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Post by rook on Jan 8, 2020 7:11:31 GMT -5
So, I've been running a virtual pet panel at a local convention for a couple years now. I've realized that people really, really like the Petz portion of the panel. They ask questions about hexing, ask where to download the game, and generally have a great time. It could be a good opportunity to spread the word about Petz and get some more folks involved. I dunno about you, but seeing another website go down or a day pass on a forum with no new activity makes my heart sink. I think this community and this game are something extremely special, and I know y'all do too.
Part of me really wants to use what little reach I have to get more people on board, and to encourage others to do the same, but I also think the size of our community nowadays lends itself tremendously to the friendly and tight-knit atmosphere that's been cultivated. I'm just curious to see what you all think about making some kind of effort to grow the community, and I'd like to know before I make any moves on my audience next time I host my panel.
Please discuss! I'm completely torn and I'd love to hear what you think.
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Post by Thor on Jan 8, 2020 17:17:19 GMT -5
I understand where you are coming from with the "tight-knit" comment-- I have definitely heard a lot of opposing comments regarding keeping Discord open to everyone or closed to "community members only". There is a sense of "stranger danger" in the air-- its not just in Petz but other communities tend to suffer this too.
The forums are definitely open to new people joining. But I personally think forums are getting more and more "out of style"-- the younger generation doesn't seem as interested in joining a forum? Or if they are, they are less likely to post? It seems like Discord does get a lot of traffic?? I'd be curious to hear other thoughts on this too.
I believe there are two Discords that are very open to new members-- one is advertised on Tumblr and one is advertised on Reddit but is also easy to find with a Google search which is great for getting new members!
What other advertising do you think about doing? Do you think people would be opposed to growing or getting new members? I am a brand never-before-joined newbie that joined the community in 2018-- but I'm also older so forums are fun to me still since I grew up on them??
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Post by Arie on Jan 9, 2020 10:24:48 GMT -5
The more the merrier!
While I guess I understand the concern, the community being small has never stopped bad eggs from popping up before. I'd rather have a community that welcomes growth and newcomers than one that seems like it's perpetually dwindling.
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Post by Alexzander on Jan 10, 2020 10:01:30 GMT -5
I personally can't handle the rapidness of a group chat. I can't read fast enough and I miss things when I have to adult and sleep or work. Mostly work.
I like forums but they are a more outdated and will probably eventually be a legacy of online social networking. Everyone lives in the now, the instant, the moment. Social media rules the young-uns and even something on Facebook would probably not be as popular.
I think the challenge is Petz is /so/ !#@$ old now that it just isn't going to hold kids' attention. Let's face it, you can't play it on your phone, the graphics are "lame" and it would involve putting down a cell phone or tablet to play. I actually don't know that many people who even have a Windows based PC anymore; everyone has Android or Apple based devices and Windows computers are pretty much left for business and "old people" XD Even if a new game came out, it would likely be on a console or handheld device (Nintendo Switch I'm looking at you) or be phone based. A new game would probably ruin the fun, to be honest. I like Petz because it's old and it makes me happy because I have good memories associated with it. I've made amazing friends and learned some cool "life skills" (html basics, photoshop, hexing) and Petz is my destress time.
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Post by Thor on Jan 12, 2020 13:56:49 GMT -5
^ never heard a truer statement. This is basically what I observe from the 12 to 17 year olds that I teach.
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Post by StoryMaker on Feb 7, 2020 1:06:02 GMT -5
If you think there's a chance at growing the community, definitely take it. It's hard to see a huge influx of people becoming interested in something so "outdated", but even a few newcomers would be truly wonderful.
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Post by Cherry-Spot on Feb 9, 2020 20:13:33 GMT -5
Just wanna add my input about youngins being interested I got interested in Petz in 2017- I was only 13! I'm sure you can find certain teens that if they're really interested in it, they'll stick to it as I have (I for one adore genetics, pixel art, and I've always wanted a Nintendogs with breeding, so this game is a dream come true for me, surely there are other teens who feel the same)
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Post by Alexzander on Feb 17, 2020 10:50:28 GMT -5
I'm glad to see people finding this game despite its age. TBH I was shocked there was ANY community when I decided to try to come back this last time. It's pretty thin but hanging on somehow! Those of us too stubborn to give up I think lolol
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Post by Buck on Feb 17, 2020 11:47:01 GMT -5
Yeah it's crazy how new folks are finding their way into our little community. It's nice to have a bit of an influx, especially with the diversity and connection that discord offers. I think that draws in a lot of the younger crowd, cuz even if they don't open the game every day they can still see what everyone else is up to.
