My opinion only. Here are some reasons.
First, the game has issues. Guys cannot get the game to work on their computer. Some don't have the game and even if they can get it for free, and I think SK has instructions on how to do so, they just can't get the game working. Whether it's Windows or whatever.
Second, there is the password. We used to have a fair number of players from Vietnam playing. I think they can't figure out how to get on the server. Unfortunately, the password is necessary because of hackers who seek to interfere with the game.
Last, I call it the "junk drawer" (has a little of everything in it). I know at least one player who quit because of players using tubes. You know, toe shooting with XMs, etc. He wanted friendly fire turned on. It wasn't so he quit.
I played all day on December 29. I came on with Hue and I quit at the end of Hastings. I was on every map and it took ALL DAY just to get to Hastings. Some maps take at least an hour or more to play when there are only a few players playing.
Early in the day, on Hue, there were very few players. Then the numbers increased and then they would drop off then go back up then drop off. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to it. Some players complained, including me, on some of the maps of how boring it was or how long it was taking. There were maps where some wanted to surrender all flags just so we could go to the next map but unfortunately, there was a loose screw playing and he would run around and cap flags. When there are only 6 guys playing a map and it takes a good hour to play the map, players quit playing.
There is not an easy fix to this stuff. Like I said, there are 18 maps that cycle. I have asked that some maps be removed. Some were clearly designed for 40 player servers back in the heyday of BFV. Even with 20 players playing Fall of Saigon, the map is simply too big. It is boring. La Drang, big and boring. It is a great map with 40 players. We can't get 40 so pitch it. Lose the jungle maps as well. Cedar Falls is another map that is too big and with few players, it's horrible to suffer through it.
My reco is get rid of the above five maps. That will still leave 13 maps. I know some guys like the jungle maps but we can see players not log in to play or spectate or even worse, leave. I like the jungle map where blue has all flags and red main includes two spawn points. But we see many players shift to blue and we all know why. XM toe shooting.
I think if we don't change with the times, the times will end the game. Perhaps the game has ended regardless of what steps are taken to save it.
I do appreciate all that SK and Shaun have done to keep the game going.
pinky
