I recall from years ago a psychology for game design called Cognitive Flow, in which players remain in the zone, or 'flow' , which balances players between boredom and anxiety. Think of an XY graph, and flow is the line going up on a 45 degree angle, with boredom (game too easy) on one side, and anxiety (too hard/too long) on the other side. I originally read this during my Civilization days...still one of the best games ever.
Dominations is not on this line...and I don't believe that they're doing this on purpose, to cause frustration or to eventually shut down this game. Let's assume the game is still very profitable, and they're instead struggling to figure out what to do with placing the game back on the 'flow' line. They've clearly moved everyone on the anxiety side of the line, examples being with Marco, non-rewarding wars and years to finish University. Also, the game loses its luster once you get past the Industrial age. Yet if they fix those issues, they could very easily move everyone to the other side of the line (boredom). If wars and Marco become too easy, and everyone finishes University, then what?
It clearly can't stay where it is, and they have dangled the museum and changed the river to an ocean. Instead of another thread that vents (and my alliance and I (I am leader) are as frustrated as everyone, and I am losing players), I want to know what the heck can they do to fix it? I'm ok with University taking years..it is what is it is meant to be. I don't like it and prefer instant gratification, but I'll live with it. Wars need a redesign altogether...although to what I don't know because the algorithm will never be perfect, and adding more perks won't solve the problem. Marco can be better, or perhaps offer something unique that you can't get elsewhere...in real life, that's what made Marco, Marco.
But let's put on our game design hats...think long term. Let's save the game. Think of things that we want to make it fun again, but it also makes Nexom money. I'm ok throwing in a few dollars here and there but not a fortune for one tank. They'll need to step back and fix the bugs, but it they're losing people in droves, their focus is on keeping them by adding something new. What would they do?
Dominations is not on this line...and I don't believe that they're doing this on purpose, to cause frustration or to eventually shut down this game. Let's assume the game is still very profitable, and they're instead struggling to figure out what to do with placing the game back on the 'flow' line. They've clearly moved everyone on the anxiety side of the line, examples being with Marco, non-rewarding wars and years to finish University. Also, the game loses its luster once you get past the Industrial age. Yet if they fix those issues, they could very easily move everyone to the other side of the line (boredom). If wars and Marco become too easy, and everyone finishes University, then what?
It clearly can't stay where it is, and they have dangled the museum and changed the river to an ocean. Instead of another thread that vents (and my alliance and I (I am leader) are as frustrated as everyone, and I am losing players), I want to know what the heck can they do to fix it? I'm ok with University taking years..it is what is it is meant to be. I don't like it and prefer instant gratification, but I'll live with it. Wars need a redesign altogether...although to what I don't know because the algorithm will never be perfect, and adding more perks won't solve the problem. Marco can be better, or perhaps offer something unique that you can't get elsewhere...in real life, that's what made Marco, Marco.
But let's put on our game design hats...think long term. Let's save the game. Think of things that we want to make it fun again, but it also makes Nexom money. I'm ok throwing in a few dollars here and there but not a fortune for one tank. They'll need to step back and fix the bugs, but it they're losing people in droves, their focus is on keeping them by adding something new. What would they do?