Guys..
About 3 weeks ago we peaked at about 2000 on in the GameTracker Rankings... Since then we've seen a steady decline.
This is a great game. It's a shame that it caused some issues for some folks and that it was a bit too modern for some folks liking. I gotta believe we can turn this thing back around.
It's not for trying that's for sure.. I see ArithonUK and TwoBad among other seeding the server on a regular basis.. The problem is that we're just not getting the traffic of publics.
Let's throw up some thoughts and ideas and see where it takes us shall we?? I'll append your thoughts / ideas below.
To Consider:
1. Vanilla - Do we go back to vanilla settings including health re-gen?
2. Clan Matches - Do we get involved in league play (even if we get our asses handed to us) or even the odd scrim to generate some traffic?
3. Publicity - How can we get people to play on our server again? Do they know we're here?
4. Hardcore or Vanilla?
5. Man of the Month.
6. Video Creation
You mention the health regen. I don't think we should re-enable it, but I think that it may be making us a bit too hardcore for the avarage carebear looking to be invincible in a tank, and just not hardcore enough for the hardcore players. I guess we could take a poll amongst members to go carebear mode or full on hardcore. I know most of my friends outside the community play only on hc servers. The only thing I miss on HC is the spot ability really.
The problem atm with BF3 is something you see on many servers. People join servers that are full or close to full, and don't want to wait for games to start. The game also isn't very enjoyable with few players on a server. Something you see when server numbers start to drop late at night, a server usually dies out completely pretty fast. In example bf.no have 17 servers, but only 3 to 4 of them usually have ppl on them, as nobody wants to start seeding an empty server.
I see some of the servers that usually have lots of players has increased ticket number in the server name. That could be one way of pulling more players. Also one of the servers I play on regularly has "bigmaps" "double tickets" "ff" in the server name. That pulls a lot, but also servers with "HC" and "inf only". I also see that bf.no enforce no vehicles before 8v8, which would be nice I guess, but then they have 64 player conquest servers. 3v3 might be more suitable if we adopt that rule.
I think Vargen has some very valid points.
Mabye we try a two-prong approach. One month we go "hardcore" "big tickets" and see how numbers fare, then go one month "noobs welcome" and re-instate health regen. Then see how number fare. There's no magic bullet here, I think we just need to put a toe in the water and see.
Perhaps (and I don't know what dMw's past history is on competitions) but how does a "player of the month" sound. The player (public or otherwise) who puts in the most (playtime / score) ratio in a month wins a prize? Announce at and plug it in as many places as possible and see how that goes.
A £5 BluRay from Play (there's a lot of good ones on sale now) or a PC game or voucher (iTunes, Amazon etc.) is possible.
Create a clan alliance - to have friendly scrims with promote each other's websites on respective servers.
Stop changing the server name
When the server numbers get back up we need to keep a close eye on team balanec (no one likes getting there but handed to em)
Player of the month sounds good - i have pc parts collecting dust i dont mind parting with (*player of the month should be a non dMw member, a server regular and forum registerd)
keep conquest small and rush small with adaptive tickets till numbers get back up then we seriously need to look at the map rotation.....the big maps pull in the big numbers for example Operation metro 500 tickets, B2k maps on conquest large (obviosly numbers permitting)
We also need to attract new members to the dMw/forums so they can help seed the server.
Be welcoming to server regulars (pubbies) - at the end of the day this is simple see a regular on the server ? say hi how are you (this is just friendly and helps them remember the server and keeps them coming back)
Quote from: ArithonUK;340677I think Vargen has some very valid points.
Mabye we try a two-prong approach. One month we go "hardcore" "big tickets" and see how numbers fare, then go one month "noobs welcome" and re-instate health regen. Then see how number fare. There's no magic bullet here, I think we just need to put a toe in the water and see.
Perhaps (and I don't know what dMw's past history is on competitions) but how does a "player of the month" sound. The player (public or otherwise) who puts in the most (playtime / score) ratio in a month wins a prize? Announce at and plug it in as many places as possible and see how that goes.
