This is a problem typical of MMOGs, in which some zones fall into disuse for any number of reasons:
- difficult to get to
- difficult to get around once you're inside
- no compelling reason to go there
- newer content overtaking the older zones
- game population out-leveling those zones
I think that several of these apply to the lower level hazard zones (PP, Boomtown, Faultline). The Hollows has usurped some of the appeal of PP for many people. Boomtowna nd Fualtline are each only accessible from a single zone, and are both somewhat difficult to get around.
The game population is generally getting to be higher level. When's the last time you saw multiple instances of a low level zone, as opposed to Talos Island 2 on your tram menu? The new content is going in as higher level zones, and appropriately so because people need something to do at level 50.
One solution that has been attempted in other games, to varying degrees of success, is to "repurpose" zones for higher level content. Have a new villain group (or groups) move into Faultline, put a new trial in there, that sort of thing. This is a bit more difficult because of the level of and travel to the connecting zones, but at least skyway is accessible via Talos Island.
Anyway, the question is whether you view the problem as
- the zones are underutilized, or
- it's hard to find a group at a given level
I would maintain that the latter can be fixed by reviewing where the lower level players congregate (e.g., the Hollows), and trying to funnel people to those places.
