PC Gamer to feature Genesis

[gorboth]

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Denizens of the Donut,

As many of you are aware, Genesis has recently been mentioned briefly in two
minor articles in the on-line version of PC Gamer magazine. This has never
happened before, and I have always dreamed that it might (and wondered if it
would.) Immediately following these two articles, Genesis saw its biggest
player bump in the new millenium back in early July, with the who-list
climbing as high as 106 players online, and the tutorial bursting with
newbies. 

I have good news.

PC Gamer UK is interested in going one step further, and has green-lit a
feature-length article exclusively on Genesis to be published in an upcoming
print version of their magazine (and potentially also online.) Just today I
partook in a 45 minute interview with the author who intends to write this
article. From the line of questions and quality of his knowledge and ideas
about gaming, I have a very enthusiastic feeling about where this is all
going to end up with the kind of article he will likely create. If/when this
article is written, it is reasonable to assume that we will get yet another
(and perhaps a far greater in scope) influx of new players who come to learn
about our game from this type of publicity. 

We are ready for this. The last ten years in Genesis have been spent working
to get the game in shape for new people who find us, and we have in-place
systems that can handle what I hope will be a lot of new players all at once.
Instancing in the tutorial is in place to alleviate choke-points for content,
and we can easily add that type of thing to other areas if we should need it.
Our website and client are also to the point where I feel quite happy to offer
them for mass consuption without any misgivings about design or appeal.

Now - some things you can do:

  * Prepare to be hospitable and friendly to new players.

  * See if your guilds have in place councils that can take on new players.
    This is a real opportunity for your guild. Nothing feels as good as a
    guild that is alive, thriving, and bursting with energy and life. Those
    guilds that are prepared for something like this stand a chance to enter
    a new era. Those that do nothing will miss that chance.

  * Please see if you can help with an ask I have:

    https://www.genesismud.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4513

    I need a bit of community help generating potential screenshot content
    for the article itself.

Nothing has happened yet other than the interview, and my own sense of a
capable, intelligent, and real-deal author who has taken interest in us and
made this article his project. We just need to keep on being who we are
(perhaps aiming slightly higher than usual) and let the game speak for itself.

Onward and UPWARD!
G.

[Mersereau]

What are the wizards doing in preparation?

[gorboth]

I started preparing the game for this 10 years ago. It has been a long development cycle, and thanks to the hard work, belief, sacrifices, and teamwork of more wizards than I can succinctly mention, I feel very good about the game's readiness.

I'm sure that's what you meant, right?

There isn't much the wizards can scramble to do to prep for this other than small tweaks between now and a guessed-at publication date. Thus, we smile and are thankful that we spent the last decade as well as we could, doing our best.

G.

[Mersereau]

I'm sure that's what you meant, right?

Nope.

[Makfly]

Perhaps be ready to re-run a event shortly after the release of the article, even if it's just the attack on Sparkle or something that doesn't run for weeks?

[Zugzug]

Perhaps allow the use of ntell when herbing?

More people answering questions = less confusion.

[Cherek]

Perhaps allow the use of ntell when herbing?

More people answering questions = less confusion.

It's not possible to use ntell while herbing? Heh, I've never thought about that. Sure sounds like it would be useful if it was possible. Might keep some herb-scripters more awake too!

[Cherek]

Perhaps be ready to re-run a event shortly after the release of the article, even if it's just the attack on Sparkle or something that doesn't run for weeks?

That's not a bad idea. Although I think it takes quite some time for new players to grasp the basics of Genesis, and many of our events might just be confusing new players more than anything else. The last couple of events have not attracted many new players, which makes sense. It's just too confusing. However we could run an event for old players in order to cause an extra large spike, and have more people around overall.

As for the attack on Sparkle, fun as it was for us oldies, I think it would probably just be chaotic and spammy for any new players who happen to be there? So, perhaps it's better to run one of the classic events aimed at old players, and one that does not "disrupt" the normal game much. With luck maybe the article will be published in the autumn or just before Christmas, since we have a bunch of Thanksgiving/Halloween/Christmas events that probably could be run.

[Daerin]

I think that a screenshot of when Death comes to take you (What! You again!) and Lars arrives and starts to argue with him.

[Hektor]

Good idea Daerin.

I was actually wondering if maybe a group of players attacking the Balrog and you just see them talk, and attack and then the next screenshot would be the You die. etc.

I think that a screenshot of when Death comes to take you (What! You again!) and Lars arrives and starts to argue with him.

Given that the Balrog is very recognisible for a broad audience and the whole Death vs Lars mythology a very uniquely Genesis.

I will gladly do the Balrog attack thing... but dont count me in on Death