Activity

[Nathan]

This image is pretty sad to look at. On a given day, we might see some spikes of up to 30 people but regularly, it never goes above 5.

Generally curious, why do you no longer login and play anymore? Is there something specific that you wish should happen?

For me personally, I login into RageMP once a week because of real life commitments. When I do login, I spend a maximum of 30 minutes before either going AFK or playing something else - primarily because when I login, there might be only one or two players online. If more people would login, I'd be more motivated to play RageMP. Instead, I switched over to playing other games instead. I'm also waiting on the new server script as well so I'm not as motivated to grind in-game knowing that there is a new server around the corner.

Huge notice: This isn't a thread to critique HQ, Owners, or staff members. Instead, I'd love to open up the floor instead to focus within ourselves (players) and see where we can be helpful.

I believe this has to be a group effort and one single person can't do everything alone.

What can WE (players) do to bring up community activity?

[Lazar.]

We players can't change anything because we don't have rights to,but sure with the help of HQ we can rise again where we have been.

As a veteran of this community,i have right to suggest some couple of ideas/suggestions. Some may feel bad and some may feel good about them but that is the reality since this is still a game.

First of all,changing all the strict rules since we are light roleplay server and we dont need to have rules like we are in heavy RP server.
Second, adding two or three very very active helpers with ability to /goto [id] so they should meet every new player and give them a warm welcome  and meet them with the script and with the server.
Third, giving chance to the groups/families/clans rise up again and bring couple of roleplayers in the server,that will automaticly rise the SAPD officers being active back again.
Fourth:Remove all inactive staff and hire active players who are really willing to help to this community.
Fifth and the last, ban all toxic players,because i was one of them but now i am learning from my mistakes.


I personaly think that if these ideas and suggestions are implemented, we will have a rise in activity atleast for 50%,especially in SA:MP.
Feel free to reply in my ideas as i am prepared to debate and talk about them.

[Stefos]

In my opinion, the server script-wise is fine. It could be better, yes, since we're all used to the same scripts, we currently have no developer so that's a bit of an issue.
That being said, since we're all used to the same scripts, it gets boring after a while (I personally don't mind them).
That's when actual roleplay needs to get involved. Anyone can think of any idea to start a character, or a roleplay scene.
We need to motivate each other to keep playing here. Seeing people having fun, makes others wanna have fun as well, so they join to see what's up.
We're a community afterall.

We players can't change anything because we don't have rights to,but sure with the help of HQ we can rise again where we have been.
As a veteran of this community,i have right to suggest some couple of ideas/suggestions. Some may feel bad and some may feel good about them but that is the reality since this is still a game.

We currently have no formal 'HQ', but any suggestions you guys forward to any of the staffs are discussed within the staff team.

First of all,changing all the strict rules since we are light roleplay server and we dont need to have rules like we are in heavy RP server.

There's no such thing as "strict rules". There's stuff like "strict" punishments, and it all depends on how you take such punishment. If you do something wrong, knowing it's wrong, and start complaining about it while an admin confronts you, then that's where it gets 'strict'.

Second, adding two or three very very active helpers with ability to /goto [id] so they should meet every new player and give them a warm welcome  and meet them with the script and with the server.

Suggested this a while back, didn't discuss it much though.

Third, giving chance to the groups/families/clans rise up again and bring couple of roleplayers in the server,that will automaticly rise the SAPD officers being active back again.

Everyone has a chance. Elaborate please?

Fourth:Remove all inactive staff and hire active players who are really willing to help to this community.

Some of us have some real life stuff going on + it's exams season.
If anyone feels like they're capable enough and are willing to put effort, go ahead and apply here.

Fifth and the last, ban all toxic players,because i was one of them but now i am learning from my mistakes.

As said, everyone has a chance. If you're toxic, you're most likely going to get some sense knocked into you verbally by staff. If staff see that you're not improving your attitude or at least not trying to improve, then that's when a ban needs to take place. Up to you.

[JDC]

I believe this topic is needed, and I would like to hear players' suggestions as well. I cannot speak for the reason of not logging in as I came back to the community relatively recently (and maintain a decent amount of activity), but I would especially like to hear from those who lost the motivation to play.

On the SA:MP end, we are limited in the changes that we can make at the moment due to the lack of a dedicated Scripter. But if there's anything the Staff team can implement despite the current limitations, we will welcome ideas and help from our players. If there is something our players can spearhead to help things, I believe our Staff team is ready and willing to support you, myself included.

