Guild Wars 2

Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210

I have the opposite view. I believe that forum traffic has to do more with the state of the game rather than the state of the player base. What I’ve witnessed happen time and time again is a game developer makes a significant misstep and people pour out of the game and into the forums. Sometimes there is a correction and the forums die down to their usual slow boil. More typically, however, no correction is made and the forums become endgame for an otherwise troubled game. I’d be interested to have the actual traffic numbers before and after 11/15. I don’t think I even posted prior to that date and only occasionally visited the forums.

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

A lot of people did indeed leave in November. It’s a fact. A lot of people got the game for Christmas.

The people who left, who were disenfranchised with the vertical progression than came with the fractals was a relatively decent sized hit to the game’s population. It seemed less for a while., then started going up. At least, it looks that way to me.

The thing is, the people who got the game after the fractals launched, with the ascended gear, never knew the game without it. They didn’t know enough to be kitten off, so they had less reason to leave. Some of them even like FotM.

Bottom line? The population has fluctuated, but from my observation seems higher now than it was at the end of November. Not as high as launch, obviously, when everyone was in one zone, but not that far from pre November numbers, and maybe higher.

Honestly, if people quit because of FotM(a part of the game nobody has to do if they don’t want to) and Ascended gear(silly stat increase, not real vertical progression), then that’s fine. If you’re going to quit a game over silly crap like that then I don’t think I want to play with you anyhow.

Theoldman.6483:

Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210

If you’re bored and burned out, why the heck are you spending so much time on the forums for a game that bores you.

if you get bored of a hobby, you find a new hobby.

Theoldman.6483:

Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210

I never once posted on the forums when I first got this game and was kind of into it. Now I’m on the forums all the time and I’m currently addicted to the game. Sooo yeah your theory isn’t true in the slightest.

rizzo.1079:

Honestly, if people quit because of FotM(a part of the game nobody has to do if they don’t want to) and Ascended gear(silly stat increase, not real vertical progression), then that’s fine. If you’re going to quit a game over silly crap like that then I don’t think I want to play with you anyhow.

People quit because they felt betrayed. Lied to. Not because of ascended gear directly. They worried it was the tip of the iceberg, a sign of things to come. Well, it’s a bunch of months later and it still hasn’t come. But people keep telling me it will.

I agree, I think it’s a storm in a teacup. That said, I do understand why those people left.

Vayne.8563:

People quit because they felt betrayed. Lied to. Not because of ascended gear directly. They worried it was the tip of the iceberg, a sign of things to come. Well, it’s a bunch of months later and it still hasn’t come. But people keep telling me it will.

I agree, I think it’s a storm in a teacup. That said, I do understand why those people left.

Yeah people take their fun waaayyyy too seriously.

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

I’d say growth since I don’t think guesting is a big deal.

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow. And the last 4 people of our guild just found another guild to move to because nobody in our 50+ member guild logs in any more.

I’m not so sure it’s growth, much as I’d like it to be.

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

Right, because the biggest aspect of this patch was WvW, and I was in queues at times when I haven’t been in queues in weeks. lol

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

You really need to try harder…You are going to get less overflows because people aren’t going to every event with alts because of the recent change.

Vayne.8563:

A lot of people did indeed leave in November. It’s a fact. A lot of people got the game for Christmas.

The people who left, who were disenfranchised with the vertical progression than came with the fractals was a relatively decent sized hit to the game’s population. It seemed less for a while., then started going up. At least, it looks that way to me.

The thing is, the people who got the game after the fractals launched, with the ascended gear, never knew the game without it. They didn’t know enough to be kitten off, so they had less reason to leave. Some of them even like FotM.

Bottom line? The population has fluctuated, but from my observation seems higher now than it was at the end of November. Not as high as launch, obviously, when everyone was in one zone, but not that far from pre November numbers, and maybe higher.

To be clear, I was addressing the forum side of forum traffic only. By “pouring out of the game and into forums” I did not mean leaving the game, simply spending a large amount of time on the forums. And, yes, I had a problem with vertical progression (still do) related to the 11/15 date, but I love playing GW2. It is one of the best games I have ever played and I want to see it succeed. I actually play on one of the highest pop servers and there are people active in every zone. Though server populations naturally fluctuate I didn’t intend to represent a dying game population-wise and wanted to make that correction. I do believe that forum traffic and tone says more about the game than it does about the player base. (And, yes, I’ve played all the major MMO’s and arpg’s.)

“How to tell people are bored or burnt out… Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210”
1) Ascribing your own personal feelings and motivations onto others
2) Creating a “safety net” for your irrational conclusions, where any result could be seen as evidence in favor of your hypothesis (“Forums are dead” = people not happy with the game; “Forums are crowded” = people not happy with the game)

“a game developer makes a significant misstep and people pour out of the game and into the forums”
- Making up wide-sweeping generalizations about the game’s overall population based on personal experiences and unverified suspicions

“A lot of people did indeed leave in November. It’s a fact.”
- Dressing up personal assumptions as “fact”

“The thing is, the people who got the game after the fractals launched, with the ascended gear, never knew the game without it. They didn’t know enough to be kitten off, so they had less reason to leave.”
- Claiming to know the personal motivations and playing habits of strangers

Basically, we have a lot of made-up guesses and hunches, based on personal anecdotes and unverified suspicions. Then you’re using assuming those premises are true, and drawing conclusions based on them. WORST DETECTIVES EVER.

