Sunday, November 14th, 2010
Issue: 55   Editor: oSean


Selling The Game? (Pt. 2) NVIDIAldarion
In part one we discussed the option of selling, as well as some of the consequences that would have, as well as the results of the survey. However, the survey also offered users to give their opinion on the situation. They are listed in this separate article:

“I personally think that BL will eventually die from BSF2000's inactivity!”

“Ive played for 5 years but quit a year ago due to the decline all because of bsf. if himmel bought it i would spend $200 on points straight away haha”

“It's heavily dependent on the owners' contribution. Selling his intellectual property to somebody won't instantly command respect to the new owners if sold.”

“It doesn't matter what they upgrade, as long as it's something. The last 'serious' update was years ago.”

“BSF will not sell the game only because of how much he is making on point sales for doing nothing. You'd be surprised how many points are really IN the game right now.”

“On the question where it asks if BL will change if sold, I put yes because I think it will change for the better. I'm sure BSF is doing plenty of stuff we don't know about. But he isn't doing enough. We need someone who actually wants to put their time into the game.”

“The current state of BL has the many loyal players hanging in limbo. It's not a nice place to be. I believe at this point any sort of communication from BSF and/or change to the game (even being sold) would be a relief to the players. At least an end to the limbo that BSF has left us in for way too long.”

“Bootleggers will change if it is sold. However, change is needed. I believe BSF should either be more active in the game, and pay more attention to the players, or he should sell the game if he can't be bothered to do anything with it.”

“I hope the results of this survey will be a wake up call for BSF.”

“I think Bootleggers should have new management, give someone else a chance to give this game a spark it so desperately needs. ~WhosYourDaddy”

“I think the games running fine as it is, and people need to stop complaining so much!”

“As a long term friend of Himmel's, I feel there is no better person to take over the game. He has had many ideas for many years and I would love to see him given a chance. There are no doubts over his credentials. - Shoes.”

“I would like to see boot be run by different management, just so the game doesn't change.”

“Regrettably the sale of the game will take a response from BSF, and if he can be bothered to negotiate a sale he should put that effort into the game again! I would honestly rather see BSF running the game but if he can't do it he should retire with what little dignity he has left (and I'm sure a rather generous golden handshake)”

“I would be interested to hear how much it would be sold for, if it is it should be released on the forums first just in case a player wishes to buy”

“I said "no" to "I think selling Bootleggers is a good idea." because nobody REALLY knows how a next BL-holder will handle in BSF's case. I wanna have this game changed, but I don't wanna have Bootleggers changed.”

“I hope the game gets sold, maybe the new owners would leave the game like it is, but make some actual changes. Which I would like, cause the game has been the same for 5 years, everytime the same crimes, u don't get any money from crimes. Cars sell for 50.000 (duesenberg)S Which is also ridiculous. Too less cars. And maybe, just maybe, I'd like to play the game again!”

“They dont really have to change Bootleggers just get other Head Moderators etc, So i prefer new staff and better staff!”

“Bootleggers won't die if something happens. BSF knows that... i think”

“fuck off selling shit, quit whining... if the game dies the game dies... bsf has created a stable game, a new owner will just create more bugs, exploits, glitches and more crap like that... i do not believe anyone has the experience to take it over, as bsf is the only one who actually knows how shit has been from the start and what works and what creates chaos. he just needs to get off his ass! –kh”

“The only thing that we need is BSF becoming active again and start making updates and hire a new moderator to cover the loss of Administrator 5Litre and Moderator Nyxxie, Asoon BSF starts becoming more active and starts to talk a bit on the BL Forums, then he's done an important step. ~Refu”

“I do believe bootleggers would be better off sold, for many reasons. however, I do not see this happening. BSF clearly makes a lot of money, and with absolutely no disrespect to him (as we all need to make money, right?) this is his job, either that or it is at least a money-maker one the side. As much as we should not be discussing bootleggers in a sense of money and profit, the truth still stands that this is a part of his life, and the neglect he has been giving bootleggers does pose quite a worry as he should surely know his activity in the game essentially puppeteers the activity of the game. I guess the only thing we can all hope is that he sees that, and maybe he will soon realise he needs to pull his socks up (maybe when his bank statement comes through and he realises he needs to make a few more bucks to pay the electric bills.)”

“We see that due to the inactivity of bsf as a person and demanding loads off of his (former) employees this game has sunk to an all-time low, I have played the game for so many years. Even bought points, but for him to be so neglectful to us, it seems like he doesnt know what to do. I know, just sell it and let someone else have a try at making this better.”

“All this drama with BSF just adds to the excitement of bl,if it wasnt bsf it would be some other drama we would all whine about.”