Lastly, two advance reminders:
1.) Please do not turn this topic into a back-and-forth. As we are discussing reasons for our lowered activity, sensitive sentiments or hurt feelings may be brought up. But I believe the storm that got us here has passed - meaning the time for blaming who was responsible for what is over, and now is the time for us to discuss how to rebuild.
2.) I would like to hear from current regulars as well as those loyal players who lost motivation to play, as HQ/Admins cannot rebuild without you. But for those who deliberately sabotaged Argonath in the past (e.g. stole players for malicious communities) and will just come back to take a shit on this topic, this is not the place for you.

[Kessu]

But for those who deliberately sabotaged Argonath in the past (e.g. stole players for malicious communities) and will just come back to take a shit on this topic, this is not the place for you.

We will monitor this topic closely and it if starts becoming an argument we will remove the people from the topic who wish to argue instead of having constructive discussion.

Keep it civil and keep your "opinions" of others to yourself.

Personal note from me as well, we are interested to hear your (the players) thoughts (not just in SA:MP, but every other part of community as well) on the subject.

I personally know the reason for VC:MP's lower activity and it is no surprise.

[Mac Taylor]

Hello,

As many others said, I hope this topic stays peaceful and just for discussions/suggestions and not for finger pointing.


For the IV:MP server; the problem is pretty much complicated for it; the reason that no one really plays the game is due to the lack of interesting features for the server. We have tried to push a new server in a new client with many new features, but unfortunately the client was shut down. (CitizenIV)...IV:MP client (the current client) was about to get shut down too, but someone has bought it and he keeps it running.

All former IVMP players have moved to V:MP already, because the fact that mostly those who can run IV, can also run V in low graphics pretty fine. I personally see that the IVMP server can just stay as a nostaliga revive place for us. We don't have a dedicated developer at the moment to script for the server, or in other words, we don't have a good client with better features make a server on. Then I personally sometimes thinks, is it worth paying our efforts and developer's to make a server on GTA IV? I honestly don't see a need for paying efforts for it anymore other than just organizing a day or two each week/month to revive our nostaliga.

Anyway, for the V:MP part, our situation is pretty much known to everyone who is part of our Discord, we do not care about activity for the current server, because we know very well that everyone is bored from the poor features that the current server has. We don't honestly wish to pay efforts to revive activity for the current server, instead we are paying the efforts for building the new server which is still being worked on.

Even if we have gone a little bit silent in public to you guys, that does not mean we have left the new server aside, we are still working on the server, building it up, discussing ideas, organizing them...and maybe soon we will publish a little update.

 
I can not speak about SA:MP, but I see only one problem that's not just SAMP player's problem but mostly the whole community member's.
The creativity and mentality of players in roleplay experience... Groups, gangs, families, factions or even solo players, everyone follow a routine with little to no creativity in their character roleplay. I think that's not a problem that's on HQ's or Admin Team's hand, that's a problem on every member's of this community. I am not fingerpointing anyone, I am generalizing that most of our roleplay lacks the depth, lacks a mystery in the roleplay.  Some intelligence, play smart, not just wake up to join the game to either go hunt for weed or start your police duty to patrol around weedfields only...etc. I am not blaming anyone, or specifically talking about SAMP players only, but it's just a common problem in the mentality of the community players.

You should have a long-term goal of your group, family or faction. All of your actions should be connected and of a good reason, for example if you are in a criminal group, and you decided to go  kidnap someone, you don't kidnap just for fun or just to create a scenario for one hour and just go, or interact  with the police...no, you kidnap someone that you know he has a lead to your goal, to your gang's goal.

Let's say the most important problem at the moment is the quality of the roleplay that you wish to bring to others, think with yourself, do you see yourself as a good roleplayer? Pay some efforts to do some searches and improve your roleplay, if you improve your roleplay experience, everyone else will enjoy to join the game to roleplay with you, same if everyone did the same thing, you will enjoy to join them.

Back to the idea of your family's or gang's goal, I think that the most effective role in the server is the gangs, families and factions, so if each family/gang/group has a long-term goal, which is not just grinding money, but put some depth and mystery in the goal, then each member of the group know that he will join the game to have fun hunting their groups' goal in a mysterious and smarter way.

To sum up, change your habits, instead of joining to do the same routine everyday, no pick a different goal and work towards it in a different and creative way.

