Is it just me or is anyone else getting the impression that there are fewer people playing these days?
Up til a month ago, I worked graveyard shift the entire time I've been playing GW (22 months) so on my nights off I'd be playing all night long. There always seemed to be a fair amount of people on, even in some of the more remote places; not a whole lot but enough to get a party up, filled out with hench maybe.
Now, though, just about everywhere I go ranges from pretty much to absolutely deserted late at night, only exceptions being the trading centers - KC, LA and Kamaden - and they might be down to 2 or 3 districts.
At first I thought maybe Tyria and Cantha were quiet because everyone was in Elona but mapping around there shows a similar situation, if not quite as bad.
Mornings, too (formerly my prime gaming time), seem noticeably less populated than they previously were. Week-end days also appear less crowded.
We could speculate ad naseum as to what might be causing this (nice weather getting people outside, rage quitters actually having quit) but I'm really just more interested in hearing whether other people have noticed this phenomenon or if it's just my imagination.
fewer people playing GW?
free_fall
Miral
its just a boredom degredation from a lack of new content in a real long time... everyone has finished nightfall and playing other games until guildwars comes up with something new
Miral
its just a boredom degredation from a lack of new content in a real long time... everyone has finished nightfall and playing other games until guildwars comes up with something new
Halmyr
I blame it on the summer ( well up here in the northen emisphere anyways)
Nice weather, big sun, vaction, ect...
Even I find my self playing less
Nice weather, big sun, vaction, ect...
Even I find my self playing less
Ulivious The Reaper
its inevitable, with a game of this style... dont worry, they'll be back, and in full force when GW:EN comes out 
wetsparks
Here is a quote from Gaile from a different thread.
The first part isn't really important to this thread, but I felt the need to quote the entire post. The bolded part is important to this in the fact that you are just imagining that people are playing less.
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Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
The hunger for information always exceeds our ability to fill it. I've given the information that I can give and will provide more as it is available.
Consider that if we provide information about an future update, if it doesn't come within the timeframe that some believe it should, there are complaints. Therefore, we're more likely to provide updates rather than forecasts of future updates. It's better for everyone all around. I can tell you that since the most recent changes, player counts have risen. |
Zinger314
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Originally Posted by wetsparks
Here is a quote from Gaile from a different thread.The first part isn't really important to this thread, but I felt the need to quote the entire post. The bolded part is important to this in the fact that you are just imagining that people are playing less.
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Miral
i dont think player count has risen, just account numbers... lotta people got extra accounts to make more chars or to do less than legal activities...
cheeze123
^ more bots perhaps? lol Just kidding.
Anyways, I also have noticed the decrease. I'm guessing it's because of the increase in solo farming and the decrease of people wanting to run/redo missions.
Anyways, I also have noticed the decrease. I'm guessing it's because of the increase in solo farming and the decrease of people wanting to run/redo missions.
Gaile Gray
FYI: When I speak of player numbers, I do not refer to accounts. I refer to log-ins. To people actually, actively playing the game.
Miral
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Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
FYI: When I speak of player numbers, I do not refer to accounts. I refer to log-ins. To people actually, actively playing the game.
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Neo Nugget
with less districts in normal towns, i always find quite a few (mostly 6 ) districts in pre-ascalon. It's very fun to jump around to see what each districts is doing, like dancing, helping people, selling, hunting charr, having arguments.......ahhh yeah, pre
I'm hoping for a bigger dragon fesival(kinda like what they did wwith wintersday, added tons of new stuff plus the previous years activities) but alas....1 more months.........
I'm hoping for a bigger dragon fesival(kinda like what they did wwith wintersday, added tons of new stuff plus the previous years activities) but alas....1 more months.........
Curse You
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Originally Posted by Miral
well now logging in doesnt mean playing the game. see: bots.
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Zinger314
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Originally Posted by Curse You
Yet bot numbers have been down since Loot scaling (there used to be a lot more).
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fenix
I think it's just that people are spread out over 3 chapters, so you don't see all the people in 1 place.
Phantom Gun
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Originally Posted by free_fall
Is it just me or is anyone else getting the impression that there are fewer people playing these days?
