Should MA switch back?

[KijkkiJikki]

yes, you have not these experiences. But today, how many peds are you recycling by day (4k / 5k / ??k) ?

A lot but not as much as that. Each huon hunt cycles around 400 ped. Week nights I might manage 2 = 800 ped. weekends 3 to 5 per day = 1.2k - 2k. If I get at least 2 globals in a hunt, I am probably going to break even based on TT alone. If I get 3 or more I am in the profit zone.

No two ways about it, high return mobs have a large ped cycle. Especially on arkadia where it takes a while to sell loot.

Regards,
KikkiJikki

 

[Xavier_Jr]

A lot but not as much as that. Each huon hunt cycles around 400 ped. Week nights I might manage 2 = 800 ped. weekends 3 to 5 per day = 1.2k - 2k. If I get at least 2 globals in a hunt, I am probably going to break even based on TT alone. If I get 3 or more I am in the profit zone.

No two ways about it, high return mobs have a large ped cycle. Especially on arkadia where it takes a while to sell loot.

Regards,
KikkiJikki

Your return rate is very good and similar to 2008. Enjoy your time. In fact, to obtain 2 globals, only with 400 peds, is very good. Now, You only need to select your mob, in function to the MU of weapons, tools and loots, to reach the goal (to survive the longest time possible, inclusive with possibilities of profit) .

In fact, today, i can not receive somethig equivalent to you.. a round of 1200 peds, is the only guarantee for me, to obtain one or two globals... (I refer to Mobs that cost 2 or 3 peds by kill). In fact, a friend of mine, to get 5 to 9 globals per day, as before, needs recycling 4k or 5k peds by day. - Selecting a good MOB with loot of high MU, he can reach the 90% of return, that everybody dreams in the game - But this level of hunting, for me, is very exhausting, expensive and risky.

I envy your return rate (in a healthy way). Take advantage of it, look closely at the balance of the market values ​​of spending and receiving, if you do well, you will do much better .. good luck.

 

[kosmos]

I say that spending money on a video game is a luxury. A luxury more and more people can't afford as the economy IRL tumbles. Once the RL economy stablizes you'll see in increase in spending habits again.

Menace

I think this hits the nail on the head. Games like entropia are really a luxary indeed.

Before 2009. (2008 and back). The first Uber: Neo The Famous Trader Sharp could get 60 globals per day. My mentor could get 20 globals per day. And, in a good day, I could get 12 globals per day.

Today the first Uber Stryker can achieve only 16 globals per day. My mentor, sometimes two. And, in a really great day of lucky, I can get one global.

What happened? I think the CryEngine project costs, it was guilty of absorbed the loot money, since September-October 2008. And in 2009, when was implemented Cry Engine Version, the game lost in a single pull, a half of customers.

Looking the sales of the decade, for Breer M1a, Breer P1A and Isis CB5, we can see the drop of new customers, that confirms what I say.

As currently we are 5 times less customers than before, and besides we have 4 planets, if we wanted to get now, what we had got in mid-2008, we need to spend 5 times more than we did before.

The proof is that crafters produce more to achieve their globals now, but there is less people buying things that they produce. His globals, cost much more today, than yesterday.

How to fix? I do not know if it possible to reduce the minimum of requirement to play this game. Or if it just wait a couple of years for almost everyone have available technologies to run this game. And do not need for a super special graphics card.

Or else, allow each planet owner to invest money in their own world loot. So customers could pay less and give to them an opportunity of existence in this universe.

If it can not do any of that, maybe they want to transform this beautifull release CryEngine in something with monthly payment, like Eve or WOW. And clean the dust, to the old 9.4 version, for using it, as the MMORPG with RCE.

I don't think we get as many new people at least not ones that stay and end up consuming much. I also thing your correct we are spread alot in many ways.

Basically both of these quotes paint the current picture of EU. Going back in time isn't going to change anything, because the fact is mindark can only do so much to convince someone to toss their real life money into a game like this. Looking at the free or cheap mmo alternatives which actually have underground flourishing rces or just plain fun this game will always be a tiny oddity.

 

[KijkkiJikki]

Your return rate is very good and similar to 2008. Enjoy your time. In fact, to obtain 2 globals, only with 400 peds, is very good. Now, You only need to select your mob, in function to the MU of weapons, tools and loots, to reach the goal (to survive the longest time possible, inclusive with possibilities of profit) .

