Yes I know, Guildwars has sold X,X million copies. But I really wonder, how many of those people are still actively playing?
All the people in my friend list, who played the game, all the people from old guilds I have been in, they've all quit.
And as I read the forum, and look around in-game, I see that they are not the only ones.
So is there any figure on how many people have logged in during, say, this month? Because frankly I think that there is an imaginary 'wall', of how long this game can be played before it gets boring. And I belief that this wall has already been hit, quite a while ago.
Active people
hyro yamaguchi
zwei2stein
Anet will never release such numbers, because they are not dumb.
If they are bad, they would make situation even worse (zomg, leave teh dying gamzor!), Any fluctuation would read to flamefest threads and only help competition.
If they are good, well, good is subjective and they still can look very bad (100k people still playing can be decent population and when compared to 3 mil sold copies they use to boast, it would look like most people hate what they bought and quit game asap.).
If they are bad, they would make situation even worse (zomg, leave teh dying gamzor!), Any fluctuation would read to flamefest threads and only help competition.
If they are good, well, good is subjective and they still can look very bad (100k people still playing can be decent population and when compared to 3 mil sold copies they use to boast, it would look like most people hate what they bought and quit game asap.).
Loviatar
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the E3 video stated that soon Anet would announce another milestone sales figure
i spend a lot of time in presear answerig newb questions and the number of new players is going up not down.
so no it is not dying people are taking a break or other things as there is no monthly fee to worry about.
the_jos
Well, let's put it this way.
I know my guild was once 200 persons (probably alliance, before I joined them) and got back to our current around 50 members, of which about 5 have not logged in in the past month.
A lot of the 'old' clan moved to other online games, most notably BF2.
I know a lot of people still play the game from time to time, but not as main game anymore.
I also see a lot of new players lately.
The playability depends on so many factors.
When you play 8 hours/day, you are going to get bored faster compared to when you play 2 hours/week.
Furtermore, when you have a nice active friends-list or guild, playablity is longer.
The extra titles and personal goals add some time, but not as much as daily playtime and active friends/guild.
I know my guild was once 200 persons (probably alliance, before I joined them) and got back to our current around 50 members, of which about 5 have not logged in in the past month.
A lot of the 'old' clan moved to other online games, most notably BF2.
I know a lot of people still play the game from time to time, but not as main game anymore.
I also see a lot of new players lately.
The playability depends on so many factors.
When you play 8 hours/day, you are going to get bored faster compared to when you play 2 hours/week.
Furtermore, when you have a nice active friends-list or guild, playablity is longer.
The extra titles and personal goals add some time, but not as much as daily playtime and active friends/guild.
WinterSnowblind
I think one of the great things about GW is that it's easy to stop playing once you get bored, and just as easy to come back to it. I, and most people I know usually stop playing for a few months, and then eventually come back to it. Where as with other MMO's I've played, I've never bothered getting back into after leaving, because it's just too much hastle.
Effendi Westland
Almost everyone on my friendslist still plays. Some as active as allways, some less active then they were. For everyone that quit guild wars another has taken his spot on my friendslist, except for a few who log on for a chat.
Coridan
well, i tried to get into Kamadan last night...dist 1 and 2 were both full on the american servers. I think the major problem is player distribution. There are just some many places for people to hang out that it appears that there aren't many on. when in fact i think there are as many or maybe even more than was...just harder to find...and friends list are a fluid thing...i have replaced mine almost completely 2 times or maybe even 3...there are very few people on my friends list...that were in the original friends listings.
dargon
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Originally Posted by the_jos
I know my guild was once 200 persons (probably alliance, before I joined them) and got back to our current around 50 members, of which about 5 have not logged in in the past month.
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Andisa Kalorn
If so many people were leaving the game, there wouldn't be so many bots and gold-sellers.
Painbringer
Maybe they are taking a break before the new expansion pack is released. Personally I have not noticed much of a difference
Omega X
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Originally Posted by Andisa Kalorn
If so many people were leaving the game, there wouldn't be so many bots and gold-sellers.
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Buster
Up until yesterday I haven't logged into the game for about over a month. Just taking a break until GW:EN gets here. After 2 years of playing there is only so much one can do in GW as it is now. The game just has its limits.
