03-29-2012, 10:26 PM
Good evening!
As you all have noticed LVP's player counts have been dropping slowly over the last couple of months. At first we thought this was caused by sa-mp getting unpopular, but it turns out that sa-mp is more popular then ever. I have plotted a graph of the total amount of players for all the sa-mp servers combined. The data is coming from a reliable source. (more info in the attachement)
![[Image: snb1H.png]](http://i.imgur.com/snb1H.png)
After some research I found that more and more people are playing on Roleplay servers and shrinking amount is playing Deathmatch (like LVP). Stunt servers also seem to gain popularity.
I have been discussing a shift in strategy with one of our developers, Russel, and we have thought up 2 possible directions LVP could steer to become popular again.
My idea
My idea is to reinvent the GTA multiplayer. At this moment, as a new player, there are 3 types of servers you can join, Roleplay, Deathmatch and stunting. Weird thing about this is that none of those servers actually represent what GTA is all about; Trying to make it in a world full of evil. What I purpose is basically single player without the cut scenes in a multiplayer environment. I call it 'Empire Based Gameplay'. I you have played Vice City Stories most of the gameplay will be familiar.
The main challenge behind this game mode is to build your empire. A player or a gang can build an empire by gaining properties. A property is a building somewhere on the map. The map will be filled with buildings like this. Every building sits inside its own territory, whoever owns the most valuable territories should be making the most money and has the biggest influence in the city. The most interesting part is the missions, every property is of a certain business type that has a relation with GTA. There are Smugling, Carjacking, Drugs, Burglary, Transporter and other business types. Every player can start a mission at a business (get employed) on the completion of a mission that player gets paid and the value of the business goes up, increasing the payout to the owner. The player of gang that owns a business can start 'special' missions that have a bigger impact on the value, those mission could also contain a small storyline.
I have nog thought out how other player can take over a property owned by someone else or what happens if there are no missions played at a business, when it goes bankrupt etc. A more detailed description is in the attachment.
Russels Idea
Russels idea is to split up the map into 3 zones.
The player can choose what type of gameplay he likes most and gets tp'd tp the specific world.
I think the best possible strategy is to differentiate the server by doing something inovative and not try to be a lot of things at once. Its best to keep it as clear as possible to the player that the objective is on the server.
The downsides to Russels plan are mainly the scope, its very unclear to the player what they can expect when they join. You only have a few seconds to make a good impression and I don't think splitting the map into parts is the best way to do that.
His plan also requires a decent amount of players before it can be successful, you need a minimum of 20 players to make Roleplay interesting (since its mostly user driven), Same goes for Deathmatch. Dividing the server into parts also means that all those parts have to me administrated, not something we are able to do at this moment.
We want need your feedback and thoughts and ideas so we can develop the new LVP Otherwise known as 3.0
As you all have noticed LVP's player counts have been dropping slowly over the last couple of months. At first we thought this was caused by sa-mp getting unpopular, but it turns out that sa-mp is more popular then ever. I have plotted a graph of the total amount of players for all the sa-mp servers combined. The data is coming from a reliable source. (more info in the attachement)
After some research I found that more and more people are playing on Roleplay servers and shrinking amount is playing Deathmatch (like LVP). Stunt servers also seem to gain popularity.
I have been discussing a shift in strategy with one of our developers, Russel, and we have thought up 2 possible directions LVP could steer to become popular again.
My idea
My idea is to reinvent the GTA multiplayer. At this moment, as a new player, there are 3 types of servers you can join, Roleplay, Deathmatch and stunting. Weird thing about this is that none of those servers actually represent what GTA is all about; Trying to make it in a world full of evil. What I purpose is basically single player without the cut scenes in a multiplayer environment. I call it 'Empire Based Gameplay'. I you have played Vice City Stories most of the gameplay will be familiar.
The main challenge behind this game mode is to build your empire. A player or a gang can build an empire by gaining properties. A property is a building somewhere on the map. The map will be filled with buildings like this. Every building sits inside its own territory, whoever owns the most valuable territories should be making the most money and has the biggest influence in the city. The most interesting part is the missions, every property is of a certain business type that has a relation with GTA. There are Smugling, Carjacking, Drugs, Burglary, Transporter and other business types. Every player can start a mission at a business (get employed) on the completion of a mission that player gets paid and the value of the business goes up, increasing the payout to the owner. The player of gang that owns a business can start 'special' missions that have a bigger impact on the value, those mission could also contain a small storyline.
I have nog thought out how other player can take over a property owned by someone else or what happens if there are no missions played at a business, when it goes bankrupt etc. A more detailed description is in the attachment.
Russels Idea
Russels idea is to split up the map into 3 zones.
- LV: Deathmatch
- SF: Roleplay
- LS: Stunting
The player can choose what type of gameplay he likes most and gets tp'd tp the specific world.
I think the best possible strategy is to differentiate the server by doing something inovative and not try to be a lot of things at once. Its best to keep it as clear as possible to the player that the objective is on the server.
The downsides to Russels plan are mainly the scope, its very unclear to the player what they can expect when they join. You only have a few seconds to make a good impression and I don't think splitting the map into parts is the best way to do that.
His plan also requires a decent amount of players before it can be successful, you need a minimum of 20 players to make Roleplay interesting (since its mostly user driven), Same goes for Deathmatch. Dividing the server into parts also means that all those parts have to me administrated, not something we are able to do at this moment.
We want need your feedback and thoughts and ideas so we can develop the new LVP Otherwise known as 3.0