A £5 BluRay from Play (there's a lot of good ones on sale now) or a PC game or voucher (iTunes, Amazon etc.) is possible.
Good ideas
But why a month? we have enough control over the server to do a "hardcore night" or a "regen week" or vica verca
not sure that prizes are needed, kudos counts :)
Quote from: .DickDastardly.;340716Create a clan alliance - to have friendly scrims with promote each other's websites on respective servers.
Stop changing the server name
When the server numbers get back up we need to keep a close eye on team balanec (no one likes getting there but handed to em)
Player of the month sounds good - i have pc parts collecting dust i dont mind parting with (*player of the month should be a non dMw member, a server regular and forum registerd)
keep conquest small and rush small with adaptive tickets till numbers get back up then we seriously need to look at the map rotation.....the big maps pull in the big numbers for example Operation metro 500 tickets, B2k maps on conquest large (obviosly numbers permitting)
We also need to attract new members to the dMw/forums so they can help seed the server.
Be welcoming to server regulars (pubbies) - at the end of the day this is simple see a regular on the server ? say hi how are you (this is just friendly and helps them remember the server and keeps them coming back)
Agreed, but how do we get new members?
how about asking the latest batch of newcomers what it was that attracted them to our server...
there's loads of regulars, do you friend them in origin via after match reports etc.?
I'm sure we'll get the numbers up after new year.
If it's any consolation, this convo is being had on most of our games and on most clan servers everywhere atm
With regards to the numbers blunt i dont think we can do much more...not that i can think off just encouge the publics that do come on the server to keep coming back.
We need to advertise, right? So let's make a trailer and get it on YouTube (as i suggested with BC2 (http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?33118-Dead-Men-Larking&p=326506&viewfull=1#post326506) back in June). Both Arithon and i have put stuff together before and i'm sure we can do it again. We can "create" some action scenes to a story line and if we all use Fraps we get multiple views of the same action. Set it to the BF3 music and get it on the YouTube dMw channel.
One thing i remember from a few weeks ago was one of our newest members saying about how he'd enjoyed playing with us (hence he joined) and how in one game when he was pinned down from enemy fire he called for support over TS and a few seconds later the Apache came to his aid. That's the sort of teamwork we need to show the world they get here and why THEY should be in dMw.
I agree with dickdastardly. It is something he does really well tbh and that is "flirting" with the publics. It is something that we all must do. When a public joins give them a minute to play and then say hello. If they respond then get a dialogue going. That's how people come back.
I think a video is a good idea but it will still be like everything else.. How do we get traffic to our video on YouTube?
Perhaps we can get something sorted for the match tomorrow and get some shots together? what you think of that?
NF
Shots sounds good for a video promo tomorrow i still think a clan alliance would be good to promote traffic
Very happy to support any initiatives to increase dMw's profile and the server population and I welcome the fact it is being discussed. Obviously if we're going to issue a dMw video or any other promotionals then it might be sensible to include Penfold or me in the discussion as we're the ones who need to sign off on any content.
Not a problem TL. Until we have content for review I won't waste your time.
NF
It is for this very reason that we need to create YouTube vids..
http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?32584-How-did-you-find-dmw&p=340944&viewfull=1#post340944
Something else we could try are web page adverts. I don't know about anyone else but i have my own website and could easily put a page up.
I remember when i was looking for a UK based BC2 "clan" 18 months ago and dMw didn't feature in the Google results at all. I know we are a Gaming Community and not a clan but until i found you guys i didn't know that was what i wanted to be a part of!
The more pages out there that advertise and point to dMw there better, don't you think?
http://www.google.co.uk/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=deadmen&oq=deadmen&aq=f&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=3562l4797l2l5031l7l5l1l0l0l0l234l764l0.2.2l5l0&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=acc135da6d1347b&biw=1920&bih=876
The youtube account could be a cool thing to do.
Excellent DD, but if you have never heard of deadmen..............
