We constantly see threads devoted to this with attempts to explain why, or rants from noobs about how the large nations aren't being socialist enough with their money, or ridiculous complaints about the mechanics and how they somehow don't work.
I've seen many arguments attempting to explain the decline in players. Almost all of which are assuming there's some kind of issue with the game or its community. Some people offer ridiculous solutions like rebellions against non existing foes.
I can't help but read these things and think to myself:
"If there's a problem with the community, why aren't all the new players complaining about the specific issue?"
*A) The community isn't the problem.
"If there's a problem with the mechanics, why does CN have the largest player base of all browser based nation sims (or at least the ones that involve actual playing, not just writing novels) and seem to be the only one that can actually be played as its intended because of its lack of flawed equations and mechanics?"
*A) The mechanics aren't the problem.
"If the problem lies with the fact that CN is unrealistic with limited options and 'nothing to do but pay bills and collect taxes,' as some people assume, then why has CN always had a larger player base than all the more in depth and complex nation sims?"
*A) The in depth playability isn't the problem.
"If the issue is the fact that new nations don't grow fast enough, or the rate of tech is too low, why do the vast majority of new players never complain about it?"
*A) The speed of growth isn't the problem.
In fact, I don't think there is any problem with CN. I think the game is just fine, and other than losing players, only seems to improve with time.
One thing I've noticed that makes CN superior is its staff and Admin, whome don't simply implement any suggestion into the game just because the community likes it and wants it implemented. They seem to put alot more consideration into how things will effect the game long term before adding it.
The game may be pretty simplistic and lack complex features, but maybe that is why it actually works. And despite its simplicity, all the mechanics work in perfect harmony with eachother. Almost nothing is absolutely useless or overly useful. Sure its unrealistic. Nukes are just giant CMs, the value of currency is extremely downsized, there's no option to build cities, and there seems to be a "one size fits all" building plan.
However, CN isn't supposed to be realistic. Real life sucks anyway. CN is supposed to be fun, and it is.
So then why is Planet Bob losing players?
Well, ever since I've noticed these conversations popping up on the topic, I've been trying to figure out the answer.
I think I've figured it out.
Ever since being recruited back into CN by some RL friends, I've asked nearly everyone I know to join me in CN. Even offering them millions in start up aid just to join the game.
A few of them I managed to recruit. Most of whom quit playing after a short time. A specific friend of mine who still plays CN keeps trying to recruit me into a simaler game that is a phone app. Said app is essentially a nation sim where everything happens in real time and the game play is more visually exciting.
I've since learned that many of said friends friends also play this app. So I said "Hey, if you like that game, you'd probably like CN."
So I show it to them and start explaining how it works. Some questions I seem to always get are:
"So do you actually get to see your soldiers fighting/Do you see your buildings as they're being built/Is there a map where everyone has their own specific territory that can be taken over?"
Etc...
The answer to all this is no. Upon such realization, they quickly lose interest and start offering me non browser based sims and other strategy games.
I find this to be the common response from most people I can manage to attract the interest of.
In other cases, its reversed. Where they played CN and loved it, until discovering a non browser based game they enjoyed more.
I think the actual "problem" with CN is simply the fact that times change. New fads don't stay popular for long. They're ever changing. I mean, does anyone play original X Box anymore?
I don't think there are any problems with CN as a game or community.
I think the simple answer is, browser based nation sims are just a dying breed of game.
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