how do you guys think we could get more people to play blockland?

[VerticalHorizon]

a fidget spinner add-on

[Ad Bot]

[RedGajin]

a fidget spinner add-on

aight everyone can go home now

[Rabbot32]

Clean the forums, advertise the game, improve the quality and quantity of servers.

[Trymos]

We need better servers, this is the biggest reason why Blockland is not so active in online.

again, there are a LOT of underlying issues preventing this from happening. its not as clear cut as "make better servers"

one thing is of course we go back to interiors and terrains but it shouldn't have stayed in its most recent form.
the solution was right there in front of us: static shapes, why wasn't this system expanded and simplified? we wouldn't have gotten infinitely repeating terrain like the old system, nor would we retain compatibility with the old maps, but we would've retained everything else while simplifying the codebase that badspot wanted to do so bad.

honestly i feel like badspot just gave up on blockland. its nowhere near a state where it can sustain itself, the addon and building systems just aren't fleshed out enough for that.

[Aplem]

wait so is the BLF starting WW3 off the table?

[otto-san]

the solution was right there in front of us: static shapes, why wasn't this system expanded and simplified? we wouldn't have gotten infinitely repeating terrain like the old system, nor would we retain compatibility with the old maps, but we would've retained everything else while simplifying the codebase that badspot wanted to do so bad.

static shapes can start causing performance problems in larger numbers since they aren't really optimized at all for widespread use, tho lighter use would obvs be fine

honestly, if there were any form of save file distribution system, that'd probably work really well as an alternative. people could build really basic maps for people to use as a base and upload them, and that'd be perfect for the kind of game blockland is.

[Trymos]

static shapes can start causing performance problems in larger numbers since they aren't really optimized at all for widespread use, tho lighter use would obvs be fine

honestly, if there were any form of save file distribution system, that'd probably work really well as an alternative. people could build really basic maps for people to use as a base and upload them, and that'd be perfect for the kind of game blockland is.

it's in a state where it's worth trying to optimize further.

another option would be on-the-fly customization of the current terrain bricks, think like mission editor but you modify terrain bricks with a brush. expand this to regular bricks too while we're at it, the current brick selection system is primitive and is in dire need of an update, the resize wand or whatever it's called does help to remedy the problem, but why not expand on that across the board? have a cut/merge/resize tool for bricks, maybe a tool to convert bricks into ramps? in the vanilla game if i spam 1x1x5's for my walls for a house and i want to change it to a nicer design: NOPE im forgeted.

having an ability to directly load save files into blockland from a steam workshop-esque system all ingame would be amazing even if it's gonna have a huge amount of trash. i would not recommend steam workshop itself because it is horrible when it comes to sifting through the stuff.

there are real things you could do to improve many aspects of blockland which would in turn improve player retention. you don't have an incredibly low amount of player activity relative to total sales and have it happen for no reason. there's always a damn good reason.

[RedGajin]

honestly, if there were any form of save file distribution system, that'd probably work really well as an alternative. people could build really basic maps for people to use as a base and upload them, and that'd be perfect for the kind of game blockland is.

i gotta agree with this. as someone who is p stuff at building but is good at other aspects of the game (eventing ect) and would has a lot of ideas for servers, itd be great to have a hub for easily downloadable maps that are there for everyone to user. people post a lot of stuff in gallery, but im sure those aren't even seen by new steam users, and 90% of people don't bother posting a download link with the build.

but still, with how small the playerbase is you wouldn't see a lot of content

[otto-san]

another option would be on-the-fly customization of the current terrain bricks, think like mission editor but you modify terrain bricks with a brush. expand this to regular bricks too while we're at it, the current brick selection system is primitive and is in dire need of an update, the resize wand or whatever it's called does help to remedy the problem, but why not expand on that across the board? have a cut/merge/resize tool for bricks, maybe a tool to convert bricks into ramps? in the vanilla game if i spam 1x1x5's for my walls for a house and i want to change it to a nicer design: NOPE im forgeted.

i've wanted stuff like this for ages and i hope we get them some day

i gotta agree with this. as someone who is p stuff at building but is good at other aspects of the game (eventing ect) and would has a lot of ideas for servers, itd be great to have a hub for easily downloadable maps that are there for everyone to user. people post a lot of stuff in gallery, but im sure those aren't even seen by new steam users, and 90% of people don't bother posting a download link with the build.

