(Updated 12/03/10) zOMG Dev Meeting Highlights!

[Homofy]

~The Facts~

[ JK ]: you guys are aware of the recent cutbacks and restructuring at gaia hq, right?
[ JK ]: it hasn't been a stellar year for zomg as we had hoped.. in the past we tried to use zomg as an acquisition tool. to drive traffic up to gaia
[ JK ]: however, since we stopped marketing it, that didn't pan out
swarf: We tried advertising for a while, but ads proved not to bring in people very well into zOMG.
[ JK ]: so we shifted focus and tried to use zomg as a retention tool.. to keep our userbase engaged and happy
[ JK ]: however that didn't really work since we lacked resources to expand the game and add new content
swarf: Well, the game is still very engaging and still helps a lot with retention. But gaia as a whole is shifting its focus a bit. Growing retention isn't as important. And zOMG's retention effect isn't super high. Still decent though.
[ JK ]: yes, zomg has the highest retention rate of any flash space/game on the site, but our userbase isn't growing
[ JK ]: and basically like what swarf said, gaia is changing focus.. to concentrate on core features
[ JK ]: which leaves us with our current situation
swarf: Less about expanding more about keeping things as they have been. Keeping the core ideas and core userbase. But the future for gaia as a whole is less about new features.
[ JK ]: for example, forum is a core feature.. our avatar system is another core feature
swarf: zOMG is also a core feature. But new development on it hasn't been categorized as a core feature. v.v
[ JK ]: The bottom line is we can no long sustain zomg as we have in the past
swarf: Yeah, you guys have no idea how much we appreciate the efforts to get zOMG out there. And it's been paying off! zOMG as a feature on Gaia is being used by a higher portion of people than it was a year ago.
swarf: In fact, we've even had an increase in revenue in zOMG. But when compared to aquarium, etc it doesn't bring in much.
swarf: And Gaia isn't able to put new work into features that can't pay for themselves.
[ JK ]: yes, and basically unless we can start monetizing zomg, gaia will no longer support this project
swarf: In any case, zOMG isn't being shut down. Just that future content can't be done unless there is revenue to support the development.
[ JK ]: and we'll know in the following week whether or not the project will continue
swarf: zOMG isn't gonna go away. And trust us, we've had a lot of meetings about how to monetize it efficiently, sustainably, and without hurting the game.
swarf: We've had a lot of support from panagrammic and others to help come up with the best attempt at this.
[ JK ]: and we're also hopeful and optimistic that we'll be able to generate enough revenue to keep the project going
swarf: Fear not, when we have new items we will get it announced.
[ JK ]: everyone has been so supportive.. you guys are really amazing.. thank you so much! we'll get through this ordeal and make zomg successful, or die trying smile
[ JK ]: guys, one last thing i need to add before i go... i want to address the urgency of our situation. if we fail to generate enough revenue through zomg, this will be the end of the project in terms of updates
swarf: Yaaaaaarrrrghhh!

• Gaia is NOT shutting down zOMG
• If zOMG does NOT raise enough revenue updates will cease
• Swarf likes pirates

~The Solutions~

swarf: Yes, ads are part of the solution.
swarf: So far we're not looking at any in-game ads, but rather a video ad before the game starts. Like with Tiles.
[ JK ]: we have 3 plans atm.. video ad is one of them
[ JK ]: the second plan is to sell pets for zomg
[ JK ]: the third thing we're going to sell is the headstart ticket to buccaneer boardwalk
[ JK ]: it will be offered only as a hangout space at the beginning, but we have plans to update it with content
[ JK ]: with quests, npcs and storyline
swarf: We're working super super super hard to get the pet and boardwalk done by a deadline. It'll be a small miracle if xmas manages to happen too. But we will try our hardest.


• Video Ads to be implemented
• Pets released to raise income
• Release of Headstart tickets for BB

~Upcoming Features~

[ JK ]: we plan to release pets and the headstart ticket in early January
[ JK ]: initially, these pets will be only for vanity purpose, but we have ideas to add functions to them
[ JK ]: you can't equip them and display it in the forum either
[ JK ]: we're offering 2 pets first
[ JK ]: and they will be available for limited time only
swarf: Very limited time!
swarf: Less time than the sweetheart ring.
[ JK ]: we have yet to decide whether or not they should be soulbound
[ JK ]: cursed pumpkin will open around xmas
swarf: So in the next month: Coliseum, pets, boardwalk, cursed pumpkin. If we miss xmas, there will still be lots to do =)

• Coliseum Opens
• Buccaneer Boardwalk Opens
• Zomg pets will be released
• Cursed Pumpkin Opens

