Reward points based on the participation level of a particular world is a great idea. WIS would in essense enlist veterans as salesmen. Great idea, mrpolo. You should approach seble with it.

Quote: Originally Posted By zhawks on 11/03/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By moy23 on 11/03/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By mrpolo09 on 11/02/2009
upon further review, reward points do add up. people do not play for free, but they do add up. ((sorry, very FEW people play for free))

per season HD gives out 62,200 reward points per NT. thats "technically" 31 free seasons given out per NT. But, thats spread over 64 teams, and never the same 64 teams.

if a world has only 60-70 coaches full reward points are not justified. i think they should explore an option of giving our reward points based upon how full a world is. 50% at all times, 75% if half full, and 100% if 2/3's full.



so that's ~31 seasons per division at full reward points is ~93 free seasons per world per season. I don't blame Wis for reeling reward points in.

But it is not really 93 seasons per world it is more like 1/5th of a season for most of them that are given out. On the top, yes it looks like they are handing out their product but in reality it is nowhere near it.

93 free seasons per world is a lot... or 1/5th of a season to 192 coaches as you put it is a lot of handouts. This is a game where re-occuring income is how wis makes its money. each season is 2-3 months long. In essence they are handing out 93 seasons at 2-3 months of no income for wis for free. That is not strong business acumen just to hand it out like that.

I think it funny how people keep mentioning reward points in DIII and DII are killing the game. If reward points were the biggest driver in the game why haven't we seen every coach flocking to DI where they can win full reward points on any season? Think about that. If reward points were such a driver - I'm not seeing the results in DI. Is anyone else?

Price - At 13 bucks a clip - that could have someting to do with cutting down on teams per owner, but probably not much of an impact on those coaches with few teams. I don't think price is the prime issue.

I see a lot of vets complaining and not a lot of newbs complaining. Could it be that this game has run it life cycle with the vets (like most MMAs do a lot quicker - cyberdunk, goallineblitz, etc). I personally don't stay up until 2am to check scores like I once did every night as a newb? do you guys? I think we all can agree this game is better now than it was 6 years ago when I started playing. Yet - 6 years ago I couldn't wait to check the pbps despite how bad they were.

I agree something can be changed to make this game better and revive that once addicting vicehold this game had on me and us vets... but I don't think its reward points, I don't think its price. Its something else. not sure what though. I'd like to hear more opinions that will improve the game. Until DI is filled to the brim with human coaches, I don't want to hear about reward points being the major factor. It's not.

btw - I pretty much play for free as it is now... When I do need to re-up I usually have some HD $ credits in my account from those seasons I miss the NT. Don't forget they still give out that handout as well.

Quote: Originally Posted By oldresorter on 11/03/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By mrpolo09 on 11/02/2009
upon further review, reward points do add up. people do not play for free, but they do add up. ((sorry, very FEW people play for free))

per season HD gives out 62,200 reward points per NT. thats "technically" 31 free seasons given out per NT. But, thats spread over 64 teams, and never the same 64 teams.

if a world has only 60-70 coaches full reward points are not justified. i think they should explore an option of giving our reward points based upon how full a world is. 50% at all times, 75% if half full, and 100% if 2/3's full.



polo - this idea would 'fix' the game. the idea would 'force' current members to recruit others to play. how about based on the conference, since it is double as easy to win rewards points from empty or near empty conferences at all levels. 50 % rewards pts for 5 or less, 75% for 6-8, 100% for 9 or more.

I sure can imagine guys like alblack, yourself, oldave, maybe bluespruce again, daalter, all of you guys would find people to fill out your conferences.

My guess is your idea would double the enrollment of d3.

This is not a terrible idea. Its utilizing existing marketing resources (us). Not sure how long of an impact it would have, but it makes more sense than just reinstating reward points all together.

I rather doubt it's the price or reward points. Moy mentioned $13/season. It's more like $11 because everyone receives a small credit just for playing. If $11 every 45 days is setting people back, then it's the game. $11? That's chump change. It's a lunch, a couple of Caribou Coffees. If it was important enough or there was enough interest, I'm sure the problem solvers of the world would figure out a way to save $11 a month. Heck you could use coupons for a few days and wouldn't even need to change buying habits if people are so strapped for $11. Do you know how many ways someone could come up with $11 a month? You can't even wipe your *** with $11. It ain't the money.

actually - thanks rails - thats right its 45 days for HD. I was thinking HBD with the 3 month figure. my bad.

