Advertising/Promotion/Activity

[Severus]

So, the amount of players online over this summer has been pretty bad really. I was told Summer was a peak time for players to come online, however this has not been the case this year.

We need more new players to come to TWC and stay. We also need to convince older players that it's worth staying or returning. Activity from all is vital, competition and keeping things lively too.

So, this suggestion needs collaboration and contribution from everybody. This needs all players to come together to add, contribute and compromise to make it a success. I will accept it if this idea has holes to be picked in it if people can add something to better it and refill the hole they were picking. I will not respond kindly to mindless criticism.

Ok, Advertising and Promotion. This is the first idea that came to my mind when thinking of how to alert potential players to TWC. How can we advertise? What methods of promoting is there we could use? I had in mind something such as posting on other game forums, or BYOND forums (if there are any?), spreading the word on other BYOND games maybe? (those willing to sacrifice themselves to a ban on that game, lol.) Any other promotion/advertising methods you have in mind, reply to this post with them.

Also, how other than advertising/promoting can we attract new players to TWC? I mean. Let's take a look at this suggestions forum - the entire thread. Pick out your favourite suggestions, and leave them here for discussion. In turn, we can make these things happen. Maybe we could have a suggestions judge panel? Where a select few work with the person who created the idea to turn it in to a 'thing' - it's about time we had some constructive control over some potentially excellent ideas.

Is there anything else we could do to TWC to make it more attractive for new log-on players to stay and level? Could we make the beginning clearer? Could we add more quests? A quest may involve saving gold to buy a first broom, for instance. Does anybody have any more ideas? If you are a new player reading this, what would have improved your beginning experience?

If you are an older player, what would keep you active? Do clans and clan drama keep you interested? Does competition of other players keep you interested? Do long term events or new features keep you interested?

Consider this post me throwing around ideas, doing some market research and trying to progress. Help would be appreciated.

Thanks for your cooperation,

Your move TWC.

Sev

[Aurora]

Alright so. First the suggestions: People that leave this game and go to the rips is mainly because of the slow leveling. Even though everyone will be higher level they still want to see a big level number. We need more "Clan drama" as you said it. DE raids, more fights etc. We need to establish the balance between Aurors and DEs if any would like to switch sides now would be the time and noone will judge. Next we need more events and I have seen players become more and more intrested in Role Playing than PvP(Player vs Player). They go on google youtube to find and experience a wizard`s world and RP a bit not totally but not only PvP. Next I really like the current teaching but I would like it abit more if there were essays, Homework for next class on what we learned on that class. Then we could add some more features to the game. Potion Making,Daily Prophet and quibler editors. More monsters and maps?. Maybe even higher exp book. As far as advertisment goes, I am willing sacrifice myself on other games to expand this community as TWC has alot of potential but isnt using it completly, It is using like 50% we can make it alooot better than it is right now. reply your feedback

[Murrawhip]

People that leave this game and go to the rips is mainly because of the slow leveling.

You've been here for five minutes, and that is not the case.
We've lost a total of 2 regular TWCers to that rip, both of which were troublemakers anyway. No loss.

@Severus:
We actually have a healthy amount of new players logging in, mainly through Lucifer's Youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UE26rSBVRg). So I'd say the problem is more-so "Retaining new players" rather than getting more in the first place.
The majority of new players seem to log out within the first 5 minutes.

As for our Summer numbers, here's the stats BYOND collected over the past year: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25338425/TWCstats.png compared to the year before: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25338425/TWCstats11.png (Aug 14 2010 to Aug 13 2011)
The peak this year was definitely still in Summer, it just wasn't as consistent unfortunately.
Not sure how accurate BYOND stats are.

[Severus]

Okay, that's great Murra, at least advertising isn't a worry.

So, TWCers:

What would keep you interested in playing on a more consistent basis? Take a look at the Suggestions board and reply with your favourite - I will comment on each in an attempt to give them some possibility of being made.

& new players: what would better your initial TWC experience? Is levelling too difficult? Is there not enough variety in levelling? Are there too little quests? Would you want weaker monsters in higher quantity to stat level? Anything which I have not mentioned?

As to mid-level players that are nearly at clan level but aren't quite there, what would better your experience and increase your activity? Would you want more things to do? Such as what?

To all TWCers, what else can you aspire to be apart from a fearless Auror or Death Eater? Would you like to be a potions master? Dueling instructor? Hogwarts New Player Guide? Some other profession within the TWC world in which makes you 'valued' and 'accomplished' without having to be a crazy stat training bookworm?

Sev