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LOSS OF INTEREST!
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Vampiric Smile
Vampiric Smile
Safety Officer

May-16-2008 08:40

During the last month I have the impression that the game is becoming very boring (beyond a point) as there is actually nothing interesting I could do in it. I try to find a target …something to hold my interest and I find it more and more difficult. It is relatively easy to accomplish all interesting goals in the game and beyond that point …there is nothing!
I am five and a half months in the game and I have them all. I know all the secrets of the game and all the tricks except secret#1 (which is still only a background). I have all VH equipment and shoes that I need (even more than I need) and plenty of skill points (for nothing) and millions of sleuth$ (again for nothing!). It is so easy to be a millionaire in the game but still there are no things available to buy with your millions!!!Only exception is a 4 room apartment with all goods in that is normally very easy to buy at your 4 million xp points and then the chaos.
I have to admit that I am wondering what is left to hold my interest? Is it to be a 20 milion club member? Well probably not !... because for that all that is needed is to do only mechanically the same things spending (rather killing) time for nothing actually! Is it to be a top V Hunter?... again probably not for the same reasons… as once you are aware of the way things are done all are too simple!
Only hope left is the introduction of the Sleuthetania. I can only hope that it will be a bit more difficult (and thus interesting)than VHs etc. I can only hope that the cases in the new addition will be a bit more difficult than the usual cases that require only mechanical actions without the involvement of any brain activity


Replies

Trusty
Trusty
Old Shoe

May-17-2008 01:35

Well, it’s no surprise to me that somebody who has clearly put a great deal of time, effort and energy into this game for the past 5 months has come to the end of its possibilities. But that’s what happens when you mix enthusiasm with competitiveness and urgency. It took my Sister 4 months to become completely fluent in Spanish " so she complained to her tutor that the Spanish should have invented a more extensive vocabularly! She sure lost her interest too when she couldn't afford the holiday. No wonder £650 for private lessons! Anyway...

There must seem an overwhelming amount to do when a new player begins the game, and, much like Spanish, we will all have our own pace that we can master it. I feel catering too heavily for those elite who are in your position will not lead to many players who take the casual approach being able to stick it out. Sure, the odd update is welcome, and piques the interest for everybody…but relying on these, or new concepts, means you could be chasing the initial high like an addict, plus it’s a lot to expect from the Admin team here. We do pay for what we see!

VS, far be it for me to tell someone what to do with their life, but my biggest thought is, you’re looking for a vast amount of your stimulation, achievement and entertainment needs to come from this game. As you’re asking for opinions, I’ll say this " perhaps you need to find more fulfilment from another hobby, your folks, or your career, rather than becoming too dependent on one thing. Seek more challenges in life and then, when it all gets too much, come here and shirk your responsibilities….helps put things into context!! Of course, you will probably tell me you're not the only one desperate for updates. Fair enough; I know nothing about you, and it’s none of my beeswax, but it seems to me that your apathy will just resurface after the latest mission is completed!




Vampiric Smile
Vampiric Smile
Safety Officer

May-17-2008 12:13

Dear Trusty thanks for your valuable input!
Truth is that I like this game and what I am trying to do is to make it a little more interesting and fun for all of us. It is rare (I must admit that!) but it is my S side talking and not the V one!
I am spending about one-one and a half hour per day (usually during my job time brakes) in the game and I am not one of the oldest players in it! In the contrary I am rather new in comparison with most of them (just take a look) and still I find that this game is in great need of updates and reshape!
Just look at the community …don’t we all have the impression that this community is dying? Fewer players log in to play the game…fewer new players are entering…fewer players are posting…even the players that used to post are not doing it anymore!
Why is this happening is very clear in my eyes (and I know is very clear for most of you)…it is simply because the administration is not giving a priority in this game after the introduction of the new (and far less interesting one) game. So we have to tell the administration that he has to do something to keep the game alive! Is as simple as that!
Until that my proposal is open I will reward 100000 the best contest idea and I will give 500000 sleuth $ to the winner of this contest just to keep the community hot and interest of the game a bit up


miss snopes
miss snopes
Demon of the Due Date

May-17-2008 14:09

I will be thinking on this today.

ctown28
ctown28
Huntsman

May-17-2008 15:07

Posting as a detective that has been back and forth a few times in 4 years, I will agree that the community seems to be dying and it's no secret that SOM is the reason for it. But I also think it will come back.

Admin has done something to keep the game alive, that is the announcement of the Sleuthetania, something we are all looking forward to. If anything, I think Ben is doing a fabulous job to try and keep things interesting.

As far as running out of things to do VS, you did in less than 6 months what I haven't done in 4 years and thats max everything out. I prefer to tak my time with things as you can tell. I still have skills to get, shoes to acquire and things like that. Most of the time I spend on here is not even playing cases but PMing back and forth with the friends that I've made in the game. Granted there aren't as many as there used to be but I still have my select few that still come in on a daily basis. The VH tourney lil and me started has kept us pretty occupied for a while and we will be running another one sometime in the future, the next one will be open to all agencies and not an invitation only tourney. Perhaps that is something to look forward to. I've said it before and I'll say it again, for me it's not the game that makes it, it's the people!

lilangel
lilangel
Sleuth About Town

May-17-2008 15:41

I've played this more on than off for a bit over a year, actually about 18 months, and just over 5 mil, I, like Ctown, have things I still aim for. I, too, have taken my time, mainly because there are more things going on outside of my 4 walls so during the warm months, people can be found out of doors... whereas those cold months many can be found indoors and for Sleuth, online... but these are times to expect slower activity compared to winter, however, Shades has taken a lot of people that frequented Noir for the time being. Sleuthetania may or may not bring them back, I can only see it as temporary, but some may prove me wrong.

