| Keeping the game alive -- Player recruitment |
Wed, 08 June 2005 15:55  |
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So, it's obvious that the pool of available players has shrunk considerably since 2001. The archives on rgcs shows this much. The number of individual web sites with Stars! related information has also shrunk. There used to be no less than 5 major sites (w/ heavy traffic) for posting and hosting games. Now there are only a few total and traffic is low.
I was wondering if it would be possible to try to stimulate some new interest in the game and try to re-grow our pool of players. What I was thinking is some sort of online grass-roots player recruitment. The game hasn't changed in 4 years or so and that graphics haven't been updated in 10, but as far as 4x games, it's still the best one out there IMO.
Since you can still buy the game (or serial numbers anyhow and at far cheaper then when this game was initially shareware) it shouldn't be too hard. Additionally, should EI ever kill the ability to buy this game, I *have* seen serial number generators years ago. I ended up banning a couple players for it WAY back in the day. When Jeff still cared about the game.
Any thoughts?
g.e.
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"When the newspapers have been read, the TV sets shut off, the cars parked
in their various garages. Then, faintly, I hear voices from another star.
(I clocked it once, and the reception is best between 3:00 A.M. and 4:45
A.M.). Of course, I don't usually tell people this when they ask, "Say,
where do you get your ideas?" I just say I don't know. It's safer."
-P. K. DickReport message to a moderator
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| Re: Keeping the game alive -- Player recruitment |
Wed, 15 June 2005 04:35  |
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Stars! limitations...
(1) It doesn't sound very interesting when you see it the first time. It is interesting when you start playing it - especially if someone can show you the ropes.
(2) Takes time to learn. I consider that a positive. Not all do.
(3) Takes so much time to play turns. Most Stars! players tend to be smart which means that their jobs tend to keep them busy.
(4) Turn-based strategy seems to be out of fashion. The 'kids' prefer boring shooters or play the 'starcraft' strategy games.
I think we can interest some new players but it won't be easy. Another good thing is that some of the old players are coming back.(like me). Stars! has always been a great strategy game - Chess in space !
Pratap
ps: What happened to Supernova? That was the 'big' thing to look forward to 5 years back.
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| Re: Keeping the game alive -- Player recruitment |
Wed, 15 June 2005 16:11 |
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Are there any generic strategy game blogs/message boards out there that others frequent? I would suggest posting a link to the game along w/ favorable reviews.
| Quote: |
(3) Takes so much time to play turns. Most Stars! players tend to be smart which means that their jobs tend to keep them busy.
(4) Turn-based strategy seems to be out of fashion. The 'kids' prefer boring shooters or play the 'starcraft' strategy games.
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I would think that the turn-based nature would be a bit of a contradiction to claim 3. Since the game is turn based that would make it easier for those who have jobs to play it.
Phrasing and framing the game as wildly popular empire building game, directing players to HWF/SAH would be a good start. Get players to join the community then start playing. Links to old articles could also be useful.
mmm...victims....
g.e.
====
"When the newspapers have been read, the TV sets shut off, the cars parked
in their various garages. Then, faintly, I hear voices from another star.
(I clocked it once, and the reception is best between 3:00 A.M. and 4:45
A.M.). Of course, I don't usually tell people this when they ask, "Say,
where do you get your ideas?" I just say I don't know. It's safer."
-P. K. DickReport message to a moderator
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| Re: Keeping the game alive -- Player recruitment |
Sat, 14 January 2006 18:53 |
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 rowenstin |
 | Crewman 1st Class |
Messages: 38
Registered: December 2005 | |
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That link shows "This product does not appear to be active. Please try again."
Anyway, Iīve tried the game, but I canīt play with the j patch, since I got the game from a friend and the serial number is, most likely, pirated. That means I canīt join a game. So the only option is to play against the AI, wich is the most boring thing Iīve done in a lot of time. I once force generated 100 turns and the computer, playing on Expert mode, couldnīt take even 1 planet from me. And itīs not the main problem: I spend most of the time playing doing endless micromanaging and a few seconds deciding strategy. I donīt think a regular game would be different.
Sure, I could buy a serial, but why would I? It piqued me at first (and ended browsing this forum) but itīs a vicious circle. Seems that you can only appreciate it playing against human players, you need a serial to play against humans, and you wonīt pay for it unless you appreciate it.
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