/opinion
@crystal
I would disagree with the idea that we are "not trying to stay small." We have indeed had many opportunity as a server community to grow and change with the times, but we chose to remain with what we had and stay consistent. While this choice did keep those who were here, it pushed those away and kept new comers from staying in this, to be honest, ancient and out-of-date server. ->
It's a nice blast-from-the-past type of towny server that just isn't really a thing in today's age of Mini-games and large SMPs. However, this doesn't attract the new members since that's not what most play multiplayer for it seems these days. I am not saying we need to swap or change, it is far too late for that. ->
But I see no harm in looking to the past for answers on how to try to adapt to keep what we *do* have rather than sadly flicker out and die slowly. But that's my hottake.
I was kind of going off of what Socks mentioned in his reply. That EMC success is now measured on keeping the small community as it is rather than trying to get things more active.
Like I said, the server is advertised as having 300 active people at a time, so when new people do show up which is great that it still seeing that exposure, they likely aren't going to stay long when they see it's 10 to 15 people instead of the 300.
Also, aside from some of the lead dev staff like chicken and socks, A lot of people will look at the leadership of the server not knowing who they are and see some haven't been active in years. That might also throw people off thinking it's derelict here.
Like cyber said, you don't have to say what you have now is bad in order to also look for ways to improve by using tactics that have worked in the past. Unless of course you don't want to grow.
I haven't mentioned hypixel at all and was never referencing them in my thoughts here. So it is out that that was brought up by two of you randomly. You should never compare yourselves to somebody else in terms of growth like that.
You need to focus on yourself within. Also I highly disagree that Minecraft is in a slump right now. In fact, if you look around it's actually hotter than ever. A hit movie, all over McDonald's, etc.
Also Crystal, I don't want you to take any negativity from my thoughts. You are defending EMC as a staff member and I wouldn't expect any less. It's a sign of a good supporter.
What I'm suggesting is maybe it's okay to love what you have but also look into outside ideas to make it even better when it has the absolute potential to be. They don't have to be exclusive of each other. :-)
lol!! I'm not saying this as a staff but as a player & I never said what you are saying. You're a good politician.. twisting the narrative to your liking. That is all I'll be comments here. Good day. =]
I'm sorry you feel that way. I actually despise politics so that couldn't be further from the truth lol. I simply took what you mentioned and elaborated my ideas on it. I understand if you don't have anything else to say, but no need to insult me if you don't. :-)
I just think it's important to put ideas out there and learn the best we can from all sides. I was never a fan of insulting somebody's character when there is a disagreement. But you have a great day as well. :-)
People do really get heated when this topic comes up. Can't please and appease everyone, but discussing it always seems to help and establish what everyone expects and desires for a community ;)
Very good thoughts cyber! That's what I always think too. But when other people resort to insults, there really is no positive outcomes with those people anymore.
*Untwists tootsie roll* Assuming Minecraft isn't as popular as it was... when last I checked it was reported 100M+ monthly active players. Did you know that number is much greater now? To state it is on the decline at its current peak is to say the quality or activity on EMC hasn't been strained.
Which community hasn't seen surges of losses and gains. Some fluctuation is normal, but we have arguably lost a lot more than we gained back. At this point it's just as or more harmful to do little or nothing. But that's how you learn to maintain it. Nobody does a perfect job. There's always risk, so you minimize it.
Although Socks makes a fair point about P2P servers, I know there are communities who've kept their focus on their original idea while expanding into the mainstream categories to keep their servers recruiting, not fully, but comfortably. Donations coming in, developers getting paid, and original server salvaged. All without becoming P2P. It's not a one size fits all. It only works because someone tried.
Not that I'm stating EMC is in a total state of lack for trying, because I know there is some behind the scenes stuff unfolding. I hope it's good for the community and the long-term players who've dedicated so much here.
100M+? That's actually pretty insane. I knew it was actually very popular still which is obvious to those paying attention but I didn't know it was that high! That's very impressive for any industry.
Honestly, I couldn't agree more with @Cyber, the hype and appeal were huge for us that were already rooted here, but for the mainstream recruits, we just appear as another dated survival world in need of a fresh start with our rugged frontiers, a mostly abandoned towny world and a wrecked economy.
