| Improving the JA | |
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doobie - Jedi Council  |
As most of you know (or who know who I am), I'm pretty much a silent partner in the JA at this point, but that doesn't mean I don't care. So here's what I'm wondering... in the absence of a new Jedi Knight game (c'mon Lucasarts, hook us up!), what can we do to keep the JA alive and thriving? Do we expand into other games? Do we simply exist the way were are as a "family" and accept that the training part is diminished as the game fade away a bit (let's be honest, it's been over 3 years since JK:JA came out)? Let me know what you think and how we can keep this place alive and keep the awesomeness that's been around for almost 4 years going well into the future. _______________ -Academy Leader/Dictator/Defeater of DJ Sith and JACen Solo in the JAK+ Tournament -I do think it (the JA) will help convert dozens, maybe hundreds, to the dork nation... --me |
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Plo Koon - Student 
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I talked to DJ once about a "Reunion Day" idea I had. We could try and get all the oldbies back for a once a month thing for Jedi Outcast only. On that day you could close the JK3 servers so that it would be like one huge party. Really like old times  Contacting everyone from before JK3 might be tough, but that would be totally awesome to see those names on the server again, especially in that old map. Matrix room FTW!!
That's just one idea though. I've been here a really long time and seen alot of things. There isn't anyplace like this on the net. I hope we get a JK4 soon atleast to refresh the atmosphere of JK3's deadness. I remember when I first joined. Only had the game a month, got on the server and these two named Avalon and Legolas showed me around  Everyone bowed and talked friendly, so completely different from the wildness of public servers. It felt like a school, an Academy, a serious place.
Four years burning down the road, its still the same place but it feels a little different. Makes me wish game developers listened to the people more, they'd be suprised how many want something. Who knows maybe a JK4 will come, would be nice huh? _______________ Free Tibet! Click this link,and learn Here too This comment was edited by Plo Koon on Jan 13 2007 01:06am. |
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aph3x - Retired 
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to add to what Motrec(man slave) posted:
for a large group of people to enjoy an online gaming experience, I've found(mostly through the JA), that it involves an abnormal amount of (non-compensated)activity on the part of the administrators. the question is whether or not anybody is up to the responsibility. we don't get any money...and we very rarely get the respect due to such a position. its an extremely complicated issue, and the very nature of it being based entirely on a video game, make it absurd to waste time on from the start. i don't know what has attracted so many people in the past. i just don't know. perhaps DJ Sith and doobie and friends really passed up a really great opportunity. whatever it is, its over now. i really feel that the environment that JK2 JA provided is no longer available. it will not come back. it was an anomaly, and it worked, and it was exciting and fun. but it seems to me that it's over. and i look back on it with a sincere fondness and appreciation, and it has given me a unique outlook on human interaction and social structure. i know all of that may sound absurd. and it may well be. but i grew up in a f**ked up generation, and i owe many of the values that I now hold to the Academy. I guess I'm just glad that this place still exists. when i was just getting access to the internet back, the JA was the first place i would check up on. don't ask me why. its amazing. we don't have a common game to play anymore...JK it seems is for the most part dead. but we still come here. why? who knows. is it the end? |
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DaCheat - Student 
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Well nobody probably remembers me... I was a long time member way back ween during the first couple of years when this site was created, 2002-2003ish? I went under the gamer tag Cheetah or Cheetah61 (don't remember which though.)
Sense then my account has been deleted, hense the reason I'm now called DaCheat. Back then there wasn't this huge Academy map you are currently using. We had a smaller simple version of it. Although this new map is nice, I think now you don't need it... I mean what's the point of having a huge map if only 1 or 2 people are on? I'd say revamp the old Academy map. I know I am just an oldie and have not been around much, but I think that might help a bit. Even if it does not bring in more people, It might seem like more people are playing due to the smaller atmosphere. _______________ -Cheat out- [center][IMG]http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/615/dacheat28lt.gif[/IMG][/center] |
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Alex Dkana - Staff 
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Quote: * SW themed based story competitions
* Art compeitions (both with rewards? perhaps an offical tag. e.g. "2007 story writer" or something much better 
*having more classes not just for SW, but perhaps even helping students learn how to mod, map or skin? perhaps even photoshop lessons, whatever someone can teach, can be learnt .
