Wow! This is a tuff topic. I know exactly what you are talking about. Everyone migrates towards the full servers. And, your other servers stay empty and leaving you feeling frustrated.
We never fully solved this problem at HOF Gaming. We had 12 servers running. Many of our clientile were competitive gamers. Thus, we created 8 servers that run for both TWL and CAL Leagues. Those servers ran the ProMod Config and were populated religiously. But, our main bread and butter was the old Number 1..the FFA Server. This is where everyone migrated too daily. This left us with three empty servers and what to do.
We had some ideas. We assigned some of our Admins or Mods to specific servers. It was their responsibilty to fill these servers with players. It took time because they would become frustrated and wished to play on the populated servers. But, the patience paid off! Soon, we had all four public servers staying full of people and our community grew.
We held weekend tournaments and fundraisers for the good of the world. Our fundraisers were directed towards Toys For Tots and Childrens Miracle Network. During our 5 year stint, we collected over 10,000 dollars for both of these entities via player donations. HOF Gaming or Snake And Snot's House Of Fun (HOF) made invited television appearances due to our public gaming donations to worthwhile organizations.
Now, I do not know exactly how far you are wishing to go with KKK. But, if you simply wish for servers to be full...then patience and someone loyal to fulfill that is the key. The next step is Tournaments offered to the public and with a small prize to the winner. Do this on the servers you wish to be populated and advertise it on the already full servers.
The next brainstorm had nothing to do with Call Of duty whatsoever. We started a Poker Server that played competively on Wed., Fri., and Sun. This was where we attracted many people not into FPS gaming. From here we spread the word and started attracting a world audience. This cost the players nothing. It was absolutely free but attracted an additional 1000 people to our website. Then..we decided to dive into social networking and HOF Net was born for people to post pictures and movies. This was our downfall I do belive.
We had became so big that we decided it was time for a real life get together in our home town in Texas. It all fell together and sure enough we had hundereds of people from all areas of the globe for a reunion of a sort. Little did we know that one our most trusted members..An Admin..was a Child Preditor. He was from Russia. A few weeks after our conference someone from the FBI knocked on my door and wanted all my files from our Gaming Operation. It scared me silly. I had no idea and as a result, I shut everything down without any notice to anyone.
So...How big do you wish to be? If you build it..they will come. In hindsight...I suggest a couple of servers that everyone has fun on and keep it entirely virtual..Do not use the word "Family" associted with your clan. People start thinking then that it is personal and the fun will soon dwindel.All in all...it can soon become more work and no play for the senior admins to enjoy. I have witnessed this happen. You will lose some people and then personal emotions start to take over. Practice K.I.S.S...Keep It Simple Stupid!
I hope that I have not rambled and this somehow helps...
Porky
Ricky
We never fully solved this problem at HOF Gaming. We had 12 servers running. Many of our clientile were competitive gamers. Thus, we created 8 servers that run for both TWL and CAL Leagues. Those servers ran the ProMod Config and were populated religiously. But, our main bread and butter was the old Number 1..the FFA Server. This is where everyone migrated too daily. This left us with three empty servers and what to do.
We had some ideas. We assigned some of our Admins or Mods to specific servers. It was their responsibilty to fill these servers with players. It took time because they would become frustrated and wished to play on the populated servers. But, the patience paid off! Soon, we had all four public servers staying full of people and our community grew.
We held weekend tournaments and fundraisers for the good of the world. Our fundraisers were directed towards Toys For Tots and Childrens Miracle Network. During our 5 year stint, we collected over 10,000 dollars for both of these entities via player donations. HOF Gaming or Snake And Snot's House Of Fun (HOF) made invited television appearances due to our public gaming donations to worthwhile organizations.
Now, I do not know exactly how far you are wishing to go with KKK. But, if you simply wish for servers to be full...then patience and someone loyal to fulfill that is the key. The next step is Tournaments offered to the public and with a small prize to the winner. Do this on the servers you wish to be populated and advertise it on the already full servers.
The next brainstorm had nothing to do with Call Of duty whatsoever. We started a Poker Server that played competively on Wed., Fri., and Sun. This was where we attracted many people not into FPS gaming. From here we spread the word and started attracting a world audience. This cost the players nothing. It was absolutely free but attracted an additional 1000 people to our website. Then..we decided to dive into social networking and HOF Net was born for people to post pictures and movies. This was our downfall I do belive.
We had became so big that we decided it was time for a real life get together in our home town in Texas. It all fell together and sure enough we had hundereds of people from all areas of the globe for a reunion of a sort. Little did we know that one our most trusted members..An Admin..was a Child Preditor. He was from Russia. A few weeks after our conference someone from the FBI knocked on my door and wanted all my files from our Gaming Operation. It scared me silly. I had no idea and as a result, I shut everything down without any notice to anyone.
So...How big do you wish to be? If you build it..they will come. In hindsight...I suggest a couple of servers that everyone has fun on and keep it entirely virtual..Do not use the word "Family" associted with your clan. People start thinking then that it is personal and the fun will soon dwindel.All in all...it can soon become more work and no play for the senior admins to enjoy. I have witnessed this happen. You will lose some people and then personal emotions start to take over. Practice K.I.S.S...Keep It Simple Stupid!
I hope that I have not rambled and this somehow helps...
Porky
Ricky
