What can be done to reverse the decline?

[DoomYoshi]

Map reset, forum reset.

[Army of GOD]

need hot girls

[Ronaldinho]

- On the gameplay front I think the best way to describe it is daunting & a little bit confusing... I would LOVE to see stats of maps that are played on this site as there just seems to be masses of them that are now obsolete. Although I think its amazing to have a huge choice of maps & settings it's all just getting a little to much, far away from the routes of what you'd expect from a RISK style website & I'd chalk a lot of the maps down as just clutter.

http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=maps

it's been mentioned before about limiting maps. but never a response from the ones that matter. it's like were all just blabbering along for each others amusement with no real purpose.

would be great to have somewhere around the top 50-100 maps available all the time, then divide the remaining up and let them have each their own month of playtime. each year could have a vote to trade some maps back and forth to keep things fresh.

Thank you for this, & couldn't agree more. 50 maps is a huge number never mind 252.

[waauw]

- On the gameplay front I think the best way to describe it is daunting & a little bit confusing... I would LOVE to see stats of maps that are played on this site as there just seems to be masses of them that are now obsolete. Although I think its amazing to have a huge choice of maps & settings it's all just getting a little to much, far away from the routes of what you'd expect from a RISK style website & I'd chalk a lot of the maps down as just clutter.

http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=maps

it's been mentioned before about limiting maps. but never a response from the ones that matter. it's like were all just blabbering along for each others amusement with no real purpose.

would be great to have somewhere around the top 50-100 maps available all the time, then divide the remaining up and let them have each their own month of playtime. each year could have a vote to trade some maps back and forth to keep things fresh.

Thank you for this, & couldn't agree more. 50 maps is a huge number never mind 252.

Actually, as a member of the foundry, I inquired the public about a month ago. The result was mostly opposition against any type of map limiting whether through seasonal rotation or permanent removement.
Many people don't want to see any maps disappear.

[degaston]

- On the gameplay front I think the best way to describe it is daunting & a little bit confusing... I would LOVE to see stats of maps that are played on this site as there just seems to be masses of them that are now obsolete. Although I think its amazing to have a huge choice of maps & settings it's all just getting a little to much, far away from the routes of what you'd expect from a RISK style website & I'd chalk a lot of the maps down as just clutter.

http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=maps

it's been mentioned before about limiting maps. but never a response from the ones that matter. it's like were all just blabbering along for each others amusement with no real purpose.

would be great to have somewhere around the top 50-100 maps available all the time, then divide the remaining up and let them have each their own month of playtime. each year could have a vote to trade some maps back and forth to keep things fresh.

Thank you for this, & couldn't agree more. 50 maps is a huge number never mind 252.

Actually, as a member of the foundry, I inquired the public about a month ago. The result was mostly opposition against any type of map limiting whether through seasonal rotation or permanent removement.
Many people don't want to see any maps disappear.

I think there are two different issues here.
1. When a new user joins the site and wants to start or join a game, they have to somehow choose from 252 maps with nothing to guide them. I would agree that it is probably very overwhelming, and many people may just decide that it's not worth the effort to try to figure out what's going on here. Instead, if they were only shown a few of the easiest maps and settings by default, and then gradually given access to more complicated maps and settings as they increase their number of completed games, it might help to draw them into the site rather than drive them away.

2. Suggesting that preventing experienced players from starting games with certain maps during certain times of the year will somehow help the site is ridiculous. Doing that will simply anger and drive away the few people who like whatever maps they decide to restrict. Instead, they should add map ratings, and improve the game finder so that it's easy to find maps with the features that you want, and allow them to be sorted by popularity so you can get a game going quickly. Also, advertise and encourage the use of the game requests feature, which makes it easier for people to connect and start games when they aren't that particular about which maps or settings they'll play with.

[Ronaldinho]

Front page revamp. Using exactly the same template & basic features so not to change the site completely but making the front page much cleaner. Not sure about the colours, but only spent around 30 minutes messing around with some ideas. If I thought for 1 moment this thread could spark somewhat of a debate with the big man himself then I would probably spend a little more time on it.


http://i.imgur.com/vtCYxtz.jpg

[CatchersMitt14]

I think there are two different issues here.
1. When a new user joins the site and wants to start or join a game, they have to somehow choose from 252 maps with nothing to guide them. I would agree that it is probably very overwhelming, and many people may just decide that it's not worth the effort to try to figure out what's going on here. Instead, if they were only shown a few of the easiest maps and settings by default, and then gradually given access to more complicated maps and settings as they increase their number of completed games, it might help to draw them into the site rather than drive them away.

