CC is declining again!

[tzor]

Instead of moaning about whether this or that feature of the game is driving away people, we need to look at what isn't attracting people. I've been involved in too many "secret" organizations in my life - the organization wasn't "secret" but their lack of getting the message of their existence to the general public made them practically secret because no one knew about them.

The Conquer Club page on Facebook has 10,408 likes. The last message was on August 14 and it was looking for people who could write scripts.

You run a Facebook page like that and you aren't going to get anyone. Run it the right way and you will get tons of people interested.

Running it the right way may cost a little money. (Especially using paid advertising on Facebook directly and through the advertising found on many Facebook games.) Do it right and you might make enough money to pay for the advertising, while getting a number of free members who will spread the site by word of mouth.

The Conquer Club Twitter account is slightly more active ... Several posts a week ... but it only has 890 followers.

So even though it is "more active" it's actually less active and less effective than the Facebook page, which isn't really active at all.

Do you even want me to throw the third pitch? Has there been any activity in terms of any gaming conventions in any manner whatsoever?

I haven't been on the gaming scene in years, but when I worked for the Multi-Player's Game Network in the 90's gaming conventions were paramount to getting the word out of our games to the people. Small conventions were the best because they were cheap, intimate and you didn't have to worry about someone else with a budget 10x yours standing next to your booth attracting customers.

It takes a lot of hard work to get people to come to your game. I don't see this effort being put in. This is why, in my not so humble opinion, the membership numbers are declining. If as much effort had been put into this game in promotion as it has been on overall improvement, membership would be increasing, not declining. We would all be having a completely different discussion on the problems of CC (increased popularity requiring major hardware upgrades to keep up with demand causing the game to slow down).

[BigBallinStalin]

So, make the facebook page and twitter account more active, and that'll reduce the rate of the Great Decline?

[tzor]

I think if you do it right you will get a growing membership (at least for a few months). I think you would need to look at more complex links in order to get a long term growth using Facebook. This would involve the ability to Status Post into Facebook from CC. A lot of games are popular on Facebook merely because one person invites a friend through the Facebook interface.

I used to think that the attraction of a game was related to the game itself. But that was before the 2009 EVONY campaign. Not that I am saying that you need half naked women to get people to come here, but if you used half of the effort used to promote themed challenges internally on Facebook itself, with a small budget to keep those ads in the prime viewing space of the Facebook citizens, the number of people who would be interested in the game would drastically increase and a significant number of them would find this game interesting enough to continue.

[ConfederateSS]

Go Hollywood..etc.etc.....maybe Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) or Penny could wear a C.C. t-shirt...Or maybe Wil Wheaton on his show...Or Dr.Who...Or Jared on a subway commercial..Scoreboard at Wrigley Field,Yankee Stadium...Man try other things outside the internet..Get people taking about C.C. on the street...There are so many ways..Do something crazy so you make all the Big news shows....Is it that hard to think for yourselves..High Command..ConfederateSS out!!!!!!!!!!!!

[owenshooter]

The High Command doesn't want it's users to bother..So it takes the the lime-light of not bothering off them......Like I said in some of my other posts....I know you jabbed me Andy.about etc.etc..I liked that..that was cute...But I'm with Owen..Chess has been around for thousands and thousands of years..There is a reason..So add more games to C.C...The Ataris,The Segas,The WII,Nint.,and Xboxes..will fade away..As Chess,Risk,Go, and Stratego.(Andy)..etc.etc.etc..etc..etc....will live forever...Yes High Command Forever..Become Republicans like me...Republicans hate CHANGE!!!!!!!!..ConfederateSS..out!..

i really like the part where you agree with me... and yes, if RISK becomes boring to you after a few weeks of playing it online, you never loved the damn game... original post he referenced was lost on the last page, it is below... CC needs to look at all the things we have been suggesting in our "negative" GD threads and seriously consider them...-eJn

As your graph shows, the site started declining while things still were "the way they were." Lack of change was never an option. If things had stayed the same, the decline would have continued down to some basic unsustainable level, at which point the site could no longer pay its server costs and would go off the air.

