Topic

The Hook

Hi everyone. What follows is my thoughts on a very important issue, getting people to play glitch.

As some of you know, I was one of the first alpha testers. I started playing glitch almost a year and a half ago. Since the beginning, I have loved the game and enjoyed it (DONT POST THAT LINK!). However, I have noticed recently that while I always have a skill going, I spend much much less time in game. I was curious as to why this is, and I have pondered it for a few weeks. The issue is not that the game is boring, because once I am in game, I can play for 6+ hours straight without getting bored. So what is the issue? I thought it might be the looming threat of a reset and the fact that whatever I do now will be lost in a few months. But that's not really the issue either. I realized today what it is. There is almost nothing to draw me into the game when it is open and I am not already in. The last three times I have been in game were the opening of Jethimadh Tower Base, to explore Chakra Phool after a forum discussion made me realize I had never been there, and when Baqala opened. I have not been in this week, because as far as I can tell, there is nothing really new or exciting.

TL;DR: Glitch, despite its awesome gameplay, is not doing enough to draw people into the game when they are not already in game.

Posted 18 months ago by Edward Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I agree, I've always said that WAYYY more quests need to be added to keep the interest going between skill times and new "events" in the game
    Posted 18 months ago by Laurali Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, novelty is key for ANYTHING to continue to be worth our time. For most of us, at least. Some people are built for routine. But most of us require new and exciting growth.
    Posted 18 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Not just quests, but achievements, too! I'm looking forward to new achievements! Recipes! Other things! PETS!! Lol
    Posted 18 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As a completely new player (began 4 days ago), I very much agree with needing a TON more quests, and random ones. There were several times that I had no new quests and knew I wouldn't get any until 2 hours later when I learned my new skill. I think the introduction of "scary" events, like the rook, make for a lot more buzz.
    Posted 18 months ago by Trespasser Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Also, I think it'd be fun to facilitate "greeter" mentality even further. What if you couldn't eat food except when it's been given to you? You'd always be sharing or trading. Kind of makes for a whole new level of interaction.
    Posted 18 months ago by Trespasser Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm really rich & I'm really famous
    Posted 18 months ago by Taylor Swift Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Edward - agree...there needs to be more to draw us in...and yes, once here, I can spend hours just putzing around...though much of that is spent gathering base items and replenishing my inventories.

    Agree we need more quests both linked to current skills and random. Agree we need more things to do, like the Tower base puzzle.  Agree we need more recipes, collections trophies, achievements, skills. 

    Projects help to pass the time...but you have to take a break from them too...and then...well, other than more gathering, there isn't much to do.

    Guess I've hit the ho-hum mark at 25 that folks warned about...if my friends weren't here, not sure how much I'd come back at this point...I still have skills to finish, but most take days at this point...I do have the races to do, but I'm not much for them.  Baqala/Choru, probably looked great on paper, but has been mediocre thus far in execution...I'm hoping there is still more to come from that area since I've not had much opportunity to hit the projects, and with the time limit, I don't even bother going over there...since there isn't really anything to draw me over there at this point.

    Guess it's good the game isn't 24/7 yet, gives me required breaks from it...but it is concerning about when it does go live...after a couple weeks, will I already be back to this same frame of mind?  I hope not. 
    Posted 18 months ago by b3achy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think that quests are the key. People can only give themselves freeform 'goals' for so long. I found myself at least once this test period going 'hmmm, what the heck do i want to do?' and drawing a big old blank. Fact is that i had nothing going on in my quest log that made me feel compelled to jump in and play. Some people love sandbox play but eventually, it gets old and stale - some people don't really get into street projects (myself included) and need a little bit of a bigger nudge in some direction. I am goal oriented, give me a goal and i will run with it.

    Of course that ability to pull up my achievement progression inside the game play screen would be nice so i could make goal determinations in that way. I just need a little more nudging in particular directions so i can make the choices in my gameplay that will keep me interested. s
    Posted 18 months ago by Jackie Paper Subscriber! | Permalink
  • So, I'm going to put a different spin on this and say that I'm glad that I don't feel the need to constantly be in game when it's open.  I don't feel like I NEED to go harvest my crops or like I need to go visit every area or even level up.  I still want to learn more skills or recipes so I do that but I never get the feeling that I'm really missing out on anything being level 17.  Maybe you could suggest places for higher level players but really, I like the feeling of not being forced to rush ahead.

    You all are talking about more quests and although i'll agree that there should be more of this busywork, I'm not a huge fan on mindlessly droning away at something.   What I think would make me come back are more interactive zones (I suggested a real city with possibly a big mall or an auction house or even a courthouse) and giant world events.  For example, I imagine some kind of summer festival and everyone contributes something to them (like in the new areas) but instead of a set number, there's just a set time when it's done and you get tokens or something that can be spent on special items.  Or each housing group is responsible for contributing one part of the festival (like Groddle Meadow does crops, Shima does herbs, etc).  Or maybe some disaster hit (like with the Rook except more extreme) and you're forced to get into groups to help out.

