Just saw this now Glen.
Don't remember when, but we were all asked about the best places we thought of to market this. We all made suggestions and it kind of fell by the wayside. It has been obvious to most of us here for a few years now that FOX has zero interest in keeping this thing alive. No updates in the hockey sim for years. We were told years ago a dynasty was on the way, (2010 or so I believe was the initial start of questions), only to be forgotten.
The ONLY developer I've dealt with that actually cares about hockey, Mike Welch, is pulled away to work on other gaming portfolios for Fox. The work he is able to do he does on his own time, likely unpaid, because of his love of the sport and the hockey sim. He is only one man and isn't able to put the necessary hours in to build the dynasty on his own time. If not for Mike, we probably wouldn't even get the new players every year (that used to come months before they do now). I was told a long time ago that FOX money crunchers looked at the income generated by WIS and determined that hockey was just a losing proposition. I asked someone (don't remember who) a long time ago about doing improvements or updates on the hockey sim and was told when we got more users in the hockey sim, they would make some adjustments and improvements to the game. I mentioned then and will mention now, that is akin to a restaurant having lousy food and telling its patrons they will hire a new chef and improve the food when they get more people to eat there. So basically, if you are looking for an update or hockey dynasty, it isn't going to happen.
As far as getting new users, it would not cost much at all and the returns would be substantial. A few dollars targeted in the right places would bring in loads of new users. Offer a free team to give people a taste. Give them a tremendous knowledge base FOR NEW PLAYERS. (I say this because I took advantage of the free hoops dynasty and actually read pages of stuff. I took a team with 5 scholarships available, thinking I can build my team the way I wanted. After the team finally appeared, I come to find out recruiting is over and the sim signed 5 scrubs. My team is 0-11 and my next game I am a 46 point underdog with no hope in sight). A small ad in a few local papers, or, cheaper yet, an ad in different local blogs such as DK on Pittsburgh Sports or Kuklas Korner to name a few. I personally even thought of spending my own money and contacting WIS to allow me to split profits with them with any new players that signed up and bought teams. Since it wouldn't cost FOX a dime, why not try it? Why? Because it makes too much sense. They just aren't interested in hockey. We need to realize that. I've brought more than a few users to this site, and have watched MANY, MANY MORE just walk away. It breaks my heart that we are just watching this thing die on the vine, but not much we can do about it. When it does end, I'll gather my money and find another hobby that I can do at work all day to take my mind off being here all day every day. WIS offers me a break in the day and a blast from the past, as I have always loved reading box scores of games and reminiscing about players I've seen from 1967 to present. I've also met some great people on this site, and even met up with a few in real life. I've said it before and I'll state my belief again, hockey fans are the most passionate, nicest fans of any sport out there. We are fiercely loyal to the teams and players we love, and that's ok by me. Hockey is the greatest sport in the world, and if FOX wouild take their heads out of their collective butts, they would see that.
After saying all this, I'll probably never win another cup again, and that's ok. Truthfully, I don't know how much longer I will stick around either in all honesty. I've cut my teams wayyyyyyyy back from where they once were, and the leagues I'm joining are fewer and farther between. It's been a fun ride though and I'm honored to have gotten to know a bunch of you guys (and a few girls) out there. I know I'm privileged to call a bunch of you friends.
I guess the bottom line in what I'm saying Glen is that with a budget of $0, there isn't much we can do other than tell a few more buddies.