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Mar-9-2009 21:36

Last night I spoke of some ideas I wanted to discuss with everyone on how to give a little kick-start to Sleuth. I would like to share these now and hear feedback. These things are not required of the Admin, but things we can do as a community to try to get things flowing again.

NOTE: Please do not bring up the development team. That ship has come and gone. This post is aimed purely at community-oriented initiatives, not changing the game itself.

Also, I would like to note that many players have been doing some really good things around here. The contests for free subs, ctown's radio show, AVH matches. I do not mean to discredit any of this. It's all wonderful. I just think we can do a little more :-)

#1 Advertising - Let's get out there and spread the word. This is a great little gem that we have found and there are probably others that would love it as much as we do. Do you belong to another internet site? A Group for Nail-Biters with Herpes? Post on the message board about Sleuth! (well maybe not that, but you get my meaning) Let others know outside of Sleuth what a great place this is. I would especially target (for Noir) adults who enjoy logic-type puzzles. That is what kept me addicted to this game for so long.

Mar-10-2009 20:19

Well the Admin of that game was overwhelmed taht we didn't abandon it, and tapped the community for help. The game wrapped up to it's conclusion a couple years ago. Well guess what? I still talk to people from that community. One of the players built a mirror site for that game with the Admins consent and I still play there. Some of the peple that don't go to the mirror site still keep in touch. We becasme like a family to one another and I still considere them friends. When I am in another city there is usually one of them who lives there that I get together with. I know you don't care about taht community and I don't mean to ramble on but I am trying to illustrate a point. We refused to give up, we cared about the community to do nothing. This is our place folks, take care of it. I've talked about why I do everything that I do in the game, the radio show and the AVH tournaments, the motives are selfish, so to speak, I don't want to see the community go and I think as long s I am trying t okeep it fresh and interesting people will stay.

Like nicnic, I would like to see peoples thoughts on this as well. There is no right or wrong answer. So everybody get on your soapboxes and tell us what you think!

Mar-10-2009 20:25

I've been round consistently for a little whiles now, and I have to say as a factual observation, that Ben allows only the most minor input from subscribers into the game, and keeps a very tight rein on what little 'power' he does let leek out. I'm not saying that's good / bad or otherwise. Just a statement of fact.

So... ultimately, without wishing to seem like a killjoy... it all boils down to Ben.

We can talk up a big old circle of Sleuth love and harmony and make pie in the sky wishes till the cows come home, but it all really depends on what Ben is willing, and able, to do.

It may be that all he is willing to do is maintain the database and let things run along this course until Sleuth no longer breaks even $-wise and he can wash his hands of the whole lot... who knows? Not me!

If I was, hypothetically, a punter wanting to do a whole heap of work to make Noir better and get more people to the game, I think the questions I'd be asking, and wanting a response to before I went any further, (especially this far down the line) are...

"Ben, what are your future plans for Noir?"

"Do you in fact have any future plans for Noir?"

"If not, when do you see Noir winding down?"

"If so, when do you see those changes, plans coming into effect?"

That kinda thing.

Otherwise, with all due respect, it's just pie in the sky waffle. I'd hate to see people I like put in a lot of work and effort into something that might never come to fruition.

It's probably about time, even in my slow release kinda world, that those people interested, knew where they stood.

Mar-10-2009 21:09

All due respect SS, but I don't agree. I think the point of this thread is for us to come up with ways that we CAN make a difference.
Be it with things like the radio show, or contests for subscribtions. These are ways that we can actually do something, and I think that's what this is all about.
Don't ask what Sleuth can do for you, but what you can do for Sleuth. ;)

Mar-10-2009 21:17

Yes and the point I'm making is that if you're in a holding pattern over an airport, you wanna make sure the plane has enough juice in the tank to land BEFORE you start handing out the complimentary pretzels :)

Mar-10-2009 22:49

I see your point clearly SS and I agree with you. And part of the problem is taht Ben has not given any indication or even a hint to the answers to any of those questions. He has talked about possibly turning some of the control over, like you, I don't see that happening.

