Code: Select all
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
==================
I. Things are *REALLY* looking up.
II. Um ... just go ahead and take your lunch hour to read this. It's
gonna be loooooooong.
III. Now is the time! Make 2015 the year we will always look back on
in gratitude!
==================
Esteemed Fellow Genesis Enthusiasts,
Belatedly, yet with no less enthusiasm, I finally have found the time to
take full stock of what was this last year of 2014 for our humble game and
devise for you this annual State of the Donut. Much as it pains me, I must
urge you who (like me) prefer things old-school, to set your screen width
using <options> to 100 to properly view this post, as some of the information
is just too big for our standard 80 characters! (a big year deserves a big
post, after all ...)
I will say, too, that this assessment cannot reasonably end with the final
days of 2014, for, our story has built to a point now where to ignore the
beginnings of the New Year would be misleading and fall short of what we all
should know and celebrate. Therefore, I take our assessment up to the present
day where we are into the later portion of our second month of 2015.
So, lets get right to the data, shall we? (WE SHALL!)
Oh, and for reference, the number at the left is APH (Average Players per Hour)
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Average player activity by week for entire year, beginning Jan 01 2014 |
| |
+---------+-----+----+-----+----+----+-----+----+-----+----+----+-----+---+
| 48.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 48.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 47.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 47.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 46.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 46.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 45.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 45.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 44.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 44.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 43.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 43.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 42.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 42.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 41.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 41.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 40.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 40.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 39.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 39.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X| | |
| 38.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 38.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 37.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 37.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 36.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 36.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 35.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 35.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 34.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 34.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 33.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 33.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |
| 32.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | | X
| 32.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 31.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 31.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 30.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 30.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 29.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 29.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 28.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 28.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 27.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 27.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 26.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 26.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 25.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 25.0 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 24.5 | | | | | | | | | | | X|X | |XXX
| 24.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | |XXX
| 23.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 23.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 22.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 22.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 21.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 21.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 20.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 20.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 19.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|X | X|XXX
| 19.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|XX | X|XXX
| 18.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|XX | X|XXX
| 18.0 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|XX | XX|XXX
| 17.5 | | | | | | | | | | | XX|XX | XX|XXX
| 17.0 | X | | | | | | | | | | XX|XX | XXX|XXX
| A 16.5 |XX | | | | | | | | | | XX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| V 16.0 |XX | | | | | | | | | | XX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| G 15.5 |XX | | | | | | | | | | XX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| 15.0 |XX | | | | | | | | | | XX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| P 14.5 |XX | X | | | | | | | |X | XX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| E 14.0 |XX | XX | | | | | | | |X |XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| R 13.5 |XX XX| XX | | | | | | | |XX X|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| 13.0 |XXXXX|XXXX| | | | | | | X|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| H 12.5 |XXXXX|XXXX| | | | | | | X X|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| O 12.0 |XXXXX|XXXX| | | | | | | XXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| U 11.5 |XXXXX|XXXX| | | | | | X |XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| R 11.0 |XXXXX|XXXX| | | | | | XX |XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| 10.5 |XXXXX|XXXX| | |XXX | | | XX |XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| E 10.0 |XXXXX|XXXX| X | |XXXX|XXXX | | XXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| A 9.5 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXX | X |XXXX|XXXX | | XXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| C 9.0 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXX X| XX|XXXX|XXXXX|XX | XXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| H 8.5 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXX X| XX|XXXX|XXXXX|XX | XXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| 8.0 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XX X| XXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| W 7.5 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX| XXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| E 7.0 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX| XXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| E 6.5 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX| XXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
| K 6.0 |XXXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXXX|XXXX|XXXXX|XXX|XXXX|XXX
+---------+-----+----+-----+----+----+-----+----+-----+----+----+-----+---+----+--
| Month |Jan |Feb |Mar |Apr |May |Jun |Jul |Aug |Sep |Oct |Nov |Dec| 2015
+---------+-----+----+-----+----+----+-----+----+-----+----+----+-----+---+
Whooooooooaaaah ... I mean ... really ... whoa!
