Damn we're back up that high? I kind of figured we've been at about 3000 players, but I haven't looked or anything.

the game won't really shut down for a while. ccp is too attached to the project.

like i've said a million times;
the game will be **** for the next 6 months or so, maybe 12
the cumulative effect of the mini updates will make the wait more comfortable but no one patch will change everything for the better.
i can see the game being a really solid console shooter after 6 months, and at that point ccp can switch to adding new stuff and increasing the importance of meta

if you don't want to wait, you dont have to, passive sp exists for this reason
and i suspect 2x xp weekends will accompany most of the mini updates

I should point out that new character creation is also dropping...it is at a slower rate but non the less dropping.

Without matchmaking those new players try out the academy then get pup stomped then quit most likely never to return....and even those numbers are drying up.

New player retention is the problem and it would seem to me all the fixes, events and new content has done nothing to fix it. Only brought back some old players for a week or two of fun.

better matchmaking is doubtless something coming up in a mini update. it'll probably involve pairing squads vs squads
i'm REALLY hoping they break it down into high/low/nullsec space with barriers on meta level of the gear you're using

.....and back down to 4700 peak online players and falling.

....

sooooo....

When are we getting matchmaking?

Will we get it when player count is below 3000?

Will we get it before the game shuts down completely?

hahahahahahaaha

wow, you have that much faith in CCP? Good one!

Even if they break it down like that, the low number of people already playing this game will be stretched too thin.

I have not played the academy in about 3 weeks...but those matches seem to be filled at all hours of the day....If they are still like that i think Dust still has the numbers to support matchmaking.

There might be a huge donut hole where the mid level players would be....but if CCP segregates off the new academy players as they level up to fill that void i think it won't be a problem...not yet anyway.

Dust is still attracting, amazingly, 600+ new players at peak each day. Lots of new meat for CCP to play with...if only the game was a bit more nice to them. =(

doesn't matter how many people try the game everyday, when at the end of the day they realize the game is garbage and leave. Returning customers is simple business. Who's returning to DUST? The vets of this game, and even that number is declining.

Thanks to this thread, I just quit.

.....and back down to 4700 peak online players and falling.

....

sooooo....

When are we getting matchmaking?

Will we get it when player count is below 3000?

Will we get it before the game shuts down completely?

chill man ppl on vacations n dudes wanna bang their gf at the beach. once fall hits ppl b back

And yet the EvE player count did not take a summer hit....nor did any other MMO, FPS, or MMOFPS i can see.

And yet the EvE player count did not take a summer hit....nor did any other MMO, FPS, or MMOFPS i can see.

Your claims lack precedent.

The irony there is that you haven't post one shred of evidence for all your claims

They all did, albeit a small one. Eve-offline does show a small hit in pop if you care to check for just one example.

Just figured I'd point that out, now please everyone go back to this amusing bantering.

EDIT: Now for a random graph that someone can argue about on a different subject:
http://users.telenet.be/mmodata/Charts/Subs-2.png