*playing other video games (SW related) *weekly voted map changes perhaps? *perhaps even modding a game for SW ourselves. It could be possible... although it would take time from many dedicated and experienced members, which may not be possible. I know that someone modded a part of NVN to look like WoW. Just some rough thoughts I have to say i really like some of these ideas Mini.
The Art competition is a fantastic idea in my view, i have noticed a number of people here have talent with art to some extent, be it making avatars, or having their own Deviantart page etc. There have been competitions for similarly creative fields in the past, and i think this one could work well. Another story competition would be cool too. I like the idea of the winner of such a competition earning a title/tag, i can't see how this would cause any of the problems the previous ranking system caused, and it might bring in more efforts as people compete to earn it. I quite like the idea of staff tutorials of non JK related software, offhand a saber creating tutorial would be really handy, however it could be hard to bring across the information any easier with a personal tutorial than it is using the already established written tutorials. Lastly i also like your idea of just playing other games, while it has been mentioned before in this thread, i just thought of another possible application of different games: tournements, and events. While it might be overly complicated, or just not work to involve TJA with too many other games, having smaller scale, perhaps one off tournments and server events could work? _______________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield | Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken | Rhaiko D'kana - SWTOR EU Guild Co-Founder | Is it what the teacher, teaches? Or what the student learns? A Dkana |
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Mindrith Pride - Student 
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Quote: Well, One game you guys could check out is guild wars nightfall, for those of you who have not played it, you can create your own guild (clan), and have your own guild hall, cape, etc. I am hooked on it right now, we could always make a guild, just a thought.
there was an idea for a GW clan when the original first came out... but that never took up, and most people i know have got bored of GW since all these new games for it came out, so not much chance there im afraid 
Anyways, yes, im gonna agree with most of the other people, a new game would bring so much more interest into TJA, however, as some people have stated there is a limit to the online feel of the SW games, perhaps BF2 would be good indeed, as well as the freelancer SW mod, but we need something bold to bring more activity back into us old members, and indeed some of the newer players. Unfortunatly im not nearly creative enough to think of an idea, but heres a few basic thoughts: * SW themed based story competitions * Art compeitions (both with rewards? perhaps an offical tag. e.g. "2007 story writer" or something much better
*having more classes not just for SW, but perhaps even helping students learn how to mod, map or skin? perhaps even photoshop lessons, whatever someone can teach, can be learnt .
*playing other video games (SW related) *weekly voted map changes perhaps? *perhaps even modding a game for SW ourselves. It could be possible... although it would take time from many dedicated and experienced members, which may not be possible. I know that someone modded a part of NVN to look like WoW. Just some rough thoughts _______________ [proud owner of talions 200th, 700th,1111th coment AND 1400th , DJK's 3001th coment! , saz's 400th coment! liso's 800th coment! Kitmitsu Aratan's 1200th comment! Cau's 100th comeent, Alexander's (aka CC) 210th, 888th and 2200th comments! Moriarti's 800th comment , Piccolo's 2000th comment! lirael's 505th comment , Quom Farlance's 120th comment, Alexander's 1800th comment , Eica's 1400th comment , Wicek's 3200th comment lady C's 999th comment, Echuu's 1100th comment, Takaru's 325th and 400th comment, Redeye's 200th comment picc's 3600th comment, Ostith's 50th comment, Elmo's 555th comment] |
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MOTREC - Student 
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you want life back in this place? hmm...i know ALOT of ways to do that.
(1) since noone regularly hangs out anymore, noone is on the servers to draw more people in. if people start hanging out more (ts and stuff) (COUGHHARDWIREDANDVIRTUEANDDOOBSCOUGH) i think you will draw people in that way. besides, people are always on the edge of their seat to listen to what im gonna say next. (2) there have been alot of fun people that have come to the ja, stayed a long ass time, then left. i say get some of the guys from the ja's prime and have them hang out. i always had fun when katan and db would go at it or when faded would have classes. hell, lordexarkun's classes were even fun/funny. (3) i could keep going but not gonna take up all the space here. i have a ton of ideas to get this place hoppin again. talk to me guys. ill help out. as always... burn rubber not your soul... MO |
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Mister Clutch - Student 
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Put baseJKA back @ the servers would be a VERY good start. |
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Enoch - Student 
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Well, One game you guys could check out is guild wars nightfall, for those of you who have not played it, you can create your own guild (clan), and have your own guild hall, cape, etc. I am hooked on it right now, we could always make a guild, just a thought. _______________ Owner of O'liin's 300th, Pink_mintaka's 1230th |
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solitude - Jedi Council 
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Have any of you played at North Quadrant?