Did you just have to hit the <enter> key about three times to get that whole
thing displayed? Yeah. That's what happened this year. And it's weird,
because prior to the end of November, this year was on its way to being
actually somewhat blase. The graph from January through the end of July
is, in fact, downright depressing. But ... but ... as a certain greenthumb
hobbit might say, "Glory and Trumpets!" if that isn't the most beautiful
spike I've ever seen right at the beginning of December! Holy Shizzle, my
Dizzle is Fizzle. Whizzle and Schmizzle! *slap self*
So, those of you who were around in that two week period remember what was
going on. A strange experiment was tried where during a "turkey" event,
simply being logged in to provide care/love for your companion would
actually provide you with nominal amounts of quest experience. In the
American film "Field of Dreams" from the 1980's a famous quote was, "If
you build it, they will come." I guess here, we can say, "If you make qxp
easily available just for logging in, the playerbase will triple." This is
somewhat ironic given the fact that in the months leading up to this
experiment, discussion and project theory was in hot pursuit of the idea
of making quest experience far less meaningful to players. Seeing this spike,
any wizard (and perhaps players) must wonder, "Is that actually a smart
idea?" The jury remains out. But, the effect is undeniable. In this two
week period, we saw player activity at levels that have not been
experienced in Genesis in the new millennium.
And, so, the event ended, and player numbers dropped back to what they had
been bef... or ... hmm? They didn't? Oh shoop ... check out the first
two months of 2015. What the fuff? Okay ... uh ... whoah. Whooooooooooah.
Yeah, we have to do that twice.
So here's the thing. Some *AMAZINGLY AWESOME* teacher decided to have his
class log in to genesis every day. We don't know who it was, but this
person is officially a legend. By doing so, the teacher had the students
all create characters and download the google app that has been available
for the last few years. This suddenly surge of use of the app triggered
somthing in the ALMIGHTY google algorithm that said, "From Henceforth
The Genesis App Shall Be Visible Upon Top List For Various Categories
In Our Chrome App Store." (we suspect, anyway)
And the Google Gods looked upon their algorithm. And it was Good. And
the Donut began to have *hundreds* of newbies create characters every
single day. The vast majority of these newbies said, "What the frick?"
and instantly quit. However, this massive influx of new visitors
naturally exposed people who *belong* here to our wonderful world for
the first time. "Conversion" of new visitors to actual lasting players
began to be a real thing. And, as the algorithm continues to bless our
app with its favor, the influx continues at a healthy and lovely
pace, with truly NEW newbies playing, and staying, and becoming members
of our community each and every day.
Perspective is always important. How good have things become in the long
scheme of things? Lets take a look from the entire history of the census
since it was implemented at the end of 2007:
+----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+
|APH | 15.8 | 16.1 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 10.7 | 12.5 | 13.33 |
+----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+
|32.5| X
|32.0| X
|31.5| X
|31.0| X
|30.5| X
|30.0| X
|29.5| X
|29.0| X
|28.5| X
|28.0| X
|27.5| X X
|27.0| X X
|26.5| X X
|26.0| X X
|25.5| X X
|25.0| X X
|24.5| X X
|24.0| X X
|23.5| X X
|23.0| X X
|22.5| X X
|22.0| X X
|21.5| X X
|21.0| XX X X
|20.5| XX X X
|20.0| XX XXX
|19.5| XX XXX
|19.0| XX XXX
|18.5| XX XXXX
|18.0| XX XXXX
|17.5| XX X X X XXXX
|17.0| XXX X X X XX XXXX
|16.5| XXX XX XXXX XX XXXX
|16.0| X XXX XXXXXXXXX XX XXXX
|15.5|XX X XXX XXXXXXXXXX X XX XXXX
|15.0|XX X XXX XXXXXXXXXX XX X XXXXX X X X XXXX
|14.5|XX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XX X XXXXX X X X XX XXXX
|14.0|XX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XX X XXXXXX X X X XX XXXXX
|13.5|XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXX X X XXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXX
|13.0|XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXX X XX XXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXX
|12.5|XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X XX XXXXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX XXXXX
|12.0|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXXX
|11.5|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXXX
|11.0|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX X X XXXX XXX XXXXXX XXXXXX
|10.5|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XX XXXXXXXX XXXXXX XX XXXXXX
|10.0|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XX XXXXXX
| 9.5|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XX XXXXXXX
| 9.0|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX
| 8.5|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
| 8.0|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
| 7.5|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
+----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+
|Mnth|JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJF
+----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+
|Year| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
+----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+
Okay. Yeah. *deep breath*
So, for the last seven years, there has been a gold standard to which all
census numbers hoped to once again aspire, and it was that incredible bump
that the game got back in the Summer of 2008 when we finally re-opened the
long-forsaken Angmar's Army guild. That 21.0 APH (average players per hour)
was a high water mark that always seemed like, if we could just get back to
those numbers, we'd really have something. What is funny, is that right now,
I feel like if we go back to those numbers, something has gone wrong. Truly!