~Possible Upcoming Features~

[ JK ]: we discussed about raising CL cap for undermountain area.. and we'll most likely do that
[ JK ]: I'm going to push for CL 11-13 for that area
[ JK ]: how do you guys feel about a teleport powerup?
[ JK ]: if you can teleport to say.. barton town, otami ruins, boardwalk and unreleased areas like house on the hill in dmp?
Mavdoc: Stats wouldn't really change, though we'd like to get elemental attacks in somehow with someway too

• Possible CL raise for new area
• Possible release of new area Under Mountain (Pic1)(Pic2)
• Possible new items that allow teleportation
• Possible new rings with elemental abilities?

~Christmas! Yes? No?~

[ JK ]: we may not have an xmas event this year as mentioned earlier.. if we do have one, it'll be a repeat of last year's event
[ JK ]: we feel that future of zomg is more important than trying to squeeze in a recycled event from last year.. but we'll try, just no guarantees. we'll know by next week

~What can we do to save zOMG?~

Mavdoc: Power up money gets counted towards a zOMG! sale
Mavdoc: Yeah, they'll be stuff you guys could purchase outside of powerups
Mavdoc: And we hope to grow the options available too

• Buy powerups
• Buy pets (when released)
• Buy zOMG related items with REAL money
• Invite friends to play zOMG
• Invite friends to join Gaia!
• Sign petitions in the Petition Forum
• Spread The Word

~Everybody wants to know about Frank~
Mavdoc: Frank will show up again eventually

• FRANK WILL COME BACK!!!

That is it for now check back for more updates!

[KaTron Sensei]

Please post the rest of this when you can. D; I am worrying my head off over this thing. JK has good humor lol

[pumpkin kouhai]

Cursed pumpkin? The one for Jack? o.o;; They have to be opened? But I want mine to stay closed. D;
And I think it's a pretty good idea to sell head-start tickets. :3 Some cash for Gaia towards more zOMG and less lag for curious users. ^^

And thank you for posting this! :'D I missed the meeting.. oxo Again.. -x-

[Wisp]

x.o ahhhhhh I was copying and pasting all of this down as well. lol
well at least its up =]

[Kitsune Michiyo]

Gah, so nerve-racking.

I need to get a job so I can buy some gaia cash cards for myself so I can spend it on zOMG! ;3; LOL This will be like the first time in my life to spend some real money on a game o3o but I really wish for it to be updated O: I want to support the team and the game ^^ It's a great game with a lot of potential, unlike many that have been left un-updated for so long o: zOMG! can turn into a huge game database if more people were to flock to gaia and register JUST to play zOMG! XD That'd be quite interesting.

I guess the video ads are fair. It's another "free" way to just support the game and I understand that. o: Weren't there ads at the bottom of the game before too? o3o LOL -doesn't remember from back then too much- Oh well. I just hope that the team and its fun updates will keep going for as long as gaia stands >A</

[Homofy]

Wisp

x.o ahhhhhh I was copying and pasting all of this down as well. lol
well at least its up =]

xXxGothic PhilanthropistxXx

please let me know If I missed anything... I am going back and reorganizing everything!

xXxIs My BitchxXx

[Your Lawyer]

If they released new rings in the cash shop, that were soulbound, I think it would be a great cash sink. I'd buy them.

[o vo account change]

leek leek leek

This is serious buisness, derp!
I can't get G-cash cards, but I'll definitely ask my parents for their credit cards.
I thought there were zOMG! advertisements before, the one with a Gnome and Village Greens as a background? D:

I love you zOMG! team, I appreciate everything you have done for us. ; 3; <3

[Wisp]

Gothic Philanthropist

Wisp

x.o ahhhhhh I was copying and pasting all of this down as well. lol
well at least its up =]

xXxGothic PhilanthropistxXx

please let me know If I missed anything... I am going back and reorganizing everything!

