What can be done to reverse the decline?

[ch0rn]

The best way is to get more maps, more play modes, more stats, keep adding to the site. It just takes a really long time to see changes here, not complaining because I love playing here. But there needs to be more new stuff to keep people excited about it. You need to keep the people who are already here excited about new features and game modes just as much as you need to get new players. It just seems that any new changes take forever.

Actually, this exact thinking has directly contributed to the decline.

Bollocks.

I think tablets and mobile phones are what contributed to the decline. The way most people surf the internet is wildly different than it was 5 years ago.

[Serbia]

The best way is to get more maps, more play modes, more stats, keep adding to the site. It just takes a really long time to see changes here, not complaining because I love playing here. But there needs to be more new stuff to keep people excited about it. You need to keep the people who are already here excited about new features and game modes just as much as you need to get new players. It just seems that any new changes take forever.

Actually, this exact thinking has directly contributed to the decline.

Bollocks.

I think tablets and mobile phones are what contributed to the decline. The way most people surf the internet is wildly different than it was 5 years ago.

That's true. It's also true that this site is wildly different than it was 5 years ago. When I joined, over 8 years ago, there were about 30 some maps, very few settings, and even 1v1 wasn't available yet. For us old users, watching the site grow was part of the fun. Getting and trying out new options, it was all so fresh, and they did a fairly good job of ushering in more new maps, more new settings, etc.

Problem was, they weren't just NEW. They also got increasingly more and more complicated. There were those who were totally opposed to any new basic maps. By this time, we had maybe 50 basic maps alone; why do we need more? No, let's make conquest maps, huge maps, maps that come with a manual. And while many veteran users loved this, the casual user got left out a bit. Medal chasing became more important than having fun, and basic games got squeezed out. You join the site now, there are well over 200 maps all dumped in one spot. There are a ton of options, and it's possible to create games which have no end in site. The options, in my opinion, have the ability to drive users away.

Now I've been screaming literally FOR YEARS about having a proper sorting tool for maps, and a "basic / advanced" toggle for settings. But no, we're going to do something far more intelligent, far more worthwhile to the continued existence of this site; we're going to give the site Tic Tac Toe, because that's what ever RISK player really wants... a website on which they can play Tic Tac Toe! That famous childhood game that every 12 year old figures out is unwinnable if played correctly, and therefore no longer worth their time! And if you think THAT is utterly nonsensical and ridiculous, please go post your opinions HERE.

Bollocks.

[ch0rn]

Well, if you setup a new basic / advanced model then you would have the best of both worlds. Novice users would not be overwhelmed, and advanced users would have all their bells and whistles. It could even be setup in such a manner than specific achievements need to be met to open the advanced features so new users have something to strive for.

[Dukasaur]

Well, if you setup a new basic / advanced model then you would have the best of both worlds. Novice users would not be overwhelmed, and advanced users would have all their bells and whistles. It could even be setup in such a manner than specific achievements need to be met to open the advanced features so new users have something to strive for.

Yes.

[Serbia]

Well, if you setup a new basic / advanced model then you would have the best of both worlds. Novice users would not be overwhelmed, and advanced users would have all their bells and whistles. It could even be setup in such a manner than specific achievements need to be met to open the advanced features so new users have something to strive for.

Can you please buy this website?

Bollocks.

[owenshooter]

Well, if you setup a new basic / advanced model then you would have the best of both worlds. Novice users would not be overwhelmed, and advanced users would have all their bells and whistles. It could even be setup in such a manner than specific achievements need to be met to open the advanced features so new users have something to strive for.

i only think this has been stated/suggested a total of 58 times within this thread... as usual, yes...-Jésus noir

[IcePack]

If clans are a selling point of the site, then how open are they to new recruits? Attracting new players seems to be a running theme though this thread. As a relatively new recruit, its seems to me that Clans are around, but its not clear how to join or whom to join or what the benefits are!

If you go into the clan forum there's a thread about joining/forming clans, and then there's a dedicated sub-forum for joining as well, which generally gives a good idea of what goes on. Often I have to describe exactly how clans and clan wars operate to those interested. It might be an idea for a CD to put together some kind of clan guide to give people more of an idea. This would be useful to those not in the know, especially since clans revolve around team games and unless you know people, you're more likely to be playing singles.

