is neat. This isn't a suggestion, more than an unattainable wish.
• Referrals. Social networking sites have this down cold. I've been pondering today how to apply it to arctic. It takes a certain type of person to defy the rest of the gaming community in favor of any MUD, and I've tried to recruit friends, with limited success. There's got to be some way, though.
• Sharing. Maybe one or two zones should be revealed to help newbies. My secretiveness is just part of what frustrates newbies so much - and we all do it. How many times will we read the phrase "knowledge is power" and use it as an excuse to exclude new players? We give information to our trusted friends, but nothing to to lifeblood of the game - new players. When asked "what do I do?", we say "explore" which is fine, but exploring equals dying, and on many occasions before they learn that dying isn't the end of the world, they stop playing. No, I don't want to nerf the game, and I don't want to hold their hand and thereby create demanding players, who think they should be powerleveled (not that that doesnt' happen anyway, among circles of friends - it's the guy who knows no one who has no chance). Here, the suggestion would be just to give the brand new solo player a bone. Something to "do". "You should level up at X zone -- and here's a help file for it." It gets them out of your hair, and it helps them through some game mechanics. This game is huge (room wise) and isn't going to crumble because we started assisting newbies a tad more.
Comments?
__________________________
Honestly, the idea about
Honestly, the idea about emailing old players via the database of addresses submitted through the years is a really good one. This should be along the lines of introducing old players to new changes, likely right before a player wipe so there can be a touted 'even playing field' to get re-introduced to.
I'd pay twenty bucks for an ink penned three dollar tee, I'd probably pay the same for an ArcticMUD mousepad if those could be had. If this influx of cash would assist some of the long time creators, then definately. I think this game has provided all of us for years and years of entertainment, and for others a sense of satisfaction for our burgeoning imaginations.
__________________________Walking the Dark Path Alone
I think some high level
I think some high level zones that can safely be distributed without giving away information that is highly secret would be Draconian Tower, DKO, and other zones which have been around for a very long time, are considered pretty stable (the kws don't change from wipe to wipe) and which practically everyone knows how to do. You don't even have to give away all of the kw's for these zones, just create a walk through and a couple of hints here and there.
I'm not going to benefit from this information as a longer time player, but I think many newbies might.
The newsletter is a good idea, it will bring a few people back. Can I edit the list ahead of time though cause I notice there are some people not playing that I'm pleased about their absence?
__________________________Education replaces force with reason.
This post warmed the cockles
This post warmed the cockles of my heart. I recently came back to Arctic after about five years absence and am wondering why I stayed away for so long. It's very different with so few players on, but it still seems very much alive. I was very pleased to find that the administration has kept working on it, introducing some very complex systems into the world (especially from a coding perspective, for something done entirely on a volunteer basis). Kudos to everyone that continues to work hard on Arctic.
I think the e-mail idea would be a great thing, although I doubt very many of the older e-mail addresses are even valid anymore. However, it would be somewhat sad to have a bunch of older players log on, see maybe 25 people online, and then leave again. What I would recommend is that the e-mail state a particular day, maybe a particular time, when people should log back onto Arctic and reconnect with old friends. Now THAT would be something!
As for the fundraising, it has been my understanding that the Arctic administration has never been in need of funds nor sought any out. However, I would submit that Arctic is a piece of the Internet's history as one of the longest-running, most unique MUDs in existence, and many people would like to see it remain a part of the Internet's present and future. It's really telling when complex graphical MMOs still can't fully capture the simple beauty of the written word. The medium is not obsolete, it just needs to be sold to the next generation.
That said, there's nothing broken about Arctic that needs fixing, but it would be nice to be able to share the experience with more people again.
Thro - glad to hear about
Thro - glad to hear about your warm cockles, and welcome back
I didn't mean the t-shirt to be for +funds so much as +community and interest. Moreover, dangit, there were times when I treated Arctic like a job, and I'd like a shirt to show for it :p. I was thinking along the lines of a blue polo style, blue (more Royal than Sky) with the Arctic site logo (the A made out of the 3 colored moons) and "Arctic" written under in just the right font (armed with graphic files, I'd help with this if no one else wants to).
