Post by Ab Normaal on Apr 29, 2020 13:06:36 GMT 1
I already posted this in the training speed discussion but also wanted to create a new thread since the training speed is only part of the problem.
This is the original post:
Thanks for the discussion so far, that is what we need, but it also shows how difficult it is.
Just a small history about the current situation:
A few years ago we were suddenly confronted with the fact that the website was offline. IP, the developer of the game, had a busy career, lost interest in the game and payed years for it, for the provider etc. of his own money. He stopped doing that and when the provider doesn't get any money, they kill the website.
Within 1 day, El Gringo, Schizm and I (without that the 3 of us know each other or ever met each other) decided to jump in and continue the game. Not because we had a thorough plan or that we had time to think it over, no only out of love for the game.
I am lucky that I have a good job and I could afford the money (which is actually quit high), El Gringo was going to maintain the database and solve some problems and Schiza has an IT related job, knew IP and was already little into the game.
What the three of us lack, and what is most important, is programming skills. We tried to find a programmer, but when you have nothing to spend (and I have never had the intention in making this an investment and make profit out of it) nobody wants to do anything. So step by step Schizm learned something about the way it's programmed.
In the meantime we lost a lot of managers. Almost the entire Italian community quitted. ALso a few loyal Romanian players left the game and the original > 1000 are now reduced till > 150 of which probaly 50 aren't even active players.
These managers left for different reasons, but most of these reasons has to do with game related issues. Youthscout, riders only competitive in their 30s, mood, game money etc.
The quitting of Slayer, a very motivated player who was willing to spend private time in the game to help, was a big blow for me and made me think.
We have tried to ask you guys for yelp and you were all willing. First EGV and after that BAM organised the youth league, other managers promoted the game or became moderator or just gave us your honest opinion and some criticism.
And we are thankfull for that because that helps, even the criticism.
The players who are now left are all die hard players who do their best to keep the game alive. You are almost all premium players. By far not enough to cover the costs, but I am gratefull and raising premium money was never an option for me.
But after the 3 of us "own" the game for a few years, we are still on the same level. And if we are honest, we will be in 5 years if we don't do anything.
In the mean time I have children who are going to study in August. Unfortunately in Holland, students don't get any money for that and need to pay for themselves, which means me.
That is costing a lot of money and that is why I need to cut costs. I have just paid for all costs until May 2021, but I want to see things changing.
Schizm is losing motivation, he spend a lot of time in learning the game and finds out that small differences have big consequences, El Gringo spends lots of free time in the games, is always willing to help and compensate managers and it is costing me a lot of money. The other two get back frustration, I just play a (for me) expensive game.
Luckily El Gringo find a programmer who wants to learn this code, so today I am giving him acces to the code to learn and we will consult what changes to be made, if he knows how to do it.
Of course we have a list of bugs we want to solve, but that doesn't change the game and doesn't bring us back managers, or stop new playing managers to leave the game after a few season.
So changes need to be made in order to grow the game. If the game doesn't grow, this will be the last year that I am going to pay for it. If somebody else wants to do it, I hereby invite this person or persons to tell me.
So we need a solution to cover the costs. If the game grows, premium money will cover most of the costs and if it is only 1 or 200 euros, I don't mind paying.
Now back to the changes:
One of the things we heard a lot that it costs way to much time to be competitive in division 1.
I did it once myself, sold all riders after winning division 1 and it took me 11 seasons, which is almost 4 years!! to be competitive again in division 1.
Riders have a function until 21, then from 21 till 25 you only have the youngster jersey in tours, which isn't even an official jersey (one thing that is very hard to change in the code). And from 26 till 29, you can use tham as helpers.
There are some more issues why managers wuit that needs to be solved, but let's stay on this one.
Changing this has huge influence on the game, strategy, time for managers already invested in their team etc.
The fact that there are so many diffrent opinions show how difficult this is.
And to us you are all valued players and we don't want you to quit and we do understand frustration.
So here is my message to you:
How do you think we can get managers back to stay? How can we increase to 500 managers again and keep most of them happy? How can we keep you guys happy and continue playing? Think about that, and come with well thought plans, not just shouting an idea. We are open for every sustantive discussion.
