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15:05, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Lifespan of Games and Players?

Posted by CaptainHellrazor
CaptainHellrazor
member, 6 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 06:13
  • msg #1

Lifespan of Games and Players?

Does anyone have any idea what the average life span of game is?  Or how long the average player stays in any particular game?  I have not been on this site very long but from what I have seen there seems to be a pretty high turn over of players and GMs are always looking for new/replacement players
Jarodemo
member, 823 posts
My hovercraft
is full of eels
Wed 20 May 2020
at 06:33
  • msg #2

Lifespan of Games and Players?

In reply to CaptainHellrazor (msg # 1):

I don’t think there are any actual stats, just anecdotal evidence. I do know of some games that have been running for over 10 years, still with some original players. I think that the key is an active GM. This gives the game energy and stability, and encourages good players to stay.

My biggest bugbear is GMS that put out an advert for players, get half a dozen RTJs within a few hours, then close the game off immediately. That is hardly quality control, and doesn’t allow for other possible players with different schedules or in different time zones to actually consider a character concept and formulate a reply. A few weeks later they are invariably recruiting for replacement players, and do the same again. If the GM actually takes time to consider applications and select the best of the bunch then they are more likely to get a better quality group of players, rather than the 4 or 5 players who happened to be online in the few hours after they posted their advert.

And yes I am aware that certain games will attract more potential players, especially D&D games, but then it is up to the GM to give stricter RTJ criteria to force potential players to come up with an appropriate concept rather than just cut and paste their latest character idea that they have been touting around.
Yaztromo
supporter, 357 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 07:00
  • msg #3

Lifespan of Games and Players?

In order to have a stable game, you need an active GM, dedicated players and clear participation rules (that need to be applied).
It takes time, for a GM, to find a group of dedicated, reliable players (they are a minority in all PbP websites, perhaps because there is no "face" involvement on line and you don't have the same commitment that you'd have face to face). Hiring on the "players  needed" forum is therefore a hit and miss exercise: you need to know it, and you need to accept that most of the players openly hired there will not prove reliable (...and act on it accordingly).
Once there is a stable group of players, that know and respect each other, it is easy for any of them (player or GM) to start new games, inviting first the players that they know (many people create "white lists" and, only after they have a core group of reliable players in their games, they open the invitations to all other players on the forum or go out, hiring from time to time, hoping they will find some other reliable player to add to the group. This way, "stable" games are "born" from other stable games, reinforcing a reliable and stable group of players, that can play together, sometimes with different or changing roles, for several years.
Otherwise, it is always a struggle and you need to be really lucky.
PCO.Spvnky
member, 434 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 07:16
  • msg #4

Lifespan of Games and Players?

GM and player compatibility.  Some gms and players don't mesh, just like in real life.  Sometimes players don't mesh with each other (I've found this to often be the case on rpol).
azzuri
member, 530 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 07:53
  • msg #5

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

Jarodemo:
My biggest bugbear is GMS that put out an advert for players, get half a dozen RTJs within a few hours, then close the game off immediately.

Yes, the first players in are most often the first players out. The grass is always greener in the next game for these players.
donsr
member, 1934 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 10:47
  • msg #6

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

For my part.

 My games have  all been around since  2011, or  so, the two slower games,don't have  anyone who started them left, though  , the fantasy game has a player  who found me 2 years ago . He played on the Yahoo site the ga,me started on 10 years before.

My most active  game is  9+ years..i have 1 charter member left... i alos have three who left because of RL, come back, last last year

 in games i am in?  some don't last more then a few months... I am in one game that the GM changes  names  to keep it 'alive', but she negects it, some because of RL, some because she's busy on another  Site

 In the  end?.. Games will last if the GM is active and , recruits active players, and  doesn't  keep 'problem ' folks around.

 There are two reasons people  come in here an play... Fun, and escape.. so you keep the game moving, and you make sure you have good players.

 I will also point out, that your  'core of vets', should step up and help newer folks as well..I am lucky, i have that!
Yaztromo
supporter, 358 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 10:58
  • msg #7

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

In reply to donsr (msg # 6):

Having a "core" group of players can indeed make a very positive difference.
donsr
member, 1935 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 11:32
  • msg #8

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

yep  Yaz, you  alluded to that in your post. I have had some folks who start out nice, then demand  things?.. that doesn't happen... especially for rookies. I have folks who paid their dues  and help make the game what it is, those   whiney  types either walk away , or get cut...but?  Its really nice when a player   comes  in, gets the feel of the  flow of the game and becomes solid!

 one of the hardest things to do, for a long running game, is get new folks 'caught up', between 'note  threads" that would be common Knowledge.. and questions asked in OOC or PMs..the player and the character   learn at the same rate...like watching a good  war/SCI-Fi movie when  replacements come in, and have to earn thier  stripe and  get caught up on the officers  and the routines on the ship  ect ect

 iuts not easy..bvut if the GM isn't putting the work in to make  his/her  game live?  the players  can't!
CaptainHellrazor
member, 9 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 11:35
  • msg #9

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

Everything you guys are saying makes sense.  It also makes me think there could be a new "wanted" category.

Wanted - GMs
Wanted - Players
Wanted - Other GMs to play my game :)
praguepride
member, 1618 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Wed 20 May 2020
at 11:53
  • msg #10

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

If there were stats on games I would imagine they would be very front loaded. Something like 75% of games fail within the first month. After that you would see a very long tail because when you have a dedicated GM and you get some players who stick around games can go on for a very long time. I'm currently running several multi-year games and I still have players from the original RTJs.
donsr
member, 1936 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 11:53
  • msg #11

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

::chuckles::  Captain!.. I think everyone of my players   are a GM, or have been one somewhere..including RL face to face games in some part of the world.

 my lone  'charter member' has a game he took over when the  GM  left and asked him to keep it  alive

 its sorta nice to get a  PM when somehting happens. or  an NPCs   is doing somehting  and the player  asked  'i didn't see this coming?, what happened"

 for the most part, they never get a detailed  reason, but  enough of   'why' so they understand...

 the rest is 'behind the curtain, and they have to  wait and find out, just like thier characters!
CaptainHellrazor
member, 10 posts
Wed 20 May 2020
at 11:59
  • msg #12

Re: Lifespan of Games and Players?

I just joined a game here where the game has been going for 15 years.
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