Where have all the players gone?

[Gellor]

In the general history of UO, we had a ton of players and I'm a little curious where they all have gone... or better called "why did they quit"... also known as "what is the best tactic for EA to maintain the current player base"

I know the two largest waves of quitters were due to the tram situation and introduction to the heavy reliance upon items.

But what would be the next items causing people to quit? Graphics? Hack/exploits/cheats? Poor ingame customer service? Poor game logic? Boredom?

I'd say it was a close combo of hacks, poor ingame customer service, and poor game logic that caused the next highest loss of players.

As an example, having a house robbed blind due to a hack and then having a GM tell you "tough, not our problem".

 

[hawkeye_pike]

Line up with the rest of your doom-sayer colleagues.

I'd rather ask: What will cause the next wave of new player subscriptions? The new expansion Stygian Abyss? The new game client? The introduction of EMs and a number of great events? The return of the Seer program? The Pirate Expansion in 2010?

To me, the glass is half full.

 

[MoonglowMerchant]

In the general history of UO, we had a ton of players and I'm a little curious where they all have gone... or better called "why did they quit"... also known as "what is the best tactic for EA to maintain the current player base"

I know the two largest waves of quitters were due to the tram situation and introduction to the heavy reliance upon items.

But what would be the next items causing people to quit? Graphics? Hack/exploits/cheats? Poor ingame customer service? Poor game logic? Boredom?

I'd say it was a close combo of hacks, poor ingame customer service, and poor game logic that caused the next highest loss of players.

As an example, having a house robbed blind due to a hack and then having a GM tell you "tough, not our problem".

Games are going to lose players. To sustain, you have to be able to bring in new players.

Unfortunately, we haven't had an expansion that was available in stores in my part of the country since AoS.

That is why UO SA is already doomed to fail. If the point of SA is to get new players, but it isn't going to have a shelf presence, then it will fail.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I'd rather ask: What will cause the next wave of new player subscriptions?

ROFL...as if...la

 

[MoonglowMerchant]

In the general history of UO, we had a ton of players and I'm a little curious where they all have gone... or better called "why did they quit"... also known as "what is the best tactic for EA to maintain the current player base"

I know the two largest waves of quitters were due to the tram situation and introduction to the heavy reliance upon items.

But what would be the next items causing people to quit? Graphics? Hack/exploits/cheats? Poor ingame customer service? Poor game logic? Boredom?

I'd say it was a close combo of hacks, poor ingame customer service, and poor game logic that caused the next highest loss of players.

As an example, having a house robbed blind due to a hack and then having a GM tell you "tough, not our problem".

Oh, one thing you missed is when they completely devalued housing by limiting players to one house per account and opened Malas.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

In the general history of UO, we had a ton of players and I'm a little curious where they all have gone... or better called "why did they quit"...

I can answer that it in 9 letters.

UOR AOS WOW

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Oh brother.

Not another gloom and doom.

Here let me pull out my notes that tracks were everyone goes...


1. Another game.


Why?

1. That get tired of this game.

Why do they become tired?

1. They get bored.
2. Tired of the grind and need for items.
3. Tired of changes that impact their play.


But a better question is who freaking cares?

If youre playing a game wondering where everyone went... do you walk the mall asking yourself where everyone is?

Lets see about the mall:

Well it could be 9:30 am and your the first there.
it could be it 9 pm and most people left.
it could be its a Monday morning and most people are at work.

Flip it
Why is the mall so crowded.

It could be your are there at lunch time.
It could be the Friday after thanksgiving.
It could be the weekend sale.

The point is people still go to the mall. The mall isnt going out of business. Maybe less people go. But they go.

Why does it matter? Help me please help me understand. Anyone.

Not directed to the OP just the general theme of the post.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Line up with the rest of your doom-sayer colleagues.

I'd rather ask: What will cause the next wave of new player subscriptions? The new expansion Stygian Abyss? The new game client? The introduction of EMs and a number of great events? The return of the Seer program? The Pirate Expansion in 2010?

To me, the glass is half full.