A persistant Freelancer world (modded for SW) could be just the thing. _______________ Joined 16 October 2004 | Retired 10 April 2005 | Returned 05 June 2008 | Made Staff 27 June 2008 | Made Council 18 January 2009 Padawan To Odan-Wei Belouve | Adopted into the Belouve family | Twin to xAnAtOs | Owner of the 4th Quesi sexy badge  Brother To Roan Belouve, Nomad, Majno, Silkmonkey, Kensei and Jarhok Belouve
Owner Of Virtue's 1000th profile comment, Mr. Doobie's 1000th profile comment, Gradius' 2500th comment, xAnAtOs' 2500th comment, Rosered's 1500th comment, Laziana's 900th comment, Scythus' 500th comment and Echuu's 100th comment |
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Ventrel - Student 
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Well I thought i'd put my own comment in even though im not active here. The way I feel is that the gameplay is not what makes games fun. You can play tic tac toe with the right people and it can be enjoyable because ultimately its up to you to make the game fun. Sick of hearing that? Maybe. It's competitive spirit most of all that makes games engaging. We already have the people here who are clearly star wars fans and all, so I suggest that you start some interesting events. Form your own teams and meet up on weekends for ctf or tffa, or get some 2 on 2 dueling going on. Start changing up the maps on the servers (or just one server) for some diversity. This comment was edited by Ventrel on Jan 12 2007 01:46pm. |
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Sho Koon - Student 
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Certainly nice ideas, I hope something comes out of them. _______________ Proud owner of Malak's 50th and special 300th, Alex D'Kana's 3600th and 4000th, Laziana's 200th and [Jawa][Obi-Wan][SW]'s 1300th comment. |
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Malak - Student 
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As I remember the servers were almost full during the last tournament... This comment was edited by Malak on Jan 12 2007 04:33pm. |
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Rinzler - Student 
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dont know if there will ever be a 'jk4', but there aren't any really entertaining similar games around. _______________ I fite for teh usars!1 |
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JP - Academy Pimp 
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Being hear as long as i have ive been back and forth with jk3 since it was never what JK2 quite was, id def agree that a new game or change in game could spark some interest as well as a new map, but no matter what happens or what game i play the JA will always be my home as i check these forums like i eat or sleep..daily...but ya...much <3 to the JA...ill keep praying for a new star wars game _______________ Come on now, every Generation X boy wanted to be Luke Skywalker. Is it because he was a whiney farm boy from some backwater hack planet? No, it's because he was a FREAKING JEDI. He could block lasers with his lightsaber. He could levitate droids & rocks & crap with his mind. Come on, he choked two pig dudes with just a simple gesture. He cut off Darth Vader's hand and kicked him down a flight of stairs. He got his @$$ zapped by lightning from the geezer Emperor, stood up and said "s'at all you got b!tc#??" |
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Senor Hat - Student 
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You mean like a ranked system on the servers? >_O? _______________ I have beaten The Internet. The end guy was hard. |
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aph3x - Retired
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i think it would be kindof cool if i could maybe get a point for going to a class. and then when i get like, say, 12 points or something i could have a cooler title. like "class taker" or something. |
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Tallepyon - Student 
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Quote: I seem to remember the idea of more 'honorary' titles being brought up not that long ago. I know TJA used a system like this waay back, and that often the concensus is that it dosn't work that well, however at this point, a few new titles might not be a bad idea, it depends on how its executed really.
Anyone that has been here for awhile will tell you that is not as good as it sounds. There use to be a system a while back, and it was a mess. There were more cons than pros. |
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Alex Dkana - Staff
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I seem to remember the idea of more 'honorary' titles being brought up not that long ago. I know TJA used a system like this waay back, and that often the concensus is that it dosn't work that well, however at this point, a few new titles might not be a bad idea, it depends on how its executed really.
