| Forum » General » Theories on why Striker Manager isn't popular (your thoughts?) | Date | |
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Fiscal
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I agree with pretty much everything Buckeye has said (not that I also don't agree with others, too). I don't think the game should be dumbed down either, and would gladly pay more to use a better, more sophisticated game. For that I would have higher expectations, naturally. One thing does seem odd to me, though. I have paid to use the game. More than some and less than others, I'd imagine, but still something. Why hasn't U-Play ever contacted those who it knows are prepared to pay? I don't want to bombarded with emails every week, not saying that, but I just find it odd that in 3½ years playing the game they haven't done what surely most companies have/would do and make contact with their customer base. I reiterate - I would never want to receive spam from any company, and I'd be the first to block it if I thought it was getting too much, but I find it very weird that while other companies are ramming ads all over the screen and showing (no doubt expensive) commercials on TV, U-Play has never taken even very primative steps towards CRM or surveying its user base. I think it's a great game and a great achievement from the devs, but it does seem to be being torn in 2 ways. Those who want a more detailed gaming experience and would pay for improvements in that direction, and those who think the current version is too expensive and would rather see a less complex, free to play game with lots of advertising (at least I assume that's what they expect to happen). Why isn't is popular? In terms of retaining current users I'd say I don't think U-Play has made adequate steps towards getting to know those who are actually supporting the game and asking what they want. Now the game looks a bit shabby and I would imagine that the dichotomy of users doesn't appeal to either group. Perhaps there was a rush to make it mobile-friendly, too, and it couldn't keep people on both sides of the camp happy and has come to just a few too many compromises for some users. For new users, as I think has already been said here - the challenge looks insurmountable to most, when they see that to leave Div 5 you probably need to have a 70avg squad and they're handed one in Div 6 not even 30 avg, and it will take at least 6 months to get there. I like that aspect, but maybe new users do not. The game looks dated. On the landing page it displays that it was some body's choice for "best browser game 2009" - even that accolade, however hard-earned, is a little old. The users that stayed with the game probably showed more determination to get to know and overcome many of the challenges and idiosyncracies of the game - the shoddy translations, the clumsy navigation and the buggy sims (negative ones) and the advanced formations and training tables (positive ones). Perhaps that's more of a leap for most new users than what I remember it being. Just my thoughts. Edited by sicox86 10-02-2015 18:19 |
10/02/2015 17:19 |
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Short indeed jason. When i was 1month+ in this game i didnt know where the forum is and you know things most people dont know so take this as compliment. |
10/02/2015 17:54 |
| Mr. Q17 - Div1/Gr1 | ||
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Then I apologise Brezzette, sometimes I find compliments awkward or mistake them for sarcasm or insincerity, especially when written! Anyway, back on topic; not finding the forums quickly may have been because, as sicox86 pointed out, a lack of clear instructions, or maybe because of the layout. I completely agree that instructions or guides can be really important, especially for a free online game that could easily attract casual gamers or those new to some of the features in Striker Manager. Advanced Formations, for example, is such a fantastic and unique feature, and really easy to use and so logically designed, it's surely worthwhile encouraging and instructing people on how to make use of this. But the idea appears to be to have Fiscals and forum users take control of instructing newcomers. The same issue exists with the new game so I guess it's just not considered important. |
10/02/2015 21:46 |
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Buckeye623 said: There's a down side with every asserted positive. You can't "make it more competitive for n00bz" without also making the game less complex. That's a mathematical certainty - not something for the devs to "overcome." Actually the new game has achieved this. And the solution is rather simple, although I expect the execution proved to be a challenge. The AI simply plays better! Of course there's plenty of room for improvement but it's a significant step forward. It would appear to be a completely new game engine which is why I imagine it's taken some work to get as far as it has, and possibly why it's impossible to implement such changes in this game. But it now means that you don't have to play around with Advanced formations to compete. It's still an advantage to do this, but it's less essential with the new game and it allows newcomers and casual gamers to compete. The food chain, if you like, has been evened up a little. Sure the experienced gamer with the better team, who tinkers with the settings will invariably win, but now the casual gamer isn't completely ineffective. The game mechanics and features remain the same so now hardcore gamers are catered for, as are casual gamers and newcomers. I'm sure as the game engine developers further it stands a very good opportunity of simulating a reasonably decent, and more importantly, exciting game of football, albeit still a unique and 'alternate universe' version of the sport. For me this is the most significant improvement, but to counteract that praise; the AI and the game engine still need a lot of work, but it's certainly a good start. And it surely benefits all gamers when the industry recognise the problem, and specifically work on allowing the casual and hardcore gamer to fully enjoy the same game. Everyone wins (except the teams that lose!!!). There'll never be a substitute for experience, skill and micro-management but as these improvements ultimately mean everyone has more competition we're all the richer for it. So 'hardcore' features in a game that casual gamers can fully enjoy too. Edited by JensonJet 10-02-2015 22:55 |