Now, back to the topic, there are still plenty to do as I see it, but then again, I'm the one trying to host a Tournament for VHing. If you're not interested in VHing anymore, then I might suggest hosting some sort of writing contest or trivial/puzzle type. Anikka has done writing contests for about a year, and she has taken a well-needed break. Trusty has opted to host on a site a trivial game... maybe some research of the Noir era shall be done and you may be able to come up with a game that would relate to Sleuth and host something in the way of trivial pursuit or Jeopardy! Your call... I can always find something to do, and in the meantime, I got plenty of ideas, just never started them all... nor do I really have the time to research excessively for some things.

Trusty
Trusty
Old Shoe

May-17-2008 15:47

Graciously, you offer a prize to the person who comes up with the best, plausible idea…and I sincerely hope, VS, you get some inspiring replies. I suggest, however, that when the creator of Noir had some fantastic ideas he wanted to implement, he was compelled to invent Shades. Surely, there’s only so much scope for “reshaping” one can do within this game’s parameters. Enterprise moves on and so does the competition. Perhaps the creator saw the best way of protecting the ethos of the game was to move with the technology and the faster connection. His own motivation for Noir might have waned without the creative outlet of SoM, who knows. I had to give up my perfectly fine analogue mobile phone last year because my Father was feeling embarrassed on my behalf. The new one can tell me if my house has been burgled, the kids are at home, or the dogs have been fed. I can’t say this gadgetry is what I really wanted; hence I still clandestinely use the old one to phone my Dad. Cos’ I’m like that.

Not that I’m suggesting Noir is now doomed, though, obviously, many visitors given the choice of Noir or SoM at the home page are going to plug for the more impressive edition. As you point out, if this community is gonna stay alive it has to retain the current faithful, keeping them interested. However, I can’t say any of the people I’ve gotten to know via PM seem totally let down by the situation. They may feel that Noir is being somewhat overlooked, but their fun and joviality certainly seem to be coming from somewhere. Take the recent AVH tourney, for example. The whipping behind the bike sheds was most welcome, if a little premature. Perhaps this community’s has had its heyday, much like my favourite real ale, but the game itself will carry on for as long as petty murder motives exist (and it’s still financially viable!). Morale does not necessarily need a steady flow of upgrades to promote it. Indeed, the game survived its development stages because of its original niche.

Trusty
Trusty
Old Shoe

May-17-2008 15:48

Also, I have to say, your capitalised, attention-grabbing threads publicising your own boredom with the game are hardly gonna draw in the lurkers. Though, I suspect you wanted to stimulate a debate, and with good intention. I hope potential contributors notice the smile and are not put off by your associated shroud and dark countenance! For a small scale game you could run, how about a reward for the first person to display a particular set of equipment items on their detective page?




yoyofoshow
yoyofoshow
Old Shoe

May-17-2008 19:03

I'm not sure that'll be a good idea Trusty. Many experienced detectives with an apartment or agency members will be able to muster up any equipment fast. It'll just depend on how early they read said message and how well they communicate.

Vampiric Smile
Vampiric Smile
Safety Officer

May-18-2008 09:35

A rather typical example of the mails I receive.
I post it just to show how big the problem is !
I am easing some points that will only lead to the identity of the sender ...

'I read your post yesterday.
- and I do understand what you mean...
I would have gone real crazy long time ago of all those repetitive operations if it were not for (erased).
I was boored of visiting the suspects even before I met you first time (erased) ;-)

So, the cases are not that important to me anymore...

Only if the cases can bring something...
I have been trying to think myself too what could make things a little more interesting.
- and I really agree with you when it comes to SOM...
- what he actually did was lengthening the most booring phase of solving a case... - and some people even thought that was more attractive!! ?

Solving sudoku's is somewhat similar, when you have done enough of them, you get boored too...'



Trusty
Trusty
Old Shoe

May-18-2008 11:58

Hundreds of players over the years must have decided the game was not for them for those very reasons. Its human nature to try things out, weigh them up, and then move on if it’s not what you want. I’ve got golf clubs and scuba gear I’ve only used a few times….turns out underwater putting wasn’t all it cracked up to be!

VS, for all those who don’t enjoy the repetitiveness there’s those who do, or there’s those who focus mainly on team play or other things. Indeed, the high scores show that Noir has retained many enthusiasts for a variety of reasons. If you feel the main problem is with the repetitiveness (which is mutually exclusive to whether SoM exists or not) I don’t see what upgrade or idea could dramatically change what is fundamental. As you say, even AVH gets repetitive and familiar after a while and that was a big upgrade that must have taken a long time to implement. People will still leave if it’s not for them, just as they always have, perhaps just a little bit later. Lately, we just haven’t been keeping pace with the replacement rate. That could be because of SoM, but that’s freedom of choice for ya.

Of course, I respect you have your own perceptions on this, and you don’t need to prove via PMs that others share your views; I’m sure plenty have played and thought at some point “WTF, this is boring”…that’s not really surprising if one does the same past time for hours on end! Monopoly, chess anybody? Give me the same baked bean jigsaw puzzle and I’ll complete it time and time again. I guess I have a high monotony threshold!

I just think that fixating too much on the impossible expectation that Noir can continually evolve may lead to your departure from the game unless you find something more meaningful to focus on :)




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