Anet needs to change the philosophy. They need to find a way to keep their people rather then tell the world they sold x.x amout of boxes. Thats why I am hoping Guild Wars 2 will be a start of that. I have great hopes for Guild Wars 2 ! If your not striving to be the best in gaming then whats the point ?
It is like the NFL season, if you are not in it to win the Superbowl then why play ?
Anet needs to change the philosophy. They need to find a way to keep their people rather then tell the world they sold x.x amout of boxes. Thats why I am hoping Guild Wars 2 will be a start of that. I have great hopes for Guild Wars 2 ! If your not striving to be the best in gaming then whats the point ?
It is like the NFL season, if you are not in it to win the Superbowl then why play ?
Aera Lure
I believe Anet counts the numbers of active people being up by looking monthly. That being the case, the number of people logging in at least once and a while would bee quite high. The reality I sense is numbers online often for decent hours is down, especially compared to GW peak which I'd estimate right around Factions release.
That shouldnt be surprising though: its summer, there are outdoors things to do, its been a long time since any new content, many PvP players are unhappy with skill balances not addressed yet and are on hiatus, a good number of PvE players are unhappy with economic concerns. Population will come back up with GWEN's release, though probably not as high as during the first month or two of Factions.
That shouldnt be surprising though: its summer, there are outdoors things to do, its been a long time since any new content, many PvP players are unhappy with skill balances not addressed yet and are on hiatus, a good number of PvE players are unhappy with economic concerns. Population will come back up with GWEN's release, though probably not as high as during the first month or two of Factions.
Chilly Ress
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Originally Posted by Buster
It is like the NFL season, if you are not in it to win the Superbowl then why play ?
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bwillcox
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Originally Posted by Aera Lure
I believe Anet counts the numbers of active people being up by looking monthly.
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MSecorsky
Friend of mine just bought the game last week, so that's at least a +1 sales for them.
Stupid titles... they won't let me get bored. Just found that last .3% in Elona last night for Grand Master Cartographer... now it's off to finish Vanquishing Cantha!
We need a Vanquishers thread/forum for parties to meet up. Sigh...
Stupid titles... they won't let me get bored. Just found that last .3% in Elona last night for Grand Master Cartographer... now it's off to finish Vanquishing Cantha!
We need a Vanquishers thread/forum for parties to meet up. Sigh...
warren_kn
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Originally Posted by zwei2stein
Anet will never release such numbers, because they are not dumb.
If they are bad, they would make situation even worse (zomg, leave teh dying gamzor!), Any fluctuation would read to flamefest threads and only help competition. If they are good, well, good is subjective and they still can look very bad (100k people still playing can be decent population and when compared to 3 mil sold copies they use to boast, it would look like most people hate what they bought and quit game asap.). |
Diablo???
After a while it always seems like there are fewer and fewer players for a couple of reasons:
1. More players have discovered more towns. Unlike the beginning, where everyone is cramped up in Kamadan.
2. They're waiting for EotN, and is taking a break from Nightfall.
The same applies everytime something is about to come out, or when a chapter has gone on for a prolonged period.... like Nightfall. Other than that, everytime I log on, it still feels just as busy, the same jerks are still there trying to sell their stash of ectos and unid golds... same folks are still there begging for 50g to open their storage...
Unlike other MMOs, when people are absent in guild wars, it's not permanent, they're usually just taking a break.
1. More players have discovered more towns. Unlike the beginning, where everyone is cramped up in Kamadan.
2. They're waiting for EotN, and is taking a break from Nightfall.
The same applies everytime something is about to come out, or when a chapter has gone on for a prolonged period.... like Nightfall. Other than that, everytime I log on, it still feels just as busy, the same jerks are still there trying to sell their stash of ectos and unid golds... same folks are still there begging for 50g to open their storage...
Unlike other MMOs, when people are absent in guild wars, it's not permanent, they're usually just taking a break.
Antheus
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| I have great hopes for Guild Wars 2 ! If your not striving to be the best in gaming then whats the point ? |
Not launching a buggy incomplete game when you run out of funds?
Not launching a best rated, critically acclaimed game, only to see it's not getting sold, and you go bankrupt since you can't recover development investment?
Not making a game, only to see it's mediocre success, won't cover the costs, and is shutdown 3 months after launch?
Not being bought out by one of the Big Ones, and sold by pieces for quarterly profit?