[Nathan]

For the IV:MP server; the problem is pretty much complicated for it; the reason that no one really plays the game is due to the lack of interesting features for the server. We have tried to push a new server in a new client with many new features, but unfortunately the client was shut down. (CitizenIV)...IV:MP client (the current client) was about to get shut down too, but someone has bought it and he keeps it running.

All former IVMP players have moved to V:MP already, because the fact that mostly those who can run IV, can also run V in low graphics pretty fine. I personally see that the IVMP server can just stay as a nostaliga revive place for us.

Does it make sense to have IV:MP running? If majority of players moved on, I feel that perhaps it might be good to have one last "hurrah" and close on good terms with the focus of bringing whatever remaining player base over to V:MP?

[Kowalski.]

For the IV:MP server; the problem is pretty much complicated for it; the reason that no one really plays the game is due to the lack of interesting features for the server. We have tried to push a new server in a new client with many new features, but unfortunately the client was shut down. (CitizenIV)...IV:MP client (the current client) was about to get shut down too, but someone has bought it and he keeps it running.

All former IVMP players have moved to V:MP already, because the fact that mostly those who can run IV, can also run V in low graphics pretty fine. I personally see that the IVMP server can just stay as a nostaliga revive place for us.

Does it make sense to have IV:MP running? If majority of players moved on, I feel that perhaps it might be good to have one last "hurrah" and close on good terms with the focus of bringing whatever remaining player base over to V:MP?

Could say the same for Minecraft, there was initial hype but it seems to have died down. That doesn't mean the server oughta be shut down.

I think there are revival possibilities we should discuss. Might pitch some once some opinions are given.

[Nylez]

Does it make sense to have IV:MP running? If majority of players moved on, I feel that perhaps it might be good to have one last "hurrah" and close on good terms with the focus of bringing whatever remaining player base over to V:MP?

If a server part of the community is inactive and you notice it and then decide rather to try to make it active, maybe that particular community needs to shut down, then I think the problem of the majority of people is shown right there. My apologies for taking your message as an example for what I am trying to say Nathan, it is in NO way meant personally at you.

VC:MP is the only community I actively play in with the occasional visit to SA:MP. Whenever I play on either server I just like to do my thing and leave my mark on that particular server by spreading crates around the map, request to get a change or two for the benefit of the server or even just fuck around with one of the newbies that joins in!

It seems to me the problem has never been server wise or script wise. Players expect way too much for doing way too little (Sorry for generalizing, this of course doesn't count for every single player). If you're a regular who actually likes to play in a certain community like IV:MP or Minecraft or VC:MP or which-ever other server but you notice the server is empty. Why not organize something yourself, no matter how small?

To me the servers of Argonath has always been about the players, no matter what anyone else thinks. You want to play? You want to have fun? Do your own part to make sure YOU have that fun. Having a positive, active and fun community is not done by talking, it's done by action.

[Sawyer]

A combination of many facts. The truth is that nobody can really know why.

Some say lack of management, others say lack of scripts, others blame the owners, some blame the admins and many blame it on time passing and so on.
The truth lies somewhere in between; a mixture of all of the above.

Where do we go from here? Simple. Get IG. Start playing. Guide newcomers and keep them interested in sticking around not by jaw-dropping scripts but by experience and great display of skills and self improvement.  At the end of the day friendship is what keeps everyone playing.

If half of the people using the forums were this active IG, most of the servers would've been thriving as we speak.

[Astaroth]

I believe this topic is needed, and I would like to hear players' suggestions as well. I cannot speak for the reason of not logging in as I came back to the community relatively recently (and maintain a decent amount of activity), but I would especially like to hear from those who lost the motivation to play.

On the SA:MP end, we are limited in the changes that we can make at the moment due to the lack of a dedicated Scripter. But if there's anything the Staff team can implement despite the current limitations, we will welcome ideas and help from our players. If there is something our players can spearhead to help things, I believe our Staff team is ready and willing to support you, myself included.

Lastly, two advance reminders:
1.) Please do not turn this topic into a back-and-forth. As we are discussing reasons for our lowered activity, sensitive sentiments or hurt feelings may be brought up. But I believe the storm that got us here has passed - meaning the time for blaming who was responsible for what is over, and now is the time for us to discuss how to rebuild.
2.) I would like to hear from current regulars as well as those loyal players who lost motivation to play, as HQ/Admins cannot rebuild without you. But for those who deliberately sabotaged Argonath in the past (e.g. stole players for malicious communities) and will just come back to take a shit on this topic, this is not the place for you.