Up til a month ago, I worked graveyard shift the entire time I've been playing GW (22 months) so on my nights off I'd be playing all night long. There always seemed to be a fair amount of people on, even in some of the more remote places; not a whole lot but enough to get a party up, filled out with hench maybe. Now, though, just about everywhere I go ranges from pretty much to absolutely deserted late at night, only exceptions being the trading centers - KC, LA and Kamaden - and they might be down to 2 or 3 districts. At first I thought maybe Tyria and Cantha were quiet because everyone was in Elona but mapping around there shows a similar situation, if not quite as bad. Mornings, too (formerly my prime gaming time), seem noticeably less populated than they previously were. Week-end days also appear less crowded. We could speculate ad naseum as to what might be causing this (nice weather getting people outside, rage quitters actually having quit) but I'm really just more interested in hearing whether other people have noticed this phenomenon or if it's just my imagination. |
Even today there are gamers asking if they should pick up GW prophecies. Well that's just what i've seen on various MMO forums over the past few months not official statistics. I did notice later on in factions and nightfall that some of the missions are usually not very populated. You just gotta get lucky there or tough it out with heros/henchies.
lyra_song
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Originally Posted by Zinger314
There are still the same number of bots; they have just moved to different areas and are more divided.
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Your data is where?
from what ive seen, there are influx of new players.
Just today i ran into a A/Mo who thought he was a monk, offering to heal the party.....he didnt understand why i told him to pull points out of 5 different attributes when he only has 3 skill attributes in his bar to begin with....Naive innocent newbie. ^_^ it was cute.
Bryant Again
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Originally Posted by Miral
well now logging in doesnt mean playing the game. see: bots.
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Aera Lure
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Originally Posted by lyra_song
Naive innocent newbie. ^_^ it was cute.
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I get the feeling its mostly the sensation of people being spread out even further than before, as well as it being both summer and in between chapters, as was mentioned. Give it a bit and when GW:EN is out I'd expect those areas to be very full. Looking forward to it.
Miral
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Originally Posted by lyra_song
I call shennanigans.
Your data is where? from what ive seen, there are influx of new players. Just today i ran into a A/Mo who thought he was a monk, offering to heal the party.....he didnt understand why i told him to pull points out of 5 different attributes when he only has 3 skill attributes in his bar to begin with....Naive innocent newbie. ^_^ it was cute. |
kumarshah
I am pretty much waiting for GW:EN. Playing LOTRO in the time being (great game, try it out).
sindex
I have a “friends list” of over 35 people (been cut back a bit, but has always changed over time) and it’s been down to 5 people, who are on one day out of a week. I think it’s just the flux of people leaving after they have their fill of GW, that just playing sucks. It all has to do with personal preference I guess. I have to agree once EotN comes out; they will all be back hopefully.
On an average I think there is a fountain of new people still filtering in, but they never really want to stay as long (like some of us do). At least I still have my good friends in the guild to count on, for having some interesting times with good ol’ GW.
On an average I think there is a fountain of new people still filtering in, but they never really want to stay as long (like some of us do). At least I still have my good friends in the guild to count on, for having some interesting times with good ol’ GW.
Brianna
Seems this way to, at times the game just fully dies for me (in guild and on friends list) and when i go to towns, theres really just nobody around, This is at various times of the day to, sometimes it gets so bad that i just log off cause i have no one to talk to. But then theres other times where the game flourishes with people.. rare though.
freekedoutfish
1) Players being stretched accross 3 (soon to be 4) campaigns.
2) Most players have done most things.
3) Rude and arrogant players.
Is it any wonder people are either leaving, or the numbers seem thinner, or people choose to use AI instead of PUGs?
The game isnt suffering, its been like this for over a year now.
2) Most players have done most things.
3) Rude and arrogant players.
Is it any wonder people are either leaving, or the numbers seem thinner, or people choose to use AI instead of PUGs?
The game isnt suffering, its been like this for over a year now.
Etta
Yeah, people always coming and going in this game all the time. GW is not mmorpg that you have to spend all of your time playing to get your money worth. When they have nothing more to do, they stop playing, jump on other games. When they want to come back, they just log back in.