If you have heard of 'em then you probably wouldn't be Googling...
I've just Googled "bc2 uk clan" which is what i did 18 months ago and we are now in the results :clap:, at about 350 :sad:, which isn't very good if you ask me! (and it's for a thread stated less than two months ago).
If you search for "bf3 uk clan" we are about 150th in the results with a post that Ninja did BF3 Official Clan Tag *** BC2 BADGEHOLDERS TAKE NOTE!! *** and that's it out of the first 1000 results!!
I found dMw by chance while playing BC2 on a school night that just happened to have Ninja playing on as well. I had spent a fair bit of time looking on Google and found several other clans which i did make contact with but never did i see dMw!!
What i am saying is we should be aiming for dMw to be among the first few results for what people ACTUALLY search for, deadmen WILL NOT be one of the things people type into Google.
Thanks for voluteering mate good man woo hoo :) ;) :P
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;340831I agree with dickdastardly. It is something he does really well tbh and that is "flirting" with the publics. It is something that we all must do. When a public joins give them a minute to play and then say hello. If they respond then get a dialogue going. That's how people come back.
This is most definitely key.
Everyone likes to feel wanted and appreciated. Engage, encourage and invite is always going to be best way of pulling people in.
Engage them in conversation, help them if they have a question.
Encourage them in their gameplay and to play our way
Invite them to your squads and to the forum.
It's not the only methed but i's easy, simple and effective. If everyone makes a concerted effort then you'll increase your player base in no time.
I'm no web bloke, but isn't the key to footfall entirely related to how active and well structured your site is, with titles, descriptive but not forced text and articles?
We are better than we were a year ago, but a quick check on the front page doesn't reveal an active and dynamic set of responses for 'BF3, clan, tactical, friendly, uk, rubber hose' or anything like it. Top result? http://www.europe-clan.com/ **** site, but clear what it is. Ours is much better, but not active enough or blatant enough on the clan bits...
That's my $23
Edit to clarify what I was jabbering on about
I think the articles posting on the front page helps, but we aren't adding enough with the 'key words' in. That's not aimed at BF3, more across the board. The counter to that is that it's almost a full time job to do that. There's another discussion now happening, quite probably on the back of what I've said above, so I'll leave it here. All I was attempting to state was that if a fuller server is driven by ranking that is driven by google, then we need to work out how we uprank in google. If that isn't the case, ignore everything I've just said.
Looking at the top 10 ranked servers (worldwide) on GS (http://www.gametracker.com/search/bf3/), 8 are metro only.
The top 10 UK servers (http://www.gametracker.com/search/bf3/GB/?sort=rank_world&order=ASC) are mainly single map server or beginners friendly.
I'm not suggesting for 1 moment that we go single map, but it's worth noting.
I tend to go on servers that do 24/7 mertro with im not playing with anyone as its good fun and easy points not that im suggesting we do this becuase it's a nightmare to admin....
The other day on the battle log forums i saw a user "advertising his server" at the time of him posting it the server was dead then it became full in half an hour i thought this was a good idea to try and fill the server.
We should be able to do a trailer like this but better!! It has had over 27,000 views and has been up for ONE week!!
[video=youtube;be_y2XG7sxw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be_y2XG7sxw[/video]
Quote from: TwoBad;341094We should be able to do a trailer like this but better!! It has had over 27,000 views and has been up for ONE week!!
That's a great idea, I'm sure we could at least have a laugh trying :D
Server needed a restart tonight as we had gone invisible in the browser.
server was still up as a few of us were playing on it.
It'd be good to suss what was causing it.
Very cool indeed..
Yes indeed, that's seriously impressive and exactly what we should be looking to achieve.
The VC's and overt teamwork make the whole thing very appealing.
I'm up for some chopper acrobatics if you like ;)
Guys,
Can we be on the lookout for smaller clans whom may be struggling with filling their BF3 server? I'd like to consider some cooperative joint working and potential integration ideas that I have.