In fact, today, i can not receive somethig equivalent to you.. a round of 1200 peds, is the only guarantee for me, to obtain one or two globals... (I refer to Mobs that cost 2 or 3 peds by kill). In fact, a friend of mine, to get 5 to 9 globals per day, as before, needs recycling 4k or 5k peds by day. - Selecting a good MOB with loot of high MU, he can reach the 90% of return, that everybody dreams in the game - But this level of hunting, for me, is very exhausting, expensive and risky.

Well basically Huons rock, even after the upgrade in agro and damage. Cost to kill youngs (I hunt low maturity) is around 5ped per mob.

There are two downsides that I can see.
1. most of the loot from them is low MU. The good news is that MU is generally a little higher on Ark than Caly.
2. owing to the young arkadian economy, it can take some time to sell loot so you end up with a reasonable amount of ped (say 2 to 3k) tied up in storage at any one time. Your ped card needs to be able cope with the delay between spending and selling.

But maybe you should come up to Arkadia and try for yourself? I agree it has a degree of risk. Everyone has to work out what level of risk they are comfortable with.

Regards,
KikkiJikki

 

[In Love With]

Dear Lord,

what a bunching of whining people in this thread ...

Basic pschology teaches you that looking back you'll only remember the good things, not the bad. You ask any casino gambler and the first story he'll tell you is about that one night he won the jackpot ... The other 364 times that year he went, he won't remember as they have been a loss ... I think everyone gets the picture what I mean.


Let me remind the old timers of ...

Rubber banding (really bad)
regular CTD's
a lot less choice of hunting mobs (no prot, levi etc.)
no space
no vehicles
no XP ammo and fun

I am sure that I have forgotten so many things in that list but you should get the picture.


And with regards to loot. I think its total bullshit if you think that MA has changed the average ROI. But if I see people with level 20-50 hunting levis with big guns, low evade etc. I am not surprised that they loose a lot. If you run around with big amps and mine oil, you'll loose... And eventually you'll loose anyway (else MA would be bankrupt) so unless you have the edge of making a living on markup prepare to loose (in exchange for some fun hours).

I think MA has done a solid job over the past years advancing this game even though there are elements that I most certainly don't like (i.e. taming still removed, lootable space travel, mentoring?).

So please get a perspective, back then it wasn't better

Angel

 

[Xavier_Jr]

Well basically Huons rock, even after the upgrade in agro and damage. Cost to kill youngs (I hunt low maturity) is around 5ped per mob.

There are two downsides that I can see.
1. most of the loot from them is low MU. The good news is that MU is generally a little higher on Ark than Caly.
2. owing to the young arkadian economy, it can take some time to sell loot so you end up with a reasonable amount of ped (say 2 to 3k) tied up in storage at any one time. Your ped card needs to be able cope with the delay between spending and selling.

But maybe you should come up to Arkadia and try for yourself? I agree it has a degree of risk. Everyone has to work out what level of risk they are comfortable with.

Regards,
KikkiJikki

I've already killed. I did not get anything. However, one of the friends who were with me, has received a global from Huon very close from where I was.

In fact, I did not receive any other such global in Arkadia (mining or hunting), and for that reason, I returned to Calypso, which in my opinion, and because its most number of people, remains the best place. (I have visited every planet from EU - but, all my globals are achieved in Calypso / CP / or CND. In the other planets 0 globals)

 

[billairboy]

Thx for all your replies please add more if you got additional thoughts. The question of when the peak was, is a question of much discussion but MA should have the real numbers. It sounds quite good that most of you belive that we will regain the peak and continue upwards but that its taking more time then it deserves due to MA not being able to read the consumers needs/wants.

I don't think we have any substancially lesser amount of players today compared to any "peak" you talk about, but pretty much a similar amount. Today most outpost have their own storage and auctioner, in pre V10 you often had to go back to some bigger place now and then. Now you can be at an outpost for all the time if you want. We also have the players split between the planets.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

I don't think we have any substancially lesser amount of players today compared to any "peak" you talk about, but pretty much a similar amount. Today most outpost have their own storage and auctioner, in pre V10 you often had to go back to some bigger place now and then. Now you can be at an outpost for all the time if you want. We also have the players split between the planets.

The decline of players has nothing to do with beliefs or views ...

It's just a complete reality. Exists many verifiable records to understand it. In 2008 ET showed between 12,000-15,000 active hunters. Now just tell us 2.980 active hunters.

Weapon sales for new players peaked in 2008. Currently the level is equivalent to 2006 sales.