EMC could still maintain its course as a custom survival experience, and it could all be revived if the right breadcrumbs were swept away and the new face could be chiseled out. I didn't join because of materialistic things. I joined and stayed because of the greatness in people here. What kind of value does that continue to hold now?
Yet, what I saw started as a proud amazement of this triumphant community and their tenacity to persevere, suddenly gives anyone any excuse to badmouth a founding member. Really? Why? I guess we have stooped lower in respect of our fellow members than from back in the day when I joined. I hope you find your dignity. That's cold. You should know better.
I think this is officially the longest chain of comments Ive ever seen on a status lol,
ICC: I joined in 2015, so about a year after you were no longer staff here, but I have heard a lot about your presence over the last 9 years, and the opinions Ive heard have varied wildly, many remembered your events-
and you fondly, but there was also those who were extremely upset with you over how things went down around the time you left,
Moving on from that ancient history to the present, I don't know if its possible, but If you truly do want to help I think there is some things you need to know/do
Firstly, spend some time in-game, explore what EMC is today, perhaps you have an alt I am not aware of, but it looks like you have not logged in game in years, and while EMC is still extremely recognizable to those who have not been on in that long, there is still a lot that has changed.
next is the current structure, After Krysyy left without a replacement, they have been attempting to divide out the duties of CM to the senior staff, decentralizing the position.
Currently We have Aikar, the owner of Starlis, his main role is as systems admin, stuff like dealing with the host etc.
Then we have chicken, Lead Dev and the final say on pretty much everything relating to the server itself, code changes, new community team members, etc etc.
Overall we have some great people, who almost all have the shared trait of being some of the busiest people you will ever meet,
I don't think anyone is advocating for a CM to be reinstated here @jewel. ICC (and myself) are just trying to engage in a discussion on what the expectations are for growth/sustainability of the server community. Of course, correct me if I'm under the wrong assumption here.
That's exactly correct cyber. If the goal was to grow the community and expose EMC to as many people as possible to stay, inactive community manager is vital in my opinion. However, not really needed if the goal is to remain how it is.
When I started it, and other projects, it was always the goal to expose our creation to as many people as possible because we knew we had something good. So that's always where my mindset is on things. Growth is always good.
Jewel - I've certainly kept up over the years just out of curiosity to see how things have been going. I have even popped in from time to time on some accounts that only I know about. Just to see how it would feel as a new player under the new regime.
Also I appreciate that there have been good and bad things said about me after I was let go. I'm also very aware of the misinformation that was stated about me so I never took any of that to heart or held any grudges about it. I'm glad that people did remember the good times. :-)
Was certainly a good time indeed, personally haven't heard much/any of this bad publicity around ICC but then again, I'm a ICCstan myself so maybe I'm just blind to it all 😆😆
Guess I misread the situation xD
not my intention to tell you what you *have* to do,
but I think eitherway you were interested in knowing more about how EMC is these days and my text blob did contain some of that too =P
for me personally, Im mostly content with where EMC is, I don't plan to go anywhere, If I was going to improve something, I would want to help us retain some of the players who were like me and came from mini-game/pvp servers before EMC (continued)
I've seen so many over the years join, see empty pvp arena's etc and just leave. Unfortunately many of our long time players had bad expierences with bad apples from that type of player, but I want us to be able to welcome the ones like me who were happy to find somewhere to chat with friendly faces and enjoy the social aspect of MC as well
(note cause I just realized my wording was poor, but I am not saying people intentional drive them away or are unfriendly, but that people joining and asking where spleef or pvp arenas are tends to put people on edge)
I think the biggest pain point for most is knowing how busy EMC *used* to be. When there were 4 servers, all full. Each time a new one was added, it filled up. Now, the servers site mostly empty. EMC has failed to change and modernise.
No great community is ever without fault. A response is only as good as the captain's values. On one hand it opens the door of opportunity for growth and transparency with supporters. On the other hand, it can backfire leading to uprising divisiveness either because you changed direction when something should've been left alone or your direction didn't change when it could've made all the difference.
Comments on Profile Post by IcecreamCow