In reality, clans do help retention, as long as they dont burn out people.

Forward thinking would be to install several classes of clans. Class A, B, C. Get newbies in a class A clan ASAP, get them playing with people, develop relationships, learn the ropes.

Then once they get the hang of things they can graduate to intermediate & advanced clans

Something along this lines is already in the works to make it much easier to get involved (and understand whats going on) within clans.

[owenshooter]

If clans are a selling point of the site, then how open are they to new recruits? Attracting new players seems to be a running theme though this thread. As a relatively new recruit, its seems to me that Clans are around, but its not clear how to join or whom to join or what the benefits are!

If you go into the clan forum there's a thread about joining/forming clans, and then there's a dedicated sub-forum for joining as well, which generally gives a good idea of what goes on. Often I have to describe exactly how clans and clan wars operate to those interested. It might be an idea for a CD to put together some kind of clan guide to give people more of an idea. This would be useful to those not in the know, especially since clans revolve around team games and unless you know people, you're more likely to be playing singles.

In reality, clans do help retention, as long as they dont burn out people.

Forward thinking would be to install several classes of clans. Class A, B, C. Get newbies in a class A clan ASAP, get them playing with people, develop relationships, learn the ropes.

Then once they get the hang of things they can graduate to intermediate & advanced clans

Something along this lines is already in the works to make it much easier to get involved (and understand whats going on) within clans.

sorry, clans aren't the solution... clans were very cool at the start of CC, they have evolved into a veritable suck-fest... Obscure map settings + fog for one set of home games VS. Even MORE Obscure map settings + fog for the other set of home games... yawn... they are not what is going to save CC...-Jésus noir

[IcePack]

If clans are a selling point of the site, then how open are they to new recruits? Attracting new players seems to be a running theme though this thread. As a relatively new recruit, its seems to me that Clans are around, but its not clear how to join or whom to join or what the benefits are!

If you go into the clan forum there's a thread about joining/forming clans, and then there's a dedicated sub-forum for joining as well, which generally gives a good idea of what goes on. Often I have to describe exactly how clans and clan wars operate to those interested. It might be an idea for a CD to put together some kind of clan guide to give people more of an idea. This would be useful to those not in the know, especially since clans revolve around team games and unless you know people, you're more likely to be playing singles.

In reality, clans do help retention, as long as they dont burn out people.

Forward thinking would be to install several classes of clans. Class A, B, C. Get newbies in a class A clan ASAP, get them playing with people, develop relationships, learn the ropes.

Then once they get the hang of things they can graduate to intermediate & advanced clans

Something along this lines is already in the works to make it much easier to get involved (and understand whats going on) within clans.

sorry, clans aren't the solution... clans were very cool at the start of CC, they have evolved into a veritable suck-fest... Obscure map settings + fog for one set of home games VS. Even MORE Obscure map settings + fog for the other set of home games... yawn... they are not what is going to save CC...-Jésus noir

They might not be THE solution, but they can be part of. No one forces anyone to play obscure Map settings, it's all negotiable so you can enjoy clans too if u really wanted

[CatchersMitt14]

sorry, clans aren't the solution... clans were very cool at the start of CC, they have evolved into a veritable suck-fest... Obscure map settings + fog for one set of home games VS. Even MORE Obscure map settings + fog for the other set of home games... yawn... they are not what is going to save CC...-Jésus noir

I've been on this site for a while and have gotten frustrated and taken several prolonged vacations over the years. What has finally kept me here is being a part of a clan. Owenshooter has some very good points and I quite frequently agree with him when I get the list of maps and settings from our opposing clans. I've been in clan games where it just feels relatively hopeless because the opposing team has obviously perfected their system on that obscure chosen map/setting. Something I would like to see developed would be the clan equivalent to auto-tournaments. They could allow the clan leaders to select which players (some are not always available), settings, maps, number of games, rounds, ect. could be included in the war. After which things would be automated and randomized - which members of the clan play together on any of the chosen maps and with what settings. I think it would give the opportunity to really test how well each clan is at playing the game and working as a team without all the obscurity as before mentioned. This would in no way replace the current clan war system just add another varied option to the site.