Game industry isn't about being best. Each and every *best* game has failed and destroyed the studio that made it. Games that reach the masses are the ones that succeed. If GW2 is best, it'll be a disaster. If it's good at extending WoW, then it'll be a success.
Of course, only if everyone isn't so fed up of WoW by then that they'll want anything but.
Zehnchu
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Originally Posted by Loviatar
the E3 video stated that soon Anet would announce another milestone sales figure
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Originally Posted by Loviatar
no monthly fee to worry about.
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WARPATh
I play a lot, but ANET screwed it up, so now it's not my main game.
haggus71
I agree with the opinion that a lot of people are just taking a break before GWEN comes out. Nightfall has been out a while, and I doubt one in ten have done all of the Realm of Torment.
Oh, and for whoever said everyone is in the Superbowl for the money: talk to the players after the game and see if the losers feel compensated by the fact that they made it and got paid. If you are any kind of competitor, in anything you do, you know better.
Oh, and for whoever said everyone is in the Superbowl for the money: talk to the players after the game and see if the losers feel compensated by the fact that they made it and got paid. If you are any kind of competitor, in anything you do, you know better.
Aera Lure
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Originally Posted by bwillcox
What makes you say this? Has Anet ever said how they measure the number of active players? I would think that they would have statistics on a number of usage metrics besides just monthly logins. If I was running Anet I'd sure want to know more than just that.
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Phantom Gun
Well I can't speak for anybody else, but as for me, any game can get boring after awhile. I've taken several breaks from GuildWars and they usualy last around 2 months give or take. However I'm glad I took those breaks because everytime I come back I have fun with the game again, which is all that matters to me. 
roalgumo7
I actually used to think like that, cause lots of my friends don't play it anymore, I myself quit playing it for a while, but there is actually more ppl playing it, new ppl, the problem is that there are so many more outposts now (3 capaings, and an expansion coming out soon)...
free_fall
Now that the games can be purchased at substantial discounts, I have seen an influx of new players. Remember that people are now spread across 3 chapters though.
That said, my guild is down from a high of ~90 people at the height of AB frenzy (around a year ago) to just 25 people, only 5 of which still play either daily or, at least, a couple times a week; it's been like this for a very long time.
Of those who left that I knew fairly well, 3 still play daily or weekly, just not in our guild. I'm sure many of those who swelled our ranks during the AB frenzy simply moved to more active guilds as ours started falling apart. Many of the original guildies, however, have moved on to other games, primarily EVE and WoW. Another 2 of my frequent companions, one moved, so that her 10 min daily commute became 50-60 mins (each way), she's on maybe once or twice a month now; the other moved to another free-to-play MMORPG.
Also, the advent of heroes has given those people who dislike playing with PUGs better means to not do so, so while these people may be on-line playing, they're just not playing with *you*. Longer term players may be concentrating on their various titles, again just using H&H.
As far as these statictics showing an increase in monthly log-ins go, I've no doubt that a great portion of these merely reflect the tremendous influx of bots we've all witnessed. For the more conspiracy-theorist-leaning amongst us, that would certainly explain why Anet doesn't make more of a concerted effort to eliminate them.
That said, my guild is down from a high of ~90 people at the height of AB frenzy (around a year ago) to just 25 people, only 5 of which still play either daily or, at least, a couple times a week; it's been like this for a very long time.
Of those who left that I knew fairly well, 3 still play daily or weekly, just not in our guild. I'm sure many of those who swelled our ranks during the AB frenzy simply moved to more active guilds as ours started falling apart. Many of the original guildies, however, have moved on to other games, primarily EVE and WoW. Another 2 of my frequent companions, one moved, so that her 10 min daily commute became 50-60 mins (each way), she's on maybe once or twice a month now; the other moved to another free-to-play MMORPG.
Also, the advent of heroes has given those people who dislike playing with PUGs better means to not do so, so while these people may be on-line playing, they're just not playing with *you*. Longer term players may be concentrating on their various titles, again just using H&H.
As far as these statictics showing an increase in monthly log-ins go, I've no doubt that a great portion of these merely reflect the tremendous influx of bots we've all witnessed. For the more conspiracy-theorist-leaning amongst us, that would certainly explain why Anet doesn't make more of a concerted effort to eliminate them.
Crom The Pale
I've been playing for 27 months now and I would say the population is very hard to gauge at a glance.