completely disagree... i would bet that the decline began when the great clean up for the alleged sale to HASBRO began (as the rumors go). they killed off the forum, threw in a slew of new maps and gaming options and in doing so alienated a large portion of the die hards that helped to drive the site. when you do a search for "where to play RISK online" the first site to pop up is: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/whe ... e/#!bJMQjO

of note, this is how they describe CC:

Conquer Club was one of the first online strategy games to tackle the world of Risk, and it holds true to its founding principals. The free-to-play game features almost everything you know and love about the Parker Brother’s original, just without the official title. The game doesn’t require any additional software — aside from your favorite browser — and touts a robust, active community that is frequently tackling online tournaments and participating in one of the most rip-roaring forums on the Web. The interface could definitely use a bit of a facelift, but the wide selection of maps and the sheer number of diehard members have kept the game alive and well long after the site’s launch.

note how they mention the active ROBUST community and the MOST RIP-ROARING FORUM on the web?!! you know, the things that team CC went after...

The basic game of Risk is inherently simplistic and dull. It doesn't take more than a couple months of playing it every day to get completely sick of it. Introducing new options to mask the inherent dullness is the only way that any Risk-based site can survive: new maps, new optional rules (assassin, teams, nukes, polymorph), new forms of interaction (forums, clans, chat rooms), new ways to massage the winners' ego (tournaments, medals, stars, prizes).

i disagree with this too... read the description again... you are saying what made the site attractive isn't attractive after a few weeks!!!! huh?!!! people don't go to CHESS sites to play variations of CHESS... they want to play the game they know and love... we all came here to play RISK, not drop with parachutes and have zombies and whatever f*ck else they have put up as options... this site has bastardized the game, given far too many options that confuse new members and has killed off the forum and community. they should put all the crazy game options into a second tab for advanced players and open up the classic map to unlimited games for freemium members (set a limit if you want)... CC should have added other games like chess, checkers, chinese checkers, battleship, etc... other games of interest to expand the community... remember that other site that lack had? that number game deal that was popular a few years ago? why didn't he just launch it as another tab on here and increase CC memberships and the overall community? seemed like a no brainer... hell, throw scrabble up on here!!! anyway...

CC got away from what made it the reason it was listed first on most gaming sites that gave reviews of RISK online games... the site needs to get back to the basics and look to increase membership in other ways... what they are doing isn't work...-el Jesus negro

[Army of GOD]

9700

[e_i_pi]

There's four factors (IMO) that are having an impact on sites like this. The overarching explanation is that the trend towards playing Risk online has declined dramatically...
Google Trends

That trend can't be ignored. The lesson is "diversify or die". Unfortunately, I think CC has diversified in the wrong direction. Lack made the right decision selling when he did.

[BigBallinStalin]

I think if you do it right you will get a growing membership (at least for a few months). I think you would need to look at more complex links in order to get a long term growth using Facebook. This would involve the ability to Status Post into Facebook from CC. A lot of games are popular on Facebook merely because one person invites a friend through the Facebook interface.

I used to think that the attraction of a game was related to the game itself. But that was before the 2009 EVONY campaign. Not that I am saying that you need half naked women to get people to come here, but if you used half of the effort used to promote themed challenges internally on Facebook itself, with a small budget to keep those ads in the prime viewing space of the Facebook citizens, the number of people who would be interested in the game would drastically increase and a significant number of them would find this game interesting enough to continue.

When CC made its facebook and twitter pages, did the membership rate increase or decrease?

[WILLIAMS5232]

I think if you do it right you will get a growing membership (at least for a few months). I think you would need to look at more complex links in order to get a long term growth using Facebook. This would involve the ability to Status Post into Facebook from CC. A lot of games are popular on Facebook merely because one person invites a friend through the Facebook interface.

I used to think that the attraction of a game was related to the game itself. But that was before the 2009 EVONY campaign. Not that I am saying that you need half naked women to get people to come here, but if you used half of the effort used to promote themed challenges internally on Facebook itself, with a small budget to keep those ads in the prime viewing space of the Facebook citizens, the number of people who would be interested in the game would drastically increase and a significant number of them would find this game interesting enough to continue.

When CC made its facebook and twitter pages, did the membership rate increase or decrease?

i wouldnt be caight dead liking cc on facebook for all my fb friends to know im a real live nerd

[Metsfanmax]

I think if you do it right you will get a growing membership (at least for a few months). I think you would need to look at more complex links in order to get a long term growth using Facebook. This would involve the ability to Status Post into Facebook from CC. A lot of games are popular on Facebook merely because one person invites a friend through the Facebook interface.