“Whether you like it or not, BL wont be sold. Why should it when BSF makes money from it for doing nothing. Will anything come from this survey? No, BSF doesnt care about the players. He gets money, so why should he? He doesnt keep players informed with regards to anything. Best way to make an impact would be to not buy points. No points = no money. Sure there is a chance BL would close, but I doubt BSF is stupid enough to let this game fold”

“BL need new active admins more like Sabin and 5litre. such admins will keep the game active as before.”

“Personally think BSF should get off his own ass and get the game running again. If he can't be bothered then pass it to someone who cares!”

“Inactive mods have always been part of Bootleggers. Maybe it connects the community, since we all share the same dislike: BSF”

“It would definitely be changed if sold, but change is necessary right now. So many new features could be added - there are good new suggestions more or less daily in the forums - and if BSF's childishly jealous leadership was removed then it could easily function much better. Perhaps even some of the old admins/mods would come back... (you're right, that's asking too much)”

“People tend to complain a lot. Of course BSF should/could spent more time on BL. But the game itself is still fine, I rather see killing getting more difficult. Crew's should have more options/strengthen members. Crew VS Crew is way cooler than 5 UG people shooting 250+ guys.”

“I think it would be good for the game if BSF cooperate with himmel.. it would be good enough if bsf would get active on his own, but i do not see that to happen. therefore some new blood would be good imo! regards Snipes”

“If Bootleggers goes on like it is now, I can safely say there is no way it will last. No work being done, no effort in it? Why should it last? Only people lining BSFs Pockets.”

“I want it to be sold. However you missed a question; I am not afraid it'll change when it is sold, but I think it will be! It has to be! Its on a downward spiral now, it needs a kick in the right direction!! ~Levice”

“i think people are over reacting, bootleggers has been around since 03. its not going anywhere.”

“I've got a question for you too. How can bootleggers stay bootleggers, if bootleggers hasn't been bootleggers for a long time anymore? Bootleggers used to be a refreshing cool game in mafia scene. Now it's nothing less than same old same old, including basic text based features totally out of style.”

“How can we trust someone we hardly know with the entire game? BSF is lacking in activity but at least his track record of dealings with the game is squeaky clean, at no point has been corrupt.”

“Bootleggers has massive potential , lets hope a new owner can live up to it.”

“BSF won't sell BL so all the topics about it are pointless, in a way it's good to see others options about what they would do. They should just create their own game with what they have stated to change on BL and take it from there. Admittedly BL is a community game, there could just be a couple of pages but it will still have the amounts logging in each day. Players just want to see BSF being interested and not sitting on the users cash. Even a bit of forum activity would make the players a lot happier even if he doesn't fix problems. A game needs good (or at least some) communication between players and staff.”

“I think it will be very interesting to see what comes next, with other Admins or Moderator to help him in the way that 5 and Nyx did. I wonder if it will wake him up a little bit and hopefully he re-focuses on the game. I also think cheating is going to blow up too since it will he harder to catch them now. Getting a hold of BSF is near impossible. I have a better chance sleeping with the Queen. ”

“Boot will die if it is not sold or BSF doesn't get off his dead ass and fix things. But that is just my two cents. “

“The game has its identity as an underground mafia game, with serious players. Aiming for profit, doesn't seem as an aim for Bf2000, which is better for us so the game stays away from being a cliché . Summing up, what BL needs is a full detected team, mainly BSF, to better manage the game play and game balance. basically bsf needs to fix the game!”

“We've had a lot of good and active admins in the past, like: Nohau, Sabin and 5litre. They were essential for the players and the game. When Sabin quit, his job could be passed to a respected senior mod: 5litre. Since 5litre left bl, we don't have a 2nd administrator and I don't see who should get the job this time, since half the staff is leaving, and the other half is too inactive and/or too inexperienced to fill the empty (but essential) Admin-spot. Seems like bl is heading towards it's end.”

“BL need some fresh wind, If BSF don't take action BL will slowly bleed till death. Next year 100 players online, other year 50 and so on.”

“I would be a lot more happy with this game if BSF simply communicated with us. For all we know he could be working on a massive project to enhance the game but because he is not communicating, we do not know so can only presume he is doing nothing.”

“If we all stop talking about BSF and play the game that would be much better and everyone will live, another thing maybe after 5litre is gone BSF should get new help to run his game like it used to be.”

“I think the biggest concern about bootleggers is the lack of new players, so the marketing the game is the most important. I also feel that a new owner will not tamper with the game to much because the game in theory is already perfect except it needs its old features updated to keep senior players interested and new features to market to introduce new players”

“whatever happens i think the game should be changed back to the old ways whenever there were 1,000+ people online every day!”

“some people on his team who would be willing to improve the game and work on keeping it up to date”

“Selling the game would do the game some good and the community.”

“The game is slowly dying. If BSF isn’t going to act selling it would be the smartest thing for him to do...”