Salute.
Getting into EiR is too difficult for beginners, I'd agree.
A few issues that makes EiR stand out from all other games in the world:
- Having an installer call customers/users dumb asses is unprofessional and uncalled for. Not a way to greet new users. Especially not the ones having problems installing.
- After clicking 'Signing up...' on the front page first time users are greeted with a conversation snippet in regards to dicks being slapped into faces. Very, very unprofessional. Really. I like a dick joke as much as anyone, but seriously? Throwing a dick in curious potential gamers faces from the get-go? Realise that most COH players are grownups.
Honestly, I only stayed after the above because I *already* knew that I *wanted* to. Had I never been part of EiR before, I would have quit at the installer or the dick in the face. If lack of players is an issue I do believe these things need fixing.
There's a problem with usability for first time users in linking from the first page into the forum. It would be less confusing having all the necessary info out in the open.
Having an in-game tutorial is a *fantastic* idea, there's a reason that most games have them. VCoH even asks you to play the tut first time you start a game. As mentioned, everything needed to start should be more or less contained in launcher and/or bullet form on the web site. Ease em into it.
Just my 2c. Before someone calls me a homophobe: I don't care where anyone puts their dick but I'd rather choose when to have one slapped in my own face or slap someone with mine