I used to think that the attraction of a game was related to the game itself. But that was before the 2009 EVONY campaign. Not that I am saying that you need half naked women to get people to come here, but if you used half of the effort used to promote themed challenges internally on Facebook itself, with a small budget to keep those ads in the prime viewing space of the Facebook citizens, the number of people who would be interested in the game would drastically increase and a significant number of them would find this game interesting enough to continue.

When CC made its facebook and twitter pages, did the membership rate increase or decrease?

i wouldnt be caight dead liking cc on facebook for all my fb friends to know im a real live nerd

Protip: playing CC doesn't make you a nerd.

[WILLIAMS5232]

I think if you do it right you will get a growing membership (at least for a few months). I think you would need to look at more complex links in order to get a long term growth using Facebook. This would involve the ability to Status Post into Facebook from CC. A lot of games are popular on Facebook merely because one person invites a friend through the Facebook interface.

I used to think that the attraction of a game was related to the game itself. But that was before the 2009 EVONY campaign. Not that I am saying that you need half naked women to get people to come here, but if you used half of the effort used to promote themed challenges internally on Facebook itself, with a small budget to keep those ads in the prime viewing space of the Facebook citizens, the number of people who would be interested in the game would drastically increase and a significant number of them would find this game interesting enough to continue.

When CC made its facebook and twitter pages, did the membership rate increase or decrease?

i wouldnt be caight dead liking cc on facebook for all my fb friends to know im a real live nerd

Protip: playing CC doesn't make you a nerd.

yes it does. you're in denial. all nerds don't play cc, all cc players are nerds.

it works like that. sorry to break it to you. i am what is considered a "closet nerd". you are considered a "delusioned nerd"

[isaiah40]

9696

[tzor]

When CC made its facebook and twitter pages, did the membership rate increase or decrease?

It's not enough to just "make" a page. That's like saying you created a cable network station but never put any programming onto it. Obviously, membership isn't going to spike from day one (just like you won't win the ratings on your first day as a cable network). You have your foot in the door and you should be able to grow the base around you. Content, content, content! (Just like that cable network.) Then membership will grow accordingly.

I think the content potential is there if the effort is put into it. The biggest game competitions on Facebook are the collecting games (farms, dragons, whatever), the spot the clue games, war simulation games, and variations of a stupid arcade game that really should never be close to long term popular if it were not for the slick marketing.

The bottom line is that there is a "cost" to get membership; a combination of money and time (and time is money). Facebook is sort of like your own cable network carrier who strangely enough will carry your channel for almost free. You still need to have content and get advertising to announce your presence to the people watching the other channels. Once you do that, you can get attention and once you get that you can get people to come to your site.

By the way, there is actually a cable network now dedicated to fantasy sports. Can you guess where these viewers are eventually going to wind up? That's right, fantasy sports web sites. They also have an active presence on Facebook and Twitter. They can do it. So can CC.

[tzor]

i wouldnt be caight dead liking cc on facebook for all my fb friends to know im a real live nerd

There is nothing nerdy about CC. Take is from this old time classic D&D playing RPI Kunrd.

"Dragon City" on the other hand ...
Liking "George Takei" definitely indicates nerdness ...

And yes, I do both.

[owenshooter]

9,698 and down 2 total pages from 41 to 39...-eJn

[ConfederateSS]

If C.C...is running ads.....on C.C...Those companies should give a "shout out about C.C."...Through their other P.R...means..then both are thriving..What say'ith High Command,how about that one????...ConfederateSS..out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaGip]

9,698 and down 2 total pages from 41 to 39...-eJn

[isaiah40]

9696

[Gillipig]

There's four factors (IMO) that are having an impact on sites like this. The overarching explanation is that the trend towards playing Risk online has declined dramatically...
Google Trends

That trend can't be ignored. The lesson is "diversify or die". Unfortunately, I think CC has diversified in the wrong direction. Lack made the right decision selling when he did.

