One last thought. It's interesting to me how many different views have been expressed on the "purpose" of these signatures. I've heard that they are a protest. I've heard that they're just a joke. I've heard that they are intended to be hurtful. I've heard that they are not intended to be hurtful.
To be honest, I see them (at least on most and for sure for me) as the last and only way to express our feelings that may have some impact. We try the good way, we try the medium way and this is the "what ever" way.
All the feedback about DR was completely ignored (except the positive), and in fact, cryptic did all the contrary.
To many is a expression of joke, others try to hurt, but if is either to joke, hurt or protest, is the last and only way we have to express our feelings.
When Geko, for example, claims that all the feedback about the dead queues is just a bug, and he try to deny the facts and ignore feedback, what other resources does we have? The community representatives that PWE has does not exist, they just not even communicate with us since Brenflakes left.. the signatures is the only and last way to express our self. We know that is not going to change anything because Geko and cryptic leaders still think that we all love the expansion, but at least we can express our self.
What I said, was that, IMHO, the "Best Expansion Ever" signatures were grating, and a deterrent for more Dev interaction. As a protest, they don't specify what the protest is about, and at the end of the day, I don't believe they are accomplishing anything (if, indeed, they are meant to accomplish anything in the first place).
For those saying that we can't take criticism:
Again, again, again. . . again.
Negative comments, criticism, your opinions, etc. are all TOTALLY FINE! Please keep posting them. Tell us what we're doing wrong. But tell us HOW you think it could be better.
This is something that comes up very often within the art department. If another environment artist comes to my desk, telling me, "That looks like TRIBBLE." doesn't help. Telling me, "That looks like TRIBBLE, it would be better if you did X." does help.
IMO, the "Best Expansion Ever" signatures fall into the former category.
...
Is the best scarecrow argument ever and the Devs love it!
Only in STO would a Dev expect to find constructive criticism in the form a siggy. If you truly are interested in learning about the issues, try reading the many posts describing them scattered throughout the forums, because again you won't find them in our siggies.
Only in STO would a Dev expect to find constructive criticism in the form a siggy. If you truly are interested in learning about the issues, try reading the many posts describing them scattered throughout the forums, because again you won't find them in our siggies.
Oh! I know! we could link our constructive critique posts in our sigs!
Negative comments, criticism, your opinions, etc. are all TOTALLY FINE! Please keep posting them. Tell us what we're doing wrong. But tell us HOW you think it could be better.
I don't think I've ever had some of your work to criticize... As such I can not tell you what I think YOU are doing wrong.
I do agree on your "we are a team" argument...It's perfectly reasonable to assume that the team will feel uncomfortable about these signatures.
Fortunally I don't feel the need to join the camp who use whatever signatures... Heck... I made one of the most used signatures on the forums (the Wide Duty Officer sig), and I am sad to see many replace them with the "Delta rising is the whatever" one.
Now look at it from my perspective: We HAVE told you... Over and over and over and over... Next major update... Same thing again.
So much, that a person like me dosen't even bother to want to try anymore.
I've wrote long posts, detailed posts, posts with clear examples of what was wrong, and how they could be adapted, with plenty of positive replies from other players.
I don't anymore... Just as your patience has worn thin, so has mine.
Why would I spend time, writing about different subjects, presenting solutions, and taking your side, when all I get in return is a drain on whatever resources I've scraped togther... being Dil, EC, Marks or XP...
Here is an example:
The Tau Dewa exploit... Rather than fixing the problem, wooping the butts of those who had exploited the system, the team decided: "Let the exploiters keep their rewards, and then just prevent those who behaved from getting the dil, when THEY get there".
I come here these days, to chat with my fleet... If I am bored and don't feel like playing something else, I jump on consoles at ESD for a while (they are placed pretty good btw), and then I go back to doing something else...
Because, there's no rewarding feeling for me, to beam out and find a mission... I don't feel I am getting anywhere.
Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
It's a very well balanced and accurate review. I know you & I haven't interacted but I just thought I'd say I enjoy your contributions - keep it up!