WinterSnowblind
I think that's one of the great things about Guild Wars. I've stopped playing for now, as I've done just about everything I can with my Warrior. I plan on coming back soon to try out some more characters, but I was busy with exams until recently. At least with GW I can simply log in when I feel like playing for a bit again, where as with something like City of Heroes, now that I'm done playing that, I've had to cancel my account, if I want to play again in a few months, then it's quite a lot of hastle.
Either way, I'm sure the number of players will jump quite a bit when Eye of the North is released, and I'm surprised they haven't had another one of those big festivals yet, isn't it about time for another? They always get thousands of players online, and are usually what encourages me to come back to continue playing the game. I come on for my hat, but then find loads of other things I want to do.
Either way, I'm sure the number of players will jump quite a bit when Eye of the North is released, and I'm surprised they haven't had another one of those big festivals yet, isn't it about time for another? They always get thousands of players online, and are usually what encourages me to come back to continue playing the game. I come on for my hat, but then find loads of other things I want to do.
boko
Bleh... GW is just a game in the end... and like any other game, you are bound to get bored with it after playing for 1 year+ ...
If you are trying to say the game has less people now due to the updates despite what players want and that this is proof that you were right and that you can shove a "I told you so!" comment in their face (Anet's, that is), then you can't be any more wrong...
Most of the changes/updates are due to the community's whims and complaints. How screwed up the community is in GW, I leave that to you.
But, if you just wanted to make a simple observation without any of the above implication, then ignore the last part of my post.
If you are trying to say the game has less people now due to the updates despite what players want and that this is proof that you were right and that you can shove a "I told you so!" comment in their face (Anet's, that is), then you can't be any more wrong...
Most of the changes/updates are due to the community's whims and complaints. How screwed up the community is in GW, I leave that to you.
But, if you just wanted to make a simple observation without any of the above implication, then ignore the last part of my post.
pamelf
The same number of people are playing, but fewer are actually doing the misisons... The missions get boring, and so people tend to do other things like farm or UW...etc.
Lonesamurai
Well here in the UK its half term (school holidays) and GAME are selling all three chapters at only £15 each, so i think we're gonna have an influx of new UK players
Gattocheese
IMHO, Hard mode was a blessing and a killer all in one. The economy is shot, all the rare items are not worth anything, with the exception of a few. Ecto is down to about 5k. Most of the hardcore players have been ran off. All the work most players have done over the past 2 years have been nerfed where casual players can play on the same level, and not work as hard for it. Unid golds now go for 7 for 7k. I understand that the game should be every user friendly, but most hardcore players are the ones with 3 + accounts.
I have seen fewer people play. Ever since the UW and FoW free day, it is very hard to get a FoW group together. Now everyone either does duo or solo farms in UW because of it. Everyone created there SS or 55 over that weekend so they can farm the heck out of UW, now thats all u see in ToA. G.W.E.N. will bring back people, but probaly only for a few months.
I have seen fewer people play. Ever since the UW and FoW free day, it is very hard to get a FoW group together. Now everyone either does duo or solo farms in UW because of it. Everyone created there SS or 55 over that weekend so they can farm the heck out of UW, now thats all u see in ToA. G.W.E.N. will bring back people, but probaly only for a few months.
Gusnana1412
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Originally Posted by Gattocheese
IMHO, Hard mode was a blessing and a killer all in one. The economy is shot, all the rare items are not worth anything, with the exception of a few. Ecto is down to about 5k. Most of the hardcore players have been ran off. All the work most players have done over the past 2 years have been nerfed where casual players can play on the same level, and not work as hard for it. Unid golds now go for 7 for 7k. I understand that the game should be every user friendly, but most hardcore players are the ones with 3 + accounts.
I have seen fewer people play. Ever since the UW and FoW free day, it is very hard to get a FoW group together. Now everyone either does duo or solo farms in UW because of it. Everyone created there SS or 55 over that weekend so they can farm the heck out of UW, now thats all u see in ToA. G.W.E.N. will bring back people, but probaly only for a few months. |
Epinephrine
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Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
I can tell you that since the most recent changes, player counts have risen.
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I don't blame Gaile for quasi-informative statements, it's her job. She has the duty of making GW sound like it's doing well, defending their decisions to the public etc.
