Run8 Multiplayer Popularity

[Brad3816]

Despite repeated claims MP popularity is dying, look at these stats:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CItTbOpWFu0&t=196s

An excellent example of a well moderated server run by a great group of guys.........

[seagoon]

Despite repeated claims MP popularity is dying,.........

Who's claiming it's dying?

[haverfordwest]

It died for me the day i bought Run 8. I don't do public MP. I only play certain games one on one with a buddy.

[NorthernWarrior]

Ditto here. No interest in MP whatsoever - would much prefer 3DTS effort went into coding an improved AI despatcher/signaller and allowing us to set up trains with destinations and a routing/timetable they can follow.

[haverfordwest]

Ditto here. No interest in MP whatsoever - would much prefer 3DTS effort went into coding an improved AI despatcher/signaller and allowing us to set up trains with destinations and a routing/timetable they can follow.

Agree Vern, then i might re-install it.

[seagoon]

It died for me the day i bought Run 8. I don't do public MP. I only play certain games one on one with a buddy.

Mike, it can only be "dying" if less and less people are dropping away from their regular practice of playing it online......and I don't recall anyone here saying that they were leaving multiplayer.

A lot of us have said we don't play MP from the outset, sure, but that's entirely different to leaving it, which is why I asked the question - who is saying that MP is dying and where are they saying it?

[westerngy]

The numbers and people on the one site The Depot can fluctuate all the time. Some days it is high and when someone has a session or a planned session then the numbers go way up as the last MP session put on by Jason had over 32 people and it was fun. Yes MP isn't for everyone and using the ED or Tscad SP can be fun also.
Some like green chilli and some don't all depends on your personnel preference.

[haverfordwest]

Mike, it can only be "dying" if less and less people are dropping away from their regular practice of playing it online......and I don't recall anyone here saying that they were leaving multiplayer.

A lot of us have said we don't play MP from the outset, sure, but that's entirely different to leaving it, which is why I asked the question - who is saying that MP is dying and where are they saying it?

And i am saying it died for me because it took two gulps of air and then it kicked the bucket.

Mike.

[Brad3816]

Who's claiming it's dying?

Sorry for the poor choice of words. Checking back, it was references, mostly by non MP customers, to Run8 loosing popularity and most servers eventually shutting down.

I suppose, since Run8 was developed for multiplayer, the few dev's they have will further enhance it with that in mind, not needing to cater to the single player requests, and, have publicly put to rest any chance of sdk. This certainly limits the customer base, but they forge ahead and the mighty dollar doesn't seem to be the motivating factor.

[SurvivorSean]

Many private servers among friends unadvertised has always existed, so there is no way to monitor those numbers. There are some you have to dig to find. This was a pandemic year but having die hard players, and/or yes men to enjoy a product on one server means nothing.

Take the one other public server shown on Train-Sim. I hate to do this because they are an alternative but I know the following to be true. Another server was opened up for another region. Many liked this and abandoned California. Then you have everyone moaning and groaning that not enough people are around, too many trains are running, etc. The poor guy running it can't please everyone because he doesn't have the numbers.

Take the Northeast region. I know of a server that exists but is it as real as it gets with a few people in 24 hours? I'm not sure if the NE is run or has anywhere near the numbers.

As has been said some like this, some like that. Some people don't care about prototypical numbers and like to play with their friends. Some people want to run 12 hour marathons across 4 subdivisions.

Depot does the best job of pleasing everyone. Any server that tries to do something for the community is a service to it. A YOY will likely give you a different perspective, but even if it didn't the entire community isn't or shouldn't be just The Depot. Ask the #2 server out there right now how they are managing. That will give you a pretty good idea at what is happening in the community overall.

The team can do whatever it pleases to do. If they believe everyone who ever purchased Run8 for MP goes hand and hand with that cute little McDonalds tally of billions and billions served (now removed) they're kidding themselves. If they want to ignore some of the people that actually helped build the community to where it is today, that is their choice as well.

Personally I don't need to prove numbers or what I've done in the past. I'm seen as detrimental to the status quote (spoiler: I say the community is dying). That's why I'm entitled to my opinion, as everyone else. Stats, spins, and PR's can easily be swayed to whatever narritive you believe in or are trying to project.

Thanks

Sean