How to Increase Playerbase

[TequilaChaser]

TC,

You have two issues not necessarily inclusive of each other. The negative culture in the forum has been here from when I started reading the forums in 2002. There were many more question posts looking for game help or asking about WW2 tech which kept people busy early on. Some of the fights out of that were good entertainment along with valuable WW2 and game info. There used to be a dedicated community of very knowledgeable people playing our game. The economic down turn of 2008 was a convenient excuse to cancel their subscriptions.

The negative self feeding culture grew over the last 14 years as factions grew around different game issues. Or squads like street gangs staked out existential territory in the forums trolling and attacking posters and even HTC. So a negative culture of attacking the personal grew larger and bolder every year under the cover of the forums anonymous membership system. You can reasonably lay at this culture's feet the loss of a portion of the WW2 tech portion of the community. What was the point of staying in a game where personal anonymous assaults for the sport of greifing forum members or just being assaulted for offering input was becoming the norm? Some of them gave this as their reason for leaving the community.

As for the new generation who wants it all now. We have always been here of all ages wanting it now. Keeping new players here who have never been subjected to our 24x7 negative self feeding culture is the real long term problem. The game and forums are only as fun as the community tells you it is. New players to these forums and to conversations in our game are listening to some pretty grim and personal stuff. Not much of a welcoming mat.

At times I've had the problem of not telling the difference between our community and the 5 Points Gangs of New York. That is a great way to attract new customers.

I somewhat agree with your post, bustr, specifically the underlined bolded part!

I just spent what 3 hours? in the MA and had so much fun, no different than from 10/12 years ago.. heck 150+ flying on a weds night in the Ma and I even captured a field in a M3 something I haven't done in over 10 years

the FUN IS THERE! it is still the same as it always has been.....we defended ( the Knights) at least 3 different bases all over the Map, and had a blast doing it.....

I am squealing tired of all the negative posts and threads on the General Discussion forum..... quit looking through those Rose Colored Glasses as, NoBaddy would always tell me....

TC

[MADe]

The grass is always greener.............

peeps feel that when they pay to play, that it opens the door for their unchecked attitude. A PC makes a great firewall from a b slap so......

every forum I have ever seen has a large portion of negativity. Much negativity is kept alive by peeps trying to stop it, its in our animal nature.

Best way to not have negativity, do not participate in it at any level if it truly bothers you that much. Do not play the game or the 1 upsmanship game.

Bad forums will not chase away game players, just other forum junkies.

Player base died because the world changed, AH did not. Hoping AH3 changes bring more in.

Either way, peeps pay for forum access. As long as their civil........................ ...

[scott66]

   I myself have been trying to help new players I see flying in the game.  It just takes a little of your time to give them a little of the overall picture and help them individually with anything they are having trouble with.  It may be as simple as how to set up the radio and use vox.  These new players have taken the first step and if we as the established community lend a helpful hand, it creates a positive experience for the new player.   This is just one thing we can do to help build the community and keep it moving forward.

1i

you help new players by bullying the old vets like me??? 

[pipz]

Girls? I thought maybe he meant 100 piece wings would be offered..........tastey