Should EU go mainstream?

qamori said:

I bet you have some good points in there, but I get lost without paragraphs!

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Acro said:

George, I started playing in 2006; and we have seen a community grow and a playerbase grow. Much advertising and people actually asked their friends and family to play.
But many are not into a real cash economy. Many don't want to spend money in hope to gain money. Many players just want to play a game, with no financial restriction on the level of play.

a person can have a minimum wage IRL and be an uber war monger pink fluffy elf in many of blizzard & co 's games.
Or have a massive storyline that actually progresses and makes sense.
that same person can build a space fleet in another game; where social skills and such are important. Or go shoot each other in MMO FPS games. Or test his reaction, strategy and skills in a couple of mayor league games.
Or just play tabletop D&D.

All of these are more popular than EU, and all of these have a lower cost to play at a top level. The league games even make you money if you uber them and win an E-sport event.

What does it cost to play EU in highest tier. How many would do the boring grinds here? How many people like to play a game where the only way to resolve the playing style restriction is pay more money?

this isn't only EU, it will be true for all RCE games. These games are a niche, and should actually serve that public. It is true EU is unique; but I got a feeling some managers at MA try too much to be generic and lose the uniqueness that PE/EU has.

Why advertise missions and lure in new players not meant to play an RCE. to have them deposit 10 bucks; get mad and make negative reviews/advertising/ calling EU a scam and such.

Start by advertising EU as a virtual world instead of a game. Sure you can play like hunt mine and craft; but it comes at a cost. It is a sandbox where people create. Look at how creative our playerbase is/was. How many of us are entrepreneurs in spirit.
We are the Niche that make the game.
Bring EU mainstream (or try) and it will sink faster than the titanic did.

It's like the principle of demon souls/dark souls. The producer pondered to make the next instalment easier in a way, but they won't. They know that they will lose their core public that loves the hardness/1337ness it takes to finish this game. if it was easier, they might have less audience, even if they had a bigger potential playerbase. It was the fact that is was so hard that made that brand so popular, first as a cult classic, later as the game that 'hardest game of it's generation'.
If demon souls was easier, it would never have become available in the US, europe; and Dark souls wouldn't have been released outside the PS3 platform and it wouldn't be highlighted by steam a couple of times. It was something unique and they didn't give in to the market; so the market respected them and it gave in to the DS series.

They stayed true to themself; and thus become to most famous game in the niche of "difficult games".

If EU would stay true to the mindset that PE once had; but with the nicer graphics. If instead of making a crapload of missions and unwalkable terrain, they would remain the sandbox type of game. They would be more popular for what they are.

Because now, I have the feeling like MA thinks they need to change the game to the generic stuff to fit in; and in doing so losing its own identity; and that is wrong.
Never be ashamed for what PE was. The concept was bold and daring. It had a unique style; a unique gameplay; a unique playbase and community. And I am proud about what PE was.

It's not about the graphics or what teens and "real" gamers think about this game that counts. those people are narrowminded dimwits without money to spend. They crave the latest and newest and leave eventually. That is not the audience worthy of even downloading PE; let alone pollute what was our nice community with their childish and short sighted ideas.

If you look at entropia as a virtual world instead of just another game. You see that it is a world that grows on you; where you develop your skills, friends and contacts, knowledge and get something no mere other game can give.

That is why entropia should and can't go mainstream. It is a place for the anti-gamer; the player that doesn't play many other games; doesn't expect just another game with game settings. But an inhabitant of a world; a world known as entropia.

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RickEngland said:

Personally I think they should be brave enough to load up some new servers and run a fresh universe side by side to attract the masses. I would not be surprised if it's been discussed at board level and not approved. Although if I was them I'd be asking myself what have we got to lose.

Rick

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jaydub said:

...although I don't totally disagree with you...you guys that 'agree' with this statement about it being about the 'anti-gamer' want the player base to actually get smaller...the people I play with some of them play lots of other games...not me personally...this is it...haven't touched the PS4 or XBOX in years...but in reality I want many more players...not 4 guys sitting in their dark basement throwing dice...that is how you expand and maintain value...at least to the things I have invested in game...

