I think there are a number of factors which could be added which could improve the prospects of the game, make it grow and be more interesting. I'm not gonna talk uch about game mechanics cos after 10 rounds they dont seem to be wildly different and we still have the same old alliance problems.
In the gaming world, whether you buy them or play them online, Planetarion is quite a cold and clinical game. There's no scene, there's no history, there's not a lot to imagine or inspire. Whilst lack of graphics leads to this to some extent there's no reason why other means cant exist to inspire and attract players.
The online gaming market is constantly expanding, just look on
www.mpogd.com and see how many new games there are.an insane number. Imho pa *is* the best game, but I dont think it stands out from the crowd and simply rewriting game mechanics isnt making the difference. The most important thing pa can do is appear more realistic and imaginative. Abstractions arent easy to imagine.
I have some ideas on how to improve the "image" of pa. I must say that the best improvement in PaX over other versions is the alliance rankings. Suddenly there is an added dimension to the game for players of all levels. What we do in the game helps our choosen alliance achieve its position and we can see what that is and who our nearest rivals are.
Ideas:
- Timeframe. Whilst ticks help us know what's going on when, they hardly fire the imagination. This *is* the genre of science fiction and helps to have a timeframe. It's doesnt matter whether it has some basis in reality or is completely made up. The most important thing is that previous rounds clearly took place in the past and future rounds in the future.
A round can then be called e.g. Age of the whatever, Using the world 'Age' indicates the round is a specific time period in the pa timeline. Each round becomes a subsequent period in this timeline. I not saying get rid of the concept of ticks, just give it more meaning. e.g. like saying 24 hours represents 24 days.
90 rl days would be 2160 game days. the tick then can be like <age><year><day> pt x we still have the pt for the game mechanics, the rest for the timeframe.
This leads to...
- History. A new player joining the game can be inspired by the history of the timeline. This is a game of galactic battles afterall. Alliances come and go, many stay dominant throught the rounds All alliances have some history, a new player may join smaller less pro alliances but feeling a part of something that can has history no matter how small the role has got to be good for keeping people playing. Even as an existing player I'd sure like to know what actually happened in previous rounds.
- News. History works in the long term, but we need news within the rounds. Alliances rankings goes someway towards this but we need more. Something like a daily newservice detailing what's happening across the galaxy. I may be in a top10 alliance but frankly I dont really know whats going on. Sure i can read the noticeboards, but it seems more unsubstantiated rumours than actual facts. I dont want to have to spend hours reading nonsense to gain some small idea about who's doing what. I suspect n00b players have even less idea. The whole point is to feel part of the universe even if you are out in the sticks so to speak. With the new alliance parts of the game it should be possible to have some analysis of alliance fleet movements and gains and losses. That can be written into Daily news. Each alliance should have an ambassador who can speak for the alliance Daily news can feature actual facts, some rumours and reported alliance retoric.
- Races. Races are all wrong. In generic sci-fi, alliances are made up of a given number of specific races. In this light, what we have as races should be jobs, or racial specialisation. E.g. Cathaar are good on research so they'd be scientists. Ruler of planet should be ruler of race. so e.g. Lord bob of the babylonians and the babylonians
being a race of scientists. Then alliances are made up of separate races. which makes a lot more sense. It's easier to sell a sensible idea than an abstract one. It may even be of use to desigate alliances as good, neutral, evil to further enlarge the scene.
- Promotion. The ideas detailed are all about providing meaning and sense to the game which enables it to be promoted better to the general public and gaming population and for keeping players in the game. Their imagination can be fired. With these ideas we can say something like: (i have made the details up)
"Planetarion: Age of the Tiger (round 11)
The Age of the Unicorn has passed, the galactic battles have finally subsided. A peace established but the darkness has returned, the pirates of Fang with their allies the Dragons have conquered the universe after many years of Intense battles with alliances such as Elysium, Eclipse and Wolfpack and skirmishes with many other alliances. In the coming age the battle between good and evil will begin anew, forces, friends and enemies will be renewed. Are you up to joining the struggle?
Planetarion is a game of alliances: Join a team, make a stand, fight the good fight, make a difference."
it's no good saying all this without the promoting imagination within the game. If they get here and find an cold clinical game, feeling alone, being bashed, not knowing thats happening on a universal scale, they are hardly gonna stay long.
I'm not saying that opportunities dont exist, alliances do welcome new members, but all in all it seems a lot of luck is required, being in the right place at the right time, knowing people in the game already, randomly getting into a good galaxy, being confident to go out and find the opportunities.
Morale in pa is terrible. Look at pr forum. see all the leaving threads, where are the "hello i'm new" threads? You gotta really love the concept of pa to want to stay it seems. As I do. I wont leave, but it's sad to see a potentially great game go down the pan because it cant attract new blood.
I hope you all dont think my ideas foolish
~Browolf
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