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

You really need to try harder…You are going to get less overflows because people aren’t going to every event with alts because of the recent change.

I need to try harder?

What is it with you people and your juvenile attempt at insults?

I’m honestly wondering if trying to have a conversation in this place is even possible.

Shootsfoot.9276:

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

You really need to try harder…You are going to get less overflows because people aren’t going to every event with alts because of the recent change.

I need to try harder?

What is it with you people and your juvenile attempt at insults?

I’m honestly wondering if trying to have a conversation in this place is even possible.

When you try to have a conversation you should usually try to think about what you are saying before you say it. Claiming the population is decreasing because you don’t get as many overflows after a patch that specifically had a change that would decrease overflows is just reeking of trolling.

Don’t act like a victim here when you claim the population is decreasing while completely ignoring that basically the entire patch was going to bring more people into WvW (decreasing overflows) and stop people from doing events with alts (decreasing overflows)

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

You really need to try harder…You are going to get less overflows because people aren’t going to every event with alts because of the recent change.

I need to try harder?

What is it with you people and your juvenile attempt at insults?

I’m honestly wondering if trying to have a conversation in this place is even possible.

When you try to have a conversation you should usually try to think about what you are saying before you say it. Claiming the population is decreasing because you don’t get as many overflows after a patch that specifically had a change that would decrease overflows is just reeking of trolling.

Don’t act like a victim here when you claim the population is decreasing while completely ignoring that basically the entire patch was going to bring more people into WvW (decreasing overflows) and stop people from doing events with alts (decreasing overflows)

>sigh<

Was just trying to have a discussion about these so-called “indicators” of game growth and point out anectdotal evidence is just that…anectdotal. Wasn’t at all claiming growth was dropping, but I guess I convinced you without even trying because apparently it made you want to jump down my throat for “trolling(?).”

You got me. (With anectdotal evidence, I might add)

Yay you.

“Acting like a victim.”

I actually laughed out loud at that here in the office.

People amaze me.

rizzo.1079:

Honestly, if people quit because of FotM(a part of the game nobody has to do if they don’t want to) and Ascended gear(silly stat increase, not real vertical progression), then that’s fine. If you’re going to quit a game over silly crap like that then I don’t think I want to play with you anyhow.

I do agree that the level of the stat increase is not sufficient to satisfy the grinders. It does seem to be little reward for the time and effort. But, the developers did commit to ‘real’ vertical progression in the AMA response to the 11/15 update. The power level of the game will increase over time on a low curve. And, the necessary response to an increasing power level is the prescribed activities to maintain yourself at the game’s power level. That would be “gear grind” in the vernacular. In most discussions around vertical progression you have people who support it and people who oppose it. Here in GW2 we have a third group of people who currently don’t really believe it exists. This third group will be self-limiting by the experience of vertical progression and will naturally disappear over time. At that point we will be able to purely discuss the relative merits of adding vertical progression to the game.

We need ascended gear to solve all problems

Shootsfoot.9276:

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

You really need to try harder…You are going to get less overflows because people aren’t going to every event with alts because of the recent change.

I need to try harder?

What is it with you people and your juvenile attempt at insults?

I’m honestly wondering if trying to have a conversation in this place is even possible.

When you try to have a conversation you should usually try to think about what you are saying before you say it. Claiming the population is decreasing because you don’t get as many overflows after a patch that specifically had a change that would decrease overflows is just reeking of trolling.

Don’t act like a victim here when you claim the population is decreasing while completely ignoring that basically the entire patch was going to bring more people into WvW (decreasing overflows) and stop people from doing events with alts (decreasing overflows)

>sigh<

Was just trying to have a discussion about these so-called “indicators” of game growth and point out anectdotal evidence is just that…anectdotal. Wasn’t at all claiming growth was dropping, but I guess I convinced you without even trying because apparently it made you want to jump down my throat for “trolling(?).”

You got me. (With anectdotal evidence, I might add)

Yay you.

“Acting like a victim.”

I actually laughed out loud at that here in the office.

People amaze me.

Your anecdotal evidence stems from ignorance. But what would the internet be without people purposely ignoring things that defeat their own point?

It’s an interesting case study- not in anything having to do with the game, at all, but it terms of personal psychology.

Forum traffic goes down- “fewer people are playing so they’re not posting as much.”
Forum traffic goes up- “this is how you can tell people are bored or burnt out.”

Hawkian.6580:

It’s an interesting case study- not in anything having to do with the game, at all, but it terms of personal psychology.