I should also add that 93 free seasons is per world. with 100% reward payouts in all divisions.... a 45 day span would equate to wis handing out ~930 free seasons OR at least 1/5th of a season to 1,920 coaches [It's more like 1/2 a season average per division per NT (62000 per tourney/64 teams is 980ish reward points per team)]. Thats a lot of freebies in 45 days not counting the $1 or so credits they hand out to those that miss the NT.

yea, i have no issues with cost. You get a season of HD for the price of going to the movies or a car wash. Dont see how a cut would do anything other than be less profitable for WIS. . .

are people really going to care if a season isnt $13 anymore, now its $10. . . holy crap i'm adding like three more teams!!

One simple fix.

Get rid of class size limits.

BWA HA HA VIVA LA SUPERCLASS!

i've always petitioned for getting rid of the $1 credit and upping reward points. only offer the "discount" for your first 10 HD seasons. then cut the credit.

Its again tied into cost. I'm going to play, regardless of if its $12 or $13. But if they used that money saved on reward points, i might actually add team.

Quote: Originally Posted By mrpolo09 on 11/03/2009
i've always petitioned for getting rid of the $1 credit and upping reward points. only offer the "discount" for your first 10 HD seasons. then cut the credit.

Its again tied into cost. I'm going to play, regardless of if its $12 or $13. But if they used that money saved on reward points, i might actually add team.

The alternative is that cutting out the reward credits ($ specific to HD) for non-NT qualifiers means those coaches that struggle in DIII/DII (in particular) lose incentives to continue trying. i.e. If I have a few bucks in my HD account I might add at least one more season before hanging it up in HD. Without those credits I just leave w/o a second thought. I like that credit from a business standpoint.

if you haven't gotten the hang of it by your 10th season, you're not going to get the hang of it.

Quote: Originally Posted By mrpolo09 on 11/03/2009if you haven't gotten the hang of it by your 10th season, you're not going to get the hang of it

nice ;) I always did well in DII and DIII... It was DI purgatory that did me in for some time. Those D prestiges were tough when recruiting alongside those bcs teams.

I always did worse at DII/DIII. I'm lazy and have never done those fancy drop/pull down thingys.

I'm thinking WIS should drop DIII. Or make a megaDII/DIII/juco division. What I mean is a place for newbies to learn, or be able to coach your small alma mater. For lots of people it's DI basketball where the action is. And heck, smaller DI conferences are a sort of sub-level anyway.

Maybe this would help fill worlds. Kind of like how the Seattle Sounders keep tickets "hot" by not opening the upper rim of Qwest field.

A final note. This is a competition. Every year more than 99% of us will not be the national champion. When reality hits your ego year after year proving your not John wooden some quit, some keep on trucking, and a select few ARE John Wooden Jr's.

Me? I have no ego. I'm married.

Quote: Originally posted by Rails on 11/03/2009I rather doubt it's the price or reward points.  Moy mentioned $13/season.  It's more like $11 because everyone receives a small credit just for playing.  If $11 every 45 days is setting people back, then it's the game.  $11?  That's chump change.  It's a lunch, a couple of Caribou Coffees.  If it was important enough or there was enough interest, I'm sure the problem solvers of the world would figure out a way to save $11 a month.  Heck you could use coupons for a few days and wouldn't even need to change buying habits if people are so strapped for $11.  Do you know how many ways someone could come up with $11 a month?  You can't even wipe your *** with $11.  It ain't the money.

If $11 was "chump change" then the worlds would all be full.
Economics 101 people, if you're not selling all your slots then your price is too high. The earlier poster had it correct, the marginal cost of a team is basically $0. So, they can stand to lower their price significantly.
They have either underestimated the elasticity of demand for their product or don't know what that means.

I am not saying that $11 is a ton of money but I do agree that since they have so many worlds and so few of them are anywhere near filled... Basic economics says your price is too high and not only are you not maximizing your profits but our worlds aren't as full as they could be. I am not saying make the game $2 a season but without a doubt I am saying if the price was reduced there would be more schools with human coaches.

Quote: Originally posted by zhawks on 11/04/2009I am not saying that $11 is a ton of money but I do agree that since they have so many worlds and so few of them are anywhere near filled... Basic economics says your price is too high and not only are you not maximizing your profits but our worlds aren't as full as they could be. I am not saying make the game $2 a season but without a doubt I am saying if the price was reduced there would be more schools with human coaches.

I've budgeted $11/month to play this game. If the price were $5.50 I would have 2 teams instead of one. I know many who would do the same.