The Forums Are Now Closed!

The content will remain as a historical reference, thank you.

Future of the Community

By on June 18, 2009 1:25:30 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

So I've concluded that Demigod may be headed for a destination of which I am not particularly fond. Games that have small communities, but strongly competitive elements, will initially discourage new players. Frustrating game outcomes and a massive skill and experience gap will quickly turn new players away, preventing growth. As the game ages, many of the more casual players will leave, and only the veterans and competitive players will remain. Thus, if we maintain the status quo, the community may be incapable of growing at the rate it needs to grow to become accessible to a wider audience.

The above thoughts worry me, as I want Demigod to grow. Unfortunately, I don't know of any way to remedy the situation, other than influx of new owners through a major marketing push or the like. Am I perhaps getting ahead of myself, or does anyone share these concerns?

Cheers!

+41 Karma | 23 Replies
June 18, 2009 2:38:06 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Demigod just needs more players, Demigod is selling pretty good atm from what I hear, I see more custom games and quicker pantheon matches which is encouraging.

Im not too worried about demigod's gap in player skill killing it(if thats what you were trying to say), the game has a learning curve just like every other RTS, I do think GPG needs to focus more on Demigod then Elemental though,

Things like a Demigod demo and new demigods are needed sooner then later

 

Just some thoughts,

-Foreshadowed

June 18, 2009 2:40:18 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Yeah, I definitely think that a more functional Pantheon will allow for more casual play. Custom games seem to be more organized (pre-mades, etc.), so Pantheon needs to serve as the skill-based matchmaking mode.

June 18, 2009 2:44:01 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

What this game really needs is an easier way to make friends online and clan support. I know this is going to be implemented, but with a game so focused on teamwork it makes me wonder why this wasn't included from day 1.

June 18, 2009 3:01:54 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting JagerJack,
What this game really needs is an easier way to make friends online and clan support. I know this is going to be implemented, but with a game so focused on teamwork it makes me wonder why this wasn't included from day 1.

Indeed! I tend to only continue with an online game if I find a group of fun people. If a game makes it difficult to effectively communicate with others, players may not make any in-game friends, and as a result, they may see little reason to keep playing.

June 18, 2009 3:05:43 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Demo should help.

June 18, 2009 3:07:26 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

I played mw 4 for i dont even know how many years, and VL kept it going nothing is better than being on ventrillo and playing things out and just messing around, when do the chat clint and clan implements come into effect??

June 18, 2009 3:13:44 AM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

I think they oughta put a buddy list in game somehow, or atleast give you the abilty to see if they are online or playing a game. The way the pantheon works it might be possible to implement a sort of skill matchmaking thing halo had... maybe based on win/loss ratio though i dont know the size of the DG community and how much that would effect time to get in a game.

For the most part i've met alot of nice people but I have no way of keeping tabs on them through the game itself, i think that should be a nice little ease of use added for new players right there, maybe let them find someone willing to give them some pointers and keep some kind of contact with them.

June 18, 2009 3:19:59 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

i think this game just needs to be advertised a lil more in australia dont think many ppl no about it as of yet

June 18, 2009 3:37:41 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

 

Unfortunately, any game eventually looses the casual players, that doesn't mean that you don't get new players, only that the player stream slows; this isn't necessarily the end of the game though.

The only way to keep new players coming in & existing players active is by keeping the game fun & adding new content.

To keep the game "fun" we definitely need a skill matching function, this should ensure that you're playing against other people that you actually have a chance of beating. Otherwise, the new players will be totally outclassed & they won't hang around for long, no one likes loosing all the time.

It usually helps when a game has a level editor & judging from Frogboys comments we should be getting this feature soon. This will help keep current players happy & interested; it will also make the game "grow".

I know that some developers host completions for maps etc. & this would definitely help build a sense of community & also boost the quality & quantity of new levels. Apparently, all custom levels will be hosted by Stardock & hopefully vetted for quality & playability at the same time.

So in short: If we as a community are allowed & encouraged to participate. DG will have a long & bright future.

June 18, 2009 5:09:44 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

...Assuming that player frustration doesn't win out before mapping tools and the like become available.

June 18, 2009 5:30:28 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting Melchiz,
...Assuming that player frustration doesn't win out before mapping tools and the like become available.

Also true...

All we can do is hope, Frogboy did promise modding support "sometime this Summer" though.

https://forums.demigodthegame.com/356550

 

June 18, 2009 1:30:49 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Sadly this game has one of the worst ommunities Ive had the displeasure to play in for as long as I can remember.

Id consider myself an average player, and my game history is about 50-50.

Yet Ive been cussed out, sworn at, told im a *** idiot etc etc etc just in the last few days, and usually by people who have no more claim to fame than myself.

Im not going to argue that Im always right. maybe I did make a mistake and not do xyz as expected by player x, but some of the reactions Ive got are just way over the top.

Im afraid its got to the stage where if anyone asks me what do I think about this game, I feel it is only fair that I warn them about the shocking playerbase.

June 18, 2009 1:51:16 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting Vladesch,
Sadly this game has one of the worst ommunities Ive had the displeasure to play in for as long as I can remember.

Id consider myself an average player, and my game history is about 50-50.

Yet Ive been cussed out, sworn at, told im a *** idiot etc etc etc just in the last few days, and usually by people who have no more claim to fame than myself.