The "new normal" makes that bump back in 2008 feel like a big step backward.
My friends! Have we done it?! But, wait ... lets reduce resolution one tick
further, so we can examine things on a quarterly basis. You know, data is
fun and different lenses help boil things down:
+---------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| 24.5 | X
| 24.0 | X
| 23.5 | X
| 23.0 | X
| 22.5 | X
| 22.0 | X
| 21.5 | X
| 21.0 | X
| 20.5 | X
| 20.0 | X X
| 19.5 | X X
| A 19.0 | X X X
| V 18.5 | X X X
| G 18.0 | X X X
| 17.5 | X X X X
| P 17.0 | X X X X X
| E 16.5 | X X X X X X X
| R 16.0 | X X X X X X X X
| 15.5 | X X X X X X X X X
| H 15.0 | X X X X X X X X X X
| O 14.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X
| U 14.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| R 13.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| 13.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| E 12.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| A 12.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| C 11.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| H 11.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| 10.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| Q 10.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| R 9.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| T 9.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| R 8.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| 8.0 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
| 7.5 | X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+
| Month |1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4|1 2 3 4 |
+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 2015
+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+
|Yr. Ave. | 15.5 | 15.8 | 16.1 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 10.7 | 12.5 | 13.33 |
+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+
So here's the fascinating thing ... if we take all the data from 2007 forward
until just before the big spike, the APH for the entire time is around 13.41.
Going forward from there, the APH is around 25.61. This is an increase of
90.87%. I'd like to go back ... waaaaay way back to my first goal-setting
post as Keeper, back in 2007, in which I stated:
======================[Gorboth, Oct 25, 2007]===============================
The reason I have volunteered to serve as Keeper is that I have a firm
belief that this game has not yet met its potential. What potential am
I talking about? I think it all comes down to having a healthy playerbase.
So, I'll come right out with my main vision:
-**- To double the playerbase in one year's time. -**-
To begin with, we need to recognize what we are working with. What started
as a fun project for a computer club in Sweden has, over 15 years of
continued development, blossomed into a vast arena for our recreational
enjoyment.
The game hasn't been very focused in its development, though. Widely varying
talents and philosophies of game design have lead to a structure that is,
at best, loosely knit together with parts that function individually,
rather than as a whole. Such a design is palpable for those of us
who are old warhorses around here. We're used to it, and can tough out
the rough edges of the game. But ... newcomers? No!
So, as many of you have pointed out over the years, there is a lot of
restructuring and renovation that needs tackling, design-wise, to improve
the game for the types of people we hope to attract.
A phrase made popular by a movie a few dacades ago states:
"If you build it, they will come."
I do not believe that this applies to Genesis. We have built it, they
aren't coming anymore. We need to change our angle. I think, instead,
this is a more useful view:
"If you build it properly, those who come will stay."
Yes! So, the wizards have some work to do. We need to restructure things
so that those people who find their way to the game will find it instantly
appealing, engrossing, addictive, and satisfying. But this is only half
of the battle. We still need to find ways to get them to come, and that
has almost nothing to do with coding the game. Instead, it has to do with
promotion. But more on that later.