Thanks. It may get added to once I see the BOFF training go into effect, but right now my primary first impression is disappointment that what was previously a free system (and one that encouraged socialization) got monetized like everything else. This is not the direction it needed to go--as I describe in the review, the burdens on the economy need to be relaxed, not increased further.
I suspect I am not the only one who saw this coming and has decided to get my BOFF skills straight once and for all before this hits, to make sure I will never have to pay. Which is unfortunate because like other extreme economic moves that have come with DR, it kills off experimentation that would encourage spending. But since I felt forced into it, I took appropriate measures to ensure I would NOT have to participate in it. Which IMO is the exact opposite of the behavior Cryptic should have been encouraging. But I do not feel incentivized to partake in what could well, if not for being another cash grab, actually be a well thought out system or even an improvement. Unfortunately trying (and failing) to extract more money from me does not constitute a true improvement. :-/
IMO this is valid criticism. I really wish the devs would read my whole review along with discussion comments, and yes, I realize I am asking for a TON of reading but then Taco DID ask for detailed criticism explaining the reasons without getting personal.
I really like your sig and want to make myself something similar. I'm just not sure which captain I should showcase.
The forum does allow you to make a sig wider than what I have (though not taller). There may be room for you to feature more than one.
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-) Proudly F2P.Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
Taco made it clear that they are hurtful and accomplishes nothing, nor do they represent my opinion.
Neither is mine. However there is "free speech" to certain degree even if PWE is private (see last DEVs comments). The nature of free speech is to voice a concern that is not being heard or received by others. However, you CANNOT silence free speech if is done in a respectful manner.
The "Best expansion ever" was a civil protest from the playerbase. As any other method with "free speech" some will be hurt to some degree depends on sensitivity. We encouraged players to discord in a civil manner...look the threads in the archives to that reasoning. If someone does not like what is being said in a civil manner that does not give them authority to "ban, mute or expel" players for their viewpoint.
Some did not want to hear about it and took them upon themselves to ban civil discord. It is a private company but when it comes to it I will support your right to disagree without being abusive to others and don't the signature threads were abusive at all. There was never a response from management but sure it made some sort of an impact.
I removed my sig because I got bored with it, now I have no idea what to put there.
The DR sigs might not accomplish anything, but it's not like people just made those and were done. Feedback was given countless times, in many ways. But instead of lightening up about the XP for example, they got nerfed even further.
I removed my sig because I got bored with it, now I have no idea what to put there.
The DR sigs might not accomplish anything, but it's not like people just made those and were done. Feedback was given countless times, in many ways. But instead of lightening up about the XP for example, they got nerfed even further.
I might just make mine a giant "FINISH NOW" button. That one thing alone is symbolic of the turn this game has taken.
Tell us what we're doing wrong. But tell us HOW you think it could be better.
I started this post with turning the question around and asking what the Dev team has done to bring back the sense of fun to the game .
Then I remembered that we're 2 days shy from the 3 month debut of DR , and I'm here , trying to ask the team artist about things that he can't fix , while he's asking for feedback that has been plastered all over the forums for the blind to see in the last 3 months .
As the reality of it as a whole sank in , I deleted most of what I wrote .
One last thought. It's interesting to me how many different views have been expressed on the "purpose" of these signatures. I've heard that they are a protest. I've heard that they're just a joke. I've heard that they are intended to be hurtful. I've heard that they are not intended to be hurtful.
JS--Unfortunately that is likely a management problem. I suspect Taco is not the only dev with genuine pride in his/her work, but management does not IMO support the devs appropriately based on my observations.
They do not seem to staff adequately to ensure the devs have proper, adequate QA and customer service staffs to provide fresh eyes on their work (and JS, it's my perspective that even if you are 100% satisfied with your own work, a good solid outside perspective is very helpful for professional creative work), and to put it bluntly I think upper management really threw Taco under the bus whether they meant to do it or not, by the ill timing of the Club 47 release (or alternatively, failing to pair it with major bug fixes and reversions of the mistakes they made with DR) and basically leaving him alone to take a ton of heat he did not deserve. Whether intended or recognized or not, this is IMO likely to be symptomatic of a priority problem on management's part.