Im not going to argue that Im always right. maybe I did make a mistake and not do xyz as expected by player x, but some of the reactions Ive got are just way over the top.

Im afraid its got to the stage where if anyone asks me what do I think about this game, I feel it is only fair that I warn them about the shocking playerbase.

 

I've only had this a couple of times but when I have had its been unacceptable. All other times have provided some of the best moments of my gaming life

June 18, 2009 1:59:17 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Notice how Frogboy always mentions that Custom Games work relatively flawlessly, yet Pantheon/Skirmish games still need some work (something which we can all attest to).  This simple fact is perhaps unfortunate for the growth of the community if, in fact, the OP is correct in his projection and analysis.  Because the elite of Demigod mostly reside in Custom Games (e.g. premades) and because most people will play what is easiest and most accessible, the casual player is likely to be cannon fodder when he chooses the most convenient route to play (i.e. Custom Games).  So, how do we solve this issue?  Make Pantheon/Skirmish matches as seamless as Custom Games.

EDIT: I have no idea why I just got so bold-happy.

June 18, 2009 2:08:20 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

1st elemental is stardoacks game not GPG

2nd custome games work atad better but they are as buggy as before.

3rd once they allow premades in path/skirm you will see custome games diminish unless they will not implement an option of what type of game you want to play. because if is randon i do not know bout everyone but when i see its dominate i leave the game.

June 18, 2009 2:10:45 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

I do think GPG needs to focus more on Demigod then Elemental though,

GPG has nothing to do with Elemental. They developed Demigod, we published it. We're developing Elemental in-house.

June 18, 2009 3:29:43 PM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

Quoting andpancakes,
Notice how Frogboy always mentions that Custom Games work relatively flawlessly, yet Pantheon/Skirmish games still need some work (something which we can all attest to).  This simple fact is perhaps unfortunate for the growth of the community if, in fact, the OP is correct in his projection and analysis.  Because the elite of Demigod mostly reside in Custom Games (e.g. premades) and because most people will play what is easiest and most accessible, the casual player is likely to be cannon fodder when he chooses the most convenient route to play (i.e. Custom Games).  So, how do we solve this issue?  Make Pantheon/Skirmish matches as seamless as Custom Games.

EDIT: I have no idea why I just got so bold-happy.

Excellent points, even with the bold!

June 18, 2009 8:09:14 PM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting Foreshadowed,

Im not too worried about demigod's gap in player skill killing it(if thats what you were trying to say), the game has a learning curve just like every other RTS, I do think GPG needs to focus more on Demigod then Supreme Commander 2 though,

Just some thoughts,

-Foreshadowed

Fixed

July 1, 2009 2:57:24 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting gkrit,
i think this game just needs to be advertised a lil more in australia dont think many ppl no about it as of yet

Poor you. I saw you looking for aussies for a long time.

July 1, 2009 4:21:10 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Quoting AnnihilatorX,

Quoting Foreshadowed, reply 1
Im not too worried about demigod's gap in player skill killing it(if thats what you were trying to say), the game has a learning curve just like every other RTS, I do think GPG needs to focus more on Supreme Commander 2 then Demigod though,

Just some thoughts,

-Foreshadowed
Fixed

Fixed, for truth.

July 1, 2009 5:35:58 AM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

From what I have seen in alpha videos, it seems that Supreme Commander 2 will duplicate Demigods DOTA style. The demigods will be highly customized ACUs and the creeps customized versions of some of the older support units. This is what concerns me about the future of Demigod.

Demigod is ultimately a team game and unless we are given the tools to support it (VOIP, map editor etc...) I can not see it surviving past post Starcraft II. Which is ashame, because there is an awesome game here with the staying power of TF2 if it is truely embraced by Stardock and GPG. The next few months will be critical. I would hate to see a game like this die. So far, I am very excited with Stardock's focus on Demigod.

July 1, 2009 10:50:05 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

Supcom2 and Starcraft2 reminds me about the Starcraft1 and Total Annihilation from 10 years ago.  Both will be around, Starcraft2 will have a community 10times bigger if not more.

Even if Gas Powered wasn't making supcom2, the resources wouldn't have gone to Demigod.  It seems to me that Demigod has a smaller budget so implementing things like extra demigods, extra maps will cost alot of money and time. 

 

July 1, 2009 11:23:23 AM from Demigod Forums Demigod Forums

There is a really good game in Demigod, so much is true. It is so different from the other RPGs and from the strategy games. It is a great blend and there is much to like about this game.

However, if the game will not get some good matchmaking system you will always find yourself waiting for matches in the pantheon or getting set up to lose in the custom games. Eventually this will be no fun at all. For a multiplayer game, the functionality of the MP aspect is surprisingly lacking. If this does not drastically improve I cannot really see myself playing this game two months from now... And that pretty much sums it up I think since I only bought this game a week ago. As it is now it has no staying power.

Stardock Forums v1.0.0.0    #108435  walnut2   Server Load Time: 00:00:00.0000297   Page Render Time:

Stardock Magazine | Register | Online Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Copyright ?? 2012 Stardock Entertainment and Gas Powered Games. Demigod is a trademark of Gas Powered Games. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights are the properties of their respective owners. Windows, the Windows Vista Start button and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and 'Games for Windows' and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. ?? 2012 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.