===========================[end ancient post recap]==========================
So ... given that I wrote that 7 years ago, and with an increase lately over
the APH of those 7 years of around 90% ... we finally, FINALLY can begin to
imagine that we are reaching the goal of doubling the playerbase. And, the
phrase "if you build it properly, those who come will stay" is what I've hoped
for many years to be true. I'd like to take a look back at the things we've
done over the years to prepare for this, the long-awaited time when we have
newbies flocking to our doorstep, hopefully finding a place properly built,
so that they wish to stay. Our steps toward the build have been:
==============================================================================
1996 and before - Genesis exists in an expanded but fundamentally
unchanged form from when it was first re-launched in
1992. Content and player options have evolved, but
the game remains drastically hardcore for the average
newbie, who is expected to know how to get along, because
to even find the game requires knowledge of telnet and
the pre-browser-based internet.
==============================================================================
1997 - Cadets of Gelan opened as a newbie guild meant to
make the game friendly for newcomers - perhaps the first
dedicated effort along these lines in the history of
the game.
==============================================================================
1998 - First Genesis website established, detailing the various
domains of Genesis and other useful content.
==============================================================================
2004 - Original character creation (Hall of Bodies in Waiting)
replaced with current menu-driven selection scheme.
- Tutori Isle (Tutorial) area opened.
- Newbie pin and <ntell> line established.
- Faerie created as a newbie-friendly zone near Sparkle.
- Disparate racial start-locations eliminated so that
all characters now begin in Sparkle.
==============================================================================
2005 - Player Rankings introduced on the webpage.
==============================================================================
2007 - Team commands improved, vastly.
==============================================================================
2008 - Who-list changed to show names of all players, whether
you have met them or not.
- Auction House created in Sparkle
- Orb system listing all quests in the game developed.
- Magic Map created as inventory item and implemented
in the Tutorial and Sparkle.
- First Genesis-specific client created. Very
simple, but allows people to play without telnet.
- Gem deposits added to banks for storing more valuable
currency.
- First repeatable (weekly) quest introduced via the
Wednesday Market.
- Global Guild Balance project begun.
- <help rules> revised, eliminating unpolicable and
outdated taboos such as quest runthroughs, outside
chatline use, etc.
- Shiplines altered to run through Sparkle, creating
Hub of activity so players naturally encounter eachother.
==============================================================================
2009 - Sparkle Recoded to represent modern levels of game
design and quality (previously, it was dreadfully
simple and unchanged since 1992.)
- Website redesigned completely, using Denis Loubet's
original artwork.
==============================================================================
2010 - Academy of Elemental Arts created as magic-style
companion to the Cadet's guild. Newbies now have two
excellent starter experiences, one melee, one magic.
- Official Genesis Forum created, offering a moderated
place to discuss game issues between players and
developers.
- FMud utilized as a web-based client to play Genesis.
- Hints implemented with quest orbs.
- Hired Denis Loubet to provide Genesis with original
artwork for the website and other uses.
==============================================================================
2011 - Created imbuements to bring modern notions of random
loot and rare spawns to global drops from mobs.
- Created the Sparkle Tours for new players to have
high-quality first experiences with questing.
- New website, using Denis Loubet's artwork, goes live.
- Second version of the Genesis client created,
incorporating many more modern features and some
graphic improvements.
==============================================================================
2012 - Guild racks given auto-recovery at Armageddon for
all glowing items.
- Instancing techology created for Genesis, and
implemented in the tutorial in case handling of vast
numbers of new people all at once is ever needed.
==============================================================================
2013 - Massive infrastructure improvements for the client
via mudlib protocols, allowing the official client to
incorporate the magic map in a peristent display which
shows your character moving around an ascii map. Finally,
there is a legitimate reason to use something other than
CMUD or ZMUD. Additionally, the client supports creation
of scripts, aliases, triggers, etc.
==============================================================================
2014 - Genesis client added to the Google App Store.
- Website re-designed with a much more modern appearance.
==============================================================================
2015 - Google decides Genesis deserves higher rank, resulting
in unprecedented new character visits. The work of the
past ten years is finally put to the test, and was not
in vain!
==============================================================================
So, you can see ... a great deal of work has gone into getting us to where
we are. Yes, it has been the Google Algorithm that finally brought us the
flood of new players, and we cannot be grateful enough for that excellent
turn of events. But had we not taken the last 15+ years to, step-by-step,
bring design of the game more into the modern era, with a specific goal of
making things friendly for new players and sustainably interesting and
balanced for continuing players, we would be poorly positioned to transfer
any of these new arrivals into community members.
