It's Time

[Elror]

they have a weekly community q&a, a developer tracker that tracks every post made by BW, they have a developer tracker blog that highlights "important" posts, and there are countless interviews by the BW team on the internet. maybe some of you should pay attention around the webz before jumping on the 'no communication' band wagon :rolleyes:

 

but still they keep secret on most coming features, they keep preventing from giving any date, they just stay vague on the future of the game.

[Elror]

__________________

 

I wish I could answer that.

 

I will say that LA brought over people from the failed SWG because they knew them. The NGE basically took a sandbox game and abominated it into templated characters. Throw in some Mythic devs that were also responsible for the word fail and you get a mess. I think it's a valid point that Bioware has only created console games before this venture. You release it, you move on. The persistency of players is clearly new to them.

 

Further, who knows how the Borg (EA) run this studio they own? Maybe they can't project specifics because it is tied to funding (dog on a leash). Who knows?

 

The games currently on the market aren't ones I could recommend. God love it, WoW was fun for a long time, but it's old and stale now.

 

Rift didn't work for a ton of players. The F2P arena isn't good (LOTRO, DDO, STO). Guild Wars 2 does not look like a savior, Diablo 3 isn't an MMO (though likely will have a better community than this game). I also doubt Bethesda can pull anything off with Elder Scrolls since they chose the same lousy engine Bioware did.

 

In the end, it may be Titan, but I just can't honestly recommend something to play in the current market that isn't fraught with dismay, boredom, hatred, or is just plain awful.

 

 

Did you hear about ArcheAge? I personnaly didnt until a month ago , and i got shocked! For instance i dont have faith in video game industry anymore, but i stay open minded and always looking for something new and innovative, I think this game could serve me well.

 

As for Titan we still dont know anything about it, I think Blizz will have to bring groundbreaking feature, and i think they might do it. Time will tell, thanks for your time and answer!

[discosoc]

they have a weekly community q&a, a developer tracker that tracks every post made by BW, they have a developer tracker blog that highlights "important" posts, and there are countless interviews by the BW team on the internet. maybe some of you should pay attention around the webz before jumping on the 'no communication' band wagon :rolleyes:

 

And despite all of that, they still manage to not actually answer any real questions. It's like watching a debate with politicians and lawyers.

[johnduane]

Did you hear about ArcheAge? I personnaly didnt until a month ago , and i got shocked! For instance i dont have faith in video game industry anymore, but i stay open minded and always looking for something new and innovative, I think this game could serve me well.

 

As for Titan we still dont know anything about it, I think Blizz will have to bring groundbreaking feature, and i think they might do it. Time will tell, thanks for your time and answer!

 

You are most welcome. I don't subscribe to the notions of many on these forums, but your op was very personal, important to you, and heartfelt. It's clear you enjoy this game.

 

I've seen the Twitters, the Facebook posts, the Q&A and all of the rest of the dodges. And that's just what they are doing. Dodging. They don't answer anything directly, or important, it's more a game of mis-directional PR.

 

They are the ad men smiling behind a concerned face, smiling because they are still making damn good money while the players lament. I won't forget it, and I won't be loyal.

 

I think ArchAge has a shot. I think when Titan hits, it's going to be a giant. Blizzard has some terrific engineers, hardware and software. Ghostcrawler was left to tend the dying Juggernaut that is WoW, but he is not their future. The best of their best, the hardware guys that write multi-threading 64 bit engines with built in Mac support, that use all cores and don't tax a client computer to flames, and the software engineers that have been there through all of WoW, those guys are going to deliver big. And much like I'd be far poorer had I invested in EA rather than Activision Blizzard, I'm going to be happy again when their stock reflects their new game.

 

In the meantime, this game is what it is. The decision to play or not, to pay or not, is up to each subscriber. I don't personally feel either choice is wrong. I think this project started well, then somewhere in the middle of development something big changed. Maybe the borg, maybe a couple of managers/producers brought in, something changed and what we got was not what it should be. Now they are trying to put out fires in all areas of the city and cannot keep up.

 

Fluff will not pacify the masses for long. Substantive change had better come and come soon, or imo they'll be looking at f2p. A triple-A mmo in 2012 does not have sound problems for months on end. It does not have graphics issues unending, combat issues, pvp issues, companion issues, ctd's, lack of standard player tool sets, the list goes on forever it seems. And buying a GTN terminal for my ship sadly isn't going to placate me into subsidizing them any further.