Brick

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bigheadnick said:

Why again do they allow disconnected avatars to be looted?

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Fifth said:

The cornerstone of EU is freedom. No races, no charbuilds, no caps, open world/sandbox.
Everyone decides how high he wants to play, how high he can afford to play (once past the noob times and will actually have a choice).

EU = Freedom of Choice (that's spiced up with) Element of Gambling

This is a blessing (makes ppl pay more money) and a curse (makes ppl overspend and ragequit).
I'd say it's too much freedom for a typical mainstream customer...



Thanx Acro for super cool post. Signed!




in response to bighead:

Imagine it works like u propose. Server sees no connection to the client, and u instantly become invulnerable/unlootable.
How to use this new feature?
Put the modem's power switch at your left hand, every time u meet a PKer in lootable PvP u turn that switch.

It's all about simple logic and (so far, luckily) not about money. Once the ppl who can't understand the game mechanics get upper hand and can dictate changes to the system we're doomed.

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jaydub said:

...and kill all investment in LAs and CLDs and eventually everything else in this game? How would that help...what i stated in my original post was setup a tiered system that does exactly this...funnels more people in without undermining EU as it is now...recruit younger ages...allow easier ways to deposit for younger ages...8 year olds are able to play the game for real in just 5 years...13 year olds are adults in college with their own credit cards in just 5 years...get those players now...

Brick

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RickEngland said:

How do you view the current situation? Do you think we're going through a period of investment correction? Justify why item values are falling and not increasing? Why items or even new bigger items are struggling to find buyers. Sure a lot of stuff is changing hands, but I don't see huge demand for the quantity of unlimited items on the market, the economy is awash with so much stuff that players want to sell.

I foresee huge problem with item upgrades such as tiering and space ship SI upgrades. What you got is an overpriced item already that's had more value thrown at it. How many times have I read "buyer looking for low tiered item, or low SI ship". It's almost as if improving at item, decreases the number of future buyers. In other words you invest for yourself not for future resale. So it's inevitable there is more price correction to follow for such items, because the market is demanded that.

The current world has a dedicated number of followers and investors that stay here regardless what other games are available on the market. IF MA were to open a new universe from scratch (and run it as a separate offering) what difference does that make to those people. If players did jump ship, it would clearly show they were seeking new opportunity anyhow. But the plus side is a brand new universe would attract tons of players, almost like a new gold rush. If you fear change or competition, then you must feel the current game is not as robust as you think it is. That in itself is interesting, don't you think.

Rick

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Thark said:

Hey,

I think EU has the potential to become mainstream.

I personally am getting sick of Free To Play games (micro transactions and junk) and as someone else said Single Player games feel boring to me after a few hours because i know once i get this sword and that armor and then beat that guy in 2 levels i'm done - nothing more to do. That's why I love EU, there is always something to do or something to strive for.

I partly agree that the cost to play is too high BUT I do feel like that is something that I could change for myself.

i.e. spending 60$ to get equipment and then pay a "10$ sub fee" (10 bucks monthly depo) could keep people playing for quite a while. I'm not gonna get the huge ATHs but i'll be able to "look up" to people who spend more. This kind of game (read rce) is the only game type where i find pay to win acceptable, no, necessary!

For me EU is a game where if i have the money i can do what ever the f i want and i love that about this game. Don't change that, don't change the chance to loot something big either! That is the stupidest thing i regularly read on this forum: people demanding guarantied 90% return. If you go out with 100 ped and know you'll be back with 90 why would you even play? And don't tell me hunting monsters is fun in EU. The fun comes from either the desire to win something big from MA or figuring out the economy and beating it. (or i suppose making your own fun but that doesn't fit with the normal hunting thing i'm talking about)

So summing it all up - introduce another continent or what ever with only smaller creatures so people can hunt there with 100 peds per month and be happy. Also maybe you could introduce packs like that and sell em through the deposit system. But don't change the existing system because I know a lot of people would stop playing but also there are still lot's of people out there who would like PE but just haven't really tried it because of the presentation.