    I guess in summery, I'd want to see how the world changes and maybe how the community comes together to change it as well.
    Posted 18 months ago by Homura Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think that the idea of more quests, achievements, etc. is not the answer to my issues. These are things that are great fun and keep you in once you've opened the client, but they do not fundamentally draw you in. For example: I learned TP1 the first test the game was open after the restart. I completed the associated quest last week, about 4 months later. The quests are fun, but (at least for me) not a driving factor in actually opening the game.
    Posted 18 months ago by Edward Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Good thread and many good suggestions! I especially liked Jackie Paper & Homura contrasting points just above: I think you're both right: there do need to be more quests (and we'll make a lot more — the "do Activity X a total of N times" kind take moments to make and we're working on some methods to making the bigger quests easier to produce) but quest alone will not drive people to come back. For that I think we need do finish group halls and work on an event system (since we don't want to resort to mechanics that make it so that you HAVE to come back).
    Posted 18 months ago by stoot barfield Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with adding more quests and more community interactive projects.  The Rook attacks made me want to go out and help the animals and I liked that we started moving around in threes or asking for help in chat in order to get more people to play. I would love to see more powders made available to make (with quests to help discover new elements- but I also really really love my Tiny Speck™ chemistry set) like the Juju shoo shoo or something to keep us in Baqala or Choru longer (I'd also love to see something to do in those areas besides just walking through).

    I'm a little sad that we don't get bonuses at level up any longer.  I spend my currants on mined rock as I'm not a huge fan of mining. I liked the gardening, but I'd really rather garden in my house. Maybe there will be special powders to turn the garden soil into flower soil even if it's not underground?
    Posted 18 months ago by Violet Faulds Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Stoot, I will say that one of my favorite small experiences in the game was the whole Gwendolyn Tower quests. I just wandered into the Tower and was really pleasantly surprised with the whole experience. It still lends itself to the sandbox because you had to progress all the way in to even realize you were going to be rewarded for the exploration, plus on the top of it there was the Achievement for finding all the ..er,  well you know, those things I am not supposed to talk about. :)

    These are the perfect sort of quests that i think lend themselves perfectly to the Glitch environment. Realistically, within a MMO environment there are very few types of quests - the Kill, the Delivery, the Escort, and the Gather. Most Glitch quests are of the latter with a few Delivery ones as well (Hog-tied Piggy comes to mind.) I can think of only one Kill quest that I have experienced so far, the Rook Egg.

    The Tower discovery quest is the best in game because of the loot, the end reward, the Achievement and the user experience in a large story (you guys really are quite Zen by the way even if it appears some of you have watched Yellow Submarine way too many times.) It great because you didn't see some silly elf standing on Tower Road N with a big flashing exclamation point over his head either telling you to go inside. You had to take the initiative to go through that door and let your curiosity take you the rest of the way. I think quests along these lines would be perfect for new areas such as Baqala and Choru which start off with a grand explanation that just begs players to want to know MORE (and maybe get rid of that annoying pressure on their head if they manage to make the final discoveries.)
    Posted 18 months ago by Jackie Paper Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think that group halls would probably be a good draw, if done the right way. If I was involved in something where my lack of involvement in the game world affected not just me, but also my fellow players, I would feel more compelled to play, so as not to hurt my fellow players' experience. Events would also be fun, such as the Easter Egg Hunt and Yeti. Both are good, but a social aspect to playing (e.g. group halls) would be more effective, as it exists every day.
    Posted 18 months ago by Edward Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd like a quest or two that is more or less all about the back story, like the Tower quest. Maybe a Gwendolyn series. Personally, I'd enjoy a detective-like quest that is all about gathering backstory info in a room full of Eggplants. Or something similar. Btw, NO HIDDEN OBJECT mini games. I dislike games with hidden object elements. Unless, it's really exciting. Perhaps a capper quest in Baqala/ Choru to give me something to do. Probably will involve jujus. Ahh, a nice mini game quest in mind here- Infiltrating the juju bandit's base! Maybe like Rooks Wood, you need to do something, avoiding losing something to the jujus. Maybe they'll steal your energy everytime you run into them, and you have to start again.
    Posted 18 months ago by KitkatCat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • What about game master type functionality.  People create their own quests or activities as a games master.  This could lead to some interesting dynamics
    Posted 18 months ago by Accy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Accy, there was a very popular MMO that introduced the ability for players to create their own quests/missions and it turned into a huge debacle. For one, players basically created easy xp farming missions and then eventually, the overall game world became a dead zone in lieu of most of the players just sitting around making missions and playing other user created content. Why run around a game world when you can sit in one spot and churn out xp missions was pretty much the consensus. Essentially the developer 'broke' their own game. The ability to create quests and the like is a path that needs to be very carefully tread upon in order to preserve balance.
    Posted 18 months ago by Jackie Paper Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hi Edward, I'm glad you started this thread. Like you once I'm here I can play for a long time and enjoy myself but other than the fact that there is an artificial urgency due to the limited availability of the game during beta, the thing bringing me back at this point is probably simple curiosity to see if there is anything new. 