Back in August he was a guest on the radio show and Breitkat calling in with her idea for a jailbreak type of thing, he said at the time he liked the idea and would like to get more info, was that telling us what we want to hear or was it sincere?

That being said, I have always said that I agree Ben has given us everything taht we paid for when we subscribed, the sub price does not promise new content, or using our ideas, or even custom avatars. But in the big scheme of thing you are absolutely right, it all boils down to him. I will continue to put the work into the community taht I have until the interest is gone. In fact I need to get another radio show planned. I ask for nothing in return for taking the time to do such things, nor do I think I deserve them. My whole point is that I really don't care about new content and cases and such, I care about the community, but if people continue to drop off teh community will die along with the game!

Mar-10-2009 23:03

oops, I accidently posted my thoughts on this matter on the other thread - agencies to blame.

Mar-10-2009 23:10

ugh I've said to a few that I won't say this publicly but somehow I still am.

I'll start by saying I have never really asked for anything on Noir (with the exception of a new high score category). I'll also say I've never been bored with the game and have always found something to do. I have taken time away from sleuth, not particularly long periods but there have been times when I've not played, more due to real life reasons than anything else.

I'm not going to ask for new content or any special favours but there are a few things that are on my mind.

There are so many players out there who are doing things for the game right now. Right now the paying subscribers are doing more it seems than Ben. I am not criticising ben, I understand completely that he has a hugely busy life right now. I am merely stating a fact.

It's unfair for the people who are working so hard to keep this game alive not to know whether they are doing it all in vain.

I really don't care about new content but I personally would like to know Ben. Do you have any interest left in the game? Do you just intend to leave it to gradually sink? Do you have any future plans for Noir?

Well I could go on with questions but what's the point? I'm seeing more and more loyal players lose faith and for me that's sad to see.

I do agree Nic with your ideas completely. I'm just not sure it's worth it if the games is just going to wind down to nothing.

Like Squirrel I do believe it's about time we knew were we all stood.

For the record I know I sound a bag of misery right now, but I am the last person who would want this game to disappear. It is a fantastic community and I do believe it can be as lively as it ever was. I don't however think it will be unless Ben shows some of his old enthusiasm for the game.

Mar-10-2009 23:11

Don't worry, Be Happy! ;-)

I know, its a bad joke I just couldn't resist!

Mar-11-2009 02:44

Please allow me to play Devils Advocate here for a minute, SS you stated "I have to say as a factual observation, that Ben allows only the most minor input from subscribers into the game, and keeps a very tight rein on what little 'power' he does let leek out"

You call this a factual observation and at the end of the paragraph you reiterate that its's "A statement of fact" On what facts is this based on? We have seen no statement from him that it is all he allows, what is fact is that if you look at the info page, 90+% of the mods are inactive and/or unsubbed. This refutes that he keeps a very tight rein. Dont get me wrong here, I think its good nobody else has gotten mod status as you do a great job handling it and too many cooks spoil the pot. I applaud you for the work you do.

Ms, Helen you had state that there are alot of us doing thing and Ben ahs a somewhat crazy life tight now, again it the word fact was used. Even if the the fact was Ben's life, and do you think he would freeze our subs for moving, kid being born, death in the family, that does nothing for me as a customer of his.

Look at it another way, if you go to a restaurant and you get bad service from your waiter/waitress, do you care about what they have going on in their personal life? I would bet you don't.

Mar-11-2009 03:54

I really don't want to say anything but reading SS post, I feel like saying a thing or two. I am not really good expressing myself in English, so I will just say this, I completely agree with Secret Squirrel. :)

When I was fairly new to this game, one of the comments I heard about the players is that they like this game especially because they can communicate with Admin. If they have questions, bug problems, they get quick response from Ben. Now Ben is not around anymore and I know some people left this game because they want some sort of commitment from him.

Not too long ago, Ctown made an Editorial post and the admin did make a reply. There he mentioned of his plans for this game. But I don't see those plans happening.

So for now, I would like to know Ben's response to Secret Squirrel's question.