Forum traffic goes down- “fewer people are playing so they’re not posting as much.”
Forum traffic goes up- “this is how you can tell people are bored or burnt out.”

Edited because of misunderstanding

Theoldman.6483:

Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210

The man has a point. If you’re on the forums. You’re not playing the game.

Azure Prower.8701:

Theoldman.6483:

Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210

The man has a point. If you’re on the forums. You’re not playing the game.

Counterpoint: Alt+Tab

Graybes.8251:

Hawkian.6580:

It’s an interesting case study- not in anything having to do with the game, at all, but it terms of personal psychology.

Forum traffic goes down- “fewer people are playing so they’re not posting as much.”
Forum traffic goes up- “this is how you can tell people are bored or burnt out.”

Except, the most populated/active games always have more forum traffic because of trolls, people playing, people looking to play, people bored at work looking to keep their mind on the game they enjoy. So it really isn’t an interesting case study at all because it’s 100% false.

I meant it was an interesting case study in what people will do to convince themselves of preconceived assumptions, even if the evidence appears to contradict it directly.

Hawkian.6580:

Graybes.8251:

Hawkian.6580:

It’s an interesting case study- not in anything having to do with the game, at all, but it terms of personal psychology.

Forum traffic goes down- “fewer people are playing so they’re not posting as much.”
Forum traffic goes up- “this is how you can tell people are bored or burnt out.”

Except, the most populated/active games always have more forum traffic because of trolls, people playing, people looking to play, people bored at work looking to keep their mind on the game they enjoy. So it really isn’t an interesting case study at all because it’s 100% false.

I meant it was an interesting case study in what people will do to convince themselves of preconceived assumptions, even if the evidence appears to contradict it directly.

Ah I gotcha

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Graybes.8251:

Shootsfoot.9276:

Vayne.8563:

Shootsfoot.9276:

rizzo.1079:

I’ve only seen the ingame population growing since I got the game in November. Are you guys on really servers or something?

Is it because of growth or guesting?

Must be some growth since I’m getting new people in my guild. Like complete newbies. Also a few returned people who left and said they were never coming back. They were wrong. lol

Yet after this last patch not once have I been put into overflow when after every other patch all I saw was overflow.

You really need to try harder…You are going to get less overflows because people aren’t going to every event with alts because of the recent change.

I need to try harder?

What is it with you people and your juvenile attempt at insults?

I’m honestly wondering if trying to have a conversation in this place is even possible.

When you try to have a conversation you should usually try to think about what you are saying before you say it. Claiming the population is decreasing because you don’t get as many overflows after a patch that specifically had a change that would decrease overflows is just reeking of trolling.

Don’t act like a victim here when you claim the population is decreasing while completely ignoring that basically the entire patch was going to bring more people into WvW (decreasing overflows) and stop people from doing events with alts (decreasing overflows)

>sigh<

Was just trying to have a discussion about these so-called “indicators” of game growth and point out anectdotal evidence is just that…anectdotal. Wasn’t at all claiming growth was dropping, but I guess I convinced you without even trying because apparently it made you want to jump down my throat for “trolling(?).”

You got me. (With anectdotal evidence, I might add)

Yay you.

“Acting like a victim.”

I actually laughed out loud at that here in the office.

People amaze me.

Your anecdotal evidence stems from ignorance. But what would the internet be without people purposely ignoring things that defeat their own point?

Wow, I don’t know how I can put it into any simpler terms for you to understand it so I guess I’ll just quit here.

By the way, this is where you lean back in your chair and pat yourself on the back thinking you won this “argument” you were apparently dying to start.

Azure Prower.8701:

Theoldman.6483:

Forum traffic goes up. My posts first 6 months 1-2 total. My posts this weeks 210

The man has a point. If you’re on the forums. You’re not playing the game.

I’m not currently eating, either — but I haven’t been “burnt out on food.”

Actually, now that I think about it, that just shows how ridiculous the OP’s reasoning really is. He’s basically saying that if forums and websites for recipes/cooking were steadily increasing, it’s an indicator that people in general are “bored or burnt out” on food. Do we really think that’s the case?

Best patch ever. Everything is fine. GW2 still has strong growth (no I dont have access to Anet’s stats I am guessing but the people guessing the opposite are ignorant idiots.)

I think we should leave GW2 to the elitists and see how far that takes them.

Fyrebrand.4859:

I’m not currently eating, either — but I haven’t been “burnt out on food.”

Actually, now that I think about it, that just shows how ridiculous the OP’s reasoning really is. He’s basically saying that if forums and websites for recipes/cooking were steadily increasing, it’s an indicator that people in general are “bored or burnt out” on food. Do we really think that’s the case?

Analogy fail.

i dont know, i go to the tank forums all the time and there have been less posts in the past couple of months than usual…but the population keeps going up.

Hi everyone

Since this thread has derailed we are closing it.
Please refrain from this behaviour in the future.
Thanks