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Jazuela · 10-25-2005, 08:23 PM

Without getting my panties in a bunch (I was tempted but took a deep breath and realized this was actually an interesting exercise in thought)...I'd like to address the whole matter of RPI and why IRE might want to consider something like this.

Judging by my own experience, I didn't know about RPIs because I came from a commercial game that catered to the masses - similarly to IRE games (but not IRE games). I didn't know RPIs even existed, so of course I had no interest in them.

After several years, I did realize my preferences had grown toward a more intensive roleplaying atmosphere. So - I found one, still not an RPI, but definitely more enforced roleplay. Played and worked there a few years. After I left there, I sought out an even MORE RP-intensive atmosphere and discovered the RPIs.

Considering that RPIs really are (currently) a very narrow niche market, it's possible it is that way - because most players come from similar circumstances as myself.

If the commercial gaming company had an RPI in their cadre, I never would've left them and would probably still be paying a monthly fee for the privilege.

I don't think that RPIs are "superior" in general. They are superior for my personal needs, and obviously I'm not the only one.

As for the 100 simultaneous players - that doesn't constitute a playerbase. 400 paying accounts can easily equal 75-100 players logged in at the same time. Still not all that much, but consider the marketing of the RPIs. With almost exclusively word of mouth, a few ads on websites such as TMS, and zero revenue, they are capturing the attention of between 200 and 500 *account-holding people* each.

Toss some professional marketing in that stew, use the IRE brand name to sell the idea, maybe add incentives for current IRE customers who bring a friend along to test drive the new game, and you've got the potential for a rather interesting experiment - a semi-massively multiplayer RPI.

10-25-2005, 08:23 PM	#82
Jazuela Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New England Posts: 849	Without getting my panties in a bunch (I was tempted but took a deep breath and realized this was actually an interesting exercise in thought)...I'd like to address the whole matter of RPI and why IRE might want to consider something like this. Judging by my own experience, I didn't know about RPIs because I came from a commercial game that catered to the masses - similarly to IRE games (but not IRE games). I didn't know RPIs even existed, so of course I had no interest in them. After several years, I did realize my preferences had grown toward a more intensive roleplaying atmosphere. So - I found one, still not an RPI, but definitely more enforced roleplay. Played and worked there a few years. After I left there, I sought out an even MORE RP-intensive atmosphere and discovered the RPIs. Considering that RPIs really are (currently) a very narrow niche market, it's possible it is that way - because most players come from similar circumstances as myself. If the commercial gaming company had an RPI in their cadre, I never would've left them and would probably still be paying a monthly fee for the privilege. I don't think that RPIs are "superior" in general. They are superior for my personal needs, and obviously I'm not the only one. As for the 100 simultaneous players - that doesn't constitute a playerbase. 400 paying accounts can easily equal 75-100 players logged in at the same time. Still not all that much, but consider the marketing of the RPIs. With almost exclusively word of mouth, a few ads on websites such as TMS, and zero revenue, they are capturing the attention of between 200 and 500 account-holding people each. Toss some professional marketing in that stew, use the IRE brand name to sell the idea, maybe add incentives for current IRE customers who bring a friend along to test drive the new game, and you've got the potential for a rather interesting experiment - a semi-massively multiplayer RPI.