edited 1x / 3m
Johnny,
As I was sitting outside chillaxing with one of my cats, something came to me. I notice there is a good amount of people who seems to stop playing after the first day. Sometimes they'll buy units and set routes. I suspect that a major reason they stop after the first day is because nothing happened. New people still have no clue what this game is about after the first day. Usually it takes several days before you can really grasp the entire concept of the game.
So how about a mini-world, designed as an interactive tutorial? Now hear me out;
Sandbox is an introductory world but provides no explanations of the game, and follows the same time-based cycles as all worlds do. Quite frankly, it's a lousy way to introduce people to the game. I, however, do like Sandbox because it does give you free reign for 3 months to learn the ropes and that is more than enough time to grasp the concept of the game and to jump on existing/new worlds.
The Help section are 95% text. The game is 95% graphic. I think this is an issue. I understand that Help section is editable by anyone with an account but it can only be so reliable. I know some things about the game I don't want others to know, so I'm certainly not going to put it in there. I assume most players are the same way.
So, my proposal? Create some sort of a mini-world where your actions are forced, like a tutorial would.
I.E. Step 4) Create a L1 Infantry. All options would be grayed out except for a land base's Create, and the L1 Infantry is the only possible option.
Use this world to put in text boxes, explaining the game. Have a button to have the mini-world instantly proceed through a cycle so Day Two happens right away and the new player get to see how movement works. More text boxes and explanations where necessary, few more cycles, surface intro air/sea, combat, truck functions, etc.
Basically, allow new people visiting the site to be taught the game and how to play in maybe 3-4 days worth of 'real, actual' gaming in that tutorial.
This way, after the 15 minute tutorial that had you go through three, four days of what a world would be (with the movement and attacking sections in tutorial) they would already have a good idea of the game and use Sandbox more effectively, or play existing/new worlds better and not necessarily quit on the first day. I also think this tutorial would keep visitors on the site longer, and that's always good for business, right? :)
I sincerely think this is a good idea to get into.