2. Suggesting that preventing experienced players from starting games with certain maps during certain times of the year will somehow help the site is ridiculous. Doing that will simply anger and drive away the few people who like whatever maps they decide to restrict. Instead, they should add map ratings, and improve the game finder so that it's easy to find maps with the features that you want, and allow them to be sorted by popularity so you can get a game going quickly. Also, advertise and encourage the use of the game requests feature, which makes it easier for people to connect and start games when they aren't that particular about which maps or settings they'll play with.

Agree with degaston.

His first point would tie in nicely with a tutorial after you create an account. Then have to compete certain tasks (such as how to join a tornament or learn what a clan is) in order to unlock more features and maps. I think that would help reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed. I also think some of the intro features are sort of hidden for new members (probably trying to keep them 'out of the way' for experienced players). For example, creating a bot game, it's a small tab hidden behind creating a new game which most new players won't be attempting to create a new game they will click join a game. I have had multiple new players join on of my 1v1 games then ask me how to start a bot game. I think the events and monthly challengers are a great addition to the site. But I think those are also difficult for someone new to find. The boxes are on your central command screen but they just look like advertisements, it's not obvious or really intuative that you can click on the box in order to open up more options and information.

As for the second point, we already see demonstrations of this with the holiday maps. People just create a hundred games before the map gets archived then those games sit there for the rest of the year waiting to be filled. I like having the option to create a game on any map. I go through phases mostly dictated by RL on what map and settings I like to play; I don't want CC to make that decision for me. I think it would upset a lot of People, especially those that medal hunt. Another large group that would affect negatively would be the clan world.

[jusplay4fun]

I really agree with the points made here:


I think there are two different issues here.
1. When a new user joins the site and wants to start or join a game, they have to somehow choose from 252 maps with nothing to guide them. I would agree that it is probably very overwhelming, and many people may just decide that it's not worth the effort to try to figure out what's going on here. Instead, if they were only shown a few of the easiest maps and settings by default, and then gradually given access to more complicated maps and settings as they increase their number of completed games, it might help to draw them into the site rather than drive them away.


Too many maps and options can be very intimidating to someone who visits here the first time. I started with Classic and a friend introduced me to a map, that I still enjoy today. From there I slowly moved to other new maps and am learning each time I play. If I had to choose a map and figure out what options to use, that would have made me feel overwhelmed.

Perhaps for the beginner allow them access to Classic and 9 more easy maps, very similar to Classic. Perhaps inlcuded are 2-3 other maps with different features with a "Warning Label" saying (e.g.) Auto Deploy, Nuclear Reinforcement option or some such for those different features may help. There can be a Button called something like Advanced options for Zombie, Fog, Parachute, Trench, and more difficult maps can be placed there.

I have tried to recruit new members. I am aware of very few who actually came to CC to play. One came here and was totally intimidated and turned off. I offered to show her BEFORE she got her; she came on her own. Now she won't even tell me what she did not like about CC.

Now I have offered to be a guide earlier today. And I played a game against new members, and offered by PM to show them around: NO ONE has taken me up on that. IN fact, they never opened the PM that I sent them over one month ago.

I hope these insights advance the discussion.

Mike JP4Fun

[zsp]

Front page revamp. Using exactly the same template & basic features so not to change the site completely but making the front page much cleaner. Not sure about the colours, but only spent around 30 minutes messing around with some ideas. If I thought for 1 moment this thread could spark somewhat of a debate with the big man himself then I would probably spend a little more time on it.


http://i.imgur.com/vtCYxtz.jpg

Ronaldinho, that looks pretty sharp; however, when you commented on the tackiness of the boxes on the CENTRAL COMMAND page among other issues, I was interested in seeing your redesign of THAT page.