I cannot speak for any particular dev's ambitions but I honestly believe Cryptic is risking a talent drain by forcing things out half done. Because the thing is, the people who are likely to be the *least* tolerant of a forced violation of their high personal standards and the negative impact this will have on the perception of their portfolios by other potential bosses *are the most talented individuals.*
Taco--to be clear, I know I am speaking about certain individuals who are your coworkers, but this is absolutely not meant as a personal attack. In fact I consider it quite possible that the *intentions* of these individuals are good. It is, however, my opinion that some of their decisions end up being self-sabotaging. (I also know full well that if you were having any reservations about your job, that's something you would never dare say in public and with VERY good reason, so I am NOT expecting you to comment on that. I have actually refused potential job candidates further interviews on the basis of their bad mouthing a current or prior employer so I do NOT want this to be taken as an attempt to try to get anyone to do that.)
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-) Proudly F2P.Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
Or ... it can be interpreted as devide and conquer .
After all when we all QQ about our own pet peeves , we're all the more easily ignored as the "minority with minority's issues" .
It's only when we speak with one voice that says "we're not happy now" , that's when we're referred to as "hurtful" .
And quite honestly , coming here and looking for "normal" feedback almost 3 months since DR debuted just highlighted the one thing the Dev's quite possibly didn't do for the last 3 months: making a list of player issues, concerns and requests .
I don't think there's anything Machiavellian -- Tacovellian? -- about Taco's post.
Nor do I think there's much to divide people over.
I'd say the actual content and many aspects of DR having 80% or more positive comments, probably including the IDEA of a gear upgrade system.
The negatives fall pretty squarely in a few areas:
Upgrade costs
Artificial time delays
Corralling of players
Low reward for time spent
Excessive focus on patrols
Inequality between players as a result of the above
JS--Unfortunately that is likely a management problem. I suspect Taco is not the only dev with genuine pride in his/her work, but management does not IMO support the devs appropriately based on my observations.
They do not staff adequately to ensure the devs have proper, adequate QA and customer service staffs to provide fresh eyes on their work (and JS, it's my perspective that even if you are 100% satisfied with your own work, a good solid outside perspective is very helpful for professional creative work), and to put it bluntly I think upper management really threw Taco under the bus whether they meant to do it or not, by the ill timing of the Club 47 release (or alternatively, failing to pair it with major bug fixes and reversions of the mistakes they made with DR) and basically leaving him alone to take a ton of heat he did not deserve. Whether intended or recognized or not, this is IMO likely to be symptomatic of a priority problem on management's part.
I cannot speak for any particular dev's ambitions but I honestly believe Cryptic is risking a talent drain by forcing things out half done. Because the thing is, the people who are likely to be the *least* tolerant of a forced violation of their high personal standards and the negative impact this will have on the perception of their portfolios by other potential bosses *are the most talented individuals.*
Taco--to be clear, I know I am speaking about certain individuals who are your coworkers, but this is absolutely not meant as a personal attack. In fact I consider it quite possible that the *intentions* of these individuals are good. It is, however, my opinion that some of their decisions end up being self-sabotaging. (I also know full well that if you were having any reservations about your job, that's something you would never dare say in public and with VERY good reason, so I am NOT expecting you to comment on that. I have actually refused potential job candidates further interviews on the basis of their bad mouthing a current or prior employer so I do NOT want this to be taken as an attempt to try to get anyone to do that.)
I've praised the artistic work on the forums quite a few times, in particular the Kobali Ground Zone. That place should be packed with players, it looks amazing and the combat is fun and challenging.
I've asked around to see why it's empty and the 27 people I asked (yes I counted) all said the same thing - I'll let you all guess what it was.
well since your hands was a part of DR and you are part of team. then you should take the heat when a member of your team lies to the world saying that the people love delta rising. meaning geko in a pod cast interview.
as with the lies that have been told in the past on the forums about what is coming out and not coming out and the lack of communication. maybe its better not to have the communication as you all are out of touch with reality.
you failed at making this game the best game on the market. you have been told by many of players what they want and expect. YOU and YOUR TEAM have ignored them. so if you precieve the peoples sigs as a racist remark against you. then so be it, as you deserve it considering if they told you what they really feel they would be banned.
i still believe that this game has potential but not with anyone working at cryptic. would love for pwe to hire another company to replace you to take over the star trek title as you have only succeeded in upsetting alot of people.