The need to increase the player base is a truth out loud. (just do this exercise. Take a paper, and on one side write all the names of players that you knew before but do not play now. And on the other side write the names of their new friends. If your memory is not selective, you will have a surprise. And finally, check the info of this forum: "There are currently 207 users online. 99 members and 108 guests Most users ever online was 1,313, 08-18-2009 at 12:27". (When CryEngine 2 realese was implementing 08-26-2009) )

 

[Cani Ostro]

I would certainly play more if I had a viable chance to upgrade my gear via looting. The thrill of just looting oils and wools has no real value. Besides, what is the point of looting a FAP-5 from a Araneatrox for example?

Apart from that, they could add more "little stuff" to please the usual MMO player. Tiered armor parts could have different details to show for example.

What do MMO players expect from a MMO that costs x times more than the biggest out there? Certainly not running around in the same armor for 5 years...

To sum it up shortly: EU (as every planet in total) costs more and offers less than every other MMO out there. And if you play it "free" it is absolutely trash compared to what other MMOs offer for free.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

To sum it up shortly: EU (as every planet in total) costs more and offers less than every other MMO out there. And if you play it "free" it is absolutely trash compared to what other MMOs offer for free.

It is painful to admit it, but you are right.

The previous managers from Mindark and FPC made ​​bad decisions before. We hope that the current managers have cards up their sleeve yet.

 

[remontoire]

It's just a complete reality. Exists many verifiable records to understand it. In 2008 ET showed between 12,000-15,000 active hunters. Now just tell us 2.300 active hunters.

The 10K+ numbers included teams, while present numbers don't. How you get 2300 active hunters from 3000+ unique globals simply boggles the mind.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

The 10K+ numbers included teams, while present numbers don't. How you get 2300 active hunters from 3000+ unique globals simply boggles the mind.

You're right, with the teams ... but here the important is that is the same variable ... and shows that in 2008 there were 5 times more players than now (12K/2.3k) ... That's the important... Similarly, forum users actives from before cryengine release, is like 5 times more than now (1313 /207).

If you look at the weapons selling statistics for newbie players, you can see a similar relation.

Then is logical to guess, that people who not upgrade his spend level, to compense this difference, maybe his return rate would be very bad.

The idea is to know reality, for try solutions for us and our game.

 

[Mega]

And finally, check the info of this forum: "There are currently 207 users online. 99 members and 108 guests Most users ever online was 1,313, 08-18-2009 at 12:27". (When CryEngine 2 realese was implementing 08-26-2009) )

It's worth bearing in mind that the 1,313 was from a different forum (Entropiaforum.com) and that the 207 figure you quoted may be at a low activity time of day - should imagine it is more than that either on a Friday evening (Europe time) or during a server downtime for example.

Also there are more forums than there were in 2009, Arkadiaforum.com and Entropia Planets for example.

 

[trance]

The problem with less green dots to see, is about we have much more space now. This also needs a lot more players to fill. just my 2 pecs.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

It's worth bearing in mind that the 1,313 was from a different forum (Entropiaforum.com) and that the 207 figure you quoted may be at a low activity time of day - should imagine it is more than that either on a Friday evening (Europe time) or during a server downtime for example.

Also there are more forums than there were in 2009, Arkadiaforum.com and Entropia Planets for example.

Nop... today entropiaforum is another forum. When EF sold its DB to this, this forum, and not EF, have received all accounts.

Please review the activity of this forum always... And the all others records, and you will see that everything is consistent. We are like 5 times less than we were in 2008.

That explains the low loot today. Less players, less loot. Easy to understand.




PD: Is you look people for planet, in auctions pages and in globals per planet... maybe you will find 85-90% population in Calypso, 10-15%% population in arkadia, and 1% in NI y RT. - For that reason Calypso is my reference

 

[Az Bloodz]

That explains the low loot today. Less players, less loot. Easy to understand.

I have the exact same return rate and do get exact the same amount of loot. Yourt theory just does not add up. There was a major change in the loot distribution not sure if it was 2008 though. When bigger HoFs and ATHs appeared and you needed much longer time to be able to calculate an average return due to more extreme loot swings. At the moment we have longer good and longer bad periods.
You can throw in as many numbers as you want without explaining them further and ignoring any comments questioning your numbers but your perception is just wrong at least for my returns.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

I have the exact same return rate and do get exact the same amount of loot. Yourt theory just does not add up. There was a major change in the loot distribution not sure if it was 2008 though. When bigger HoFs and ATHs appeared and you needed much longer time to be able to calculate an average return due to more extreme loot swings. At the moment we have longer good and longer bad periods.
You can throw in as many numbers as you want without explaining them further and ignoring any comments questioning your numbers but your perception is just wrong at least for my returns.

