Okay so here is the issue..

[Makfly]

Thank you for that post, Gorboth.

It may not be the most positive picture it paints, but I think it is extremely important to just put the cards on the table, so the community can get a clear picture of status of Genesis.
The more clear and concise a picture we all have of the situation, the better everyone can tailor their suggestions and efforts.

So thanks for the honesty - It makes me wonder though, if you would be able to post a census of the activity of the community as it is now?
That would give us both a very up-to-date status of the Wizard side of the game, as well as the players side.

[Cherek]

Amberlee: So if I completely missed the point, cant you tell me in even more clear words then?:)

Your point was to tell everyone to stop talking and do something? Or?

[gorboth]

Thank you for that post, Gorboth.

It may not be the most positive picture it paints, but I think it is extremely important to just put the cards on the table, so the community can get a clear picture of status of Genesis.
The more clear and concise a picture we all have of the situation, the better everyone can tailor their suggestions and efforts.

So thanks for the honesty - It makes me wonder though, if you would be able to post a census of the activity of the community as it is now?
That would give us both a very up-to-date status of the Wizard side of the game, as well as the players side.

I plan on having a Skype soon with Petros. I'll talk to him about this and see if he knows more than I do. From what I can tell, there are two people who have been actively coding in Genesis in the past three months. One was Mercade with his wonderful event. The other is the one apprentice wizard, Boreaulam, who I mentioned not having given up entirely. He is working on a revision of the goblin cave starting area near Sparkle. It is possible that there are a few other coding projects that are in process, but if so, they are not on my radar. I may learn of them in talking to Petros today (something he might be doing, for example.) As I've made public, there are some projects that I am personally working on, but I have not had the time/motivation to touch them in the last few months.

G.

[Cherek]

Gorboth: I coded a new rankings script in the last few months. That counts too. But thats about it. Maybe I will feel there is something else to fix eventually... but my own motivation kinda goes down seeing so few players, and wizards, awake when I log in. I am probably not the only one who loses motivation from less players, and becomes part of the problem. Its a downward spiral we gotta break somehow.

Arcon:
To make Gorboth's bleak picture less bleak...

The first time I wizzed, maybe some 6-7 years ago, the community was indeed full of active wizards, lieges and admins. Navarre who was my liege was a great teacher and I managed to learned the basics thanks to him. However, imho the downside of the approach was also that the higher ranked wizards wanted to decide what you were gonna code, and every "boss" had their own ideas of course so if you got your idea past your liege, there was eventually someone else above him not liking it... I am not saying this was wrong, but all systems have their problems. Many bosses, lots of people wanting to decide. My experience from the past was that Genesis development was a slow-moving thing with lots of bureaucracy in the way of creativity. On the positive side more people meant you could almost always get help, and seeing others do stuff was motivating.

When I wizzed this time, maybe a year ago? The community was definitely more like what Gorboth described, and it has become "worse" since. However... the positive side to this is you basically can do what you want, learn in your own speed, no pressure, and if you volunteer to fix or do something (within reason) you're unlikely to get a "no". So if you're ready to learn by yourself, you can also expect alot of freedom to learn how you want, doing what you want. More or less. And there's much less bureaucracy to get past. Basically you just ask Gorboth and get a yes or no directly.

[gorboth]

Oh, yeah! And Cherek did definitely head up the effort to get the rankings working, and put in his own sweat equity to make it happen. Sorry to have forgotten that!

G.

[Strider]

There is some powerful truth in Amberlee's and subsequent posts.

However, if the dwindling player base is our gravest ill, shouldn't it be enough if some people just play? You know, in the game, with the rest of us.

Sure, Genesis is competing with a lot more games now, but it's also in a much bigger pool of potential gamers.

Genesis also needs to grow, change and improve, but it's not like the game is vastly different from the one we found playable, lovable and addictive.

I'm not saying that there are not deep and pressing problems, but things are not so dire nor so grim and the attitudes about that seem to compound the problems greatly.

Have fun.

[Cherek]

However, if the dwindling player base is our gravest ill, shouldn't it be enough if some people just play? You know, in the game, with the rest of us.

Oh yeah, thats probably one of the best things anyone can do. The game has always had flaws, but players and interaction between them has always made up for it. Lately many players have turned into semi-active scrips and real interaction becomes more rare. Actually playing and making some effort to interact with people is probably the best thing we can do. And far easier than recoding them entire game...

If I remember correctly I saw some note on the Calian board some time ago where Strider invited people for Calian gatherings at certain dates and times. Thats really a great example of what a player can do to help the game, without spending much time or effort, but with lots to gain.

[gorboth]

Woody Allen is quoted as having said "Eighty percent of success is showing up." This is certainly true in Genesis, and I very much feel that the following would a good formula for insuring that the game has a sustained and valuable life:

• Choose Genesis as your game of choice.
• Log in and spend time playing.
• Turn off your scripts, and actually live your character rather than simply watching the text spin past.
• When you see people, interact with them.
• When the mood strikes you - Roleplay, ftw!

Everyone doing these things = Genesis becomes great very quickly, I'd wager.

G.

[Bendis]

Well folks, I have been around for a couple of years.

I can code and I offered to code in my wiz application. I have yet to receive a project that is of interest for the community

Do you have any project you think would be interesting? I am looking for a couple of players that could help design a guild/feature that is fun.
(my latest attempt ended with the "where is the fun in it" remark so I would rather stay with the coding part )

/Bendis

[Amberlee]

Woody Allen is quoted as having said "Eighty percent of success is showing up." This is certainly true in Genesis, and I very much feel that the following would a good formula for insuring that the game has a sustained and valuable life:

• Choose Genesis as your game of choice.
• Log in and spend time playing.
• Turn off your scripts, and actually live your character rather than simply watching the text spin past.
• When you see people, interact with them.
• When the mood strikes you - Roleplay, ftw!

Everyone doing these things = Genesis becomes great very quickly, I'd wager.

G.

So true.
Also helps having a game you are passionate about, proud of playing and really WANT to tell your friends about.
Right now, Genesis doesnt have that quality and the only reason i even bother logging on is the friends i have there.