Reading one of Sai's posts gave me a thought about adding interval emails to new players with training materials. So, once a new player signs up, email them once a week with some new tips and things to try in game. This would run for 12 weeks. Mails would of course need an unsubscribe link. This would serve two purposes: remind them to come back and play, and to talk about aspects of the game that they can use to improve. Maybe that would increase attention and get people in the groove to keep playing. I read somewhere that it takes about 6 weeks of routine to establish a habit that will then become desire to play, so that people will actually miss playing.
Emails should be about 1 page worth of info, and NOT tl;dr. I'm suggesting the article list based on how much enjoyment it would provide a player, and NOT how to make a player useful. Newbies should have fun first, we'll worry about making them into proper players later is my take.
I think the goal for frequency should be they get the last article when they lose their number. This gets them ready to get their @AFS tag on.
Week 1: Controls and Setup
Week 2: Scouting and The mini map, finding your way around.
Week 3: Dog fighting tips - Interceptors
Week 4: Dog fighting tips - Fighters
Week 5: Miner hunting and killing
Week 6: Stealth and Signals
Week 7: Bombing and Nanning
Week 8: Constructors
Week 9: Faction Differences
Week 10: End Game Technologies
Week 11: Becoming a better player (cover the support roles, class offerings from FAZ, etc, Squads)
Week 12: Commanding Basics (Yes, really!)
This would be simple and low cost to do, maybe not quite as intimidating as requesting signup and commitment to a formal program. Automatic enrollment means less steps to getting this info out to new players.
This would not be a replacement for the AFS program, just another information channel.
Whaddaya think, sirs?
Mailing lists for new signups
I really don't think this is a good idea. No matter how useful the e-mails might be, it will be perceived as spam, and new players will not appreciate it at all. If they read the e-mails at all (which they might not -- I know I tend to delete e-mail that I didn't ask for without reading it), they'll probably be a little annoyed that we are shoving game info down their throats with not-entirely-solicited e-mails, instead of letting them learn at their own pace.
If you were to send out e-mail more rarely, like once a month, that might be better, since such rare e-mail wouldn't be as annoying as a weekly message. Of course the content could be quite the same then. Anywho, that's just what I think.
If you were to send out e-mail more rarely, like once a month, that might be better, since such rare e-mail wouldn't be as annoying as a weekly message. Of course the content could be quite the same then. Anywho, that's just what I think.
I'll agree with you that a percentage will perceive it as spam. However, it's not V1@grA spam, and that makes a big difference. Also, including a nice unsubscribe link (which then instantly unsubs them from the maillist) is within CAN-SPAM regs. Solicited email is a high gain, low cost channel to retain customers, so why not apply that to players?
One way to gauge its effectiveness would be to have 50% of new sign ups go on the list and 50% not, and then see which group has higher retention. I'm going to bet the ones on the list will, but I'm predisposed to communication.
I think it's worth throwing out the net to see who we can catch.
One way to gauge its effectiveness would be to have 50% of new sign ups go on the list and 50% not, and then see which group has higher retention. I'm going to bet the ones on the list will, but I'm predisposed to communication.
I think it's worth throwing out the net to see who we can catch.
You can always make it an optional sign up. That way those who want it get it and those who don't won't.
Heck, open a version of it up to the community at large to get monthly newsletters (just a copy/paste cleanup from the news posts + whatever someone has time to write).
I think there is something in place when you signup for the forums and alleg that we won't use your info, so I think it would have to be an opt-in system.
Heck, open a version of it up to the community at large to get monthly newsletters (just a copy/paste cleanup from the news posts + whatever someone has time to write).
I think there is something in place when you signup for the forums and alleg that we won't use your info, so I think it would have to be an opt-in system.
I have to go with Girlyboy on this one (Why do I keep agreeing with GB?!!) It'll be considered spam.
Also, if you do go with this idea. WHY THE HELL IS NANNING NOT BEFORE DOGFIGHTING?!!!
If you want to get this info out to the new fellows, dump CDT altogether, and just put a special "Gameplay" part of the forum that has all the Cadet Articles (UP TO DATE!) And let people read them at their leisure.
Also, if you do go with this idea. WHY THE HELL IS NANNING NOT BEFORE DOGFIGHTING?!!!
If you want to get this info out to the new fellows, dump CDT altogether, and just put a special "Gameplay" part of the forum that has all the Cadet Articles (UP TO DATE!) And let people read them at their leisure.
A hero is not one who never falls, but one who gets up again and again, NEVER losing sight of one's dream!
Slime that I am, can we make the opt-in pre-checked for new sign ups? The more clicks, the less traction it would get. I still lean towards NOT having the option at initial sign up at all! I know that's a little off putting, but exposure and regular contact is key. Is there anyone with a marketing background here that can speak to this? marketing is a black science to me, but I've worked with a lot of marketers, shaking my head while doing their bidding and being surprised at the results. Namely them being right, and me being wrong.