Honestly dude, just make you a manager and start giving people what they want. Enforce a bit stricter property rules to stop people from logging in just to pay taxes and never again, promote the server, regulate group privileges a bit better and I think we'll have a chance.

[KenAdams]

If half of the people using the forums were this active IG, most of the servers would've been thriving as we speak.

This^,

Honestly dude, just make you a manager and start giving people what they want. Enforce a bit stricter property rules to stop people from logging in just to pay taxes and never again, promote the server, regulate group privileges a bit better and I think we'll have a chance.

And this^


I strongly believe that if people just get in-game by themselves, rather than doing the "@samp(or w/e server) players" command over Discord, just to see how many players are in-game; we'll be reaching 20+ every single day.

I joined this community last September. On the first day in SA:MP server, it was just me and Gruia and maybe Dean. But they weren't feeling like leaving the server because it was eMpTy, they were rather happy to help me out. As a regular and an admirer of this community, I strongly believe that if we get ourselves in-game with our own motivation, there wouldn't be any need to ponder about the inactivity.

All we have to do is let go of previous grudges and just get in-game to help each other and the newcomers, giving them a reason to STAY.

People of this Community,
Ask not what Argonath did for you;
Ask what YOU can do for Argonath.
Even a small contribution from our part will make Argonath great again.

[Mario_Rinna]

What can WE (players) do to bring up community activity?

Is it the players' job though?

Argonath gained its playerbase when gta role-play was still something fresh and new, and thus expectations were lower. You could get away with less. What's a template now wasn't so cliché and overused; moreover, people weren't afraid to experiment and innovate. Argonath stood out, and others copied it. There were times, say, in 2009, when SA-MP client would crash every 10 min, and people still played and didn't give a fuck, and it was fine.

Back in the day, this was a world of its own; now, it feels like a spin-off of a spin-off.

You can be a cop or a criminal? You can own a house and car in your server? Pfft, every server has that now. Why should people play in your server and not some other? What do you have that others don't? Popular servers can answer these questions better than we can right now.

[Gird3r]

As another reason, I'd add that people grow up and kids/teenagers want to play instant gratification games even more now so than when we were young.
I'd even be as nasty as to argue that the overall intellect (not purely IQ in this case, altough it matters alot) of your average so called "gamer" has gone down significantly due to a lack of good education + this education being intentionally steered towards killing critical thinking. Making the instant gratification crowd ever more prevalent.
By instant gratification I mean a consistent behaviour of playing low skill games with very little thought involved, flashy colors (Fortnite), or even mobile games where you basically need to pay for a win. Doing it sometimes does not count and is something we all do sometimes when we want quick "fun".

You'd be hard pressed to find someone to sit down for a D&D session for example that is younger than say 18-20. They do exist of course but it's RARE.
SA-MP has also not been updated since 2015, if the main page is to be belivied, such things does not instill confidence no matter how old a history the client has.
I'm surprised to see the playercount at 25000 however (if the player count still works), but it would not surprise me if alot of them are slot bots.

But yhea, not having a dedicated scripter is kinda meh. But kinda hard to reqruit those from ages 18> when we are in the covid circus and people need money extra badly, working for free is not really a option.
A catch 22 because most people won't be able to donate either so it becomes hard to pay such a scripter (but don't quote me on that, I have absolutely no access to Argonath financials and it's pure speculation).

I myself have nothing to do, but it would be foolish of me to try to learn PAWN (I'd never match up to the old scripters anyways), + I am burned out and any small odd things I do here and there are on my timeframe. I have enough pressure with what little remains of my will and energy. Being "dedicated" is simply not possible 

[Badandy]

But yhea, not having a dedicated scripter is kinda meh. But kinda hard to reqruit those from ages 18> when we are in the covid circus and people need money extra badly, working for free is not really a option.
A catch 22 because most people won't be able to donate either so it becomes hard to pay such a scripter (but don't quote me on that, I have absolutely no access to Argonath financials and it's pure speculation).

I myself have nothing to do, but it would be foolish of me to try to learn PAWN (I'd never match up to the old scripters anyways), + I am burned out and any small odd things I do here and there are on my timeframe. I have enough pressure with what little remains of my will and energy. Being "dedicated" is simply not possible 

Am I not considered a dedicated SAMP scripter?