Is this demo game dead?

GodKing · May 23, 2003, 09:59

The computer didn't kill us.
Lack of participation did.

We have only two people running officially for positions in the government, and two more who have expressed interest.

There have been 3 posts in the last 20 hours or so, two of which are by me.

There has been only one chat in the last 10 days. No new chats are scheduled.

So, vote what you think. Is this game dead? If so, does it have a chance of being resurected?

Post your thoughts and comments.

Hot Mustard · May 23, 2003, 10:41

Yes, but step aside while I attached these nodes...CLEAR! ZAP!

With the plethora of Demo Games now, there is stiff competition for participation. I believe this game presents us with a great challenge though, I and would like to see it continue. Don't we want the recognition of being the only site to win a Diety level DG?

OPD · May 23, 2003, 10:52

The game was intended IIRC to bring new people into the world of demo games as most of the big players had passed into the ptw demo games.

I think the deity level has probably put off new demo gamers as it requires such elitism and seriousness.

Perhaps if the game had been on king level more new people would be involved as it would mean more role play etc and generally more fun.

The SPDG can only survive with a large turnover of players more fun and less seriousness is needed.

OPD · May 23, 2003, 11:06

I mean there is alot of joking around but not concerning the actual game.

We couldn't decide to go and destroy the otts for attacking us, to teach them a lesson as we'd get screwed. Deity doesn't give us any freedom to do what we'd like.

History Guy · May 23, 2003, 11:11

I agree with OPD. Deity level killed it.

joncnunn · May 23, 2003, 11:14

Here's what's going on:

1. Spring classes at Universitys ended during the past three weeks.

2. This monday is Memorial Day in the US, the unoffical begining of summer here. Some people may have decided to start their Memoiral Day vacation early. Others may stay late. Still others may be planning trips in June.

Panag · May 23, 2003, 12:50

hi ,

maybe we could make a poll ' restart or not ' , .....

have a nice day

UnOrthOdOx · May 23, 2003, 14:26

I can only speak for myself.

Connection problems at home, unexpected forced move at work (does the AF ever plan ahead?), and family problems have led to my absense.

I think RoN, school getting out, and the PTW games have something to do with the larger picture right now too.

Inverse Icarus · May 23, 2003, 15:27

RoN + RL issues.

sorry guys

WhiteBandit · May 23, 2003, 16:49

My intent was to hold one more chat this week, but it looks like that won't be all that possible. I've had midterms this week and next week, plus this memorial day weekend where quite a few of us people in the US will be on small vacations.

I also have a geology field camp next weekend as well, so this has really killed my ability to hold a turn chat this next week! :-/

I believe MrWIA will soon be "out of the office" for awhile as well. So turnchat wise, this next week is definitely going to be dead.

The thing is, despite being Deity, it's a challenge and a lot of us "noobs" can learn strategies to play, that's what is so great. I learned a lot from the first Demo game and I'm unbelievably surprised that we've survived.

Anyways, it sounds like a lack of interest in general and I personally don't know how to explain it. It can't be RoN, because, well after having bought it (and realizing it's pretty much just like every other RTS already out there), I've concluded that Empire Earth is better :-P

Ah hem. Anyways... I wouldn't want this game to die, but certain aspects of this game are also time consuming and I know a lot of people aren't willing to put that much into it which is understandable.

realpolitic · May 23, 2003, 18:00

I want to participate as a poster, but I've been waiting for more info on the game. The PTW games are about who's backstabbing whom, I don't enjoy it as much as this.

We can have a good demo game with fewer participants.

realpolitic · May 23, 2003, 18:04

DP

realpolitic · May 23, 2003, 18:06

I want to participate as a poster, but I've been waiting for more info on the game. The PTW games are about who's backstabbing whom, I don't enjoy it as much as this.

Octavian X · May 23, 2003, 21:49

I think that's the first time I've seen a triple post.

Seriously, thought, my experience with multimple other Democracy games suggest taht participation drops off in the second game. Just keep on perservering, advertising, etc. A nihilistic attitude by the players will SURELY kill this game.

Kloreep · May 23, 2003, 22:21

I don't know what it is. I'm not sure if I would expect more at this stage, though; our strategy for the moment is pretty set: we're going for the Ottomans, and probably with more support than any SPDG I war ever had. So, no debate over what to do, for we're set on a specific war; but no action to draw people to chats or to the forum, either. Considering there's pretty much nothing to debate, I wouldn't be too surprised. The lack of candidates is odd, though.

