Marketing. Don't just appeal to old users, aim for brand new ones. 1) Fraps some simple game footage and upload it to youtube. Make it look interesting like a ball game in one of the bases or anything flashy, don't forget to add music (mainstream). 2) Advertise the game in a nice manner, mention it on messageboards related to freeware games / DOS asteroids fanatics, etc. You may even try your luck at abandonware sites, I'm quite sure you'd get half the userbase of abandonia.com if they knew this game existed. 3) When advertising it, embed the video from youtube. This will make your advertisement stand out, plus forum creatures simply can't resist youtube links 4) Advertise on multiple boards and games similar to Subspace/Continuum. You might just convert some nonbelievers. Do step 1-4 in one day. This way you'll get a nice way of gaining new players in a short amount of time, increases your chances of making public game self-sustained. Be ready in the coming days 1) Maps / balancing / moderators should be ready before you advertise. 2) As was done when 17th had its first release ever, we all played as much in pub as we humanly could. This way, new players will see activity and won't leave since the place seems empty. Even idling in the middle beats sitting in spec 3) They got questions about the game? Take your time to give them a decent answer. Don't rely on them using ?help since they just might be a flunky noob you attracted by advertising. Customers remember good service, and I dare say subspace noobs are no different. 4) Don't rush hosting events. Leading all population away from pub will discourage any new player entering. Only host if the remaining pub population will be big enough to carry on. 5) Make the forum login compatible with Firefox! IE is old, bad and dying. That's my 2 cents. Bye once more, and good luck! -- Rifle