[waauw]

sorry, clans aren't the solution... clans were very cool at the start of CC, they have evolved into a veritable suck-fest... Obscure map settings + fog for one set of home games VS. Even MORE Obscure map settings + fog for the other set of home games... yawn... they are not what is going to save CC...-Jésus noir

I've been on this site for a while and have gotten frustrated and taken several prolonged vacations over the years. What has finally kept me here is being a part of a clan. Owenshooter has some very good points and I quite frequently agree with him when I get the list of maps and settings from our opposing clans. I've been in clan games where it just feels relatively hopeless because the opposing team has obviously perfected their system on that obscure chosen map/setting. Something I would like to see developed would be the clan equivalent to auto-tournaments. They could allow the clan leaders to select which players (some are not always available), settings, maps, number of games, rounds, ect. could be included in the war. After which things would be automated and randomized - which members of the clan play together on any of the chosen maps and with what settings. I think it would give the opportunity to really test how well each clan is at playing the game and working as a team without all the obscurity as before mentioned. This would in no way replace the current clan war system just add another varied option to the site.

If clan leaders come to an agreement, they can already exclude maps/settings if they want. As a side-note what do you consider the obscure maps?

[CatchersMitt14]

Right, clan leaders can set the rules. To me the idea isn't so much about excluding maps/settings as it as about bringing the war back having to demonstrate the skills to play risk and not so much about having specialist teams who always play together on the same map/setting. The format would require that all members of the clan be able to work together, I know there's people in my clan with whom I rarely play a game, and be able to play on any map/setting included in the war. I think it would help show the all around skill of the clan.

I used the word obscure to build off of the original post but I think a more appropriate term would be speciality maps. Things such as Feudal War, Antarctica, Age of Realms, Waterloo, Arms Race! - where unless you've put in time and practice to learn the nuances of the map they can be essentially won in the first few rounds while you are still attempting to figure out the winning strategy.

[waauw]

Right, clan leaders can set the rules. To me the idea isn't so much about excluding maps/settings as it as about bringing the war back having to demonstrate the skills to play risk and not so much about having specialist teams who always play together on the same map/setting. The format would require that all members of the clan be able to work together, I know there's people in my clan with whom I rarely play a game, and be able to play on any map/setting included in the war. I think it would help show the all around skill of the clan.

I used the word obscure to build off of the original post but I think a more appropriate term would be speciality maps. Things such as Feudal War, Antarctica, Age of Realms, Waterloo, Arms Race! - where unless you've put in time and practice to learn the nuances of the map they can be essentially won in the first few rounds while you are still attempting to figure out the winning strategy.

I've always found Arms Race! to be one of the easiest non-classical maps if not the easiest.
Also I understand what you mean, but it's pretty much impossible to accomplish without excluding maps from the clanwar.

[stotzi]

Graphics - I think that is the main critical point.

When I show the game to my friends, following the AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action)-model for buying processes, I have attention and even interest, because I am playing the game for some years now and my friends are interested in the online game, which can keep me entertained for so long. But the step from interest to desire is nearly unmakeable: The maps are not the problem, but the text based presentation. The game could also take place on a C64 (Commodore 64). Even the board game "Risk" has been redesigned throughout the years. It is nearly a special art, not to make such a text-based game accessible to tablets or mobile phones. It seems as if the current owner just wants to use the game for a cash cow as long as it goes and then just end the site.

The presentation of the game MUST be brought to the standards of 2015 including an excellently playable mobile version!!!

[macbone]

Stotzi, I completely agree with you. I showed the site to a guy I play Risk with, and he said, nope, not with that interface. Doing a complete revamp would be very expensive, though, and would likely require several full-time developers.

[WingCmdr Ginkapo]

So were all in agreement then.

Find a way to generate more income from the site and hire more permanent staff. Stop using volunteers to do tiny jobs causing an incoherent management system and outright confusion.