[Kubernetic]

You people who are quitting and cancelling your subscriptions until there are transfers and server mergers available better make sure your email addresses are configured so that you will receive emails from BioWare, and you better check the forums regularly.

 

Because when the transfers from low-pop to high-pop servers come online, and are free, they're probably either going to send you an email to announce its availability or they're going to post it here.

 

And I would bet GOOD MONEY that some of you... not all of you... but SOME of you... are going to miss your opportunity, then come in here whining and screaming about how you didn't get a free character transfer when they were available "because you didn't know they were available."

 

No excuses. Keep tabs on what's going on or stifle it if you miss your opportunity!

Edited May 12, 2012 by Kubernetic

[Kubernetic]

I think when Titan hits, it's going to be a giant. Blizzard has some terrific engineers, hardware and software. Ghostcrawler was left to tend the dying Juggernaut that is WoW, but he is not their future. The best of their best, the hardware guys that write multi-threading 64 bit engines with built in Mac support, that use all cores and don't tax a client computer to flames, and the software engineers that have been there through all of WoW, those guys are going to deliver big. And much like I'd be far poorer had I invested in EA rather than Activision Blizzard, I'm going to be happy again when their stock reflects their new game.

 

There you go. Build up those expectations! Make this new game that has yet to be released into a superhuman feat of genius that can never be delivered by human hands! After all, what can possibly go wrong?

[Kaphik]

And despite all of that, they still manage to not actually answer any real questions. It's like watching a debate with politicians and lawyers.

 

Have you read what people post in gaming forums? Every single word a developer puts into writing, or speaks in a video is analyzed, dissected, and held as gospel. If something happens to change from the time features are announced until they go live, people freak out. That's why developers have to be vague, because for the most part people don't or refuse to have any understanding.

[Booyakah]

One thing I noticed about these forums is the lack of any type of community relations person to talk to us. Blizzard has them, and they do a great job in communicating with us to address our concerns and give us some feedback that helps us look forward to the future of their games. At the very least, they let us know that by communicating with us on a daily basis, they care about us and their game.

 

This is no knock on the moderators of these forums. They do a great job at making sure the forums are well managed. But there's no communication about anything. We don't know them. There's no interaction between us and them. It's just some random person with yellow text who mostly copy/pastes stuff.

 

I'm with the OP on this one. We need to know what's up. We need to know that we matter and that our opinions are being heard and not just moderated.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Booyakah

[fungihoujo]

Why does it matter if they communicate? We filled the PTS with warnings about how terrible most of the 1.2 decisions were- didn't matter that it was the one place they were watching, they ignored every piece of advice and butchered the game- and look, 25% lost subs as a result.

 

They can talk or not talk- they've messed up big time, and shown they have no intent of making it right.

[EduardoJN]

I don't know how it can be a good answer. Just to be clear, I agree that BW should have handled population in another way and solved that problem already.

 

That said, between to continue to pay for a MMO, being on a dead server and complaining about that and paying for that MMO, being on a high pop server and having fun playing, I don't see how the first answer is good.

 

Whatever their reasons are, Bioware decided transfers would be early this summer. They know it's not popular but they are sticking with that, which means in the meantime, you are paying for something you don't enjoy. There's only 2 sane choices, you leave (definitely or until the transfers are available) or you re-roll.

 

Yes, it's bad business, yes it shouldn't be like that but that's how it is but you can still do something to be more happy even if it's not the perfect solution.

 

Are u a no-lifer?

 

Because "just reroll" implies on playing the whole game again and then grinding everything u already have AGAIN.

 

If u dont leave your bedroom, if u play this game 24/7, thats great for you, but for those who have a life and dont have that much time to play this game, thats a *********** joke.

[Blackardin]

Your suggestion to just play and stop worrying is a point taken. Thank you.

 

No my friend. Thank you for adding both levity and rational discussion to this board!

[Valkirus]

Good post OP. I only have one point I would like to make ..... I am not sure they need to merge servers if they add a cross server LFG tool. They could still offer some transfers for those wishing to go to a larger pop server and leave us who donot care about that on our low one. I can solo fine up to max level, it is the lack of players to do end game content such as FP's and OP's which is the major reason I have not been playing lately. So your point about a same server LFG tool being a waste of time on low pop servers is true I beleave.