So, my Genesis friends - this is indeed a celebration! More on that after
we examine some specific things about this year.
It is always fun to see what has happened with our various guilds in
the game. Let's examine the trends:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2013 Ranking (Entire Day) 2014 Ranking (Entire Day)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Angmar (1.228) 1. Mercs (1.430)
2. Mercs (1.152) 2.^+Rangers (1.101)
3. Glads (1.054) 3. Monks (1.038)
4. Ogres (0.673) 4. Angmar (0.989)
5. Mages (0.663) 5. DArmy (0.668)
6. Monks (0.586) 6. Knights (0.410)
Knights (0.586) 7. Calian (0.301)
7. Neidar (0.565) 8. Ogres (0.298)
8. DArmy (0.271) 9. Neidar (0.293)
9. Rangers (0.217) 10.-!Glads (0.268)
10. Calians (0.163) 11. Mage (0.126)
11. PoT (0.054) 12. ScoP (0.109)
12. Academ. (0.021) 13. Union (0.104)
13. Union (0.010) 14. Cadet (0.087)
14. Cadets (0.000) 15. Academ. (0.024)
Kender (0.000) 16. Kender (0.019)
ScoP (0.000) 17. PoT (0.019)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ Biggest gain (Rangers at +0.884)
- Biggest loss (Glads at -0.786)
^ Biggest rise (Rangers up 8 ranks)
! Biggest fall (Glads down 7 ranks)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Representation During Peak Hour
(21:00 gametime in 2013) (21:00 gametime in 2014)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Angmar (3.177) 1. Mercs (2.534)
2. Mercs (2.336) 2. -Angmar (2.271)
3. Rangers (1.655) 3. Rangers (2.189)
4. Monks (1.625) 4. Monks (2.043)
5. Glads (1.472) 5. DArmy (1.454)
6. Neidar (1.459) 6.^+Calian (1.235)
7. DArmy (1.357) 7. Ogres (1.183)
8. Knights (1.237) 8. Glads (0.813)
9. Mages (1.131) 9. Knights (0.805)
10. Ogres (0.950) 10. Mage (0.739)
11. Union (0.579) 11. !Neidar (0.783)
12. Calian (0.576) 12. Union (0.599)
13. PoT (0.415) 13. ScoP (0.506)
14. Kender (0.344) 14. PoT (0.416)
15. Cadets (0.275) 15. Cadet (0.397)
16. ScoP (0.193) 16. Academ. (0.295)
17. Academ. (0.191) 17. Kender (0.109)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ Biggest gain (Calians at +0.655)
- Biggest loss (Angmar at -0.906)
^ Biggest rise (Calians up 6 ranks)
! Biggest fall (Neidar down 5 ranks)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What I love about this year is how, unlike 2013, there are no guilds who
didn't manage to register on the census for the APH for an entire day. The
lowest ranked guilds still manage to put some numbers on the board. Another
interesting factor is that numbers seem be more evenly distributed through
the various guilds, with no guilds dominating the landscape quite so much
as in 2013, especially during peak hours.
Big winners for this year go to the Ranger and Calian guilds. Rangers made
a huge improvement from 2013, rising 8 ranks in the overall activity for
the year. Calians rose 3 ranks overall, and 6 ranks during peak play hours.
Gladiators and the Neidar Clan seem to have lost out, losing 7 ranks
in overall play, and 5 ranks in peak hour play, respectively. Amazingly,
the Angmar had the biggest single loss of all, dropping a staggering
0.906 APH in peak hour play, yet still managing to hang on to the #2
position - a testimony to the strength of their guild and the dominance
they enjoyed in 2013.
Let's go ahead, now, and recap some of the highlights of 2014 (and beyond):
- Death took a vacation, giving all players the chance to experiment
for a few weeks in a relatively consequence-free environement. After
a while, he returned, and most seemed to agree that he had been missed.
