Arena Caps: Let the Market Decide

[CptTrips]

HTC asserts that the majority of the player base has more fun in a capped arena.  They assert that the Market indicated this by increased subscription rates after arena caps were instituted.  The Market, when not artificially constrained, will naturally seek its own self interest.

I have the utmost respect for HTC’s technical and business competence and have been a long time fan.  However, I have to admit, that I find this utterly amazing.  I can only state what I personally feel as a MMOG player.  For me, it’s the “massive” part that would intrigue me and to be shunted off to an underpopulated arena is anathema.

Of course, I don’t have access to HTC’s financials so it would be ridiculous for me to challenge their assertion.  However, I think there is a way they could demonstrate this preference that would be visible for all to see.   It might once and for all lay to rest all the arguments.

Let the Market demonstrate its own self interest.

Create LWArena1: Large map.  Uncapped.

Create LWArena2: Small map. Capped.

Players may log into either.  Players who get frustrated by overcrowding in the uncapped arena will opt for the capped arena.

Players who prefer an uncapped arena will stay in the uncapped arena. 

If the capped arena reaches its limit, another capped arena is created.

There will always be a capped arena available for players who prefer that.

There will always be an uncapped arena for players who prefer that.

HTC says capped arenas are “here to stay.”  Fine, this doesn’t violate that statement.  There will always be a capped arena available at all times for those who prefer it.


No choice is forced on either.  The Market will make it clear what the majority prefers.

It will then be easy to HTC to point to the empty uncapped arena when players claim that is what the majority want.

Thoughts?

Regards,
Wab

[Ardy123]

Adam Smith is rolling over in his grave.

[CptTrips]

Adam Smith is rolling over in his grave.

I was hoping for something a little more concrete.

,
Wab

[Motherland]

You would have a false choice: one arena is monstrously underpopulated and one arena is cancerously overpopulated.

[CptTrips]

You would have a false choice: one arena is monstrously underpopulated and one arena is cancerously overpopulated.

So, are you saying that players won't voluntarily choose the capped arena? 

The only way to populate a capped arena is by force?

That would hardly meet my definition of the "preferred" format.

Regards,
Wab

[EskimoJoe]

So, are you saying that players won't voluntarily choose the capped arena?  

The only way to populate a capped arena is by force?

That would hardly meet my definition of the "preferred" format.

Regards,
Wab

Modern people are by definition, lazy. They won't want to wait around for what they want (in this case, virtual air combat).
There will of course be the select few with bad connections or rigs from the 90's that will be forced to fly in the capped arenas, due to less
players (therefore less stress on the system/connecting to fewer players, and fewer virtual airplanes in one area), but the majority is almost
guaranteed to hit the cesspool and find the fastest fight.

[Ardy123]

So, are you saying that players won't voluntarily choose the capped arena?  

The only way to populate a capped arena is by force?

That would hardly meet my definition of the "preferred" format.

Regards,
Wab

Sadly, what people want and what is good for the game are at odds. There are many research studies that state that if a 'group' gets larger than a fixed number it fails to 'police' itself, and thus a toxic environment develops (hence why we have laws, and law enforcement). The same is true with the game, ie beyond a certain number, it becomes no longer fun.

[guncrasher]

eskimo what do you mean by cesspool.  and can you point out when it happens during titanic tuesday. so I have an idea. or are you referring to the v squad attacking only undefended bases with 20 or 30 guys.


semp

[CptTrips]

Sadly, what people want and what is good for the game are at odds. There are many research studies that state that if a 'group' gets larger than a fixed number it fails to 'police' itself, and thus a toxic environment develops (hence why we have laws, and law enforcement). The same is true with the game, ie beyond a certain number, it becomes no longer fun.

Ardy123,

You raise an interesting point.

However, once the "certain number" is reached, wouldn't there be a pressure for players to leave and go to one of the capped arenas if they choose?

Players seem to have little trouble moving to another field when they are no longer having fun at the field they are at.  Why would you think them incapable of moving to another arena if they are not having fun at the one they are at?

I agree people often are not good at "predicting" what will be fun for them, but I think they are perfectly capable of realizing whether they are "currently" having fun or not, even if they don't understand why.  And they tend to be willing to "move" when they are not.