I've personaly kicked almost 100 people from my guild for being offline 1month+(I kept some of them on friends list up to 2 more months with no change in status)
However when DOA was released there were many districts there, and that was restricted to people that beat Nightfall. Any time there is a special event(ie: Dragon festival, Halloween, Christmass) the main cities(participating in the event) for each chapter seem to grow between 100 and 180 districts.
I've also noted that in my guild most of us have all 3 chapters, and after completing Nightfall with most of my guild members we all started new chars or begain moving chars from other chapters into nightfall or nightfall chars intot he other 2 chapters. This led to us splintering into several diffent directions not to mention those that jumped to pvp.
GW:EN's release will likely see a vast number of people coming to gether during the presale event, and a second wave at the full release. However after about a month or maybe 2 months people will have moved off into diffent directions and the population of each town/outpost will drop giving the feeling that people have left the game.
What happens after GW2 is released is the truely BIG question......
I've personaly kicked almost 100 people from my guild for being offline 1month+(I kept some of them on friends list up to 2 more months with no change in status)
However when DOA was released there were many districts there, and that was restricted to people that beat Nightfall. Any time there is a special event(ie: Dragon festival, Halloween, Christmass) the main cities(participating in the event) for each chapter seem to grow between 100 and 180 districts.
I've also noted that in my guild most of us have all 3 chapters, and after completing Nightfall with most of my guild members we all started new chars or begain moving chars from other chapters into nightfall or nightfall chars intot he other 2 chapters. This led to us splintering into several diffent directions not to mention those that jumped to pvp.
GW:EN's release will likely see a vast number of people coming to gether during the presale event, and a second wave at the full release. However after about a month or maybe 2 months people will have moved off into diffent directions and the population of each town/outpost will drop giving the feeling that people have left the game.
What happens after GW2 is released is the truely BIG question......
Yaga Philipe
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Originally Posted by WinterSnowblind
I think one of the great things about GW is that it's easy to stop playing once you get bored, and just as easy to come back to it. I, and most people I know usually stop playing for a few months, and then eventually come back to it. Where as with other MMO's I've played, I've never bothered getting back into after leaving, because it's just too much hastle.
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milias
I hardly ever play anymore. Recently, some of friends have decided to give it another try, but it's been a while since I've seen them in game. Maybe by the time Eye of the North comes out, people will start playing again. I don't know, personally, GW doesn't do it for me anymore. Besides, I don't really have the time to play video games anymore, anyway.
Mercury Angel
I've been accumulating friends on my list since the betas, and have gone through 4 separate guilds. Over 90% of the people on the friends list are not playing anymore, as far as I can tell, and all the guilds have died.
I don't think it's an indicator of the health of Guild Wars, though. There are still new players, and friends I have who moved on from the dead guild are in thriving guilds and alliances.
The population of MMORPG's will always have a constant stream of players both quitting and joining, which makes quitting players a useless indicator of the health of the community. Since the numbers of active players, and the definitions of 'active' are not being released, to the best of my knowledge, it's probably futile to make such an assessment.
Guild Wars is still selling fairly well, so I'd imagine the new player influx is well enough.
I don't think it's an indicator of the health of Guild Wars, though. There are still new players, and friends I have who moved on from the dead guild are in thriving guilds and alliances.
The population of MMORPG's will always have a constant stream of players both quitting and joining, which makes quitting players a useless indicator of the health of the community. Since the numbers of active players, and the definitions of 'active' are not being released, to the best of my knowledge, it's probably futile to make such an assessment.
Guild Wars is still selling fairly well, so I'd imagine the new player influx is well enough.
Age
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Originally Posted by Aera Lure
I believe Anet counts the numbers of active people being up by looking monthly. That being the case, the number of people logging in at least once and a while would bee quite high. The reality I sense is numbers online often for decent hours is down, especially compared to GW peak which I'd estimate right around Factions release.
That shouldnt be surprising though: its summer, there are outdoors things to do, its been a long time since any new content, many PvP players are unhappy with skill balances not addressed yet and are on hiatus, a good number of PvE players are unhappy with economic concerns. Population will come back up with GWEN's release, though probably not as high as during the first month or two of Factions. |
Malice Black
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Originally Posted by Age
That is right but many PvP players are just waiting for The Fury to be released any time now.Then there is the PvEers who moved on because of the areas and mob are so nerfed the game got boring and I am not talking skills here.I had to remove several people off my friends list because they haven't logged in over a year now.I am not saying the game is dyeing it is just that a lot of good players have left and back in the days of Prophecies only you got into better groups unlike today.