- Elemental resistance was given attention, creating messages that would
be displayed when such effects became active or removed, and a new
apothecary in Emerald made such effects available to all players for
a price.
- Cherek was made Liege of Promotion, and began work in earnest on ways
to increase the game's visibility and image.
- The Traveller titles were renovated.
- On a number of occasions the Balrog bragged about having elite imbuement
items for players to hunt from him. He never kept them long.
- Petros completed the recode of the Elemental Worshippers guild (huzzah!)
- The wizard Skippern returned and resumed work on his old projects in
Gondor, including Dol Amroth.
- The Ravenloft Domain was formed under the leadership of its new Liege,
Nerull, and much work was completed.
- Lilith returned to Genesis, working on numerous fixes in Avenir, and
joining the AoP team.
- Cherek unveiled a complete redesign of the Genesis website, with a much
upgraded look and feel, using many new images from our artist, Denis
Loubet.
- An effort for global Quest Reform was undertaken, with a team of mortals
joining together to helm the process of this monumental task.
- The aforementioned Turkey Event for Thanksgiving was enjoyed by more
players than the game has seen in the current millenium.
- Cotillion made adjustments to the amount of exp awarded for npcs killed
in relation to their difficulty, making some grind-zones more profitable.
- Mercade introduced numerous new emotes and adverbs.
- Since the New Year, Mercade has introduced numerous innovations, including
larger mailboxes for council members, new level descriptions, failsafes
against unintentional playerkilling, awareness of combat status, and
numerous essential tool improvements for wizards.
- Mortis created an extensive new area in Palanthas for players to
explore.
- Newly active wizards have joined the force, working to improve the game,
including Crux, Elmore, Leia, Lucius, Mirandus, Mortis, Skippern, Varian,
and Zignur. (some of these, of course are old wizards returned to
do their thing!)
- Google Apps decided Genesis deserved some visibility, giving us an
unanticipated, but long-prepared-for opportunity to greet hundreds of
truly new players each week. Cotillion continues to monitor this app
and tweak as is needed and advantageous.
- Cherek became the new Archwizard of Players, and is doing a bang-up
job!
Looking ahead, there are many exciting things on the horizon:
- Petros has begun work on the recode for the Heralds of the Valar.
- Boreaulam has nearly completed work on a new area in Sparkle.
- Zhar coded a fun puzzle quest that is close to final version.
- My own Necromancer occ guild has continued to progress, and awaits further
development.
- Cotillion has numerous tweaks and improvements to game design that he's
hoping to implement.
- Eowul and Varian are cooking up some truly nasty things in
Middle Earth.
- Streamlining the game for newbie-grind zones is underway.
- Nerull has begun work on a Werewolf (Lycanthrope) guild for Ravenloft.
So, as you can see, it has been an amazing year, and looks to be even more
amazing as we move forward. In the last two months, I have seen the wizard
and player communties absolutely spring to life. With the players, it has
taken the form of countless people stepping up to the plate to meet, greet,
and help our newcomers, as well as engage in some more advanced guild-v-guild
warfare (long missed in Genesis!) In terms of wizards, we've had all sorts of
new activity trying to recognize, respond-to, and anticipate the future
experiences of our huge slew of new arrivals. In addition, we are beginning
to again see teams of wizards working together in individual domains to bring
dreams and visions to life for the next generation of our players.
I cannot thank enough my friends in the wizard community for their hard work
and dedication. Likewise, I admire and envy my friends in the player
community who continue to, day in and day out, make this world what it is -
a vibrant and living experience of roleplay and adventure.
To both parties, I say - This is the time! Our hour has come! It is no longer
a matter of "when" or "if" we will see new faces at our doorstep. Now is the
day, my fellow Genesis Enthusiasts! Every single time you log in, you have
the opportunity to bring your goals to life. There are knocks at the doors
of long quiet guildhalls. Questioning voices ask of things that we have
all taken for granted, and yet these voices are in earnest! Seek out these new
voices and new faces, bring them into the fold, and breathe deeply as the
game swells its ranks, and your guilds rise with the tide.
Onward, my friends! Upward! 2015 is our time - your time - and we flourish!
Yours, beaming, lucky to be part of this game,
G.