Sad Pandas PvP - Starfleet Dental Member - Lag Industries Leader
--
"What a time it was, with all the world against us, what a time it was... When all we did seemed wrong,
we've broken all our bonds, but life kept going on, what a time, what a time it was..." - Clem Tholet
Quack--My feeling is you've got that exactly backwards...I really suspect the problem lies with PWE and upper management (which may or may not be getting severe pressure from PWE), and not so much with Cryptic's rank-and-file. :-/ I actually think the bigger potential problem is that PWE won't just burn their customers' good will, but also succeed in burning the good will of their own internal talent.
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-) Proudly F2P.Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
I started this post with turning the question around and asking what the Dev team has done to bring back the sense of fun to the game .
Then I remembered that we're 2 days shy from the 3 month debut of DR , and I'm here , trying to ask the team artist about things that he can't fix , while he's asking for feedback that has been plastered all over the forums for the blind to see in the last 3 months .
As the reality of it as a whole sank in , I deleted most of what I wrote .
So much win.
Sadly, that is what has happened. What we've seen in the past 3 months has been an epic ramp-up of devs ignoring the customer base, but it has been going on for years now. They habitually dump broken code to the public even when the reports from tribble say it is horribly broken or something is game-breaking. They've done this for years. The total lack of QA and bug testing is astounding, Then take that same model of attentiveness and apply it to the decision making process that implements new features to the game.
The end result is with DR's epic ramp-up of this "feature," more and more are doing like you have, and simply deleting their posts before hitting "Submit"... The mods will simply delete it. The devs will simply ignore it. The yes-men fanboi brigade will simply ignore facts and logic (and grammar) and attack you personally. Then people progress to a higher level of understanding of what is going on, and simply not hit POST at all.... Then people stop logging in. Then people delete accounts.
It's all happening quite rapidly in the past few months. The fanbois on this forum are the most toxic element that is killing off more discussion and gameplay than even the lead devs' ignoring of customers and the game breaking bugs which remain for years on end at times.
This game is dying. When you get the active ear of a developer (even if it's one who doesn't make the decisions) and you are going to respond but you stop and say "**** it, he can't do anything and nothing will change" you know the entire process is dead and nobody is listening. Cryptic has killed STO.
Sadly, that is what has happened. What we've seen in the past 3 months has been an epic ramp-up of devs ignoring the customer base, but it has been going on for years now. They habitually dump broken code to the public even when the reports from tribble say it is horribly broken or something is game-breaking. They've done this for years. The total lack of QA and bug testing is astounding, Then take that same model of attentiveness and apply it to the decision making process that implements new features to the game.
The end result is with DR's epic ramp-up of this "feature," more and more are doing like you have, and simply deleting their posts before hitting "Submit"... The mods will simply delete it. The devs will simply ignore it. The yes-men fanboi brigade will simply ignore facts and logic (and grammar) and attack you personally. Then people progress to a higher level of understanding of what is going on, and simply not hit POST at all.... Then people stop logging in. Then people delete accounts.
It's all happening quite rapidly in the past few months. The fanbois on this forum are the most toxic element that is killing off more discussion and gameplay than even the lead devs' ignoring of customers and the game breaking bugs which remain for years on end at times.
This game is dying. When you get the active ear of a developer (even if it's one who doesn't make the decisions) and you are going to respond but you stop and say "**** it, he can't do anything and nothing will change" you know the entire process is dead and nobody is listening. Cryptic has killed STO.
Well put, I agree with all you just said and allow me to make your words mines.
Flaming and/or Trolling
You may not post content which contains insults to other users or Perfect World Entertainment Staff, are specifically made to create undue discontent on the forums, disturbances in forum threads, pick fights or otherwise promote unfriendly conversation.
Flaming and/or Trolling
You may not post content which contains insults to other users or Perfect World Entertainment Staff, are specifically made to create undue discontent on the forums, disturbances in forum threads, pick fights or otherwise promote unfriendly conversation.
