What's up with the crappy player base?

Only 250 players on in primetime, usually, and half of the servers with anyone on them at all are guilds teaming up and slaughtering newbs. (Not exactly a welcoming atmosphere for the new players we need to keep the series active.)

Are the sales figures really that bad? Are the newbs perhaps still working through the SP game before trying MP? I know I finished SP first and that could explain a lag time of a month or two before the new folks show up online.

Perhaps a new-player dedicated server or two would help, where experienced players could also offer some training. We could give them obvious names and perhaps make them default to the top of the server list.

<rant>
It's frustrating taking on a clan that knows how to play as a team with a bunch of newbs playing randomly, especially for a mid-level player like me who ends up spending the whole game fixing the generator bc no one else defends it and I can't fight off 7 heavies alone. Regrettably, the only servers where I have a two-digit ping are of this varierty. But I digress.
</rant>

I suppose my option is just to join a clan, but since I try to maintain some semblance of a life-- any other ideas about the tiny player base?

-LB

You can view the server before you join. So if you see alot of tags you can opt out and join another.

Alot of new players, just got to find the right servers.

The game is picking up speed slowly. I seem to have sparked a small interest on the G4TechTv forums lately. Hopefully I can keep it going with some flashy media.

Also I saw some newb walking around on my server today. It was kinda cute, he was fighting in spawn the entire time, but he stuck right through half a map rotation.

If you'r whole team's jerking around, try a different strategy.. Go snatch their flag while your enemy isn't looking. Spank their gen to get their attention. You don't need to play hero in a pub, try the vehicles, maybe set up a rover and go HO on them. Variety is the name of the game here.

It's a tribe, not a clan. ;)

hohoho

another new reg making another whining post

I really wasn't whining. I absolutely love the game. I'm just wondering if the player base will expand so I can keep playing it. I also wanted to try and spark some positive discussion about how us players can help attract welcome new folks and build the community.

So can we focus on that, please?

LB

P.S. My comments for the guild server phenom were more due to my geographic location (Michigan.) There just aren't many servers where I don't have a crappy ping from here. That's why I put the <rant> tags around it, so it can easily be recognized as blowing off steam. I'm moving back to SF in a few months, which should solve that issue. I'd like to see more players on when I do ;)

No native Linux support, no anti-cheat support, crappy netcode, terrible spammy gameplay.

One more comment:

If new regs are frequently posting whining threads, that only backs up my point. Perhaps the players should think about what they may be doing to turn newbies off, and what we can do to fix it. Thus my ideas about training servers. I read a post a while back where an experienced guy changed several folks' opinions just by doing a little training. Probably had fun doing it, too. Consider.

LB

Mouse:

Those are all things players can do nothing about, so leave that stuff to the devs, ok? They're aware of your opinion by now. Can we focus on some positive ideas for the player community, please?

-LB

The devs don't care.

Mouse:

Those are all things players can do nothing about, so leave that stuff to the devs, ok? They're aware of your opinion by now. Can we focus on some positive ideas for the player community, please?

-LB

He's a troll. Ignore him.

Keep playing and maybe someday one of those guilds will ask you to join them. Then you too can enjoy the fun in newb slaughtering! ;)

hohoho
another sanctimonious "Veteran"

Actually, you kinda help demonstrate the poster's point.

Also, keep in mind that October/November this year have been HUGE gaming months, more so than usual. Tribes is competing with Doom3, Half-Life 2, GTA:SA, Halo 2, Metroid Prime 2, etc., etc. Great as Tribes is, it doesn't have nearly the recognition of the other big names coming out this season. I wouldn't expect the player base to get much bigger before Christmas.

A lot of folks are still trying out the SP. Plus a lot of peeps always get upset when a new version of Tribes is released and its NOT exactly like the previous.

It will take time some time and mods for some more people to jump onboard. As far as good players not playing, jesus I just played the other day on Team Fusion and vanguard with several folks from 5150 and some other excellent vets. It was insanley awesome (and I got owned quite a bit heh). You just got to find the right game at the right time.

What I do see is a lot of NEW players that have never tried Tribes before and that just helps foster the community. I say join the fray and help them out. Give them tips etc.

Also, keep in mind that October/November this year have been HUGE gaming months, more so than usual. Tribes is competing with Doom3, Half-Life 2, GTA:SA, Halo 2, Metroid Prime 2, etc., etc. Great as Tribes is, it doesn't have nearly the recognition of the other big names coming out this season. I wouldn't expect the player base to get much bigger before Christmas.

.

Keep playing and maybe someday one of those guilds will ask you to join them. Then you too can enjoy the fun in newb slaughtering! ;)

I know you're joking, but bragging about slaughtering newbies is like bragging about beating up a 10-year-old. First, anyone can do it. Second, it may be fun for you, but the notion that you enjoy it perhaps shouldn't be mentioned in public ;)

Yeah, T:V needs to get itself together a bit. A little patching, marketing, modding and (most importantly) some TIME will get it running. Just wait until people get tired of HL2. ;)

Atleast in Europe it seems to be selling quite well (#8 and rising in play.com) and i would expect that sales and player numbers will go up when the big magazine reviews come.