CC is declining again!

[Frankly, my dear]

Effort needs to be put into marketing and updates and that has not happened since I first came here over a decade ago. This project needs new energy, simply put. The decline never ends without new energy.

[jusplay4fun]

When I look at the number of online users, I see it's like only 60% of the number I used to find a year ago.

This indicates CC is not even stable and non-growing; rather, it's declining!

17315 are the current users. I think they used to be +20.000 last year.

May 20th

Currently sitting at 4994.
Looking through this thread at the approximate numbers as close as possible to May 20 over the last few years:
2008: 22,894 -source archive.org
2009: 22,726 -source archive.org
2010: 19,729 -source archive.org
2011: 21,658 -source archive.org
2012: 15,200 (lackattack sells to El Jefe)
2013: 13,300
2014: 11,500 (El Jefe sells to bigWham)
2015: 8900
2016: 7400
2017: 6100
2018: 5600
2019: 5000
So we're been averaging ~15% loss of players year over year, though it's closer to 10% loss for the last two years.

ee.jpg

You’re declining again

THAT is the POINT of this entire thread.

[sm8900]

When I look at the number of online users, I see it's like only 60% of the number I used to find a year ago.

This indicates CC is not even stable and non-growing; rather, it's declining!

17315 are the current users. I think they used to be +20.000 last year.

Spoiler

[quote="Doc_Brown"] Currently sitting at 4994. Looking through this thread at the approximate numbers as close as possible to May 20 over the last few years: 2008: 22,894 -source archive.org 2009: 22,726 -source archive.org 2010: 19,729 -source archive.org 2011: 21,658 -source archive.org 2012: 15,200 (lackattack sells to El Jefe) 2013: 13,300 2014: 11,500 (El Jefe sells to bigWham) 2015: 8900 2016: 7400 2017: 6100 2018: 5600 2019: 5000 So we're been averaging ~15% loss of players year over year, though it's closer to 10% loss for the last two years.

ee.jpg

[/quote]

hi all. how are we doing now?!!

[uckuki]

fighting good battles

[Jenshawn]

That is very worrying news.

[Davie.K]

4,443 ... Thaaaaaar she blows

4,383 ... I guess Easter week will see some brief resurrection in numbers....but in all reality it will be brief as we hurtle towards that Northern hemisphere spring/summer period ....famous for drop off of players ...

....and thaaaaar she goes 4,368

[Pirlo]

4,443 ... Thaaaaaar she blows

4,383 ... I guess Easter week will see some brief resurrection in numbers....but in all reality it will be brief as we hurtle towards that Northern hemisphere spring/summer period ....famous for drop off of players ...

....and thaaaaar she goes 4,368

Do you think we will go below 4.000? Will it happen in 2023?

[IcePack]

4,443 ... Thaaaaaar she blows

4,383 ... I guess Easter week will see some brief resurrection in numbers....but in all reality it will be brief as we hurtle towards that Northern hemisphere spring/summer period ....famous for drop off of players ...

....and thaaaaar she goes 4,368

Do you think we will go below 4.000? Will it happen in 2023?

~3250 to 3500 by summer low point I’d guess

[hopalong]

Do you think we will go below 4.000? Will it happen in 2023?

~3250 to 3500 by summer low point I’d guess

Gives me a chance to be in the top 3,000!

[TrafalgarLaw01]

I think I have mentioned it before but marketing and a good streaming is what the site needs to get more people in.

[MTIceman41]

I think I have mentioned it before but marketing and a good streaming is what the site needs to get more people in.

Got to think bigger…clan leader topless/shirtless pics
Only Fans…CC edition

I know myself and some others could pull easy 5k…but others might negate that

[IcePack]

Do you think we will go below 4.000? Will it happen in 2023?

~3250 to 3500 by summer low point I’d guess

Gives me a chance to be in the top 3,000!