How many peds are you recycling by day, now? In fact, i have an idea about that exist a minimum of "velocity of spending" that let you to recover (something like the famous escape velocity 11.2km/s to leave earth)... and is different from Mob to Mob. For example, you are exclusively dedicated to the hunting of drones, now. Maybe 800 peds per day? or is it more?

 

[Mega]

Nop... today entropiaforum is another forum. When EF sold its DB to this, this forum, and not EF, have received all accounts.

Please review the activity of this forum always... And the all others records, and you will see that everything is consistent. We are like 5 times less than we were in 2008.

That explains the low loot today. Less players, less loot. Easy to understand.




PD: Is you look people for planet, in auctions pages and in globals per planet... maybe you will find 85-90% population in Calypso, 10-15%% population in arkadia, and 1% in NI y RT. - For that reason Calypso is my reference

Perhaps I wasn't clear, and I do agree activity is less than its peak in 2009, but this is a different website, with the focus just on Calypso (not the whole of Entropia as previously)

The high point was just before VU 10.0's arrival and there was naturally a lot of excitement and anticipation about the brand new engine with much improved graphics. It was over a year delayed after all.

I also make the point that just as you cant compare how many people are in a nightclub on a Friday evening with 2pm in the afternoon when only the cleaners are in, that time of day and whether it is a weekend or not will show different activity levels on a forum. People dont tend to read forums when they are

It is also Summer, when the warm weather, holidays and other reasons cause activity to be lower than other times.

Finally there are more forums to choose to visit than there were 2 years ago.

I dont agree with there being 5 times less people than 2008. There could be 1/3 less, I have no easy way to compare. Entropia Tracker shows roughly the same number of globaling avatars for the past 6 months +

 

[Vigi]

NO they shouldnt. I disagree with comments that we have smaller playerbase. About the loot. If you are patient enuf and if you can controll your emotions you will more likely break even or profit. Be flexible, adjust and HAVE FUN IN THIS GREAT UNIVERSE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY MA...

 

[MartinXVI]

I've noticed its harder to get globals on 300 hp mobs as it was before, looks like MA makes it more gamble-like game.
But how did you get 2.3k active hunters, thats bullshit imo. My Current rank on entropia tracker (30 days): 720 of 3027. And lots of new players aint getting any globals (<100 hp mobs are more likely to hof than global imo)

 

[Xavier_Jr]

Perhaps I wasn't clear, and I do agree activity is less than its peak in 2009, but this is a different website, with the focus just on Calypso (not the whole of Entropia as previously)

I also make the point that just as you cant compare how many people are in a nightclub on a Friday evening with 2pm in the afternoon when only the cleaners are in, that time of day and whether it is a weekend or not will show different activity levels.

It is also Summer, when the warm weather, holidays and other reasons cause activity to be lower than other times.

Finally there are more forums to choose to visit than there were 2 years ago.

I dont agree with there being 5 times less people than 2008. There could be 1/3 less, I have no easy way to compare. Entropia Tracker shows roughly the same number of globaling avatars for the past 6 months +

The logic is that the peak moves with time. Two years ago From this peak. Two new summers, winters, etc ...

In a normal behavior firms tend to grow rather than diminish. But we have not seen that here. And obviously, when that happen is because its Managers made bad decisions.

And as I noted earlier. calypso has 90% of all customers in EU.

In a single view, Entropia Tracker do not support your idea about 1/3 less. And would ve very interesting, that Starfinder compute active customers before cryengine and now. And then, we have not to guess anymore.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

When a customer is new, he often used the first weapons in the game, to get their first skills about the game.

There is no record about trend of sales of TT weapons. [WE HAVE NOT TREND OF SALES OF OPALOS!!] But exists for the Breer M1a, Breer P1A and ISIS CB5...

Then, the sales in the decade for these weapons, could give us an idea about ​​new customers

See This:

Breer m1a

Breer p1a

Isis CB5

This helps us to visualize trends in the number of new customers (remember that Calypso is almost 90% of EU customers) .-

From what I've been talking with people who have good rate of return and achieve many globals by day, depending on the mob, they have recycled 1k ped per day for small mobs, or 4k peds per day for large mobs; and if besides they can keep pace for a some bad days, finally the recovering is good.