THANK YOU Hawkeye. A man with a point of view that can actually make something happen. Looking at how to attract people is something that makes sense.

BTW I am being sincere here. Sometimes I am sarcastic. Look at the positives cause its just a game. What would make it more fun? And people will play.

 

[ColterDC]

That is why UO SA is already doomed to fail. If the point of SA is to get new players, but it isn't going to have a shelf presence, then it will fail.

QFT

 

[Gellor]

Moonglow merchant, you hit the head on the nail as far as new players go... if you aren't going to have a physical in store presence or advertising outside of UO forums, you will not attract any new players.

Let's try to keep on the topic asked and not how to get new players... I know, difficult thing to do on the internet that pesky keeping on topic

There was no doom and gloom in my question... doom and gloom would be "I heard from my cousin's sister-in-law's grandfather that UO was closing tomorrow".

The AOS/UOR was already covered as being the two largest reasons people have quit.

To bring the topic that was asked to the front again:
Aside from item dependence and Tram, what is the next reason people have quit UO?

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

IMO, the only new accounts that will be started from SA will be those of former players that get the itch to try the game again. UO is old technology and games like WoW and DF will be the games gathering the new gamers...la

 

[Desperado_SE]

...Graphics? Hack/exploits/cheats? Poor ingame customer service? Boredom?...

About sums it up for me on why I recently closed both of my accounts.

 

[Schuyler Bain]

Line up with the rest of your doom-sayer colleagues.

I'd rather ask: What will cause the next wave of new player subscriptions? The new expansion Stygian Abyss? The new game client? The introduction of EMs and a number of great events? The return of the Seer program? The Pirate Expansion in 2010?

To me, the glass is half full.

Hey Hawkeye - Is this in the works or wishful thinking? I would be interested in playing this expansion.

 

[Sunrise]

I still have my UO account open. But I don't play it as much as I used to. I do play warhammer online now tho. Hey its an EA game

Honestly why I quit playing is pretty much what people have all ready posted.

Then again we know UO is payed for. Its the gravy train. Heck its 11 years old.

I do like to get on it tho and remember the days..heck I have tons of friends who still play...But I also like to keep my options open also and try other things.


Honestly I might quit UO again someday..But just like gravity it will suck me back in...

 

[Kellgory]

Considering how many new online games that come out each year, and each one is competing for its share of players and you have part of the reason. Look at how much WOW is advertising on TV and magazines, are they doing it to get new players to offset those players that quit, to remind those that are playing WOW that there are 10 million plus other people playing the game, or are they just trying to get 12 million players because 10 million isn't enough.

 

[Sunrise]

Considering how many new online games that come out each year, and each one is competing for its share of players and you have part of the reason. Look at how much WOW is advertising on TV and magazines, are they doing it to get new players to offset those players that quit, to remind those that are playing WOW that there are 10 million plus other people playing the game, or are they just trying to get 12 million players because 10 million isn't enough.

Its all about the power of the $$$ Nuff said there....

Remember we all pay to play...I pay to have fun...heck for 10 12 15 bucks a month for unlimited playing...I cant even buy gas or go to a movie for that cheap...

 

[RoseBlue]

I've never quit UO but if I would I'd never come back, neither EA nor free shard

Nothing
finished

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

but it isn't going to have a shelf presence, then it will fail.

I just bought 2 copies of UO 9th Anniversary at GameStop.

There are other places to shop besides Wal-Mart and Best Buy and Target for games.

*P.S. - the guy at the counter at GameStop offered to reserve Stygian Abyss for me. I didn't do it, because I would rather earn interest on my money than allow GameStop to do so...but it was offered.*

 

[hawkeye_pike]

The Pirate Expansion in 2010?

Hey Hawkeye - Is this in the works or wishful thinking? I would be interested in playing this expansion.

All wishful thinking. I have no clue what or if anything is in the works already for the time after SA. I'd assume the UO team will focus on SA for now and think about the next expansion afterwards.

However, when you look at player feedback, a Pirate Expansion seems like something that many people would love.