Also worth noting is that the interest for Chuck Norris has declined, sad days we live in, sad days.
http://www.google.co.uk/trends/explore#q=%2Fm%2F09rz0b

[owenshooter]

CC... i have found the solution!!! let's get it done!!!-el Jesus negro

[laughingcavalier]

Tzor makes interesting points - I agree, there has always been a strange lack of marketing for CC. Tzor knows better than me whether social media would work. It seems the social media efforts that were tried before were essentially community-style rather than revenue-focused campaigns. I would like to see old fashioned database marketing (email alert: your premium is about to expire etc) plus experimenting with pricing (base price increased, special offers on early bird renewals, deals for lapsed members, discount if you recruit a friend etc). Which gaming sites do good marketing and what do they do that CC might adopt?

[isaiah40]

9692

[tzor]

Which gaming sites do good marketing and what do they do that CC might adopt?

That's harder to answer than you think. Part of the problem is that a number of sites that have good marketing suck at the development/customer angle.

WTG Baseball: MLB does a number of good marketing angles, Facebook friends can be used as players and there are "awards" that can be posted on their pages. There is a email campaign every other week reminding people about the seasonal playoffs and new features to the game. Lots of opportunities to "like."

They have several problems, however. The forum community is lacking and mostly ignored by the development (improvements never seem to be what the community is asking for and bugs are never addressed). The game is "level" based. So right now, I have a team that would be in the "major leagues" ... should I invite a friend he would be in the "little leagues." (Imagine the New York Yankees playing your local high school ... it would never be pretty.)

Also the game itself doesn't have an internal chat function. You get placed in a league and you have no opportunity to chat with any of the other players in any manner whatsoever. Given the number of strikes right there, it's amazing that it still runs.

Zygna's Words with Friends is a good example of a CC type game. Normally known for the "collect them all" type of Facebook game, the Words with Friends is completely skill based as opposed to those playing longer are stronger based. It has a modicum of Facebook interactions that allow users to promote the game on Facebook. It also has a smart phone app as well. I think most players don't even know the forum exists; I have been on them for years.

[ConfederateSS]

Or....get off the internet's back and find others ways to get the C.C.word on the street..Where have I heard that before High Command?????????????..OH! Yeah!..Me!..ConfederateSS..out!!..P.S...I like the boat Owen...It gave me an idea..C.C.,can get a boat ,and start throwing bottles off..With the message : PLEASE JOIN I'LL BUY YOU A CANDY BAR...Like the rich lonely kid nobody wants to play with...HA!HA!HA!

[owenshooter]

Zygna's Words with Friends is a good example of a CC type game. Normally known for the "collect them all" type of Facebook game, the Words with Friends is completely skill based as opposed to those playing longer are stronger based. It has a modicum of Facebook interactions that allow users to promote the game on Facebook. It also has a smart phone app as well. I think most players don't even know the forum exists; I have been on them for years.

the guy that made words with friends lives in austin and i actually know him... he has made a slew of other games that i have never tried... why do i know words with friends? BECAUSE IT IS SCRABBLE!!! WW Friends was the first app/site to actually get something close to SCRABBLE without getting boned over by hasbro... the scrabble site i was on initially with jbrettlip got hosed by hasbro and that led us to RISK on CC... CC is the first site to get RISK right and just can't seem to do the rest right... i agree with waht tzor is saying... CC made a bullshit effort on Facebook and it was sad... wasn't there another RISK type game on there that you could play for free? imagine if you could play a classic speed game on Facebook as a fremium or simply as a FB user... people would flock to the site to see what the F was up... i think Tzor has some really good points... however, my point that CC should have expanded into other games like chess, checker, scrabble were WAAAAY ahead of the curve and predate Words With Friends success by at least a year and a half... boom... anyway... i think CC needs to start moving away from the volunteer based aspect when it comes to things like advertising and social media platforms... you get what you pay for... hotels pay people to sit around on social media all day responding to negative and positive facebook/twitter posts and keeping the social media platform driving... CC needs to look into handling something off to a paid entity that has marked results with other similar clients... hell, i can post that my meal is taking to long to come out at just about any local food spot in austin and they will respond, because they have someone actively monitoring all social media concerning their place... CC offers an amazing RISK experience when you pull away all the bullshit bells and whistles, they just need to let more people know about it...-el Jesus negro