Also, most TOS say that they won't resell/expose your info to 3rd parties. Nothing wrong with using it for our own "gain", which is trying to get people to play. That's pretty noble on the scale of
No option to get help newsletters at sign up:
(Nigerian Inheritance Scam) <==|===========> (Email from Grandma)
Pre checked option to get help newsletters at sign up:
(Nigerian Inheritance Scam) <======|=======> (Email from Grandma)
Un checked option to get help newsletters at sign up:
(Nigerian Inheritance Scam) <============|=> (Email from Grandma)
Also, most TOS say that they won't resell/expose your info to 3rd parties. Nothing wrong with using it for our own "gain", which is trying to get people to play. That's pretty noble on the scale of
No option to get help newsletters at sign up:
(Nigerian Inheritance Scam) <==|===========> (Email from Grandma)
Pre checked option to get help newsletters at sign up:
(Nigerian Inheritance Scam) <======|=======> (Email from Grandma)
Un checked option to get help newsletters at sign up:
(Nigerian Inheritance Scam) <============|=> (Email from Grandma)
Because dogfighting is what the newbies wanna do. <opinion>Get 'em hooked first, make 'em model citizens later.</opinion> I'm just putting forth the idea. NotJarvis and the training team can make the call on what order and material they contain. Unless you know what you're doing and why, nanning is NOT a lot of fun. You wanna see the stuff POP!Elzam V. Branstein wrote:QUOTE (Elzam V. Branstein @ Jul 30 2010, 03:07 PM) Also, if you do go with this idea. WHY THE HELL IS NANNING NOT BEFORE DOGFIGHTING?!!!
The training team has already determined that the optimal way to put out this much information is through smaller bite sized chunks. Again, NJ would be the one to speak to this.Elzam V. Branstein wrote:QUOTE (Elzam V. Branstein @ Jul 30 2010, 03:07 PM) If you want to get this info out to the new fellows, dump CDT altogether, and just put a special "Gameplay" part of the forum that has all the Cadet Articles (UP TO DATE!) And let people read them at their leisure.
That'd have to be a change in signup, which I think is an ASGS thing, which would require an ASGS db update, which isn't likely:(.
Easiest quickest way to do this: Create Google groups for various types of messages you want to send. Post instructions for signup in the forums in Gameplay, have AFS CDT ppl pimp it in those programs, have squads pimp it where they will.
If it has good content, you'll get subs. End effect isn't quite the same, but if you can integrate it into the culture of the community such that you get posts on the forums arguing about what was in the last email, you'll see quickly that it gets more attention, even from the newbs cause voobs and vets will be talking about it.
AFS/CDT highly encouraging students to sign up would be a good thing too, of course.
Easiest quickest way to do this: Create Google groups for various types of messages you want to send. Post instructions for signup in the forums in Gameplay, have AFS CDT ppl pimp it in those programs, have squads pimp it where they will.
If it has good content, you'll get subs. End effect isn't quite the same, but if you can integrate it into the culture of the community such that you get posts on the forums arguing about what was in the last email, you'll see quickly that it gets more attention, even from the newbs cause voobs and vets will be talking about it.
AFS/CDT highly encouraging students to sign up would be a good thing too, of course.
one more thoguht, if the AFS/CDT list were available to everyone, then everyone will know what is going on in those programs. It's much harder to help AFS guys (non-instructor types) when you don't know what the current focus is. In old school CDT, there was "scout week" and the whole community knew it was scout week and CDTs should get their butts into scouts! That doesn't seem to happen any more and so the support of the community as a whole is gone from CDT and instructors bear the full weight.
Come to think of it, that may be one of the biggest issues right now. ..mmm.
Come to think of it, that may be one of the biggest issues right now. ..mmm.
Hi Sai,
I was actually thinking more of enrolling them at the point of account creation in CSS.
Letting others subscribe from the forum is a solid idea as well.
What I am after is that immediately after they get an account, they get week 1's email to their box, telling them how to setup strafe keys. There is an unsub link on the bottom of the mail. If they don't click it, they get another email next week, and so forth. No going to the forum. No links sent to them in game. No course sign ups. No external list to go to for sign up. These all require action from the user, and I want action from us instead.
Automatic for the people.
The goal is to retain, and the first big bail point is right after they log in, can't hit anyone, can't figure out what to do. Then they close the game. Right at that point, I want the shiny email in their mailbox to feed em some tips. Maybe they will try it again with a push from a good mail.
This is totally subjective on my part, I have no data to back it up.
I was actually thinking more of enrolling them at the point of account creation in CSS.
Letting others subscribe from the forum is a solid idea as well.
What I am after is that immediately after they get an account, they get week 1's email to their box, telling them how to setup strafe keys. There is an unsub link on the bottom of the mail. If they don't click it, they get another email next week, and so forth. No going to the forum. No links sent to them in game. No course sign ups. No external list to go to for sign up. These all require action from the user, and I want action from us instead.
Automatic for the people.
The goal is to retain, and the first big bail point is right after they log in, can't hit anyone, can't figure out what to do. Then they close the game. Right at that point, I want the shiny email in their mailbox to feed em some tips. Maybe they will try it again with a push from a good mail.
This is totally subjective on my part, I have no data to back it up.