Dash makes some good points there, if games are added to what TJA covers, the the JAK system would have to be upgraded/altered i agree. However at the same time i don't think TJA should ever cover too many games, as if it tried to cover several of a wide variety of styles then it could become far too complicated to keep track of things, and groups would form among members depending on which game they specialise in. _______________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield | Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken | Rhaiko D'kana - SWTOR EU Guild Co-Founder | Is it what the teacher, teaches? Or what the student learns? A Dkana |
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Majno - Padawan 
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Quote: Also, if you, like myself, have ever played on the academy servers on a very regular basis for a whole year without any change of maps, it begins to stop feeling particularly special and makes you lose interest and want some change. This is why the new map, when it is released, could spark some more interest for many people
Quote: I agree here, obviously maps take time, especially a detailed, intricate map like those Virtue makes, but its a valid point that however good v2 is, it cannot sustain members interest forever. I'd suggest occasionally rotating the maps a bit, similar to Virtue's suggestion about having multiple planets for different servers. (Link). As it would take a long time to create several new official maps, the staff could instead select a different random map to keep things interesting. Just an idea.
I'm glad I wasnt the first who brought this up, cause as those of you've followed the progress of V3 will know that I've been riding Virtehs tail about it for a long time.
But indeed, just by the response of the previews of the map etc I thought it would be out by now.
Cause like most of us have said, it looks truly to be a place of fun and good times. (the new map), as seen in the Beta2 of it anyway.
For me a new Virtue's map is like a new game, for a while atleast.
So, Virtue, plz plz plz hurry up with the map dude!. , much respect for hanging in there.
Another idea, which has been brought up before, maybe there could be some sort of honorary rank for students to shoot for, like the JAM title, but less JAK+ orientated, for example, Weapons-Specialist, Saber-Master, Force-Master, etc etc, something for the new reqruits to take a look at and for increasing serv-activety, cause one cant be good enough to sustain such a title without constant play, well guys like Masta might, but not us regular mortals.
End rant..discuss.. <3 _______________ " You've just taken your first steps into a larger world. " - Ben. This comment was edited by Majno on Jan 12 2007 12:47am. |
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Dash Starlight - Jedi Instructor 
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It's true that new students still apply and personally, I think the activity within the Jedi Academy's walls is still high for a game this old. In the overall community of JK3, however, clans disappear and such so the main problem is that there's not as much to do out there as there used to be. (Although the JA's seen more activity itself; it's simply more active.)
I very much like the idea of incorporating additional games in our teachings. This will increase our numbers, both in JAS and JAK+, and it will provide a large fundament to base the future of the Jedi Academy itself on. Our main 'problem' now is that we're all playing an old game. By including more games we won't need to be as dependant on the production of one specific game-series. Of course, we will need extra servers which cost money and extra JAK+, because personally, I may know how to perform a scissor move in JK3 but I suck at say, BattleFront II.. We could have 'divisions:' Jk2, JK3, etc. This will require a solid structure in the JAK+ body, because it'll grow much more complex that way. So yeah, these are my thoughts and the pros and cons to it. _______________ The name is Bond. James Bond. This comment was edited by Dash Starlight on Jan 12 2007 12:23am. |
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Alex Dkana - Staff 
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Oh yeah i forgot about the Freelancer mod, if it is as good as people have been saying then that might be a cool one to try. SWG wise, i'm afraid there is really no chance of this EMU thing working dude, and even if it did, it would never re-create the community the game had originally.
