You guys are saying IF we had "all" bugs fixed, THEN wipe.
Need to attempt to determine what to fix and get in order the minimum, basic, most important features, mechanics that weight more for the player than other values to enjoy a qualitative in game environment that ultimately achieves a better reception of how the player experiences the game. It'll lead to better population after wipe, more qualitative game play and the game will actually progress.
Sounds real complicated, but actually very trivial, that is the "basic needs" for the player. Trading is more important than some radios in helmets and working crafting table holds more weight than some cow pen. It's common sense, imagine you are out of air, water, and food, the most basic of all things to sustain life, would you be happy if someone gave you car keys, a gun or a lot of cash in that moment? Of course not, but nothing could hold more worth for you at the moment than those three basic things, right? Kinda serious analogy.
But shit. Here in 2238, developers are like stuffing the car keys in your throat when you are hungry and everyone goes like "What the fuck is that? Nobody asked for it." Well recently this isn't happening, so i guess it's been improved upon.
- There's hardly any reason to go anywhere unsafe places like towns for extended periods. It's best to visit them very briefly and then leave on worldmap.
- The more players, the less everyone gets: less ore and gathering materials, less shop supplies, less glowloot. Only encounters are free of this rule. That's why many people like encounters: they are infinite.
These are hardly major problems.
SD was a major problem.
AC was a major problem.
Lags are a major problem.
Server down is a major problem.
Lack of new features are hardly a problem. Unless you see unguarded towns as a feature.
If when a player comes after wipe and he see that the game has been actually polished, refined, it'll make up for the lack of new features, or how to better say it ... raw bulk of them. Usually players like what they see upon new features, new innovations, new mechanics, but the problem is it rarely ever works at first as it is and considering the long pauses between progress, i mean updates and fixes ... it just scares away some part of players who just aren't willing to linger around until someone decides to lift a finger.
Wipe is just a wake up call for those who left.
Why not give the players a fresh start with existing features witch are working as intended? It's completely different experience to play without the damage caused by broken features. If next wipe will be as usual, big fat change log and nothing is working properly, then players will for sure come and go after few weeks of the wipe.
Then we go back to square one and the damage is fixed in a year or so, then cause more of it. It's like hitting yourself with a hammer.