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Post by Alexzander on Feb 17, 2020 23:49:47 GMT -5
I definitely couldn't keep up with a discord chat; forums are more my speed (IE slow). I don't normally have a lot of time so the forum waiting for me is much easier than trying to keep up with a live chat xD I'm really surprised to see how many people are coming back too!
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Post by Buck on Feb 18, 2020 12:38:31 GMT -5
Lol fair enough. At least the community is diverse enough to accommodate everyone these days
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Post by ✬MsWildiful✬ on Apr 28, 2020 8:12:57 GMT -5
I say let it grow! I have to agree that this community is a very special and lovely one, and it would warm my heart to see it grow There has been no online community quite like this one that has earned a special place in my heart <3 Petz make us happier, and with the abundance of diversity in people, Petz, competitions, hexing, ect. it's one big wonderful nation of Petzy people! catching a few more members will make our world live longer
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Post by KeyGlyph on May 10, 2020 0:01:41 GMT -5
I voted for grow the community. I didn't even know this community existed until circa 2014, and I really wish I'd known about it sooner. I'd been playing Petz since 2000 and somehow had never come across this place. It's one of my favorite pockets of the internet to rediscover again and again and again.
I'd bet there are a lot of folks who are like I was, quietly doing their own Petz thing, not even dreaming that folks still play -- or maybe not even realizing you can get it running on modern machines. I mean, I'd been holding on to an old Hewlett Packard Windows 98 tower until 2006 exclusively for running the game, since Windows XP overclocked it into unplayability. I thought when the HP died, that was the end of Petz for me. I don't even remember how I found PetzA. Obviously some desperate Google search at 3AM while putting off a term paper at college. But it was a revelation. What if I'd been at a random convention and heard about it earlier?
And surely there are some legacy players out there who are becoming parents and would love to share this game with their young children, if only they knew how?
I do think the comments about forums being "outdated" are really observant, though. The only communities I'm still active in are forum-based, because I grew up with and thrive on that style. Long emails and message boards and LiveJournal. But that is so not the norm anymore. It will make me sad if forums truly disappear one day, but what happens, happens.
Most people I know are all about Discord. I get overwhelmed there like Alexzander mentioned and don't partake anymore, but a Petz Discord would be a fabulous idea. If it doesn't already exist, I would encourage it.
I bet it already exists. I bet you all made it already. I might even drop in.
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Post by griffy on May 10, 2020 2:50:16 GMT -5
There are still plenty of people who play or might start playing petz again but don't participate in any communities ya. I prefer forums for this though. I though I don't mind telegram groups but we don't have one I think? I think what would help is a re-released version of petz whether it be on gog or some other site but won't happen probs. I think people are still into the idea of hexing. What would be also great is a new mod of sorts if that were ever possible. Or editin tools like changing the landscape i know is already possible but something that edits the existing petz graphics in an easy way for example. I guess though there are many tools out there to generate backgrounds for playscenes. Or playing petz mulitplayer even.
Though often I prefer to jus play it alone and have fun making stories about the petz and that. These days i dont play petz as much because there are so many games out there to play. And i feel like its somethin uhave to put quite a bit of time into.
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Post by ✬MsWildiful✬ on May 10, 2020 8:11:41 GMT -5
What we need is a few dedicated individuals to delve into the code of Petz, renovate it so to speak so it will run easier on newer machines, perhaps fix a few bugs, promote it around the internet, and re-release it as a new polished game for free (if done right hopefully not infringing on any copyright laws). I know it would be challenging to do this as I've heard petz' internal code is pretty complicated, but if this was done right I could easily see the Petz community explode into something huge again as it did in the late '90s; at least this is my dream lol. Seeing Frontier Developments create the spiritual successor to Zoo Tycoon known as Planet Zoo, I've realized that someday something similar might happen with Petz.
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