This game is (although it is a fun game) ill and we need to find the cure fast.
This is the original post:
Thanks for the discussion so far, that is what we need, but it also shows how difficult it is.
Just a small history about the current situation:
A few years ago we were suddenly confronted with the fact that the website was offline. IP, the developer of the game, had a busy career, lost interest in the game and payed years for it, for the provider etc. of his own money. He stopped doing that and when the provider doesn't get any money, they kill the website.
Within 1 day, El Gringo, Schizm and I (without that the 3 of us know each other or ever met each other) decided to jump in and continue the game. Not because we had a thorough plan or that we had time to think it over, no only out of love for the game.
I am lucky that I have a good job and I could afford the money (which is actually quit high), El Gringo was going to maintain the database and solve some problems and Schiza has an IT related job, knew IP and was already little into the game.
What the three of us lack, and what is most important, is programming skills. We tried to find a programmer, but when you have nothing to spend (and I have never had the intention in making this an investment and make profit out of it) nobody wants to do anything. So step by step Schizm learned something about the way it's programmed.
In the meantime we lost a lot of managers. Almost the entire Italian community quitted. ALso a few loyal Romanian players left the game and the original > 1000 are now reduced till > 150 of which probaly 50 aren't even active players.
These managers left for different reasons, but most of these reasons has to do with game related issues. Youthscout, riders only competitive in their 30s, mood, game money etc.
The quitting of Slayer, a very motivated player who was willing to spend private time in the game to help, was a big blow for me and made me think.
We have tried to ask you guys for yelp and you were all willing. First EGV and after that BAM organised the youth league, other managers promoted the game or became moderator or just gave us your honest opinion and some criticism.
And we are thankfull for that because that helps, even the criticism.
The players who are now left are all die hard players who do their best to keep the game alive. You are almost all premium players. By far not enough to cover the costs, but I am gratefull and raising premium money was never an option for me.
But after the 3 of us "own" the game for a few years, we are still on the same level. And if we are honest, we will be in 5 years if we don't do anything.
In the mean time I have children who are going to study in August. Unfortunately in Holland, students don't get any money for that and need to pay for themselves, which means me.
That is costing a lot of money and that is why I need to cut costs. I have just paid for all costs until May 2021, but I want to see things changing.
Schizm is losing motivation, he spend a lot of time in learning the game and finds out that small differences have big consequences, El Gringo spends lots of free time in the games, is always willing to help and compensate managers and it is costing me a lot of money. The other two get back frustration, I just play a (for me) expensive game.
Luckily El Gringo find a programmer who wants to learn this code, so today I am giving him acces to the code to learn and we will consult what changes to be made, if he knows how to do it.
Of course we have a list of bugs we want to solve, but that doesn't change the game and doesn't bring us back managers, or stop new playing managers to leave the game after a few season.
So changes need to be made in order to grow the game. If the game doesn't grow, this will be the last year that I am going to pay for it. If somebody else wants to do it, I hereby invite this person or persons to tell me.
So we need a solution to cover the costs. If the game grows, premium money will cover most of the costs and if it is only 1 or 200 euros, I don't mind paying.
Now back to the changes:
One of the things we heard a lot that it costs way to much time to be competitive in division 1.
I did it once myself, sold all riders after winning division 1 and it took me 11 seasons, which is almost 4 years!! to be competitive again in division 1.
Riders have a function until 21, then from 21 till 25 you only have the youngster jersey in tours, which isn't even an official jersey (one thing that is very hard to change in the code). And from 26 till 29, you can use tham as helpers.
There are some more issues why managers wuit that needs to be solved, but let's stay on this one.
Changing this has huge influence on the game, strategy, time for managers already invested in their team etc.
The fact that there are so many diffrent opinions show how difficult this is.
And to us you are all valued players and we don't want you to quit and we do understand frustration.
So here is my message to you:
How do you think we can get managers back to stay? How can we increase to 500 managers again and keep most of them happy? How can we keep you guys happy and continue playing? Think about that, and come with well thought plans, not just shouting an idea. We are open for every sustantive discussion.
This game is (although it is a fun game) ill and we need to find the cure fast.
Melres United
)
.