    The biggest motivators for me in a game are (a) brain challenges/puzzles, (b) a device for showcasing my creative side that allows me to shine as an individual, and (c) a way to contribute to the game, community or friends. 

    The tower is a great start to the puzzles aspect. I think it's crucial that puzzles are stand alone aspects of the game that don't hinder those who don't enjoy them from progressing. The devs have been great in this respect by offering escape buttons and try again options when appropriate.  More more more!

    The projects have helped to build community but in the end I am repeating the same actions over and over and if I don't show up, it really doesn't matter. Someone else will contribute the needed items and the street will open. Everyone has the same skills and some have a seemingly unlimited amount of time to play, so competing for leader board status is pretty tough for someone who has a busy life. (As an aside: I'm a paying member who gets no real "advantage" in the game, but anyone with more time to spend has a great advantage over me, even if they don't pay a dime...I still don't get that.)  Picking cherries and collecting items for new streets won't hold my attention or compel me to sign in once the game is available 24/7.

    I'm feeling hopeful regarding group halls. I think that if, as an example, in order to move forward as a group a certain percentage of the group would need to participate, (with the group having some leverage to put a hold on inactive members so that people who are away can't stop the progress of the entire hall) things might get more interesting. Especially if every member was committed to a certain unique skill contribution. I know that if I had a feeling of connection and contribution to a group project I would be far more invested in doing my part every day or week.

    The biggest draw for me in a MMOG is the possibility of being able to showcase your unique style. That has to go beyond hair color and a change of clothes. I love those things, but it's not enough to keep me around day after day. As unique as our avatars look, and as fun as it is to try out a new housing location the newness buzz wears off fast. 
    Posted 18 months ago by Riverwalker Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Gosh, I must be easily amused....
    Posted 18 months ago by RM Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Apparently me too, RM.
    Posted 18 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I really thought Pathock's thread in ideas, summed up a lot of the same things that Edward points out...for those of us that came into the game with lots of friends from our previous games, that has helped to keep us here...however, if you came into this game solo...what's going to keep you here?  Is there enough yet?  I think both Edward and Pathock point out very well that there needs to be something more to keep you coming back. 
    Posted 18 months ago by b3achy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • One thing that has caused me to ramp down is a lack of new locations that are interesting to me.  When I think about the early testing, every new area was fantastic and unique.  All three Groddle areas are different from each other.  Ix, Uralia, Ilmenskie, and Shimla were also all surprising and unusual when they came in.

    More recent additions have been a bit less interesting to me.  Chakra and Jethimadh are both quite like Shimla, and seem like they only get visits from barnacle/jelly/firefly farmers now that they're built out.  Alakol and Bortola are pretty similar to Groddle Heights and to each other.  Kajuu was an interesting transitional space but seemed like a mash-up of existing areas (and had the weird sepia thing going, which made me alternately sleepy and worried that the color on my video card was messed up).  The tower was awesome, but I've never been back to it since I completed it.  Ilmenskie Deeps has its own look, but isn't a huge departure from the caves.  Baqala and Choru are an interesting concept and I've had some fun in there, but the ancestral nostalgia thing makes it irritating to go into so I end up not going much.

    Last test I kept going to the edges of the swamps and Ilmenskie Deeps in hopes that new fantastical areas will emerge.  I love it when the game gets surreal like Ix and the end of the Tower quest, and would love to see more stuff like that and less "normal" landscapes.  I want a wobbly Dali-esque house in Ix, not a stark modern place in Alakol!
    Posted 18 months ago by mirth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Imho....There is a lack of surprise in game to keep me interested......It doesn't have to be constant but unpredictable would be fun.....Maybe little in game tweaks that randomly pop ..Like tiny random dream states that you can participate in for just a few mins before they go poof...Something explorable but not goal orientated......My mind goes towards Tim Burton-esqe style scenarios with curious creatures you have some discorse and interaction with.Totaly fleeting and random..Then bam!..back in Glitchland again.
     Or maybe even arenas that sponsor games such as the Glitch Olympics or Triathlon..Gimmee a beer hall or cafe where I can sit and shoot the .... with friends......Lastly,a resort for swimming , picnics,community games...blah blah......Oh yeah...a Martini Bar......
    Posted 18 months ago by Tilly TrinkleHouse Subscriber! | Permalink