This is the very mechanism HTC claims potential players voted with on choosing to subscribe once caps were implemented with.  They assert they were not having fun before caps so they left.  They assert they had more fun once caps were implemented, so they stayed.  HTC asserts the player are capable of determining whether or not they are having fun and will move if they are not.

HTC believe players have that capacity at least.


Regards,
Wab



 

[EskimoJoe]

Players seem to have little trouble moving to another field when they are no longer having fun at the field they are at.  Why would you think them incapable of moving to another arena if they are not having fun at the one they are at?

In my experience, one would simply rather leave the game entirely than leave one arena and potentially waste their time in the other.

[EskimoJoe]

eskimo what do you mean by cesspool.  and can you point out when it happens during titanic tuesday. so I have an idea. or are you referring to the v squad attacking only undefended bases with 20 or 30 guys.


semp

I'm not referring to the v-dweebs. They're not a cesspool, they're just a bunch of skill-less monkeys from what I've seen.

That's a hoard, which is rather different from a cesspool. No, I cannot define it for you, go through highschool first.

[Lusche]

However, once the "certain number" is reached, wouldn't there be a pressure for players to leave and go to one of the capped arenas if they choose?

There are several reasons why not. One of them is that nobody wants to be among the first in an almost empty arena, even if they dislike the "overcrowded one"
Just think of the many players that state they would like to fly more EW, MW, AvA, WWI... if there just were more people there. The paradox is, if all of them would go there, there would be enough numbers for that. But they don't go there because nobody else does.
And each Titanic Tuesday I see quite a number of players complain about that arena, "too many players, too big furballs, only hordes, too dweeby", yet they do not go to MW (or any other low-key arena). They either stay & complain, or just log off.

---

On thing that is different beyond a certain population level is communication. The bigger an arena is, the less actual communication happens between players. It's getting more and more anonymous, with veteran players sticking to their squad channels mainly. I think it's very esay for a new player to "get lost" at that time, which in part can explain why with split arenas the player retention after trial end was higher than before.

However, lack of communication doesn't necessarily equal bad player behaviour as some do think - The worst atmosphere I have encountered in my 5 years of AH was in very small (EW&AvA) arenas.

[CptTrips]

Just think of the many players that state they would like to fly more EW, MW, AvA, WWI... if there just were more people there. The paradox is, if all of them would go there, there would be enough numbers for that. But they don't go there because nobody else does.

Funny, when the exact same mechanism was suggested to test the preference between a strat-enable and furball only WWI arena, you seemed to feel it was valid in that case.  How is this different?

And each Titanic Tuesday I see quite a number of players complain about that arena, "too many players, too big furballs, only hordes, too dweeby", yet they do not go to MW (or any other low-key arena). They either stay & complain, or just log off.

Isn't the difference there you are asking them to go to an arena that doesn't have all the planes they might want to fly?  They would have to switch more that arena more than likely, they might have to give up their prefered ride.  Thats awfully different.

On thing that is different beyond a certain population level is communication. The bigger an arena is, the less actual communication happens between players. It's getting more and more anonymous, with veteran players sticking to their squad channels mainly. I think it's very esay for a new player to "get lost" at that time, which in part can explain why with split arenas the player retention after trial end was higher than before.

OK then.  New players are limited to the capped arenas for the first 6 weeks.  After that they can choose which arena they want.  No different than now except they can eventually earn the right to make their own choice of the arena format they want (capped or unlimited).  Currently, they never get to make that choice.

,
Wab

[Lusche]

Isn't the difference there you are asking them to go to an arena that doesn't have all the planes they might want to fly?  They would have to switch more that arena more than likely, they might have to give up their prefered ride.  Thats awfully different.

I would believe that if those players wouldn't complain all the time about Spixteens and Lala hordes. (Unlike EW, MW has a very balanced planeset)

OK then.  New players are limited to the capped arenas for the first 6 weeks.  After that they can choose which arena they want. 

So new players are limited to the arena where almost nobody else does fly but other new players. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

[CptTrips]

You didn't answer the first question. 

So new players are limited to the arena where almost nobody else does fly but other new players. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

They won't be alone.  They'll get the capped arenas initially seeded then the "majority" of players who prefer capped arenas will hop on over.

,
Wab