But the person who deposited $ 20 one day. And he lost. The next day, he deposited $20 again and loses again, it's not very pretty. In them, the rate of 90% is never visible. For that reason exists so many complaints in the forums and in game. And this is because, there are fewer customers, and the long term is longer than before.

 

[Mega]

July 2009

July 2011

As can be seen, numbers are down slightly on mining and crafting (10% ish). The seemingly large decrease in hunting globals is due to team hunts being removed from the figures.

 

[ToddFoxBurgess]

...

The problem is simple...No significant marketing whatsoever and a lot of wet fireworks.

Don t get me wrong ..I think this game is much better with space, and summoning claims, and missions and so on. Just a little more marketing (understatement) and they could get a extra bunch of addicted freaks like me to play.
Hey MA... try Google Ads and Facebook Ads. That is where it is at! You can focus on certain categories of players on facebook.

And us players who have the ressources should set up a $50 facebook ad and promote Planet Calypso's page to W of W and other MMO fans for MA... Since they are obviously too dense to get it.

also MA should have a better referal program. :/

 

[Az Bloodz]

How many peds are you recycling by day, now? In fact, i have an idea about that exist a minimum of "velocity of spending" that let you to recover (something like the famous escape velocity 11.2km/s to leave earth)... and is different from Mob to Mob. For example, you are exclusively dedicated to the hunting of drones, now. Maybe 800 peds per day? or is it more?

Yep I do about 400 - 800 a day when hunting drones or like 500-1k PED when mining as I am doing now. Mining I am close to 95% lately that's the swings I've been talking about. I am sure it will even out again. What I do not is following: you've put it quite simple less players equals less loot so how is this different for different mobs? Just got a feeling you are too convinced of your theory to even consider another possibility. Of course we got less players even though I do not think it is five times less however does this mean my returns decrease? Clearly no. Would more active players help my return? Another big no from me. My loot might sell faster though but that's the only difference I can see here.

________________________
No Offense intended. I was being told I sound a little bit harsh sometimes.

 

[Xavier_Jr]

The seemingly large decrease in hunting globals is due to team hunts being removed from the figures.

Are you sure?... remember... in EU, everybody are hunters, but not all are crafters or miners.(*)

Then, the number of hunters is not a "little" variable, is the main variable. And you show me, more than 57% of decreasing of hunting globals.

As i said before, only if you have more money than before, you will obtain the same return rate than before.

And do not forget to analyse the statistics of weapons for newbies, who are not necesarily reflected in the globals statistic from tracker. (But if they are not exist today... tomorrow will not be new mid level players).

For that reason, we need to spend more now, if we want to achieve the same than before. I hope you understand my view.


*********
(*) as proof: You can see the best crafters and minners in EU....:

Because of its great success in his profession should be dedicated to just that ... however, they always are hunting too. Look at the records of ET for this people


CRAFTERS
1. Yoji Fransson Wittekind 1666 231,548.00 PEDs
2. Miguel Garco Gracio 1236 166,345.00 PEDs
3. Vincent Vince Amarillo 1177 234,006.00 PEDs
4. Leonis Leo Nis 1083 174,307.00 PEDs
5. Ryan Shorttrack Coverstone 815 117,123.00 PEDs
6. Ericsson Cozzmo Kramer 738 114,090.00 PEDs
7. Doncent green Greenlife 705 135,010.00 PEDs
8. Boardian Chilix Corunian 673 63,400.00 PEDs
9. Alex Pegucka Mak 591 97,900.00 PEDs
10. Yoshi Messenger Sensei 572 68,848.00 PEDs
11. crazy DaLegend Bob 544 57,917.00 PEDs
12. Avatara Light X-tra 518 69,672.00 PEDs
13. Maximus Alive GoodEvil 501 81,955.00 PEDs
14. Finn laden tosse 497 50,534.00 PEDs
15. getget getget lebreton 454 53,434.00 PEDs
16. donvoon crazyhunter batranu 444 65,870.00 PEDs
17. T5 ace Industry 437 69,598.00 PEDs
18. Vector vecke Xeis 383 49,766.00 PEDs
19. Crystal Crissy Dunstone 383 45,708.00 PEDs
20. Vlad Vlad Banokin 381 60,057.00 PEDs
21. david zazzi 83 360 39,621.00 PEDs
22. Trinnity Trinn Annam 359 42,939.00 PEDs

