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What Can We Do to Help Sleuth?
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nicnic
nicnic
Battered Shoe

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.


Replies

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Apr-6-2009 17:41

The thing I've loved about this thread is that, even if every idea isn't agreed with, it is, at least, offered with the serious intent of improving Noir and getting more people to play.

If the tone of this thread is going to turn from helpful to sarcastic, I see no reason for me to continue to view it and reply. Can we please keep it positive? I'd prefer to not have to miss out on any future good ideas.

Paranoid_Android
Paranoid_Android
Story Teller

Apr-6-2009 18:01

^ what she said.

Adam Carter
Adam Carter
Big Winner

Apr-6-2009 18:07

I've been thinking long and hard about this. I started out not liking the idea, and after thinking about objeectively, I still dont like it. I believe that the principle is sound, but this is not the type of game to implement it in.

From my own experience, games tend to be one of two types. Most RPGs are free to play. There is usually some benefit to people who are willing to donate to the game, but you can get all the features for free. For instance Kingdom of Loathing gives you special items for donating and Hobowars give you game money plus 'donator days' with various benefits. The rest are generally subscription games that offer limited free trials. World of Warcraft is one that does this (though its not a browser game, the principle is the same). You get 10 days of almost complete freedom, then you cannot play again until you have subscribed.

Allowing unlimited trials in Sleuth has been something that has worked well. Free games tend to lack massive amounts of updates, and a lot of people are weary about subscribing for games that they only get a few days to try out. The system here works in that there are benefits of both systems at play. The biggest problem faced with this idea though, is how to give unsubs enough to play with so they get a feel for the game, without giving them so much that it isn't worth subscribing. On this part, Ben did very well. I played for a month or so before I subscribed for the first time, and I felt that I got plenty considering I hadn't paid. I wanted more so I subscribed.

The big problem for me in allowing unsubs to travel is it gives them a reason not to subscribe. This can of course be combatted by allowing them to travel less, or only during the first few weeks, which is the idea being thrown about now. The main problem with that is that there is no need to travel within the first few weeks of playing. There is more than enough content in New York to keep players busy.

Adam Carter
Adam Carter
Big Winner

Apr-6-2009 18:07

There is definitely enough when you consider that the only real difference in allowing unsubs to travel is a new map and different names.

Tough detectives shouldn't really be shooting for Pugilism early. There are a lot more core skills that should be learned first (in my opinion at least) and pugilism is less effective in all ways than the better forms of interrogation/intimidation. In my experience Pugilism is a skill that isn't needed until at least 100k exp, which would take an unsubbed detective a few months to reach.

From my own experience (which has come from a lot of nights arguing with low exp detectives in barchat) it seems to generally be newer players that complain about not being able to travel. I know a few people that cannot sub, but still play the game every day, but they don't complain about not being able to travel/play VHs/join agencies. They accept that it is something that is for subscribed detectives. I've even seen people who play for one day that turn round and say that nobody should have to pay for this game because everyone deserves access to everything.

There needs to be things that unsubbed players cannot do. Otherwise, why do we bother subscribing? Every subscriber perk that is given to unsubs gives one less reason to subscribe. Generally, for me, if people don't pay for a game that has subscriber benefits, then they are not entitled to them. That may not sound completely fair to those that are unable to subscribe, but by the same token it isn't fair to allow some unsubscribed players perks and not others. So it wouldnt be fair to allow those that can't sub to have more benefits than those that are just new players. Also, it isn't fair to allow new players to travel, but not those that have diligently played for months or years without subscribing.

So, like I said, I don't think its a bad idea, I just think this is the wrong place for it.

Paranoid_Android
Paranoid_Android
Story Teller

Apr-6-2009 18:21

^ agrees (I'm very agreeable to day)

http://www.topwebgames.com/in.asp?id=1876

SS

nicnic
nicnic
Battered Shoe

Apr-6-2009 20:48

Ok, since it's 4 weeks since I posted this, now would be a good time for a 4 week review :)

#1 Advertising - There is the daily vote on TopWebGames which we should ALL be doing ;) In addition, Breit's webrings has some sleuthers busy contacting them. All this should help bring in new players, but there is still more that we could do!

#2 Don't Fight on the Message Boards! - On the whole this has gone well. Everyone has been on their best behavior ;)

#3 Let the Newbies Figure It Out On Their Own! - Again, there hasn't been any new threads up recently giving away free answers, so this one is working well too... hopefully... Don't know what y'all are doing behind closed doors though...;)

ctown28
ctown28
Huntsman

Apr-6-2009 20:58

I did here back from one website today and we have a blogpage on it

http://www.great-murder-mystery-games.com/sleuth-noir.html

So far so good folks! :-D

nicnic
nicnic
Battered Shoe

Apr-6-2009 21:59

ctown rocks!

Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Apr-7-2009 09:40

I agree with Adam Carter!

To me, in my opinion, it is the wondering and curiosity that reels people in to subscribe. If they are allowed to travel, even for a limited time, it wont necessarily make them want to subscribe. The curiosity is gone, so therefore, so is the interest. Just my humble opinion :)

Huglover
Huglover
Old Shoe

Apr-7-2009 12:36

I would like to have the option of one "mini-subscription", say for $1, which you are only allowed to get once in your agent's lifetime.
This mini-subscription is valid for 1 and only 1 travel.
This means that you are allowed to travel one-way to one of the other 3 cities, but you will not be allowed to travel back. (To travel back, you will need to buy an ordinary subscription).
This will be useful for everyone who wants to write a SM in another city...
(create a separate character to play the mystery, position him/her in the "right" city to test the mystery while you yourself enjoy the benefits of what a full subscription is all about)
- for the ones mostly playing, it will be interesting to search out another city... but you will also know what you miss (your hard-earned contacts in New York, or a faction standing?) sorry, but to get that back, you will have to subscribe ;-)

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