3rd - Meat & Potatoes (analysis & conclusions) - Part 1
The Dislikes :
The few who declared to not like the game whatsoever (5.8% of the panel) scored an average of 2.5 on the GoM, well below the average. So to say that people dislike the game because they grind it to death doesn't seem appropriate.
On a second note, the same crowd posted an average of 388 posts (0.72 posts per day). So once again, given the panel’s average of 757 posts (1.99 per day), to say that the people disliking the game are a "vocal minority" isn’t true either.
Now the few more (7.7%) who declared to not like the game so much while still acknowledging that ED had potential, or a good flight model, or was technically impressive, scored an average of 6.7 on the GoM, flirting with the yellow grinding zone, yet nowhere near the danger zone (red).
It is worthwhile to note that only one of those Cmdrs scored an impressive 18.1 GoM and that without him, the "not so happy lot" would have scored an average of 5 GoM (bang on the green zone)
This is just to show the limits of a reduced panel. I’m personally curious as to what those results would be on a panel of say 1000 persons.
Now about the forum posts, the "not so happy crowd" posted an average of 1392 posts (2.42 per day) – (our 18.1 GoM fella actually posted a lot less and is on par with the average of the entire panel with 757 posts and 1.7 posts per day.
The fact that people generally displeased with the game, yet having mentioned positive things about it, are posting more than the average would suggest that they’re hoping for something better from Frontier and trying to get their voice heard.
Here are some example of their statements:
- Great potential, fun flight model. Horrible design decisions everywhere.
- Awesome and yet boring at the same time. I don't know why I play it and probably need a psychiatrist.
- Tedious and repetitive, could be great
… and the Likes:
The 57.7%, fully happy with the game in its current state and shape scored an average of 6.7 GoM (including 3 players scoring such high scores, they broke the Grind-O-meter! – i.e. well beyond 20 GoM)
Although flirting with the yellow zone too, they’re clearly not in the danger zone either (as a group), so saying that those who like the game the most are those who grind the most simply isn’t true.
That said, it is true to say that those who grind the most are part of those who like ED the most.
Once again, I will have to quote the ambassador:
One commanders grind is another commanders test of endurance.
If you aren't enjoying what you are doing, you are doing it wrong
Now to the vocal minority argument, or in this case, a potential vocal majority:
Those happy 57.7% posted on average 960 posts with 2.65 daily posts. This is considerably higher than the 757 average posts from the panel, one might say.
But if we were to exclude the happy moderators, those 960 average posts would fall to 702, although still with a 2.41 average post per day.
So although the happy people do not post more than any other user, they are still fairly active on a daily basis (exploration and screenshot thread, anyone?)
As for the 26.9% of somewhat happy but…
They scored an average of 5 GoM, which could not be more average
And despite the 1.38 daily posts, they cumulate an average of 790 posts. One could say, exactly like the folks not completely unhappy with the game, that these are posting more than others in order to get their voice heard and see progression in the game.
In fact, those who hate or love the game posted an average of 545 posts
And those who expressed mixed feelings posted an average of 1091 posts
I would be fair to say that those who love the game are happy to stay happy and that those who hate it aren’t trying to take anybody down with them.
Instead, the vocal part seem to be arguing about how to improve things, whether they are individually rather pleased or displeased with the current state of affairs.
But the money grinding factor clearly seems to be a non issue.
Fun fact:
If those who love the game and those who like it despite certain flaws have clocked in an average of 417 hours of game time,
Those who either hate it or dislike it despite the positive things they could mention about ED have clocked in comparison an average of 905 hours of game time.
More to follow…
