Anti-Ghost town policy

[Marku]

I like the idea of a 90 day pack up.

[huan]

I like the idea of planets not getting too congested, especially around POI's.

[EsuOsmisquk]

We have quite a few houses in one of our cities in particular that we were hoping would blow up since the players are not active. Is there anyway or process to request these to be removed if the players have not been around for 3-4 months?

[DarthDominus]

Hey there!

Just wondering if this policy has evolved or changed? Noticed it's been a long while since the last post. I've not been in game very long, but it appears most worlds could use a little cleanup. Don't get me wrong, there are certain player cities on each planet that are more active than anywhere else in the game, I'm just curious if things have relaxed in this arena or if any new policies have developed. Thanks!

[Cynar]

Part of the publish 8 update will include housing cleanup. We rely on donations to keep us afloat these days and as mentioned in another thread we have to make adjustments to hardware to accommodate the bills. Keeping that in consideration we have to keep our active players in mind as well. We will be making adjustments to structures based upon player activity. We have not yet set a parameter but we will.

Players that want to keep their structures in tact will need to be active players. No longer will dumping millions of credits into structures keep them from going boom for 2 years. We realize we have players that like to come and go, but players like that don't help pay the bills and they are taking up space active or donating members could be using. Let's be honest it takes money to keep this place going and we cannot charge subscriptions.

We have been discussing paraemeters however players won't be able to just duck in once or twice a year for 5 minutes to satisfy those parameters. We aren't being greedy as it cost money to keep servers going. Our advice is if you like playing here to be somewhat active during the course of the year. When a house pack-up service is made available by swgemu we will be happy to employ it but we don't have one of our own.

We love people playing here and we don't require people to donate. All we ask is that if you drop structures is to plan on being active. I think that is a totally fair request. We aren't a big corporation so we can't afford to provide permanent storage for you for free. We do appreciate everyone that plays here.

[DarthDominus]

Thank you very much for the update Cynar, I'm sincerely pleased to hear it and will look forward to more information as it becomes available.

Given that player cities are truly the hubs for server activity on Awakening, it really does make a significant impact to the game for those places to stand out on the landscape and for the ghost towns to be removed. Moreover, for the scenery to be cleaned of the random buildings long abandoned in general.

I think it's clear that staff doesn't want to penalize anyone, but rather, just make sure the active folks have the best experience in the game possible. It is not at all unfair to have an expectation that people login and participate frequently enough to justify the continued use of game resources, particularly given there is no subscription.

Anyway, your time and response is appreciated.

[guitarsmasher]

Part of the publish 8 update will include housing cleanup. We rely on donations to keep us afloat these days and as mentioned in another thread we have to make adjustments to hardware to accommodate the bills. Keeping that in consideration we have to keep our active players in mind as well. We will be making adjustments to structures based upon player activity. We have not yet set a parameter but we will.

Players that want to keep their structures in tact will need to be active players. No longer will dumping millions of credits into structures keep them from going boom for 2 years. We realize we have players that like to come and go, but players like that don't help pay the bills and they are taking up space active or donating members could be using. Let's be honest it takes money to keep this place going and we cannot charge subscriptions.

We have been discussing paraemeters however players won't be able to just duck in once or twice a year for 5 minutes to satisfy those parameters. We aren't being greedy as it cost money to keep servers going. Our advice is if you like playing here to be somewhat active during the course of the year. When a house pack-up service is made available by swgemu we will be happy to employ it but we don't have one of our own.

We love people playing here and we don't require people to donate. All we ask is that if you drop structures is to plan on being active. I think that is a totally fair request. We aren't a big corporation so we can't afford to provide permanent storage for you for free. We do appreciate everyone that plays here.

I'm just going to say this. If its a matter of upkeep then just ask us to donate. I will be more then happy to donate to keep the wheels spinning. I know you don't ask all the time but maybe a nudge once a month will get us in the donating spirit. Last thing I want to see are things being cut from our game. While it sounds like it won't mess to much up, I can't help but think cutting back will somehow affect us in someway. If folks can't spare $10 a month I can understand that. While we aren't paying 14.99 a month I think the least all of us could do is chip in when we can.

Said my piece, and to be very clear I am in full support of this server and will do what I need to in order to keep it optimal.

[Turin]

As a long term mayor I could kiss you cynar after hearing that news, that's better than dual spec for me

Thank you sir and great to see you more involved again.