xXxIs My BitchxXx

here is a copy of what I have
[ JK ]: you guys are aware of the recent cutbacks and restructuring at gaia hq, right?
[ JK ]: it hasn't been a stellar year for zomg as we had hoped.. in the past we tried to use zomg as an aquistion tool. to drive traffic up to gaia
[ JK ]: however, since we stopped marketing it, that didn't pan out
swarf: We tried advertising for a while, but ads proved not to bring in people very well into zOMG.
[ JK ]: however that didn't really work since we lacked resources to expand the game and add new content
swarf: Well, the game is still very engaging and still helps a lot with retention. But gaia as a whole is shifting its focus a bit. Growing retention isn't as important. And zOMG's retention effect isn't super high. Still decent though.
[ JK ]: yes, zomg has the highest retention rate of any flash space/game on the site, but our userbase isn't growing
[ JK ]: and basicall like what swarf said, gaia is changing focus.. to concentrate on core features
[ JK ]: which leaves us with our current situation
swarf: Less about expanding more about keeping things as they have been. Keeping the core ideas and core userbase. But the future for gaia as a whole is less about new features.
[ JK ]: for example, forum is a core feature.. our avatar system is another core feature
swarf: zOMG is also a core feature. But new development on it hasn't been categorized as a core feature. v.v
scullylam: jk and swarf you know that some of us have been trying to get zomg's name out there right? like doing site feedback and even posting on zomg's page on facebook and twitter?
scullylam: just was a thought to try and help
[ JK ]: yes, scully and we really appreciate all that you guys have done, but the bottomline is we can no long sustain zomg as we have in the past
swarf: Yeah, you guys have no idea how much we appreciate the efforts to get zOMG out there. And it's been paying off! zOMG as a feature on Gaia is being used by a higher portion of people than it was a year ago.
swarf: In fact, we've even had an increase in revenue in zOMG. But when compared to aquarium, etc it doesn't bring in much.
swarf: And Gaia isn't able to put new work into features that can't pay for themselves.
[ JK ]: yes, and basically unless we can start monetizing zomg, gaia will no longer support this project
swarf: In any case, zOMG isn't being shut down. Just that future content can't be done unless there is revenue to support the development.
swarf: Yes, ads are part of the solution.
swarf: So far we're not looking at any in-game ads, but rather a video ad before the game starts. Like with Tiles.
[ JK ]: we have 3 plans atm.. and yes, video ad is one of them
[ JK ]: the second plan is to sell pets for zomg
[ JK ]: initially, these pets will be only for vanity purpose, but we have ideas to add functions to them
[ JK ]: yes, only in zomg
[ JK ]: you can't equip them and display it in the forum either
[ JK ]: we're offering 2 pets first
[ JK ]: and they will be available for limited time only
swarf: Very limited time!
swarf: Less time than the sweetheart ring.
[ JK ]: we have yet to decide whether or not they should be soulbound
[ JK ]: the third thing we're going to sell is the headstart ticket to buccaneer boardwalk
[ JK ]: it will be offered only as a hangout space at the beginning, but we have plans to update it with content
[ JK ]: with quests, npcs and storyline
[ JK ]: and there's a possibility of introducing kraken there as well. we have a loose design for it





[ JK ]: cursed pumpkin will open around xmas


[ JK ]: there's a possibility that we may not have time to implement xmas event for zomg this year
swarf: We're working super super super hard to get the pet and boardwalk done by a deadline. It'll be a small miracle if xmas manages to happen too. But we will try our hardest.
[ JK ]: we're trying to push out coliseum
swarf: So in the next month: Coliseum, pets, boardwalk, cursed pumpkin. If we miss xmas, there will still be lots to do =)


[ JK ]: we plan to release pets and the headstart ticket in early January
[ JK ]: and we'll know in the following week whether or not the project will continue
[ JK ]: guys, one last thing i need to add before i go... i want to address the urgency of our situation. if we fail to generate enough revenue through zomg, this will be the end of the project in terms of updates
swarf: zOMG isn't gonna go away. And trust us, we've had a lot of meetings about how to monetize it efficiently, sustainably, and without hurting the game.
swarf: We've had a lot of support from panagrammic and others to help come up with the best attempt at this.
[ JK ]: and we're also hopeful and optimistic that we'll be able to generate enough revenue to keep the project going

[hpanna]

thanks Gothic.
Good thing I wasn't there, jk XD

Hope they get enough revenue emo

[oukashi okamii]

i wanna save zOMG how do i buy a zOMG pet?

[Krovahn]

I'd definitely deal with adds at the start of zOMG! if it means we are able to keep the project going.

Hell, I'd deal with add banners on the individual loading screens between areas if it got zOMG! more money...

[Marytanna]

thanks for recap
can't wait for OMG on the leash.

[Freiflug]

Hmm, I've already bought three things from the store.. the real merchandise one; all zOMG related. And I've gotten power ups before.. Now I'll have to buy even more. That, and I'll SO be buying the pets once they're released!

I hope there are enough participants to make this work.

[Homofy]

pandexX

i wanna save zOMG how do i buy a zOMG pet?

xXxGothic PhilanthropistxXx

Pets will be released around New Years hopefully!!!

xXxIs My BitchxXx