A long time ago, I posted this thread on the site, predicting a sudden downfall of our population on this site. I got three pages of replies saying that it would never happen, with not a single member supporting or agreeing with me. However, time has passed, and, while the population didn't drop quite as fast as I had predicted, our numbers are significantly lower now, and much of what I said turned out to be correct.
I will use this thread to track the changes in site activity from its creation. I will chart the most reliable data I have (Average Custom Games per Day- certainly not the most reliable way to do things, but it's the best I can do), and I'll note other factors as well and provide commentary.
Scheduled Custom Games per Day- Weekends
Note- exact numbers may vary slightly between time zones.
January: .....Friday- 28 ...Saturday- 40 .....Sunday- 31 .....Average- 33....(45%)
February: ...Friday- 62 ...Saturday- 88.25 Sunday- 69.75 Average- 73.3 (100%)
March: ....... Friday- 45 ...Saturday- 50 .....Sunday- 32.2 ..Average- 42.4 (58%)
April: ...........Friday- 29.5 Saturday- 30 .....Sunday- 29 .....Average- 29.5 (40%)
May: ............Friday- 29.4 Saturday- 33.25 Sunday- 21.25 Average- 28 ...(38%)
June: ..........Friday- 21.5 Saturday- 25.2 ..Sunday- 20.6 ..Average- 22.4 (31%)
July: ............Friday- 23.5 Saturday- 21.75 Sunday- 21.75 Average- 22.3 (30%)
August: .......Friday- 22.6 Saturday- 20 .....Sunday- 17.25 Average- 20 ...(27%)
September: Friday- 13 ...Saturday- 13.5 ..Sunday- 9.2 ....Average- 11.9 (16%)
October: .....Friday- 9 .....Saturday- 13 .....Sunday- 8.75 ..Average- 10.3 (14%)
November: .Friday- 9 .....Saturday- 13.6 ..Sunday- 8.5 ....Average- 10.4 (14%)
(Last update- 12/4/2013)
Key:
Month ...Friday Games- xx.xx ...Saturday Games- xx.xx ...Sunday Games- xx.xx ...Weekend Average- xx.x ...(Percent of February's average- xxx%)
Other Info:
-Most RSVPs in one game- A J Yusi's lobby on February 3rd (here)
-Most customs in one day- Saturday, February 9 (112 games- no link available)
-First day with no customs- Thursday, November 14 (here)
The downhill fall of CG/D from February is clear and evident. There was a very slight recovery period at the beginning of summer, but as soon as the season ended, there was another stark drop. Look at this month's numbers and compare it to those of February, the climax, and even to January, when the site had barely even started. The numbers back then are several times higher than they are now.
These population changes are evident all across the site. Maps don't get as many downloads. Threads don't get nearly as many views or replies. Custom games are fewer in number, and those that do exist receive significantly lower numbers of attendees, struggling to reach a decent player count. Also, The shoutbox isn't anything like the constant stream of activity it used to be.
As depressing as it is to say it, and as much as none of us want to believe it, the halo community, as well as our beloved forums, is dying. And there is no end or turning point in sight, especially with the release of new consoles and the constant incoming stream of new games, which will both inevitably take much more of our population away. What can be done about this? Sadly I don't have an answer this time- a lot of it is due to the failure of Halo itself to maintain a decent population count. Let's be honest- All we can really do now is hope that Halo 5 is more successful next year.
The site itself is not deteriorating, and the site's members aren't worse people than they used to be. However, the declining numbers are making the site more and more of a boring place to be. There's less action, less fun, and, overall, it's less exciting. Custom game hosts can't get enough players into their games, while everyone else has fewer lobbies to choose from. Forgers have difficulty getting their maps recognized. Members who were here during our "Golden Age" in February should understand what I'm talking about.
I will be sure to update this thread at least once a week to add the latest data and commentary. Be sure to check back, and leave your opinions in the comments.
I will use this thread to track the changes in site activity from its creation. I will chart the most reliable data I have (Average Custom Games per Day- certainly not the most reliable way to do things, but it's the best I can do), and I'll note other factors as well and provide commentary.
Scheduled Custom Games per Day- Weekends
Note- exact numbers may vary slightly between time zones.
January: .....Friday- 28 ...Saturday- 40 .....Sunday- 31 .....Average- 33....(45%)
February: ...Friday- 62 ...Saturday- 88.25 Sunday- 69.75 Average- 73.3 (100%)
March: ....... Friday- 45 ...Saturday- 50 .....Sunday- 32.2 ..Average- 42.4 (58%)
April: ...........Friday- 29.5 Saturday- 30 .....Sunday- 29 .....Average- 29.5 (40%)
May: ............Friday- 29.4 Saturday- 33.25 Sunday- 21.25 Average- 28 ...(38%)
June: ..........Friday- 21.5 Saturday- 25.2 ..Sunday- 20.6 ..Average- 22.4 (31%)
July: ............Friday- 23.5 Saturday- 21.75 Sunday- 21.75 Average- 22.3 (30%)
August: .......Friday- 22.6 Saturday- 20 .....Sunday- 17.25 Average- 20 ...(27%)
September: Friday- 13 ...Saturday- 13.5 ..Sunday- 9.2 ....Average- 11.9 (16%)
October: .....Friday- 9 .....Saturday- 13 .....Sunday- 8.75 ..Average- 10.3 (14%)
November: .Friday- 9 .....Saturday- 13.6 ..Sunday- 8.5 ....Average- 10.4 (14%)
(Last update- 12/4/2013)
Key:
Month ...Friday Games- xx.xx ...Saturday Games- xx.xx ...Sunday Games- xx.xx ...Weekend Average- xx.x ...(Percent of February's average- xxx%)
Other Info:
-Most RSVPs in one game- A J Yusi's lobby on February 3rd (here)
-Most customs in one day- Saturday, February 9 (112 games- no link available)
-First day with no customs- Thursday, November 14 (here)
The downhill fall of CG/D from February is clear and evident. There was a very slight recovery period at the beginning of summer, but as soon as the season ended, there was another stark drop. Look at this month's numbers and compare it to those of February, the climax, and even to January, when the site had barely even started. The numbers back then are several times higher than they are now.
These population changes are evident all across the site. Maps don't get as many downloads. Threads don't get nearly as many views or replies. Custom games are fewer in number, and those that do exist receive significantly lower numbers of attendees, struggling to reach a decent player count. Also, The shoutbox isn't anything like the constant stream of activity it used to be.
As depressing as it is to say it, and as much as none of us want to believe it, the halo community, as well as our beloved forums, is dying. And there is no end or turning point in sight, especially with the release of new consoles and the constant incoming stream of new games, which will both inevitably take much more of our population away. What can be done about this? Sadly I don't have an answer this time- a lot of it is due to the failure of Halo itself to maintain a decent population count. Let's be honest- All we can really do now is hope that Halo 5 is more successful next year.
The site itself is not deteriorating, and the site's members aren't worse people than they used to be. However, the declining numbers are making the site more and more of a boring place to be. There's less action, less fun, and, overall, it's less exciting. Custom game hosts can't get enough players into their games, while everyone else has fewer lobbies to choose from. Forgers have difficulty getting their maps recognized. Members who were here during our "Golden Age" in February should understand what I'm talking about.
I will be sure to update this thread at least once a week to add the latest data and commentary. Be sure to check back, and leave your opinions in the comments.
. (it make me mad when people do this
)