Pretty much like the Je suis Charlie thing, signatures are not to provide feedback taco, if you want to know what is wrong, chek the proper feedback sections, signatures are here to show how your team work are perceived by us, and if there is a lot of bad signatures that make you sad...¿what say that about your work?
Keep TRIBBLE the Star Trek name and be sure signatures and anger will keep coming from forums, its simple.
i'm insulted to, not by you, but by devs. and now what?
part and parts are address on the forums gazillion of times, 3 months later, more or less no budge. if it is bothering them, then it is doing the job that was intended.
If bothering them was all you ever hoped to achieve, then you're on a good path. If you hoped for some communication between developer and player about relevant topics...
As long as people accept the consequences of their actions (or lack of consequences due to their actions?), they can use whatever they want (well, within the usual forum rules yaddayadda).
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
Also, saying DR sucks means everything in DR sucks, which includes all the acting, the story, the ships/powers, everything when most people are just upset at the grind and nerfed dilithium. Focusing has a better chance of getting the devs to pay attention rather than just saying every bit of their work sucks when a lot of it doesn't.
I would actually agree with that list in it's entirety.
The acting is phoned in a best, poorly directed and poorly recorded at worst. The story is, ahem, silly? for lack of a better family safe word - yes, it's better than dinosaurs with laser beams on their heads, but that's like saying Michael Bay is a better director than Roland Emmerich.
This ships, while obviously technically very competent and lovingly designed, look like bizarre fanart - it's not that they don't fit into Trek, the just don't fit into the game's rendering of Trek as it stands. This one is completely subjective on my end, as everyone's vision of Trek is completely at odds, as evidenced by some of the dreadful canon kitbashes.
As to the powers....yeah. A torrent of broken and semi-broken traits, ground traits that work in space, traits that when combined crash an entire instance, or just plain ludicrous faceroll easymode overpowered. Yeah, those are a real gem of game design.
If my signature is a direct attack on anyone (which it really isn't, it's purely satirical), it is aimed at those in leadership roles who bit off more than they could chew with DR. They are the ones making the forums a shooting gallery, not the hardworking devs upon whom the blame somehow seems to be diverted.
To quote interstellar law, the Captain is responsible for the actions and failings of his crew.
My guess is "hope" keeps people not playing but posting on the forums. For others, its a path of sad realization and closure. Grieving takes time. The worst "haters" here love the game, or did at some point.
Quack--My feeling is you've got that exactly backwards...I really suspect the problem lies with PWE and upper management (which may or may not be getting severe pressure from PWE), and not so much with Cryptic's rank-and-file. :-/ I actually think the bigger potential problem is that PWE won't just burn their customers' good will, but also succeed in burning the good will of their own internal talent.
after reading it twice, that made sence. lol
i dont know who to blame but when cryptic employee blatently lies on pod cast i have to say its cryptic. i dont know or care who is pulling the strings. all i know is what players know, the game is not fun anymore. there is no pvp to speak of. the pve ques are empty. there is nothing to do but grind.
there is no sence in saying how to improve game as cryptic or pwe doesnt listen. seems they just want to hear how bad they doing. well you have done that.
as for taco well you and your team mates should feel bad and take heart to everyones signature as it is trying to tell you that you all messed up badly and your not fixing it. your actually adding more grind with the boff system coming out.
Flaming and/or Trolling
You may not post content which contains insults to other users or Perfect World Entertainment Staff, are specifically made to create undue discontent on the forums, disturbances in forum threads, pick fights or otherwise promote unfriendly conversation.
I think you'll find that, for many, any insult is directed more at design than user or designer, the discontent is not undue, and the conversation is unfriendly unless the designer in question takes their design quite personally.
That said, I don't think the direction this has gone has been terribly productive. I think it should have been. I'd have loved it if the devs could have laughed this off grudgingly and viewed it as a challenge to adapt to. That hasn't happened as far as I can see though.
Other games have forums which are way more toxic, yet get a response that that is much more positive from those responsible for producing it.
Very rarely does anything resembling that happen here.
Devs insult players almost constantly with the product, and in podcasts, and in interviews. But whenever a few people put sigs on for whatever their personal reaons might be, the focus is on that.