[Dukasaur]

The first game I played on this site was on Holy Roman Empire, the second was on Ancient Egypt, the third was on Europe1914, the fourth was on Netherlands.

I think I was on this site almost a month before I finally broke down and played a game on the Classic map.

I still remember the email I got from the person who brought me here. In part, it said "... the rules are based on Risk, but don't worry, they have over a hundred maps better than that stupid Risk map..." If it wasn't for that email I wouldn't be here, or I might be an occasional visitor but not a serious participant. There's no way I would have bought premium if all I could play at the beginning was the Classic map or something like it. I stayed because there were interesting maps like Holy Roman Empire and Europe1914, and so many others that I think it took me a year to try them all.

[DoomYoshi]

- On the gameplay front I think the best way to describe it is daunting & a little bit confusing... I would LOVE to see stats of maps that are played on this site as there just seems to be masses of them that are now obsolete. Although I think its amazing to have a huge choice of maps & settings it's all just getting a little to much, far away from the routes of what you'd expect from a RISK style website & I'd chalk a lot of the maps down as just clutter.

http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=maps

it's been mentioned before about limiting maps. but never a response from the ones that matter. it's like were all just blabbering along for each others amusement with no real purpose.

would be great to have somewhere around the top 50-100 maps available all the time, then divide the remaining up and let them have each their own month of playtime. each year could have a vote to trade some maps back and forth to keep things fresh.

Thank you for this, & couldn't agree more. 50 maps is a huge number never mind 252.

Actually, as a member of the foundry, I inquired the public about a month ago. The result was mostly opposition against any type of map limiting whether through seasonal rotation or permanent removement.
Many people don't want to see any maps disappear.

Listening to the community is exactly the fucking problem. The community is shrinking. Why listen to a shrinking population? Why not listen to a potentially growing population (i.e. the 7 billion humans not on Conquer Club?).

[WingCmdr Ginkapo]

New users are limited to simple maps toll they complete 5 games.

[deBlakstan]

Honestly, it's rather insulting that you think a person might not be capable of reading the rules and playing a map just because they are new to the site. I would not have stayed with this site if the map limiting rules you are suggesting had been the case. What attracted me to playing was the large number of maps. There are still many that I haven't played and some that I have played once and won't play again because the game play on certain maps are just no fun for me. That doesn't mean that other people don't enjoy them or that I don't want them to be played. If you want to make a change to the maps that might help, add a description of the unique rules for the map into the currently worthless overview page of each map. Perhaps even point out important strategic features of the map that the player might otherwise miss. It reduces the learning curve while still leaving one of the most compelling features of this site, it's variety, intact.

[iAmCaffeine]

If you want to make a change to the maps that might help, add a description of the unique rules for the map into the currently worthless overview page of each map. Perhaps even point out important strategic features of the map that the player might otherwise miss. It reduces the learning curve while still leaving one of the most compelling features of this site, it's variety, intact.

This. Who really cares exactly how many regions there are on a map, especially conquest ones? We can see pretty quickly if it's small, medium, large or huge. It'd be more important to know anything that makes the gameplay different, with an explanation of the different features.

[Ronaldinho]

@zsp


Using what is already available I would just move those boxes away from the menu at the top onto the side menu as another option, of course this is using exactly what is already available so it's no so much a redesign just a re-jig of the screen. Again don't want to waste to much time on something that is almost certainly getting forgotten about pretty much straight away.

Just in case it isn't obvious - You wouldn't see the footer usually on that page, or any unless you scrolled down - It's there just for visual purposes but does look strange.

[iAmCaffeine]

Seems like a rather pointless change. Also having the "Conquer Club is not associated..." in caps just promotes negativity, it's better how it is now. Moving the tabs to the centre is ugly; I'm not sure why so many people think central alignments are the way to go on things but more often than not it's worse than left/right.

Why the grey/black too? I agree the current combination isn't ideal but you can barely even see the club part. The left menu headings don't work either. Contrasting colours are definitely the way to go, like red/green, blue/orange, purple/yellow, but they can be hard to find a pleasing balance with, unless white/grey is heavily involved.

I like the direction, just not the execution.