I just need some contact details, even a URL. Please do not approach anyone directly yourselves.
Thanks,
NF
Quote from: .DickDastardly.;340716Create a clan alliance - to have friendly scrims with promote each other's websites on respective servers.
you mean this?....
Spartagaming.com - they've got good admins and a good uk server but unfortunatly not always the numbers
No..
We can find scrims and matches, that's easy. I'm looking at M&A.
I was thinking about a recruitment page for people to apply to the dMw section of bf3 ?
Why not put a similar titled post in the public forum to see why our members are not playing?
Quote from: Blunt;341446Why not put a similar titled post in the public forum to see why our members are not playing?
+1 for me
Funny you mention that Blunt. As I was looking through the Gametracker stats I picked up on a few names of folks that used to play but have gone away.. I was going to post a "Where are you now?" thread and see if we can tempt them back into the fold...
is it possible to ask the community not just the admin side as a whole on what can be improved ?
I'm sure some of you have already looked but the Top UK server and number 3 overall is BSM.
Server name: Beginners [BSM] Learn to play here 24/7
From the name it sounds a friendly place. They also have a very good web site www.britishsergeantsmess.com (http://www.britishsergeantsmess.com/), i don't know if this helps them fill the server but it surely dosn't hurt them.
What do we have on OUR site after playing the game for well over two months??? Go to our home page and apart from a TS channel there is NOTHING to say we play BF3....and we wonder why our server is empty more often than not. It does we play BC2, oh hang on, we don't.
May be we should get some basic stuff sorted first?
I did mention this before in another thread in which toby replied to....maybe it's fallen under the radar but good point dave.
It's not under the radar, you will have seen the posts elsewhere about a GL meeting and the survey that is under way. If you would like to suggest content for 'OUR' site, as you rightly capitalise, there is every opportunity and a more involved request coming up tomorrow night. We wait with baited breath (for me to post it)
Quote from: .DickDastardly.;341583I did mention this before in another thread in which toby replied to....maybe it's fallen under the radar but good point dave.
Dick.
On more than one occassion I've read posts of yours with something to the effect of "I did mention this" or "I did suggest this".. etc. etc. So put your money where your mouth is..
Thank you for volunteering for scribing the community section. I look forward to reviewing your first draft. Please have it ready by the end of the week.
NF
Quote from: .DickDastardly.;341441I was thinking about a recruitment page for people to apply to the dMw section of bf3 ?
Can you elaborate on this? Are you referring to an application for the dMw tag or?
There is no real recruitment though, you find us however you find us, play a bit, like how we do things & stick around.
You recruit when your some hardcore match clan & you want the best of the best to play in your squad, dMw is just a haven from the "other" people that play online.
I agree RizZy.
I would like to understand where DD is coming from because perhaps I've not grasped the point.
Guys.. when we get a few things cleaned up here, what do you guys think of putting something up here (or did DD already suggest this?):
http://bf3clans.com/index.php?cat=European+BF3+Clan
Seems like as good as anywhere Ninj, it's not recruitment as such that we need, it's getting our name in the right places, so when people go looking for a mature tactical gaming community, who do they call?
Yea, you know it, the Ghostbusters, & then they tell em to come here.
I've had a quick look about for servers with the same problem as ours, found this (http://forums.gameservers.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=47710)
No answers, but it shows we are not alone in wondering where everybody has gone.
I'll look for some more
Had requests for more maps in the rotation last night. Caspian Border was added without player loss. Not sure what else was added after that as i called it a night.
Also, concerns were raised that Metro & Seine didn't work too well with 64 players.
Metro became something of a spam fest over Bravo. I must admit i enjoyed one round like that but then i was on the winning site and to be fair there were no tactics involved and i really don't think it's dMw.
On Seine Crossing one side managed to get the upper hand and pinned the other team into their spawn area. Once that happened you just couldn't break out no matter what was tried. Arithon and I were on the receiving end this time and again not much fun really and not very dMw.