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EternalTempest
Unless you are the #1 in the world, no company releases these figures.
If your #1 you do it as "bragging" rights.
GW sales is designed around meeting X new accounts per time frame, they want to keep people (there more likely to buy the next one) but the focus of revenue is on new account.
If your #1 you do it as "bragging" rights.
GW sales is designed around meeting X new accounts per time frame, they want to keep people (there more likely to buy the next one) but the focus of revenue is on new account.
Malice Black
Yeah but you're speculating...at best.
As a businessman myself I wouldn't release such info to the general populace unless it was beneficial to myself and the company. There is no need for us to know the sales figures, projected income, gross outgoings, tax fiddling etc
At the end of the day we are on a 'need to know basis'. If they want us to know something then they will either come out and say it or get Gaile to feed us info over an alloted time period.
As a businessman myself I wouldn't release such info to the general populace unless it was beneficial to myself and the company. There is no need for us to know the sales figures, projected income, gross outgoings, tax fiddling etc
At the end of the day we are on a 'need to know basis'. If they want us to know something then they will either come out and say it or get Gaile to feed us info over an alloted time period.
Avarre
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Originally Posted by Malice Black
The number is going up, but the quality of player is on the down (big style). A lot of the people I know that have been playing 2+ years agree with me on this. Maybe we are stuck in the golden days though..who knows.
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FireFox
http://www.xfire.com/
-> TODAY'S TOP GAMES
-> TODAY'S TOP GAMES
EternalTempest
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Originally Posted by FireFox
http://www.xfire.com/
-> TODAY'S TOP GAMES |
DreamCatcher
I'm not noticing any wall having been hit in GW. I've also noticed many new players starting, Likely because of the price of the older chapters having gone down lately. It's the reason why recently 3 of my RL friends bought a few of the chapters recently. 2 of those played a lil while till they moved on again and also becasue they have very busy jobs. They'll be back to the game sooner or later though. The 3rd has become a very busy player and is doing it all by himself (with some help/tips from me 
)
I often get the chance to see him play and have noticed many tricks that worked for me 18 months ago still work for him (like waiting for a tip run through the desert and selling the 55 focus for some extra cash). It's not like Augury rock has become deserted. The jungle has been almost completely empty for ages but many of the major mission areas still have more then enough people around to PUG around with.
Most people on my fl aren't active anymore and from time to time I browse through my fl kicking a few peeps's for some extra room. I have no issues finding new nice and mature people to fill up my fl agtain.
Also pre searing is thriving atm with both new and old players, the old players having come back for the charr kits/bags, the LDoA title or just to visit the Regent Valley vacation resort
Theres many new players in pre aswell, recently met a lvl 7 Ranger who recently moved from WoW, didn't even know what post was and had used his black dye on his 7-10 quest reward bow!
True the population has spread out over the 3 continents but for me this game is all about player interaction and right now theres still plenty people around for that.
)I often get the chance to see him play and have noticed many tricks that worked for me 18 months ago still work for him (like waiting for a tip run through the desert and selling the 55 focus for some extra cash). It's not like Augury rock has become deserted. The jungle has been almost completely empty for ages but many of the major mission areas still have more then enough people around to PUG around with.
Most people on my fl aren't active anymore and from time to time I browse through my fl kicking a few peeps's for some extra room. I have no issues finding new nice and mature people to fill up my fl agtain.
Also pre searing is thriving atm with both new and old players, the old players having come back for the charr kits/bags, the LDoA title or just to visit the Regent Valley vacation resort
Theres many new players in pre aswell, recently met a lvl 7 Ranger who recently moved from WoW, didn't even know what post was and had used his black dye on his 7-10 quest reward bow!
True the population has spread out over the 3 continents but for me this game is all about player interaction and right now theres still plenty people around for that.
Hole Sale Traps
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Originally Posted by EternalTempest
That only takes a *sample* from the user population, and can't be used as a final figure.
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Also WoW has Been #1 on that list For EVER so you cant really Use Xfire as a figure like you said.
Molock
Lots of my friends that had quit are coming back! I think that GW:EN is going to attract some of the older players who had quit.