king achilles wrote:So there are at least 2 types of CC gamers - a casual gamer and a hardcore gamer.
A casual gamer who plays for fun and doesn't really mind if he loses or wins.
A hardcore gamer who is more passionate about the game and looks after his rank, points, medals and other stats (at least something like that).
I think, this is somewhat besides the point. The main question/distinction here is: Old/new players.
Once people are hooked into the site, some stick to playing casual games and never get involved with the community (forums, clans, tournaments, etc.), others get involved more deeply. Some care about points/rank/medals, others not. Some prefer old school Risk style maps, some the tricky & special maps. There are many different ways how to use & enjoy the site, but that is not the point here.
The point here is how to get new players hooked. The point is new players coming to the site, most of them probably after googling for "Risk Online", and what their first impression is, and why so many of them leave & never come back. And the reasons are pretty obvious:
The CC interface will lead these people to either the "Join a Game" page (filled with obscure games with obscure maps & settings, that have nothing to do with the game they came here for) or the "Start a Game" page (an overwhelming mess of maps, options & settings, that is hard to navigate for new people).
Solution: Re-vamp the interface. natty dreads posts on the matter have been very good.
a) Make 2 "Join a Game" pages. One for "Beginners" (only showing Sequential Standard games on standard maps), one including everything. Or simply hide all the special games by default, with an expand button "Show advanced/expert games", or something.
b) Hide all the special settings on the "Start a Game" & "Find a Game" pages too, yet again with an expand button "Show advanced/expert settings".
c) Create map categories. Separate the old school Risk style maps from the rest. Only include the standard Risk maps in "Beginners" Join/Find/Start a Game pages. With an expand button to unlock the rest.
And the second big issue, that makes people leave & never come back, as pointed out repeatedly: The long waiting time between turns. Just imagine the activity, if every Freemium would be allowed to play 1 Speed game at a time.
Consider it, and consider other incentives for buying Premium. 1 Speed Game with 5 Minutes turns for Freemiums, unlimited Speed Games with 1,2,3,4,5 Minutes turns for Premiums. Just for example.