Why is this game not more popular?

[LockDOwn]

This game is beautiful to look at and is a very good sim as well. So why isn't more popular? As it is now, I only play weekends because not many people are online during the week.

Is it because...

- poor marketing.
- AI in many multi player games?
- Lack of dedicated servers for online PvP games?


What do you think they could do to improve the low population online?..

- Dedicate servers.
- Develop a massive population server.
- Increase squad membership by hooding squad stats on the Arma site?
- Make it for realistic by adding true ballistics?

What do you guys think?

[jasonnoguchi]

Because a lot of the players are working adults who can't play during weekdays? So far, more than half the players I knew here are working adults, myself included.

And yes, it does also come back to the point of why ArmA2 isn't popular amongst the "mainstream" players? Maybe cos its not "arcade" enough...hehehehe... beats the hell out of me.

[Deadfast]

I think the main reason you forgot to mention is that this style of game doesn't by far appeal to everybody.

[walker]

Hi all

Advertising

Kind Regards walker

[Herbal Influence]

How many people do you need to play that game?
There a steadily about a 500 servers open.
There a every hour more than 400 gamers online - so what?

Take a look here.

Sure I wish BI games a bigger community, but what for do you need more than there are?

Is your questioning serious - is my question.

[Grizzle]

I agree that's it's mostly due to lack of advertising, but secondarily because there is no Head-shot! - God-Like! - Dominating! voice over when one scores a kill.

[Daniel]

I agree that's it's mostly due to lack of advertising, but secondarily because there is no Head-shot! - God-Like! - Dominating! voice over when one scores a kill.

Easily moddable.

And yeah, as with ArmA1, there's been next to no advertising. At least none that i've come across.
Of course personally, i like that BIS spend more money on game content, but I can't help but feel they'd sell a lot more copies with further reaching marketing.

[zoog]

1. It's a niche market
2. Buggy release (which get mentioned in reviews etc)
3. Advertising

[DMarkwick]

ArmA2 represents several diversions from normal gaming practises. Already discussed are the realism, non-instantaneous "adrenaline hit" nature of the game.

But the game engine itself is unique in gaming, in that it's not player-centric. In a game that has maps 20km across, it's possible to place two enemy units or groups across the other side of the game world, and they will faithfully play out their conflict, using tactics, weaponry, accuracy, all the variables you'd expect, even if the player will never see any of this.

You explain this to most gamers and they'd say it was a waste of resources. Who cares what happens away from the player?

The single thing this game has above all others (IMO) is fidelity. The fidelity to model stuff that the player might never see. It's possible for the player to eventually reach that area, and to work out the sequence of events using bodies, blood splatter & trails, wreckage, damage etc. But he''l never know exactly what happened precisely. But he'll know that it DID happen precisely.

That's what I like most about the ArmA2 engine

[Bullet Purveyor]

I guess many players that was used to the battlefield 2, CS and other arcade like shooters quickly shelved the game after a short time, when it didn't live up to their expectations. Some of the game trailers make it look more like a fast paced arcade shooter, so many got disapointed when it is rather slow and very complicated.

I got 3 of my friends to buy it at release and none of them really got into it. They lost their patience, mainly because of the many bugs (That I tried to explain would be improved in future patches and by the community) and the complex interface and gameplay.

The public online games where not much fun right after realease, the famous receiving message, and red chain followed by CTD. Mix it up with all the team killers and idiots screwing things up, thats always attracted by new online games, and I think many players got discouraged by that.

Someone in here posted a while ago that Arma 2 has sold over 1 million copys. Which I think is very good for a niche-game like this, if those numbers are correct?
Unfortunately I think many of those never got to experience this game at it's best before they gave up. With all of the great community content and playing in organized games. Or just playing around in the editor like I do most of the time

-Better documentation on all the key commands and how to control AI.
-More in depth ingame turtorials on gameplay.
-A small ingame turtorial for editor, that cover the basic to get people started.
-Making all the players that are new to the series aware of the great community made content.

I hope BIS make a better job explaining to the new players how this game work when Operation Arrowhead comes out.