User Alienation, Server Status and other goodies.

[smorrey]

Hello,
This is something you could do that while not technically marketing, would probably help keep a new player and would assist with current player engagement.

Today I tried to log into Ryzom and was told uncerimoniously that the server was "locked".

Wording like that initially made me feel like maybe I had done something wrong and it was my account that was locked.

I know it just means down for maintenance, but the initial gut reaction was either my account had been locked or maybe the *gasp* you guys had gone away... again.

Anyways, here is how to fix it.

First off, lose the word "locked" it's a term that implies exclusion as in ,"It's locked and you don't have a key."
Furthermore, it's technically a weasel word, invented by people (sys-admins who have bonus tied to downtime reports) who liked to think that real humans care about uptime, for any reason other than "Is it up now, so I can play".

I mean, locked? Really? Is there some GM event going on inside that I was somehow excluded from and not invited to? No the server is down, it's offline, locked implies, "Hey buddy, you can't play. But umm, yeah we got lots of the cool kids playing in here right now."

Unless the server is at capacity in which case the message should be "Server full", and an option to enter a queue should be given.

The server is unavailable, or is down. Would make a much better impression.

Also, don't make me wait to try and log in.
You know what shard I play on (well the client does anyways)
At client start and before the login screen, or better yet, ON the log in screen, show the current server status for all shards.

If someone is trying to login, prompt the user that the servers are down for maintenance and they will be back shortly.
Give a time frame and a reason, for instance, Monthly Maintenance, ETA 3hrs.

You could offer everyone the opportunity to enter a chat room while waiting.

To make it even better, provide the user with the option of being notified by IM, email and/or SMS when the shard is back up.

If you want to add a cherry to that, give the user the option of going into a private ring scenario and/or the ring editor while the servers are down. In otherwords, hey you planned to play Ryzom, why not help build it while you wait?

To make it even better, let the player know that if they are in playing or editing a ring scenario, that they will be automatically summoned back to Ryzom or at least notified, as soon as their shard is back on line.

These are all ideas that should be cheap and easy to implement and while not marketing per'se they would help to keep a user from feeling alienated.

Those are my thoughts on the matter? Anyone else, care to weigh in on anything I've said?