Maybe one Day I can be too, I can dream

[chocha]

seems like a good idea

[detlef]

I have a theory

The product is somewhat flawed to begin with because, as people get better, they learn to either find a very exotic map and specialize in that map or they dumb down any nuance in the more mainstream maps and turn the game into a slap fight where basically everything is ignored in favor of capturing attackers advantage, turn order, and trying to get to 12 (or 15, or 18) territories while keeping the opponent below them. Map-maker designed some interesting feature into the map? Doesn't matter, because you're too busy clubbing the dude in front of you. You might think I'm oversimplifying things, but if you're truly honest with yourself, you'll realize it's closer than you think. The vast majority of team and 1v1 (including poly) games are won by ignoring map nuance, just hitting what's in front of you, and hoping you get the dice.

Take the original game of Risk, as it was designed. Classic map, multiple opponents, escalating sets. When we all first started playing it, we'd go for bonuses, which of course meant battles to take and defend them. We'd hit each other's stacks, etc. You get here and play long enough and you realize that's not a winning strategy because you're way better off just dicking around, building stacks, grabbing the easiest card you can, and hoping the board breaks right for you to go on a run and clear it. That's how you win, but it's actually kind of boring. I mean, it's fun to win, but there are other games out there that are intrinsically more interesting than taking a bunch of boring turns in hopes that you get a chance for one exciting turn.

So, I'd imagine there's some attrition built in right there by people realizing the game is not that interesting once you get better at it. I can say that has a lot to do with why I'll likely be moving on once my premium runs out.

And, once you realize that, you need to try and build community and give people another reason to stay.

With that in mind, you might want to avoid entirely arbitrary enforcement of rules that cause important members of the community to want to leave. Just a thought.

[detlef]

In other words, if you're the NFL and are basically selling crack to a highly addicted fan base, you can continually piss them off and they keep coming back for more.

But CC is not the NFL. Not by a long shot.

So you need to try and actually make your customer base like you.

[Doc_Brown]

That face when a bunch of very different, diverse, and respected people on your site are all telling you you need to change directions.

[IcePack]

That face when a bunch of very different, diverse, and respected people on your site are all telling you you need to change directions.

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

[Doc_Brown]

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

As far as the overall site goes, yes. But applying relatively simple rule changes so that we don't apply harsh penalties to behavior that doesn't actually negatively impact anyone (e.g. deadbeating in speed games) while just "noting" abusive language in game chat (for example) is something that can be done by someone who is clearly monitoring these forums.

[Dukasaur]

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

As far as the overall site goes, yes. But applying relatively simple rule changes so that we don't apply harsh penalties to behavior that doesn't actually negatively impact anyone (e.g. deadbeating in speed games) while just "noting" abusive language in game chat (for example) is something that can be done by someone who is clearly monitoring these forums.

How do you think deadbeating in speed games doesn't negatively impact anyone?

It's one of the most annoying things possible in this game.

Let's say two minute turns. Guy deadbeats. For at least six minutes I'm stuck there. I can't leave, in case he changes his mind and comes back and wins the game without me noticing. So for six minutes I'm staring at a screen on which literally nothing is happening!!! Truly makes my blood boil. Incredibly callous waste of my time. In 15 seconds of drop-and-run he could have ended it.

[IcePack]

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

As far as the overall site goes, yes. But applying relatively simple rule changes so that we don't apply harsh penalties to behavior that doesn't actually negatively impact anyone (e.g. deadbeating in speed games) while just "noting" abusive language in game chat (for example) is something that can be done by someone who is clearly monitoring these forums.

I’m not sure if you’re implying me or KA, so I’ll just say this. Like any place / company / whatever, people take direction. Good bad or ugly. Sometimes we support making changes, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes that’s listened to, other times ignored.

Speaking from a C&A / MH perspective, we don’t have power to change rules. We are tasked to administer the rules that are in place, not make them or change or justify even. Sometimes we As a team don’t even agree. That’s ok.

We generally judge what’s reported. So saying so and so got away with whatever isn’t much of a help for anyone cuz we don’t go searching for cheaters (well, multis yes, cheaters no)

I know suggestions is a dead area. But ultimately to change the system, gotta get community support within the system. If someone made a thread trying to change the rule in a thoughtful, common sense sort of way and it showed broad community support we could ensure as a C&A team it got in front of the people who could decide on those things. Beyond that, it’s their site / community / whatever.