[Cynar]

Like I said we appreciate our donors and non-donors alike. Donors help keep the server afloat and non-donors help in their own ways, sometimes helping new players, sometimes just by helping keeping the server active. Yes we don't want to put our inactive players in a corner. Some people take a break from time to time and we get that. It's an older game and some players just get burned out.

It's one thing taking a break for a couple of months and it's quite another to pop in for 10 minutes every six months,drop some cash, rinse and repeat. Many pay to play mmos will do player purges if people are inactive for periods of time to reclaim names, resources, etc. This will be no different than that. We know people love their houses but I would recommend putting stuff you can't play without in the bank or keeping it on your characters. At some point we may even do account purges. We've got a lot of people that create an account play for an hour and never come back. We feel no obligation to them.

We feel obligated to those that are here living, breathing, and playing with us.

[guitarsmasher]

Like I said we appreciate our donors and non-donors alike. Donors help keep the server afloat and non-donors help in their own ways, sometimes helping new players, sometimes just by helping keeping the server active. Yes we don't want to put our inactive players in a corner. Some people take a break from time to time and we get that. It's an older game and some players just get burned out.

It's one thing taking a break for a couple of months and it's quite another to pop in for 10 minutes every six months,drop some cash, rinse and repeat. Many pay to play mmos will do player purges if people are inactive for periods of time to reclaim names, resources, etc. This will be no different than that. We know people love their houses but I would recommend putting stuff you can't play without in the bank or keeping it on your characters. At some point we may even do account purges. We've got a lot of people that create an account play for an hour and never come back. We feel no obligation to them.

We feel obligated to those that are here living, breathing, and playing with us.

I get that man, what I am saying is please...please ask us to donate. Sometimes we do forget that somebody is footing the bill, and its ok to ask for donations. I have an absolute love for this server and its staff. The amount of shit you guys have to take and keep this machine going is highly commendable.

As Turin said I am happy about certain aspects. Specially since I am sinking millions into my new city. I'm here to you guys tell us all to F off and the server shuts down. I guess my point is, you will be seeing donations from me. Like others I hope I will be able to set an example by my actions.

[Cynar]

We will. There may be a monthly donation meter added to the website soon. We only put donations towards server and software licensing fees. These aren't incredibly expensive costs. Other than a few donors, Ed covered the bills for the first year. After that we started to rely on donations. Ed's got a bunch of little rug rats to feed now, so hobby money became chucky-cheese money.

It's hard not to giggle a bit and think of Sally Struthers when you say for only a dollar fifty a month lol. Anyway we will make that info a a available soon. Should have test center up mid-week with some of the new changes.
Keep an eye on the patches section for details and testing notes.

[DarthDominus]

Was just wondering if there will be anything in the upcoming patch with regard to this conversation, or if we'll be waiting until the next one? I bring it up so that if there is a new standard for being an "active player" it can be made known. Thanks!

[Xiphos]

There will be new procedures for house cleanup. These will go a long way to eliminating ghost towns. I won't provide specifics, but I can guarantee that if you are active at all you are in no danger. I would recommend that if you plan to take a long hiatus (or go on deployment to East Jabip, or have an upcoming 2 year venture on the ISS, etc.), you put any critical items in your inventory or in the bank.

[DarthDominus]

There will be new procedures for house cleanup. These will go a long way to eliminating ghost towns. I won't provide specifics, but I can guarantee that if you are active at all you are in no danger. I would recommend that if you plan to take a long hiatus (or go on deployment to East Jabip, or have an upcoming 2 year venture on the ISS, etc.), you put any critical items in your inventory or in the bank.

Extremely pleased to hear it! Thanks very much for the prompt response.

[Cynar]

Cleanup begins on live starting Tuesday 4/11/17 and will happen everyday @ server restart from that point.

[DarthDominus]

Glorious news!! Thank you guys for your continued hard work on making this server - THE - best to be a part of. Sincerely appreciated.

[benjaminagreer]

what in your opinion is a active player

[Cynar]

Someone who plays with frequency and doesn't disappear for 3-6 months at a time. That's not opinion, that's fact.

[Madroxtheninja]

Does the account just need to be active or every player on acct? Wife and I both got toons we made just for our town that never get logged on, yet are mains our logged on all the time

[Cynar]

I would make a suggestion to all players to keep all of their toons active, quite frequently, and more than a quick login/logout. If you made them, use them for more than a storage container.