[Jaavik]

but still they keep secret on most coming features, they keep preventing from giving any date, they just stay vague on the future of the game.

 

If you give a very honest look at the forums and see how so many people are reacting, no matter how good or bad the developer responses are, you may understand Bioware's hesitance to give specific dates on patch and feature releases.

 

The first time they give a specific date and (for any reason) have to delay that date (for any infinite number of possible obstacles), you're going to see a flood of posts saying, "they lied to us", "they're incompetent", "they don't care about the customers, only about the money", etc.

 

Frankly, they are doing it now, and no specifics have been promised. Why would they invite more abuse by giving specifics they can't guarantee?

[Jaavik]

Whatever their reasons are, Bioware decided transfers would be early this summer. They know it's not popular but they are sticking with that, which means in the meantime, you are paying for something you don't enjoy. There's only 2 sane choices, you leave (definitely or until the transfers are available) or you re-roll

 

I've had this exact same discussion on another forum and I basically took the same position you did. We aren't suggesting this as a "fix" to player's complaints about server populations. However, it IS a suggestion in order to get some semblance of value for your dollar IF you are planning to stay subscribed until the transfers are available.

 

What is your (not YOU, Nyla, but the player in general's) ultimate purpose? Is it to "play the game with other people"? If so, then (at present) re-rolling on a populated server is the only option that is within YOUR sphere of control.

 

I get the frustration of paying for a subscription and levelling characters to high levels and wanting to be able to play with the character you've worked so hard to develop. But it's not like you are going to take the character WITH you if you leave. So it doesn't resolve the desire to "play the game with other people".

 

The only other choice you have the power to make is to unsubscribe until the game is more structured to your liking. Honestly, it's the most powerful form of communication to the company. They are going to react quicker to a drop in subscriptions than they are to angry posts on the forums.

 

The "just re-roll" crowd is simply trying to help by suggesting the closest available option to play the game the way you want to play it at present. we aren't trying to be flippant about your frustrations.

[Jaavik]

I know right? It is crazy that people should expect a well-run company to set deadlines and actually live up to them. WEIRD, I know. I mean it isn't like every other business in the world does that...

 

So what exactly are your specific expectations in this scenario?

 

If SliggXx is suddenly placed in charge of Public Relations, what would you implement to make someone like you happy?

 

Let's hear some constructive ideas rather than snide, snarky comments.

 

Edited May 12, 2012 by Jaavik

[BlueFromMoon]

Time is running out as Elder Scroll Online is coming in 2013.

[Drebs]

Hire this man to be your PR REP Bioware plz

 

I support this idea. I cannot imagine what the community team there is thinking with the communication blackout. It seems as if you're just adhering to some false doctrine, and ignoring the realities around you. It's called arrogance, and it will be your downfall.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Drebs

[NDiggy]

Good post

[SentinelDranoel]

This is not a rant or a "let's all pile on and bash Bioware" thread.

 

As you can see by my join date I have been a follower/supporter of this effort from years ago. I still consider myself a loyal subscriber and I still enjoy the product. I suspect I will for quite some time. Having said that, I haven't been completely blind and have questioned several decisions they have made, particularly recently.

 

I, like many others, have concerns about their current position on the group finder and server transfers and how these two ideas/features actually interact with each other and I have chosen to remain quiet and patient while waiting for some solid information but I find myself growing more and more concerned with the lack of information/interaction with the community.

 

I've never been fond of people who make demands on an already overwhelmed group of developers. I've often winced over the extreme and hyperbolic demands some of the "fair-weather fans" have made, considering them unreasonable and somewhat extreme. Recently, I find myself more accommodating of these views and it is primarily and singularly due to the lack of information from the devs.

 

I was convinced, when we were given the free 30 days that within 2 weeks, we would have some solid communication from the developers about the future direction and future plans. There are, after all, many many questions that are hanging in the air unanswered.

 

Meanwhile, the game I love, continues to lose subscribers. There's no point in arguing this, it is happening and it is obvious. I believe the silence from the developers is exacerbating this much more than they may realize. I feel this way because I consider myself a canary in a gold mine. When players such as myself (the most patient of the patient) become concerned, this is a serious problem.

 

Bioware, it's time. The community is horrible here, I get that. I understand that anything they say to this community will be twisted and contorted and lambasted by many while at the same time adored by others. Thus is the nature of the forums and this community. I understand that timelines are dangerous and how perilous it is to reveal features before they are ready in such a volatile community environment. I get all of that, believe me I do.