[Ronaldinho]

Seems like a rather pointless change. Also having the "Conquer Club is not associated..." in caps just promotes negativity, it's better how it is now. Moving the tabs to the centre is ugly; I'm not sure why so many people think central alignments are the way to go on things but more often than not it's worse than left/right.

Why the grey/black too? I agree the current combination isn't ideal but you can barely even see the club part. The left menu headings don't work either. Contrasting colours are definitely the way to go, like red/green, blue/orange, purple/yellow, but they can be hard to find a pleasing balance with, unless white/grey is heavily involved.

I like the direction, just not the execution.

Colours are way off. I would've toned it all down completely but like I said I spent about 30minutes doing it. Wasn't going to waste a lot of time. Agree with most of the points you've made, though.

[iAmCaffeine]

Seems like a rather pointless change. Also having the "Conquer Club is not associated..." in caps just promotes negativity, it's better how it is now. Moving the tabs to the centre is ugly; I'm not sure why so many people think central alignments are the way to go on things but more often than not it's worse than left/right.

Why the grey/black too? I agree the current combination isn't ideal but you can barely even see the club part. The left menu headings don't work either. Contrasting colours are definitely the way to go, like red/green, blue/orange, purple/yellow, but they can be hard to find a pleasing balance with, unless white/grey is heavily involved.

I like the direction, just not the execution.

Colours are way off. I would've toned it all down completely but like I said I spent about 30minutes doing it. Wasn't going to waste a lot of time. Agree with most of the points you've made, though.

Colours are way off in what way?

[Dukasaur]

If you want to make a change to the maps that might help, add a description of the unique rules for the map into the currently worthless overview page of each map. Perhaps even point out important strategic features of the map that the player might otherwise miss. It reduces the learning curve while still leaving one of the most compelling features of this site, it's variety, intact.

This. Who really cares exactly how many regions there are on a map, especially conquest ones? We can see pretty quickly if it's small, medium, large or huge. It'd be more important to know anything that makes the gameplay different, with an explanation of the different features.

Yeah, this would be a major improvement.

[JamesKer1]

If you want to make a change to the maps that might help, add a description of the unique rules for the map into the currently worthless overview page of each map. Perhaps even point out important strategic features of the map that the player might otherwise miss. It reduces the learning curve while still leaving one of the most compelling features of this site, it's variety, intact.

This. Who really cares exactly how many regions there are on a map, especially conquest ones? We can see pretty quickly if it's small, medium, large or huge. It'd be more important to know anything that makes the gameplay different, with an explanation of the different features.

Yeah, this would be a major improvement.

This is being accomplished with the Strategy Program

[happy2seeyou]

If this were also in an app I could put on my iphone, I'd be on here all the time again... (I searched in the app store for "conquer club" prior to making this post, ZERO results)






ps..... pt and I have a game in waiting... first one in years. Whaaaaaat?!?!

[ptlowe]

yeah I need happy back full time. We need this iphone app. I got a guy who works on apps if n one else is working on this.

[Dukasaur]

yeah I need happy back full time. We need this iphone app. I got a guy who works on apps if n one else is working on this.

The last two guys working on a CC app both gave up. Maybe third time lucky, eh? Put your friend to work...

[iAmCaffeine]

If you want to make a change to the maps that might help, add a description of the unique rules for the map into the currently worthless overview page of each map. Perhaps even point out important strategic features of the map that the player might otherwise miss. It reduces the learning curve while still leaving one of the most compelling features of this site, it's variety, intact.

This. Who really cares exactly how many regions there are on a map, especially conquest ones? We can see pretty quickly if it's small, medium, large or huge. It'd be more important to know anything that makes the gameplay different, with an explanation of the different features.

Yeah, this would be a major improvement.

This is being accomplished with the Strategy Program

It's not being accomplished unless the details are added to the map details that we're discussing.

[iAmCaffeine]

This is being accomplished with the Strategy Program

It's not being accomplished unless the details are added to the map details that we're discussing. The tooting of your horn has been noted though.

If this were also in an app I could put on my iphone, I'd be on here all the time again... (I searched in the app store for "conquer club" prior to making this post, ZERO results)

ps..... pt and I have a game in waiting... first one in years. Whaaaaaat?!?!

I was gonna join, IcePack has me foed. C'est la vie.