10/02/2015 22:53 |
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No need to apologize my questions were direct and strange. | 10/02/2015 23:11 |
| Mr. Q17 - Div1/Gr1 | ||
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JensonJet said: Buckeye623 said: There's a down side with every asserted positive. You can't "make it more competitive for n00bz" without also making the game less complex. That's a mathematical certainty - not something for the devs to "overcome." Actually the new game has achieved this. And the solution is rather simple, although I expect the execution proved to be a challenge. The AI simply plays better! Of course there's plenty of room for improvement but it's a significant step forward. It would appear to be a completely new game engine which is why I imagine it's taken some work to get as far as it has, and possibly why it's impossible to implement such changes in this game. But it now means that you don't have to play around with Advanced formations to compete. It's still an advantage to do this, but it's less essential with the new game and it allows newcomers and casual gamers to compete. Edited by JensonJet 10-02-2015 22:55 This is exactly Buckeye's point. SM2 is less complex. Removing Adv Form makes the game closer to a quick facebook like game that Brezette spoke about. Adv Form isn't something 'to avoid playing around with,' Adv Form is what makes it possible for lower avg teams to compete against superior teams. |
10/02/2015 23:50 |
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Is this the SM2 on the spanish server or was SM2 english server finally online? And to chip in to this interesting topic, I despise these new easy ready to play microwave users that think that by just showing up they should win just cause they joined or bc they watch futbol. All you see now is this graveyard of SM deserters who havent shown up in months or users who have been playing for 3-4 months and beg you to organize their team bc they are tired of losing. If you really cant take sometime to actually learn the game this is not the game for you. The most interesting part of this game is the intricacies of the game & the levels of detail in the right places(not the simulation, obviously). Focusing primarily behind the scenes of a futbol club before a game, everything else in extracurricular & fills the game up superficially. I do believe that part of the problem of its "failing" is marketing. Also following up on your consumers by prompting past buyers w/ alerts promotions & such would also help, which from some comments i read is non existent. Someone else mentioned the fact that it takes awhile for new users to use the forum & all its information, this is also why many new users leave. P.S. Side note on a suggestion someone put out of reseting the servers, although i might not agree w/ it i will consider that maybe reseting it every year might appeal to new users & compel them to stay. Maybe a pick'em & play scenario will work allowing users an almost random team/player selections and the user will have to play w/ them train them for a full year then restart once again.... maybe? |
11/02/2015 03:47 |
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Vgates, The new game has Advanced Formations. It's exactly like this game in that respect. Slightly different design, but uses the same concept. The difference is because the AI/game simulation is more capable (players can move better without exact instruction - just like any other football game) it's possible for a newcomer to play the game and be competitive without touching Advanced Formations. Unfortunately the instructions on using them are exactly as they are in this game, so it's not made any easier for newcomers to learn. I guess U-Play love keeping you guys busy answering peoples questions and queries. Buckeye suggested you have to simplify the game for newcomers. The new game demonstrates that you can keep hardcore features yet still make the game accessible to newcomers. But it's early days so maybe all that will be left in a few years will be hardcore gamers playing that one. Who knows, but I don't think so. The game is certainly no less complex than this and I would go so far as to suggest that game is more difficult than this one. It's harder work to upgrade buildings, and there are more to upgrade, and it's much harder to make money, and there more competitive teams. If anyone thinks the new game is purely for newcomers and is easier to play I would say that's not really the case. The big visual change, with its cartoon graphics, and more visual interface are deceptive and make the game appear more simplistic and more approachable to casual gamers. I don't think it was necessary as realistic graphics don't seem to have hurt the big commercial football games. Anyway I know there's a strong anti-Striker Manager 2 feeling amongst players of this game, and that's fine, I also prefer this game because it's more polished (and doesn't keep going offline) but to discount the new one as simple and less hardcore isn't the case. |
11/02/2015 04:53 |
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SM2 is horseshit, it's like they merged SM and farmville but took away the better parts of SM. It is a very childish game too and needs an abhorrent amount of gbs to keep up and that's not me being cheap as anyone who knows me will know I have no problem buying gbs here for myself or my friends. But back on point the reason this server does not hold on to managers is the gulf in average between the old users and the new starters. I would support a reset if we were given a couple of seasons notice. Then they could advertise the shit out of the server and hopefully get some new users. Also there is not much help around for new users, it would be good if you were automatically signed into general chat as soon as you logged in it would help I think. | 11/02/2015 12:53 |
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I strongly believe the main reason why SM isn´t popular is the lack of marketing. Worst games are more successful just because appropriate marketing operations. SM2 is too boring to me, I joined twice and enough is enough. | 11/02/2015 13:14 |
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