Just my thoughts on this
Thark

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RickEngland said:

How do you view the current situation? Do you think we're going through a period of investment correction? Justify why item values are falling and not increasing? Why items or even new bigger items are struggling to find buyers. Sure a lot of stuff is changing hands, but I don't see huge demand for the quantity of unlimited items on the market, the economy is awash with so much stuff that players want to sell.

I foresee huge problem with item upgrades such as tiering and space ship SI upgrades. What you got is an overpriced item already that's had more value thrown at it. How many times have I read "buyer looking for low tiered item, or low SI ship". It's almost as if improving at item, decreases the number of future buyers. In other words you invest for yourself not for future resale. So it's inevitable there is more price correction to follow for such items, because the market is demanded that.

The current world has a dedicated number of followers and investors that stay here regardless what other games are available on the market. IF MA were to open a new universe from scratch (and run it as a separate offering) what difference does that make to those people. If players did jump ship, it would clearly show they were seeking new opportunity anyhow. But the plus side is a brand new universe would attract tons of players, almost like a new gold rush. If you fear change or competition, then you must feel the current game is not as robust as you think it is. That in itself is interesting, don't you think.

Rick

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Tesla Coil said:

Entropia Universe comes more and more to a end-point.

For having a successful pyramid scam you need lots of new players.
In the end everyone has to pay for the ones above them...

You really want to drag in 1000's of more people in this dead-end RCE...

Going mainstream will make at least one more difference that is positive for MindArk, more money!

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Venture Bros said:

Easiest way to do it, is to get onto steam.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=204570488
If you don't use steam, create an account to upvote it.

This is the most important single vote in the history of Entropia. If we make it onto Steam we will have more users than at any single point in the games history.

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Sub-Zero said:

Careful, this may be the doom of entropia as well. Steam playerbase come to try out game find out it's a RCE, deposit 10 bucks, lose it in few hours, and cry about the game. Thus EU will get even worse reputation, and it will spread a lot bigger.

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Mining in CND?

Hello I have been wanting to go try mine enmatter at cnd for sometime now. And I am a non depositor.
If I am going there how many probes do you recommend me to take with me.. And where should I mine enmatter? I prefer mine where not many mobs around..
I use mf-211(L) soon almost maxed.

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Mikass said:

I couldn't help noticing this thread of yours, which you've made back in 2008. Seems you've managed to play for quite some time without depositing. https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?134699-Mining-in-CND&highlight=

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Zorander said:

A fresh server... new uber items dropping, knowledge of what mobs those items drop from, new land areas. I'm not sure how you think this would be a good idea at all. Of course everyone except those that already have the uber gear and land would want to play on the new server where they would have a chance at looting a modfap or some such.

Opening a second EU world would kill the current one. This doesn't solve anything at all, it doesn't make EU better, it doesn't fix bugs, it may or may not attract new players (who probably won't stay past the initial gold rush unless they find something really nice) but I can guarantee it will lose you some players who have worked hard to get where they are and don't want to start over.

The only 'advantage' would be the chance to have nice stuff without paying 20k USD but all you'd end up with is a copy of the current EU - a bunch of people who looted uber stuff dominating the game. Now the new server is just like the old, some people go back to the old because they have better stuff there still. You have now split the player base in two in a game where many think there aren't enough active players already.

TL;DR - Horrible idea, would kill EU (or at least gravely wound it)

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Sub-Zero said:

Careful, this may be the doom of entropia as well. Steam playerbase come to try out game find out it's a RCE, deposit 10 bucks, lose it in few hours, and cry about the game. Thus EU will get even worse reputation, and it will spread a lot bigger.

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