If the game had 50% more players than it did a year ago it would be the kind of thing that would be mentioned. I suspect that the lack of concrete figures doesn't bode well.
I'll admit to being a cynic in some ways as well; the introduction of games/titles that can be afk farmed, the sudden extensions of weekend events - these things don't ring of great generosity on ANet's part, not when they are followed up with announcements of how a given weekend had more player hours logged than any weekend thus far. This tells me that they need a positive story, and that having people afk their accounts to gain lucky points gives them a nice quotable statistic - more total hours online. Extending the event likewise boosts this kind of claim.
fenix
Starcraft 2 = Death of GW/GW2 (depending on release). Lots of people will stop GW to play SC2 I imagine. Even so, GvG will be almost done shortly, unless things change, so people will want another form of Player vs Player game.
allience
fyi the average botter has at least 8 active accounts. multiply that by the number of botters...
as for actual players, 60% of the ppl from my friend list are offline most of the time. i only see them on at some events. but they are pvp players and it's a known fact that many are upset about the past pvp changes. the situation might be different with the pve crowd though.
as for actual players, 60% of the ppl from my friend list are offline most of the time. i only see them on at some events. but they are pvp players and it's a known fact that many are upset about the past pvp changes. the situation might be different with the pve crowd though.
freekedoutfish
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Originally Posted by fenix
Starcraft 2 = Death of GW/GW2 (depending on release). Lots of people will stop GW to play SC2 I imagine. Even so, GvG will be almost done shortly, unless things change, so people will want another form of Player vs Player game.
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I love it when someone makes a comment which states some new game is the dogs bollicks, and its going to consume everyone in the gaming community.
I know about Starcraft 2 and I play Guildwars! Yet I have absolutely no interest in playing Starcraft2! If I want to play a RTS game, I will go play C&C3 on my xbox360!
But I dont really want to, because it will be a waste of money on a game ill play about 10 times and put away. Compared to GWs which i've played endleslly for 2 years.
You cant make a statement saying an RTS game is going to come along and steel people away from an MMO/RPG. Their completely different games, and considering GW2 is only at the design state and and SC2 is nearly out, chances are that GW2 will steal players away from SC2.
Pi_Numurian
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Originally Posted by Ulivious The Reaper
its inevitable, with a game of this style... dont worry, they'll be back, and in full force when GW:EN comes out
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lyra_song
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Originally Posted by fenix
Starcraft 2 = Death of GW/GW2 (depending on release). Lots of people will stop GW to play SC2 I imagine. Even so, GvG will be almost done shortly, unless things change, so people will want another form of Player vs Player game.
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Need more Vespene Gas /fistshake
GvG is a fine pvp gametype, but yes i do agree we need more PvP gametypes.
We need something in lines of "Assault" mode in UT2004....
Maybe escort/ambush type matches.
Aera Lure
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Originally Posted by Miral
well yeah there are some real new players, but theres also tons of people that stopped playing for now
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lyra_song
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Originally Posted by Aera Lure
Yeah, I know this for fact as well. My previous guild (may it long live in memory) was proof of that, as is my original friends list, although I have a core set of PvP friends who have been on through it all. Natural ebbs and flows, as well as players taking a break for extended periods of time. I recently came back from one myself.
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Im gonna have to say i think theres more people playing, but just SOOO many places to play in.
Ive been playing through Cantha and the early areas have no problems finding pugs.
When you get to the point where the storyline branches into 2 (effectively cutting your pug chances in half), theres way less people, and beyond the 15k armor towns, theres almost nobody. Then when you get to the final 2 missions, theres tons of people there (the two branches of the story unite again)
Aera Lure
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Originally Posted by lyra_song
Im gonna have to say i think theres more people playing, but just SOOO many places to play in.
Ive been playing through Cantha and the early areas have no problems finding pugs. When you get to the point where the storyline branches into 2 (effectively cutting your pug chances in half), theres way less people, and beyond the 15k armor towns, theres almost nobody. Then when you get to the final 2 missions, theres tons of people there (the two branches of the story unite again) |
I was surprised, though, at the number of seeming first time players working through Prophecies. Havent been to the areas in Cantha you mention in a while. Some of those areas were sparsely populated even when Factions was at its peak.