Logical explanation .... If 90% are complaining about loot and cost of play that means it needs to be looked at. Also, there is a massive decline in playerbase from 2007. When I first joined MA had about 200000+ players advertised on their frontage ... I don't see that anywhere now.
There is so much wrong with this it's difficult to know where to start. First of all, 90% are not complaining, even on the forum, nevermind in game. Not even close, and you know that. Secondly, EU has never had anywhere close to 200000 active players, we all know that regardless of what MA says.
Based on the activity I see ingame, I would say there are about 30-40% less active players then when I last played in 2009. EU is linked to RL, therefore the
most logical explanation for the declining playerbase and increased complaints is the same as the explanation for the increased discontent in the real world:
NOBODY HAS ANY FRIKKEN MONEY.
People are poor and pissed off and looking for people to blame.
I have no problem with the occaisional moan about returns, we've all had bad runs and bad loot periods. We all say into soc-chat once in a while "shit, that one cost me big". My issue is that people fail to recognise that the "rules of the game" have not changed, all that has changed is their situation.
Maybe MA could improve things by changing the loot-return %, although people have to realise that that would have it's own economic repercussions (MU on stackables would plummet, for example). Can people not see that it is
because of the 90% return that MU exists at all? Increase the 90% and average MU has to decrease, it's basic economics.
Anyway, it doesn't matter, because that is MA's call to make.
Also, the point is ridiculous when people say "if you don't like it ...leave" ... Why? ... Because people have investments for a long time and it is not that easy as you put it. This is the biggest war cry of bigots that say to ethnic populations around the world "if you don't like it ...leave" ... So I don't really like that saying. Is it then fair for me to say if you don't like a negative post then don't read? ... It's much easier than leaving a game they like. Wouldn't you say?
Really? You're comparing this to racism? Wow.
A more accurate analogy would be that of an immigrant voluntarily moving to a foreign country, then constantly bitching about the tax rate. In that case, yes, I think an appropriate response would be "GTFO". I myself am currently an expat in a country who's laws I do not agree with, but I understand that I agreed to abide by them when I applied for the visa.
Another point raised about players that are inactive spreading poison etc etc... If you are having such a great time in the game what are you doing in the forum?... If I was getting over 90% regularly, I wouldn't care a bit about the forum and play the game instead.
I don't know where this idea came about that the people who are positive about the game are getting great returns. Currently my returns since October last year are less than 80%, roughly a 30k ped loss. But I am an adult and I understand that this is the result of my own choices and actions. Since starting to play more sensibly, using information I get from these forums (in amongst all the whining and dross) my returns are, you guessed it, 90%.
Sure, maybe the game could cost less to play, but it doesn't. That would be a different game. This game is still here because the 90% works, regardless of how much people like to complain about it. Sure, the last couple of years have been tough, but that is true for a lot of companies and countires at the moment, the world is in the shitter.
I come to this forum for information, and because I like to interact with (some) of the community beyond those I have on FL. I also use the forum mainly when at work, when I am at home, I play.