Both games are pretty static now, down to 5 to 10 active players, who play regularly.

I am more than happy to leave the server turned on if you want me to. Or, we can jointly decide that this really is the end and fix an end date for end of July (say).

What do you think?

So, I recon most of you haven't seen the poll.

3 votes, even stevens.

Hmmm. Leave some comments as well, why not?

I'm still playing Ripspace, and I think that that game still has some mileage left in it. As it's a small fleet skirmish style game you don't need a huge player base to keep things interesting.

I haven't played Tartarus for a while now, as the bordom factor due to the lack of opposition had set it. Even so I find I'm somehow reluctant to call for it's termination.

Tartarus has been part of my life, and a very enjoyable part too, for a considerable period of time. I think the Frost Lords were an active clan for more than 7 solid years, which is a long time to do anything. So even though I'm no longer actually playing the game part of me will be sad to see the game actually stop.

It was the first properly online strategy game I'd ever tried, and I honestly can't say that I've actually found anything since then that I've enjoyed playing more.

It's a good system, relatively straightforward to learn, with enough complexities and possible strategies to make it challenging. But it was the players that made it a such a great game. Even though I was far to new a clan at the time to get involved in the clan politics, simply reading the cry and the exchanges between the Eldar alliances of the day, the Stompers, Aybabtu, Hydra and so on was probably the most enjoyable aspect of the game.

Actually writing this has made me want to give the sphere another go. Perhaps I should revive the Frost Lords once more and go and see how the last few clans are getting on.

I feel very similarly. BUT, if only 1 player votes yes, they are going to have a very lonely game

I'll have to jolly everyone to post some thoughts. I think the real problem is that I will not be able to grow either game. To do such games now you need sound and graphics. i.e. a team, or no job/family. Very few people will look beyond the graphics to the game itself, and I have always known my games are niche to start with. Definately for wargamer types (like myself).

So, if they cannot grow, and there is a slight, but constant natural decline, then I am thinking it best to stop them while we have 10 (ish) players to say good bye to, rather than just me and the blood mum kicking our heels.

I first drew the faraway game logo when I was 13. So it's been part of my life forever (well almost).

Hello,

I for one would like to see Tartarus keep running. I've just recently started playing again (I used to play waaaay back) and I find that the game is still very enjoyable.

Its true that with less players things are a lot calmer, and honestly I'm not too sure what can be done about this except to make the map smaller, but you can still find a fight if you go looking for one. At least I hope so .

Anyways, thanks for keeping the game running for all this time (it was fun to come back for a while even if you decide to shut it down), and I'll keep hoping you keep it running for a while longer...

Clan Bib (Formerly Twilight's Bloom)

I'm for leaving it running for the time being ...
I went off playing tartarus for a little while .. barely playing enough to stop from getting deleted but now find myself back at the helm nightly.

If it doesn't cost you much in time, energy and $$$'s to leave it going then I'll put my vote towards leaving it going.
If it IS costing you a lot of any of the above then maybe it is time to pull the pin even though I would be sad if that happened.

Cmon back Frosty ... there are still enough elder clans around to get into serious trouble. I also think I might require help in the near future

Maybe we could shrink the sphere a little ?? Squish everyone up a little to encourage some more action. It might help ... is it easy to implement ? A few smallish asteroids to knock off a few of the sphere's edges ??

My 0.02c worth.

Yes, I can shrink it. How much by?

And, it costs very little in either time or money to keep going. So I think I will probably leave them all running. But more comments welcome.

I've signed back up again. But appear to be unable to download my turns from the game. I simply get the 'You must be connected to the internet, etc' message when I try and download using my existing clan Id and the password I specified when I signed up.

I'm wondering if I've been allocated a new Id. I haven't received a new Clan Start email from the server, so if I have I don't know what it is.

Hmm.
Hope to check this out tomorrow AM for you.

Cheers,
Jonathan

GameAdmin wrote:

Yes, I can shrink it. How much by?

Well the sphere is currently 500,500 or so .... that's a lot of open space for a dozen clans ... maybe as far as 300,300 ? Possibly less. Start with say 400,400 and if that doesn't make a great different then take a bit more. It would definitely make things far more interesting. Downside for me is less places to hide
What does everyone else think ?
1 thing to think about if this does come about. Halls are unable to move. How would they go about moving if the ravenous bugblatter beast of Traal (1) starts gnawing parts of the sphere off ? I'm thinking that lying down and putting a paper bag over their heads might not work in this situation(1).

GameAdmin wrote:

And, it costs very little in either time or money to keep going. So I think I will probably leave them all running. But more comments welcome.

Well if that's the case then I still have my hand up to keep it going.
The other question that should have been asked is "Do you _WANT_ to keep it up and running ?"
If no is the answer to that question then it's curtains

More of my 0.01c towards the discussion

(1) Blatant HHGTTG Reference (the real one not that recent farce)

I'd like it continue as well, now all I need to do is to be able to login and submit turns.

300 by 300 sounds ample, considering we're only talking about a dozen clans.

Well I've voted to keep it going & I'm still playing despite having come very close to dropping a couple of times.
Perhaps =-- although I'm against restarts in principle --- in this situation we should have a final restart where everyone starts even & we have the shrunken map ?
First Speaker for 2nd Foundation -------- but of course we were always going to be in it for the loooong haul !

Lord Nova wrote:

I'd like it continue as well, now all I need to do is to be able to login and submit turns.

Woot ... another possibly ally. Bring back the Frost Lords

Sorry for not sorting the login!
Very hectic Rl until next week sometime!

I will sort it out soon though.

Not a problem.

It's giving me extra time to work on my tactics against Mappies armoured shell cruisers in Ripspace.