I don’t have that time personally these days to drudge up that sort of thing. And there’s stuff sitting there that’s got broad support languishing. So I fully understand / get why someone wouldn’t put in that effort necessary.

But I promise you it’s 100% more effective then. putting that effort into countless bitching threads (justified or not) and since there’s no real code changes necessary for that, there’s actually a chance (albeit unknown how strong a chance) thag something might actually happen. But again, that’s something the broader community would need to take on.

If you hate it, change it. Or at least try. If there isn’t an effort to bother making that change before people quit then idk what to say.

Not telling anyone to do one thing or the other. Just trying to be helpful to explain what I can to those who will listen from my own perspective here.

[ZaBeast]

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

As far as the overall site goes, yes. But applying relatively simple rule changes so that we don't apply harsh penalties to behavior that doesn't actually negatively impact anyone (e.g. deadbeating in speed games) while just "noting" abusive language in game chat (for example) is something that can be done by someone who is clearly monitoring these forums.

How do you think deadbeating in speed games doesn't negatively impact anyone?

It's one of the most annoying things possible in this game.

Let's say two minute turns. Guy deadbeats. For at least six minutes I'm stuck there. I can't leave, in case he changes his mind and comes back and wins the game without me noticing. So for six minutes I'm staring at a screen on which literally nothing is happening!!! Truly makes my blood boil. Incredibly callous waste of my time. In 15 seconds of drop-and-run he could have ended it.

Every time somebody points to all the speed deadbeating, I feel it just goes to show that the conditions to use the resign button are way too narrow. Give people a better way to avoid needlessly dragging on a lost game and then you can blame them if they don't use it and deadbeat. But as long as there's no good alternative, it doesn't make much sense to. In some cases it might be faster to play the game (then again, not for the deadbeater), but there are a lot of cases on big maps for instance where cleanup can still be a couple of turns away

Just my 2 cents

[xroads]

4349

[detlef]

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

Well that's a major problem. That they're a business who relies on engaged volunteers to maintain customer loyalty is one thing. That they seemingly care far less than those volunteers is yet another.

This business with NSS and deadbeating is just the latest example. That suggestions all go unanswered is another. And the list could go on.

Once again, the product is not good enough nor the loyalty built-in enough for them to blow off their customers and not expect them to leave. It's inevitable.

[Dukasaur]

Assuming the dude who can do something about anything even notices somethings happening is a pretty big assumption at this point

As far as the overall site goes, yes. But applying relatively simple rule changes so that we don't apply harsh penalties to behavior that doesn't actually negatively impact anyone (e.g. deadbeating in speed games) while just "noting" abusive language in game chat (for example) is something that can be done by someone who is clearly monitoring these forums.

How do you think deadbeating in speed games doesn't negatively impact anyone?

It's one of the most annoying things possible in this game.

Let's say two minute turns. Guy deadbeats. For at least six minutes I'm stuck there. I can't leave, in case he changes his mind and comes back and wins the game without me noticing. So for six minutes I'm staring at a screen on which literally nothing is happening!!! Truly makes my blood boil. Incredibly callous waste of my time. In 15 seconds of drop-and-run he could have ended it.

Every time somebody points to all the speed deadbeating, I feel it just goes to show that the conditions to use the resign button are way too narrow. Give people a better way to avoid needlessly dragging on a lost game and then you can blame them if they don't use it and deadbeat. But as long as there's no good alternative, it doesn't make much sense to. In some cases it might be faster to play the game (then again, not for the deadbeater), but there are a lot of cases on big maps for instance where cleanup can still be a couple of turns away

Just my 2 cents

I don't disagree. The resign button should be available for all game types, and pop up by Turn 5.

Still, until that happens, no reason people can't have the decency to drop-and-run instead of deadbeating.

[Maxleod]

I don't disagree. The resign button should be available for all game types, and pop up by Turn 5.

Still, until that happens, no reason people can't have the decency to drop-and-run instead of deadbeating.

It is. Or at the very least it's not limited to Trench anymore:
https://www.conquerclub.com/game.php?game=22463276