[gimil]

So were all in agreement then.

Find a way to generate more income from the site and hire more permanent staff. Stop using volunteers to do tiny jobs causing an incoherent management system and outright confusion.

I disagree volunteers and generally more motivated and produce better quality outputs because they only volunteer their time for what they enjoy.

A redesign of the site layout to bring it up to date with modern web standards. A responsive design for mobile and tablet. Then port this game over to Apple app store and Google Play.

I redesign of this site is not a mammoth task. I know because I have the expertise. I reckon part time I could do a full redesign including mobile responsive, 6-12 weeks of CSS and JavaScript. Porting over to an app on a app store I'm not sure about. However an app does not need the full functionality of desktop website and all the database and functionality work is already here, it just needs to be plugged into java. My best guess is I could learn the skills and create a working app with basic functionality within 6 months..less if it was someone else already had the skills.

These are the two single most important moves CC needs to make NOW. I tell you this as a software and web engineer.

[iAmCaffeine]

Right, clan leaders can set the rules. To me the idea isn't so much about excluding maps/settings as it as about bringing the war back having to demonstrate the skills to play risk and not so much about having specialist teams who always play together on the same map/setting. The format would require that all members of the clan be able to work together, I know there's people in my clan with whom I rarely play a game, and be able to play on any map/setting included in the war. I think it would help show the all around skill of the clan.

I used the word obscure to build off of the original post but I think a more appropriate term would be speciality maps. Things such as Feudal War, Antarctica, Age of Realms, Waterloo, Arms Race! - where unless you've put in time and practice to learn the nuances of the map they can be essentially won in the first few rounds while you are still attempting to figure out the winning strategy.

I've always found Arms Race! to be one of the easiest non-classical maps if not the easiest.
Also I understand what you mean, but it's pretty much impossible to accomplish without excluding maps from the clanwar.

The clan scene is competitive; you'd be stupid to not utilise everything to your ability. That includes learning complicated maps and perfecting your strategy so you win as much as possible. If not, why don't we just play 41 quads games on Doodle Earth?

[JBlombier]

The clan scene is competitive; you'd be stupid to not utilise everything to your ability. That includes learning complicated maps and perfecting your strategy so you win as much as possible. If not, why don't we just play 41 quads games on Doodle Earth?

If it helps to reverse the Great Decline, the VDLL is willing to have a 41 quads Doodle Earth clanwar with another clan. Awaiting opponents from this moment...

[owenshooter]

The clan scene is competitive; you'd be stupid to not utilise everything to your ability. That includes learning complicated maps and perfecting your strategy so you win as much as possible. If not, why don't we just play 41 quads games on Doodle Earth?

If it helps to reverse the Great Decline, the VDLL is willing to have a 41 quads Doodle Earth clanwar with another clan. Awaiting opponents from this moment...

nobody cares about clans anymore... they made themselves obsolete with the stupid direction clan wars took... who is interested in playing obscure maps with obscure settings in nothing but fog out of the trenches? nobody cares... žzzzzz, the black jesus is as bored as the rest of CC...-Jésus noir

[waauw]

The clan scene is competitive; you'd be stupid to not utilise everything to your ability. That includes learning complicated maps and perfecting your strategy so you win as much as possible. If not, why don't we just play 41 quads games on Doodle Earth?

If it helps to reverse the Great Decline, the VDLL is willing to have a 41 quads Doodle Earth clanwar with another clan. Awaiting opponents from this moment...

Oh please do not pull me into one of those games. I hate mini-maps.

[BGtheBrain]

*****

[owenshooter]

The clan scene is competitive; you'd be stupid to not utilise everything to your ability. That includes learning complicated maps and perfecting your strategy so you win as much as possible. If not, why don't we just play 41 quads games on Doodle Earth?

If it helps to reverse the Great Decline, the VDLL is willing to have a 41 quads Doodle Earth clanwar with another clan. Awaiting opponents from this moment...

TNC may likely be willing to do this.

Let me know if you are serious via pm

oh, i can see people beating down the CC gates to join the site because of this... *eyes rolling*...-Jésus noir