The comments on the email blast are good - maybe the first in fact should be a "let's log on at X date at Y time, just for kicks". The point I was trying to make, though, wasn't to bring them all back - it was to present them with a chance to come back, and that ongoing communication is an important part of a strong community. Some players do this themselves in groups among themselves, and kudos to them. I'm talking about quarterly friendly updates, news bulletins, and maybe a select tidbit of information that could bring the newbie who left back to the game "just to check it out - whoops, I'm sucked into the game". Marketing. Can't help but see PHP used on the site - I'm a web dev guy... I would gladly and freely write a PHP email blasting script that gives users a chance to opt out if the right thumbs were pointed skyward - I don't want to overstep my bounds.
Re:
Re: Starmis
Justin,
Introducing changes to Arctic is much easier when you have an established reputation among the imms and (especially) among the imps of Arctic, since they're the people that actually change and implement things. In fact, most of them already have more plans and ideas than they may reasonably expect to bring into life in the foreseeable time. New ideas need new Vuddies that will code.
In other words, if you really want to have something done or implemented, become an imm, get the general approval from the imps, and do it yourself (that was exactly my logic when applying for an imm myself). For an experienced player, raising a char to 1x (no ranks are necessary) shoudn't be a difficult issue. When you write your application, drop me an e-mail to barees@hotmail.com (put the word Arctic at the beginning in the subject so I don't miss it obscured by the tons of spam) - so I don't forget to put my vote for you.
Best wishes and looking forward to talk with you in the Godshome.
Boris aka Nasredin
I think I agree in principle
I think I agree in principle with a lot of what you say.
Boris makes a good point. We are always looking for innovative players to become members of the staff and help put good ideas into action.
__________________________Don't tell me how to do it; it sickens me.
Do my eyes deceive me...
Do my eyes deceive me... Randomly check the Arctic site every few months and look who I find...
Speaking of old friends, are you really playing again Throtex? 'Cause if you are I'll play again for a little fun and to rehash some of the old days.. If you can get any old HS people to play then I'd be impressed :P I suppose it would give me a chance to mess around in Terky zones again too, ugh!
Guess your thread is already working a little bit Starmis...
Hey Brian -- I hadn't
Hey Brian -- I hadn't realized this was how you found I was back. haha
Yay for quiet old guys. One
Yay for quiet old guys. One of my biggest regrets is not having bought a T-shirt in that 1995 fund raiser. Another is the first time I typed telnet mud.arctic.org /port=2700. Ok, back to being quiet and old.
Yay for Wukong, now you can
Yay for Wukong, now you can come back and dwell in your second regret since I have to! And a bunch of imposters stole our name and are parading around as a clan with it.. Was only supposed to be used for people that were too lazy to ever really get organized enough to pop real gear.. horrid! I hear Sancho is to blame... But then again when isn't he.
Starmis, I think your ideas
Starmis, I think your ideas are brilliant. I agree with...everything. I don't really have any power, nor did I ever have any, but drop me a note at soulmirago at hotmail if you want help with anything.
I might as well add to the list of ideas while I'm at it. I posted this on the imm idea board a long time ago, but I don't think I ever received any responses. Essentially, this idea works toward the fact that outstanding customer service can really build the playerbase and help retain new players. People love personalized, helpful attention.
Introduce a "help" chat channel, similar to the Jack and Jill thing on Achaea.
- When a new character is created, make player fill out a field if they've ever played before. If no, then set newbie flag
- New players joining the game are automatically added to the "help" channel, with an automatic short message explaining how the help channel works
- Hero's, or imms with a opt flag, will automatically receive a notification when the new player joins the channel
- New players can ask questions in the help channel using a command such as "newbie" (I need a better command name)
- Hero's can explain how to play the game, and give away non-sensitive game info; even basic walkthroughs of low zones.
-If a newbie messages a channel while there is no hero in the channel, it sends an automatic notification to the newbie saying noone is around. Perhaps this can be automatically logged on the server along with the newbie email address, so that a helpful imm who logs on later can send a quick email later asking the player if they would like a personalized walkthrough.
- I haven't decided if it would be a good idea to allow high-level players to voluntarily join the channel to help newbies. This might provide an opportunity for griefing, but it would also allow nice non-imms to help out in the game.
- I haven't decided how or when the newbie flag should be removed. Perhaps it should be always optional to turn on and off, or perhaps it should just wear off after they hit a certain level.
- I haven't decided how the newbie channel should be policed. Should heros be able to remove spammers/griefers from the channel? Should there be anti-spam measures so people can't send a whole bunch of messages to the channel?
Obviously all of this would have to be coded by someone, which means it might not ever be created. If you like the idea, help me build support for it and find someone to code it :)
p.s. My new zone should hopefully be finished by the end of May. Arctic is still growing :)