INTRO: Please take this as a genuine, non-self serving idea. I’m returning to GLB after a two year hiatus and really enjoy the fixes GLB 2 offers to the items which really drove me away from GLB1 (Smaller Roster sizes, death to slow building, better intended emphasis on rivalries). I’m here to stay just hoping you take the next step on improving the overall quality of GLB2 for new, returning, and old players.
Here is my business case for doing so:
1. Better Overall User Experience
a. It was true when Bort said it way back in 2009 its still true today: Its much better to have a new agent on a human team than in the CPU leagues. It’s a better overall game that way and generates more interest.
b. I’m not talking about QBs and HBs the demand is always low for them, but when DT’s , LBs , CBs etc. cannot find a human team (especially since we have exp catchup) that is not ideal.
c. Sure you don’t want to run out a quarter season league, but why not re-spin out all the inactives, it makes a better product for new players and creates more exciting league play for established teams. Getting agents who want their players on human teams on human teams..should be a top priority.
2. Problem is exacerbated by owner Inactivity
a. As of now 21 inactive teams, that’s not even counting teams with disinterested owners who are logging in but not filling their roster. That would be a total of 903 roster spots, I’ll be conservative and say 1/3rd of those roster spots could go to active agents looking for a home (some teams have GM’s filling in). That is 300 slots that could be on human teams but are not.
b. Look at the marketplace; this just counting guys who’ve taken the time to change their comments message:
i. 23 Linebackers (Including one who says ..wanting to learn the game..whose he supposed to learn from the CPU D-League Owner? – his advice is notoriously bad)
ii. 7 Centers
iii. 15 Defensive Tackles
If they are taking the time to change the comments message that means they want to be on a team but no opportunity is being presented
c. Look at the “Players Looking for Teams Thread” quite a few frustrated posts in there from guys who cannot find a human owned team.
d. That doesn’t count guys who retired a player they couldn’t find a home for, like redskinds1 a guy who owns a team retired a DT ..he’s very active if he can’t find a home for a low demand guy …that really is a problem.
e. Active owners looking for players would talent scout the D-League, and may just e-mail the guy looking for a team (particularly if he has a last active on date); its how I was introduced to how much more fun a human owned team was back in season 2 of GLB 1…it’ll be better for your business in the long run to have them there…of course Bort knows this he said it himself.
3. A Better Marketing Strategy by doing so Word of Mouth Advertising is the least expensive and most trusted advertising there is.
a. By not creating human team homes for these new players your incurring an opportunity cost, that at the very least GLB should be factoring in.
b. Right now the first day of season 2 is scheduled for 30 January, do you really want your newer customers waiting 3-4 weeks before getting on a human team?
c. Returning GLB players, like me, maybe tempted to get the band back together (I am) and say hey “I’m putting a team together create dots/toons”. Without knowing if I will get a team of sophomores or freshman its impossible to plan for (please put a sign up option on the buy team page). Being impossible to plan for means I have to wait to send out the “hey return to try GLB2 e-mails to former players and old army buddies”. Your taking a risk here, as I said I’m staying, but what If I get hit by a bus next week? Had the e-mails already gone out (free advertising) you might still end up with 30-50% of those guys e-mailed at least trying your product; even if I was injured to several to ever digitally football again.
d. Also consider you’ve got returning players who tried GLB1, quit for some reason and now want to try GLB2, how long do you think the D-League will keep veteran players entertained?
4. It makes for better rivalries
a. Nothing fuels GLB like rivalry games, my first team was a taken over gut job in Europe A ball, 5 years later I still remember the names of about half the teams. You’ve done a good job enhancing rivalries by going to 2 divisional games and a smaller league. What made that rivalry great for me though was we repaired a gut job and spent 4 seasons getting to a league title. It can be faster in GLB 2 but how exciting is it to have a team that got blown out the first half of the first season return strong in GLB2 ready to compete for it all?
b. It will also even mid-season, enhance the competitive balance with smaller divisions some leagues have totally active owners, some have divisions with two total inactive teams and all four below .500. Someone’s going to feel robbed of a playoff spot and complain activity even a modicum of it is preferable for intensity to apathy.
5. Who Should get the teams?
a. Of course I want one, but your first priority should go to GMs of existing inactive teams who’ve been keeping them afloat and trying to fill them, Just from a business perspective if they’ve e-mailed support asking to become owners of team so and so because the owner is inactive, that should be done nearly on the spot. Think of it this way that person is offering to pay you again, for a product someone else has already paid for but returned…..on a personal note I’d give my right arm for clients like that. This doesn’t include me (not a GM anywhere) but really those guys who’ve held these teams together have…in my opinion…earned the right to first dibs at ownership.
b. Place a check box on the “buy team” screen for (1) request sophomore team (2) request freshman team (3) don’t care and give a wait list number (you’ve done so before) that will give the future owners more time to prepare as they go down and build a new “band of teammates” or get the old one back together. Again free advertising, don’t turn it down. Either way you’ll have more people actively interested.