Quote from: TwoBad;342552Had requests for more maps in the rotation last night. Caspian Border was added without player loss. Not sure what else was added after that as i called it a night.
Also, concerns were raised that Metro & Seine didn't work too well with 64 players.
Metro became something of a spam fest over Bravo. I must admit i enjoyed one round like that but then i was on the winning site and to be fair there were no tactics involved and i really don't think it's dMw.
On Seine Crossing one side managed to get the upper hand and pinned the other team into their spawn area. Once that happened you just couldn't break out no matter what was tried. Arithon and I were on the receiving end this time and again not much fun really and not very dMw.
Agreed - As much fun as Metro is on 64 player server it is a race to get to B and then just noob toob/rocket fest for kills i can imagine it's a bit tiresome and a pain in the backside to admin after a round or two.
Once bogged down in seine where your team has 1/2 flags or none it is very hard to come back from also.
Ninja, as it renewal time can we discuss this please, what are your thoughts?
I'm in agreement here, if we can now attract more peeps to the server I think we need a better set of maps.
Ya but Metro is fun as heck. It's also good for points and ranking.
In all seriousness, we have a good thing here folks, are we sure we want to change it? We can increase the number of maps but I am a bit wary of adding B2K maps as we may lose people. Also, I think that we should stick with conquest as it gives us the numbers on the map.
Thoughts?
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;342640Ya but Metro is fun as heck. It's also good for points and ranking.
I totally agree, it is good fun but tactics for the most part go out the window. Are we really saying that a RPG/Grenade fest is what we are about? Having said that i'm not sure what the answer is other than dropping the slots.
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;342640We can increase the number of maps but I am a bit wary of adding B2K maps as we may lose people.
Yep, i think we should add more without B2K for now.
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;342640Also, I think that we should stick with conquest as it gives us the numbers on the map.
Yep, keep with the same format of adding two rounds per map but in single rounds. Provieded we have an odd number of maps both teams will play all maps on both Russian and US sides.
Quote from: TwoBad;342643Yep, keep with the same format of adding two rounds per map but in single rounds. Provieded we have an odd number of maps both teams will play all maps on both Russian and US sides.
i agree
Yea I agree we have got some good numbers now but with 64 players metro is a real choke point blood bath, nade fest, noobtoob event thing.
I'd like to re-open this topic as the server is dead most of the time - I know universal suggested we trial Hardcore mode which isnt a bad idea?
Arithon, Twobad & Me were discussing various topics about this on teamspeak tonight and i took "minutes" of what we talked about tell us what you think, Here's what was discussed.
Change the Idle timer 5/10 mins - For when dMw members are seeding but are afk for a little while/Pubbies on who are idle can help bring up the numbers of the server.
1 player start
"@rules" plugin? rather than the rules coming up in chat every so often we encourage public to find out what the rules are for example "Hello "unnamed solider" welcome, you are playing on the dMw server type @rules for our set of rules for our server.
Similar to this would be a plugin which ive seen on servers to good effect "!admin "unnamed solider" is cheating. - So the public can alert us to somthing there not happy with in regards to a players gameplay/behaviour
possible to have inf only on one map and the next map is normal full out war will the preset of the server go to normal or custom?
squad enforcer to promote teamwork? http://www.phogue.net/forumvb/showthread.php?3137-Squad-Enforcer-%281-0-3-0-01-13-12%29-BF3
vote map done by public? http://www.phogue.net/forumvb/showthread.php?3424-xVotemap-v1-2-2-BF3
Also we were all in agreement the server's map rotation needs re-tweeking here is my rough opinion on it.
Kharg Island Rush only
Caspian Border - Good all round map not dominated by tanks/jets/infantry - it's a mixed skill set map
Grand bazaar- inf only/or conquest small with vehicles
Damavan peak - Rush only one of my favourite map that i really miss from when we first had it in our rotation
& some BTK Maps.
I'm sure theres some bits I missed during our conversation on teamspeak but that's a rough idea of our thoughts.
DD.