Also, I've seen a far greater variety of turnchatters than forum posters in the SPDG. A lot of them are in the PTWDG; so, that may be killing SPDG participation too.

Whatever it is, we shouldn't declare the SPDG dead yet, not by a longshot. We now have one candidate for each position, and there's still time for more to sign up and make this an actual election; what's more, we had ~40 voters in the Otto poll; hopefully, they'll post and be more active once things heat up. Until then, we need to get through to the war; once that happens, I think we should see some more life around here. War always raised participation in the SPDG I, and I bet it'll be a similiar story here.

BigFree · May 24, 2003, 01:47

There are a couple of reasons for the drop off in participation, IMO:

It's Finals/Midterms.

Its Summer.

It's RoN/Gal Civ.

It's ISDG.

It's PTWDG I

It's PTWDG II

Finally:
It's almost hopless that we will win; we may survive, but that is not winning, is it?

Aro · May 24, 2003, 01:59

I'm a little lazy this days... But I'll be more active in one week or two.

DAVOUT · May 24, 2003, 06:44

From the start it has been made clear that the pure gamers did not want to be bothered by the democracy, and that they wanted a big challenge. They have the public attracted by this definition.

Aro · May 24, 2003, 08:48

Quote:

Originally posted by BigFree
There are a couple of reasons for the drop off in participation, IMO:

.................................................. .

Finally:
It's almost hopless that we will win; we may survive, but that is not winning, is it?

We can win... But only with (almost) permanent war, say our experts.

Perfectly adequate for Vikings...

jdd2007 · May 24, 2003, 11:12

The game has hardly started! Give it a little time.

Most of bigfree's reasons are right on the mark

Panag · May 24, 2003, 12:03

Quote:

Originally posted by realpolitic
I want to participate as a poster, but I've been waiting for more info on the game. The PTW games are about who's backstabbing whom, I don't enjoy it as much as this.

We can have a good demo game with fewer participants.

hi ,

it aint the number of people , its the way some people act with others , when some elected people completely ignore a pm or an email , ......

when some people run of to an other site and talk and spread whatever comes to mind , the liitle clans that form , .....

that and a whole bunch of other things that make some people forget in the end what its all about , ... a game , and what you do with a game , you are supposed to have fun , .....

have a nice day

mrmitchell · May 24, 2003, 12:35

I'm back guys!

(as RP guys would already know)

My thought on it is RoN + RL + Diety + Other DGs.

ruby_maser · May 24, 2003, 13:58

Dead as Dillinger

j/k, I think we can win it... or get a little dignity as we go out. But maybe some do have a point about the difficulty level and the seriousness at such a level dissuading involvement.

But, also, I know my Deity level attempts have rarely been very successful. A win here could be a great learning experience, no matter how dogged it might be.

kring · May 24, 2003, 16:43

I don't think we are dead, either as the Vikings, or as a DG.

I am hopeful that things will pick up soon,

Panag · May 24, 2003, 18:23

hi ,

twenty versus ten , ....

what would happen if someone where to ask ' restart ' , ....

have a nice day

Beta · May 24, 2003, 19:54

I voted for Yeats - one of my favorite poets.

It ain't dead. There is a lot of competition - from both other games and RL stuff. The start was/is very interesting.

Play on!

I will sign up for a position.

Aidun · May 25, 2003, 10:24

I'm very concerned with the team DG in which I am Pope and thus have a time-eating job.
The ISDG has, thanks to ET, attracted me again and I'm planning to participate more in it.

I have too little lime to participate in three games with an important position in at least one of them.

I'll look from the sideline to this one and perhaps post now and then, but not very often.

Perhaps it also counts for this game: heavy debates between political parties and al lot of roleplay help us to regain participation.

I encourage the existing members to refound the DIA and battle with the warmongers.

Aidun

Zero · May 26, 2003, 19:42

Two words =

School's over!!!!!!!!!!

Instead of being busy with work to do, I'm swamped with plans for summer (summer jobs, road trips, making sure I hang out with H.S friends at leats once to at least make it seem we're still friends...

) I'm sure other college students are having the same issues too, which is why you probably saw participation dropping. But Im sure it will pick up eventually. Just hang in there.

Master Zen · May 26, 2003, 21:02

From my experience not in demo games but in real life, as long as you have a small core of dedicated people, that's all that counts. There's a saying, "things are best resolved in a committe of three people, two of which are always absent".

If other people don't participate perhaps they should say precisely why they don't want to. Like Aidun said, it's impossible for most people to have important jobs in every DG. That's why I just lurk here!