Again thanks for fixing about 6 of my 10 Top Issues from GLB1 in one swift swoop, as I said I’m here to stay but I just feel compelled to offer this suggestion, with compelling reasons because I feel it will greatly enhance your product, GLB2 community, and gameplay going forward.
Here is my business case for doing so:
1. Better Overall User Experience
a. It was true when Bort said it way back in 2009 its still true today: Its much better to have a new agent on a human team than in the CPU leagues. It’s a better overall game that way and generates more interest.
b. I’m not talking about QBs and HBs the demand is always low for them, but when DT’s , LBs , CBs etc. cannot find a human team (especially since we have exp catchup) that is not ideal.
c. Sure you don’t want to run out a quarter season league, but why not re-spin out all the inactives, it makes a better product for new players and creates more exciting league play for established teams. Getting agents who want their players on human teams on human teams..should be a top priority.
2. Problem is exacerbated by owner Inactivity
a. As of now 21 inactive teams, that’s not even counting teams with disinterested owners who are logging in but not filling their roster. That would be a total of 903 roster spots, I’ll be conservative and say 1/3rd of those roster spots could go to active agents looking for a home (some teams have GM’s filling in). That is 300 slots that could be on human teams but are not.
b. Look at the marketplace; this just counting guys who’ve taken the time to change their comments message:
i. 23 Linebackers (Including one who says ..wanting to learn the game..whose he supposed to learn from the CPU D-League Owner? – his advice is notoriously bad)
ii. 7 Centers
iii. 15 Defensive Tackles
If they are taking the time to change the comments message that means they want to be on a team but no opportunity is being presented
c. Look at the “Players Looking for Teams Thread” quite a few frustrated posts in there from guys who cannot find a human owned team.
d. That doesn’t count guys who retired a player they couldn’t find a home for, like redskinds1 a guy who owns a team retired a DT ..he’s very active if he can’t find a home for a low demand guy …that really is a problem.
e. Active owners looking for players would talent scout the D-League, and may just e-mail the guy looking for a team (particularly if he has a last active on date); its how I was introduced to how much more fun a human owned team was back in season 2 of GLB 1…it’ll be better for your business in the long run to have them there…of course Bort knows this he said it himself.
3. A Better Marketing Strategy by doing so Word of Mouth Advertising is the least expensive and most trusted advertising there is.
a. By not creating human team homes for these new players your incurring an opportunity cost, that at the very least GLB should be factoring in.
b. Right now the first day of season 2 is scheduled for 30 January, do you really want your newer customers waiting 3-4 weeks before getting on a human team?
c. Returning GLB players, like me, maybe tempted to get the band back together (I am) and say hey “I’m putting a team together create dots/toons”. Without knowing if I will get a team of sophomores or freshman its impossible to plan for (please put a sign up option on the buy team page). Being impossible to plan for means I have to wait to send out the “hey return to try GLB2 e-mails to former players and old army buddies”. Your taking a risk here, as I said I’m staying, but what If I get hit by a bus next week? Had the e-mails already gone out (free advertising) you might still end up with 30-50% of those guys e-mailed at least trying your product; even if I was injured to several to ever digitally football again.
d. Also consider you’ve got returning players who tried GLB1, quit for some reason and now want to try GLB2, how long do you think the D-League will keep veteran players entertained?
4. It makes for better rivalries
a. Nothing fuels GLB like rivalry games, my first team was a taken over gut job in Europe A ball, 5 years later I still remember the names of about half the teams. You’ve done a good job enhancing rivalries by going to 2 divisional games and a smaller league. What made that rivalry great for me though was we repaired a gut job and spent 4 seasons getting to a league title. It can be faster in GLB 2 but how exciting is it to have a team that got blown out the first half of the first season return strong in GLB2 ready to compete for it all?
b. It will also even mid-season, enhance the competitive balance with smaller divisions some leagues have totally active owners, some have divisions with two total inactive teams and all four below .500. Someone’s going to feel robbed of a playoff spot and complain activity even a modicum of it is preferable for intensity to apathy.
5. Who Should get the teams?
a. Of course I want one, but your first priority should go to GMs of existing inactive teams who’ve been keeping them afloat and trying to fill them, Just from a business perspective if they’ve e-mailed support asking to become owners of team so and so because the owner is inactive, that should be done nearly on the spot. Think of it this way that person is offering to pay you again, for a product someone else has already paid for but returned…..on a personal note I’d give my right arm for clients like that. This doesn’t include me (not a GM anywhere) but really those guys who’ve held these teams together have…in my opinion…earned the right to first dibs at ownership.
b. Place a check box on the “buy team” screen for (1) request sophomore team (2) request freshman team (3) don’t care and give a wait list number (you’ve done so before) that will give the future owners more time to prepare as they go down and build a new “band of teammates” or get the old one back together. Again free advertising, don’t turn it down. Either way you’ll have more people actively interested.
Again thanks for fixing about 6 of my 10 Top Issues from GLB1 in one swift swoop, as I said I’m here to stay but I just feel compelled to offer this suggestion, with compelling reasons because I feel it will greatly enhance your product, GLB2 community, and gameplay going forward.