but still, with how small the playerbase is you wouldn't see a lot of content

these are all ideas to 'kickstart' the playerbase a bit. the initial payoff isn't much, but if it's easier for new players to get engaged with the game, they'll stick around, and some of them will eventually begin creating content of their own, which will feed back into the system and attract more players. that's what has to happen for games like blockland to succeed, and it sucks because it requires that you have a solid, sustainable playerbase, and blockland's just never managed to get that

[Timestamp]

better lean-back and humorous/creative servers if you ask me.

off-topic but there are servers i dislike that have like over 20 rules and it doesn't even give the newcomer a chance to even play without having to be bickered over a specific rule -or god forbid, an "unspoken rule"- . i'd say if this were to be put in blockland crown's jailbreak is a great example but nonetheless despite having rules as much as an average gmod server it's still a good game.

the problem about servers not getting players is that it's the school year right now and nobody plays blockland when they have better stuff to do like passing classes and trying to make something out of their lives. there will be more players during summer break, like always. having more good servers would help but probably not for long since most servers are not capable of holding player retention for months on end like jailbreak and boss battles have been able to somehow, which would be needed for a massive revival like the one you guys are dreaming up. good new servers are not a magical resource that you can tap infinitely, they take time to make and as stated will eventually die out. additionally, i doubt that people will suddenly start making more servers because most people are not capable of keeping a project going and lose enthusiasm for their projects as time goes on. the best bet to introduce creators to the server-making scene is probably through program's like conan's torquescript academy or whatever the stuff it's called which is looking really promising.

what would probably save blockland is more advertising which in a perfect world would get a younger player base hooked to the game similar to how players in the 16-18 year old range got hooked years ago and have stuck around. the reality of an advertising campaign's outcome would be that blockland would look like a stuffter version of roblox, even more so than similar comparisons made years ago since roblox's community has grown massively since the days of the roblox raids. blockland is probably doomed but i'll be damned and i'm sure others will be damned if we don't stick around and continue having fun until blockland peters out

also i completely agree with this a lot. while i do think better servers temporarily find a way to get players in it's only just a temporary thing. to be spread in advertisements and be more expressive and etc (i first found blockland in an internet advertisement since 2010) would probably get more traffic in.

[Archimedes]

I recently have been getting back into the game after shifting over to a new computer after I accidentally deleted all my saves and addons, and while it is true that player numbers are low I think there's definitely life in this gawme. The summer time is bright, all we have to do is take that opportunity and run with it. I think we're in a good position with Blockland glass replacing the function of RTB, so we just have to pivot from there and move forwards. I haven't really done much in the game other than build, but I think it definitely falls upon us to revive the game - because Badspot simply is not going to do it without a measurable increase in activity, and perhaps not even then.

[Trymos]

but I think it definitely falls upon us to revive the game - because Badspot simply is not going to do it without a measurable increase in activity, and perhaps not even then.

this is a catch 22 statement

we aren't going to revive the game because it isn't in a condition to bring amazing servers and the lack of a playerbase isn't worth the additional effort to work around the issues.

badspot isn't gonna fix it because there isn't a measurable increase in activity, and since most of us are unwilling to make as much of fantastic content due to said issues and lack of activity...

this is all based on the quote of course.

[crazies alt]

im working on a huge map but it might be too big for me to do on my own
i mean it would be nice if someone joined to help

here's the progress, for reference those are all 4x cubes.
for further reference, heres my camera at one end of the map with me standing ontop of that large spike,

im only a 2x2 of pixels anymore
for reference as to what those circles are
the white one, way on the outside, is the maximum map size we have planned. might be too massive, who knows until we actually get there
the smaller white one in the center is the biome seperator.
the orange one is where the "farlands" versions of the biomes are, which is basicly just the biome but with messed up terrain. each one should be unique in a way.
biomes we have
1. rocky place
2. pink world (no real name but think of terraria's hallow or hollow or whatever you call it)
3. ice world
4. we havent decided a 4th biome yet, but maybe someone here has an idea??

[FelipeO_O_]

We need better servers, this is the biggest reason why Blockland is not so active in online.

Also a better community.

No offense but most of the Blockland criticism in Steam is generally towards the community.

[crazies alt]

Also a better community.

No offense but most of the Blockland criticism in Steam is generally towards the community.

well thats what happens when you have a bunch of people around eachother for x many years