 

I strongly and honestly feel that we are at the point where the silence is more detrimental to the health of the game than would be the risk of disappointment over any possible features/additions that are altered before implementation. There are just too many big questions hanging in the air and I believe the time to answer some of those is long since passed. Ask any developer of any MMO that has come before, both successes and failures. You just can't leave a community in the dark for this long without there being repercussions.

 

I am not demanding anything. I'm not whining and I'm not trolling. I genuinely feel like the health and future of this game depends on the developers being more forthcoming and doing so...immediately.

 

We need to know the plans for transfers/lfg/ranked pvp. We need to know more and a tentative timeline would be sincerely appreciated. My largest concern is how these three things interact with each other.

 

For example, A single server lfg tool is basically worthless if it occurs before transfers. On the same train of thought, ranked pvp will be worthless without server clusters. Following this thought through, would it be easier just to cluster servers and make the LFG x-server as well as the pvp ques. I'm not saying any of these ideas are better than others. I would just really like to know what the plans are. What are they thinking?

 

It's time Bioware. Turn the lights on. You cannot sit silently by and expect the community to wait forever. I feel like, and I fully submit I could be wrong, the community has been more than patient while we wait for some news.

 

Please, let us in on the plans. I thank you sincerely for the 30 days free and I'll be completely honest here, there's probably no risk of my sub going anywhere for at least the next few months. There are many, however, that are viewing this 30 days as a watermark for Bioware. The silence, to me at least, is extremely disconcerting.

 

We need some information about the direction of our beloved game. We need it now. I plead with you to communicate the future plans (not a year from now but days/weeks from now) to your players. I ask this of you not while wielding the threat of my subscription over my head like an axe but while holding it in my palms like a beggar.

 

It's time to open those lines of communication. The silence is becoming deafening.

 

It's time.

 

patience Master Jedi

[maxilo]

too late for a lot of people

 

if you look at my join date, you will see i am the same as you (invested a huge amount of time and effort)

But alas no more 3 different servers (everyone left) 2 amazing guilds (everyone left) so it's time for me aswell.

[GraunKrynn]

Good post by OP and I agree. We need better communication from the developers. It seems they've been dodging answering the Ranked WZ questions since the "Prior to 1.3" answer after the missed 1.2 fiasco.

[johnduane]

There you go. Build up those expectations! Make this new game that has yet to be released into a superhuman feat of genius that can never be delivered by human hands! After all, what can possibly go wrong?

 

Really? Check your facts before shooting off your hyperbole. Never be delivered? LOL just wow..

*Updated for patch 4.3.4*

 

A 64-bit client is once again available for use with Patch 4.3.4. Before being able to launch WoW in 64-bit mode you will need to download the 64-bit client for PC/Mac (using one of the links below), and unzip it into your World of Warcraft directory. Once you extract the files you can start the 64-bit client by opening the Launcher as normal

[Divona]

This is no knock on the moderators of these forums. They do a great job at making sure the forums are well managed. But there's no communication about anything. We don't know them. There's no interaction between us and them. It's just some random person with yellow text who mostly copy/pastes stuff.

 

I'm with the OP on this one. We need to know what's up. We need to know that we matter and that our opinions are being heard and not just moderated.

 

Actually if you look in past months ago there were alot dev feedback mostly before patch 1.2, after that something happened. I hardly see devs take their time to respond many important questions. Yes it can be they are busy with new update BUT it does no good overall for community health.

 

I have a feeling they were not ready for that much negativity that we see now on majority posts last month or so.

The 30 day free game time was actually desperate move, i think they predicted the activity will drop alot because torstatus webpage shows decline since end of february and continues rapidly.

 

It is really odd situation we are dealing here. Not much info about next update only hints. Nothing about transfers.

I guess when the patch notes hit PTS forum we know more what is going on.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Divona

[mikphobos]

devs silence is making me wonder..

 

i honestly dont want to leave this game, but the lack of communication have me very worry.

prolly i just should just sit and wait, but yeah.. i feel like a student waiting for his last test note.

[Kubernetic]

devs silence is making me wonder..

 

i honestly dont want to leave this game, but the lack of communication have me very worry.

prolly i just should just sit and wait, but yeah.. i feel like a student waiting for his last test note.

 

Dev silence on what?

 

http://www.swtor.com/community/devtracker.php