etc etc

MINERS:
1. Thor CBR 1971 430 72,337.00 PEDs
2. Maronelle Analytic Thunder Analina 389 59,916.00 PEDs
3. ROBIN GRIPPER PLANET 381 41,637.00 PEDs
4. Are Kozi Insulting 342 47,295.00 PEDs
5. Nikita Nick Nechepurenko 307 78,676.00 PEDs
6. Kyron Kyron Mister 281 46,321.00 PEDs
7. raindrop rain morning 244 30,144.00 PEDs
8. Thora Princesse crystal 240 27,460.00 PEDs
9. Xelo Vulpes Xalathos 224 34,049.00 PEDs
10. Eceri Eceri Vego 208 24,549.00 PEDs
11. Gordan Cleetus Freeman 207 38,971.00 PEDs
12. the sqwarhg winner 196 32,327.00 PEDs
13. Inthis Strash life 192 75,528.00 PEDs
14. Don Costavaldes Costilio 190 25,392.00 PEDs
15. Vincent Vince Amarillo 187 33,453.00 PEDs
16. Zyzakus Lamerus Pospolitus 184 45,012.00 PEDs
17. Najk badass soder 164 20,182.00 PEDs
18. Yoshi Messenger Sensei 160 22,952.00 PEDs
19. Flittypoo Surrealist Ganglezuk 157 15,149.00 PEDs
20. Ceral Avarice Altruaer 156 20,955.00 PEDs

etc etc...

Please, check how many of them are not Hunters too...... However not all Hunters are Crafters or minerrs too... For that reason The amount of Hunters is the main variable

 

[Mega]

And don not forget to analyse the statistics of weapons for newbies, who are not necesarily reflected in the globals statistic from tracker. (But if they are not exist today... tomorrow will not be new mid level players).

Perhaps they are skipping the Breer P1a stage, I stuck with Opalo and A101 until I was level 30 Sniper!

In regards to newbie start rate / retention you'd have to ask someone with access to the gateway - but bear in mind again, that newbies now have a choice where they start - they dont all come to Calypso Gateway now, some arrive on Arkadia and use their TT weapons (dont know the names of them) others will go to Next Island or Rocktropia.

If the newbie experience there isn't great there then yes, they wont stick around - that's for the respective planet partners to address. I cant really say or give an opinion on that as I've yet to leave my home planet.

 

[Megga1]

I would LOVE MA to swith back. Ok, having new players is great, but if loot sux, why be out of pocket hunting, mining, crafting??

C'mon MA, take care of your players or go broke; that simple

 

[LeeLoo Faith]

I don't think returning to the past solves any problem, what they must do is analyse what they have done wrong and what hasn't worked and improve the system!
It would be better than perpetuating the mistakes done!

they only have to improve their communication! (or at least that should be first off)
listen to the player base could also help

I say that spending money on a video game is a luxury. A luxury more and more people can't afford as the economy IRL tumbles. Once the RL economy stablizes you'll see in increase in spending habits again.

so true!

The problem is simple...No significant marketing whatsoever and a lot of wet fireworks.

lack of marketing is another serious minus to get new players

 

[Xavier_Jr]

Perhaps they are skipping the Breer P1a stage, I stuck with Opalo and A101 until I was level 30 Sniper!

In regards to newbie start rate / retention you'd have to ask someone with access to the gateway - but bear in mind again, that newbies now have a choice where they start - they dont all come to Calypso Gateway now, some arrive on Arkadia and use their TT weapons (dont know the names of them) others will go to Next Island or Rocktropia.

If the newbie experience there isn't great there then yes, they wont stick around - that's for the respective planet partners to address. I cant really say or give an opinion on that as I've yet to leave my home planet.

Opalo + A101? Perhaps ... but..is not the normal behaviour, newbies always love to show his new weapon..and they want its skills too Again... Calypso is the main population of the game (85-90%)... and you have many "If... then"... to contradict the forum reality... Is it so complicated accept that some guys have not the 90% return rate? Although they complain every day in the forums ...? I'm looking for something to explain what said everybody (those who are happy, and those who are angry) . And the idea that "long term" is relative, and depends on the speed of spending, may explain everything. Because with less players, Mindarks will need that "long term" would be more longer than before.

In the middle of this "loooong term", and if you have not enough money, you will have the risk about to loss everything.