Also MMOG's like SWG don't really work in an academy sense, sure TJA could create a guild on one, and members could use these forums to talk about the game etc. however if we went down that path then TJA would not be as unique, it would be very similar to a lot of other sites out there dedicated to a certain guild. TJA members still get involved in MMOG's and talk about them here (see WoW thread, GW thread) so they are in some ways already one of the things that members come here to discuss. _______________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield | Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken | Rhaiko D'kana - SWTOR EU Guild Co-Founder | Is it what the teacher, teaches? Or what the student learns? A Dkana |
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NotSoLittleCaesar - Student 
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Indeed, it is slowly fading, and we needto spread into more games, theres plety of SW out there, but not many that are as ...well... Free flowing? dont know how to put it, as jka. Although we could look into games such as Freelancer with starwars mods, you can pick it up for a fiver on Amazon now, and the mods are free? Maybe SWG (even though i dont have it) Emu server when it is released? you buy a legal copy of the game and we set up a emu server for playing on? keep in mind there could be another suprise SW game around the corner with some GOOD online ability. _______________ Quote: I mostly agree oh Lord of the squeezy mop
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Alex Dkana - Staff
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Quote: Whether it is because people are just too busy in real life, people are losing interest in the game or too many people are misinformed as of how to join the servers and when a good time to join them is, I don't know.
Hmm well for me its mainly real life getting in the way, while i will also admit the i am not as interested in the game, as i was when it came out, or even when i first joined TJA, i still enjoy playing it a great deal. Quote: Also, if you, like myself, have ever played on the academy servers on a very regular basis for a whole year without any change of maps, it begins to stop feeling particularly special and makes you lose interest and want some change. This is why the new map, when it is released, could spark some more interest for many people
I agree here, obviously maps take time, especially a detailed, intricate map like those Virtue makes, but its a valid point that however good v2 is, it cannot sustain members interest forever. I'd suggest occasionally rotating the maps a bit, similar to Virtue's suggestion about having multiple planets for different servers. (Link). As it would take a long time to create several new official maps, the staff could instead select a different random map to keep things interesting. Just an idea. Quote: If a new game were to be introduced, I would hope that we stuck with the Star Wars theme, either Battlefront 2 (I've heard Battlefront 3 is on the way) or Republic Commando, I don't know. But I agree we need to do something in the meantime.
I agree that should TJA ever focus on a different game, it should be star wars based, it just wouldn't feel right otherwise. The main problem of course is that i do not think other star wars franchise games would work as well under TJA's system, despite its flaws the JK series works well as a community game, for example the ability to wander around the server chatting has an almost MMORPG feel to it. Anyway... yeah.  _______________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield | Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken | Rhaiko D'kana - SWTOR EU Guild Co-Founder | Is it what the teacher, teaches? Or what the student learns? A Dkana |
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Jade Jedi - Retired 
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Lets hope the new Star Wars game due out this year will bring us cause to celebrate, in the meantime I think we need to try and generate some more activity around here, whether it be organised events or introducing a new game. If a new game were to be introduced, I would hope that we stuck with the Star Wars theme, either Battlefront 2 (I've heard Battlefront 3 is on the way) or Republic Commando, I don't know. But I agree we need to do something in the meantime. _______________ *CLICKEH->Never risk the Fett Man|*Download my Saber here. Made by master craftsman Pink Floyd_Mintaka + his 2002 & 4000 comment's [Laz's 700th comment][BDKawika's 600th comment] & Owner of a TOWEL award!!|Master: Sared Padawans: Rage-Ball and Dante Eagle.|*Jade Jedi at The Jedi Academy Archives "There's only one Return and it's not of the King it's of the Jedi" Randal Clerks 2 The top 10 reasons why I procrastinate: 1. |
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Setementor - Jedi Master 
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Well, we still get a lot of new members and a lot of people who have never played the game before. As long as we keep things running, have regular events and look into other aspects of the game occasionally, I'm sure the place can run as good as always.
When I joined the academy, the servers were almost always active - Home, Wireplay and even the Classes server were full of activity all day, every day and if they weren't, all it took was somebody to join the server and suddenly you'd get a full server. It was almost like everybody was just scanning the server constantly and waiting for somebody to connect first, then connecting themselves. Obviously, it isn't like that anymore though. Whether it is because people are just too busy in real life, people are losing interest in the game or too many people are misinformed as of how to join the servers and when a good time to join them is, I don't know. Perhaps we should make sure there is an FAQ answering all of the main questions people tend to have when they join the academy and then start looking into some other aspects of the game as well? Also, if you, like myself, have ever played on the academy servers on a very regular basis for a whole year without any change of maps, it begins to stop feeling particularly special and makes you lose interest and want some change. This is why the new map, when it is released, could spark some more interest for many people. |
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