It's a two way street. There's more than one person on your team. It's beyond time for them to step up to the plate and begin the process of healing the busted relations with the player base. I think recent appointments to certain positions re: communication didn't work out as planned? My personal take on it is that it was all lip service to keep it together as long as possible.
unfortuneately your correct. how else do people show their discontent? they tell them in the forum they are ignored. they virbally abuse them they are banned. alot have left, but there are people that want this game to succeed because it is star trek and want to play, they are just making it so difficult to even want to log in.
Comments
To be honest, I see them (at least on most and for sure for me) as the last and only way to express our feelings that may have some impact. We try the good way, we try the medium way and this is the "what ever" way.
All the feedback about DR was completely ignored (except the positive), and in fact, cryptic did all the contrary.
To many is a expression of joke, others try to hurt, but if is either to joke, hurt or protest, is the last and only way we have to express our feelings.
When Geko, for example, claims that all the feedback about the dead queues is just a bug, and he try to deny the facts and ignore feedback, what other resources does we have? The community representatives that PWE has does not exist, they just not even communicate with us since Brenflakes left.. the signatures is the only and last way to express our self. We know that is not going to change anything because Geko and cryptic leaders still think that we all love the expansion, but at least we can express our self.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Is the best scarecrow argument ever and the Devs love it!
Only in STO would a Dev expect to find constructive criticism in the form a siggy. If you truly are interested in learning about the issues, try reading the many posts describing them scattered throughout the forums, because again you won't find them in our siggies.
Oh! I know! we could link our constructive critique posts in our sigs!
..oh wait...
Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
I don't think I've ever had some of your work to criticize... As such I can not tell you what I think YOU are doing wrong.
I do agree on your "we are a team" argument...It's perfectly reasonable to assume that the team will feel uncomfortable about these signatures.
Fortunally I don't feel the need to join the camp who use whatever signatures... Heck... I made one of the most used signatures on the forums (the Wide Duty Officer sig), and I am sad to see many replace them with the "Delta rising is the whatever" one.
Now look at it from my perspective: We HAVE told you... Over and over and over and over... Next major update... Same thing again.
So much, that a person like me dosen't even bother to want to try anymore.
I've wrote long posts, detailed posts, posts with clear examples of what was wrong, and how they could be adapted, with plenty of positive replies from other players.
I don't anymore... Just as your patience has worn thin, so has mine.
Why would I spend time, writing about different subjects, presenting solutions, and taking your side, when all I get in return is a drain on whatever resources I've scraped togther... being Dil, EC, Marks or XP...
Here is an example:
The Tau Dewa exploit... Rather than fixing the problem, wooping the butts of those who had exploited the system, the team decided: "Let the exploiters keep their rewards, and then just prevent those who behaved from getting the dil, when THEY get there".
I come here these days, to chat with my fleet... If I am bored and don't feel like playing something else, I jump on consoles at ESD for a while (they are placed pretty good btw), and then I go back to doing something else...
Because, there's no rewarding feeling for me, to beam out and find a mission... I don't feel I am getting anywhere.
Thanks. It may get added to once I see the BOFF training go into effect, but right now my primary first impression is disappointment that what was previously a free system (and one that encouraged socialization) got monetized like everything else. This is not the direction it needed to go--as I describe in the review, the burdens on the economy need to be relaxed, not increased further.
I suspect I am not the only one who saw this coming and has decided to get my BOFF skills straight once and for all before this hits, to make sure I will never have to pay. Which is unfortunate because like other extreme economic moves that have come with DR, it kills off experimentation that would encourage spending. But since I felt forced into it, I took appropriate measures to ensure I would NOT have to participate in it. Which IMO is the exact opposite of the behavior Cryptic should have been encouraging. But I do not feel incentivized to partake in what could well, if not for being another cash grab, actually be a well thought out system or even an improvement. Unfortunately trying (and failing) to extract more money from me does not constitute a true improvement. :-/
IMO this is valid criticism. I really wish the devs would read my whole review along with discussion comments, and yes, I realize I am asking for a TON of reading but then Taco DID ask for detailed criticism explaining the reasons without getting personal.
The forum does allow you to make a sig wider than what I have (though not taller). There may be room for you to feature more than one.
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
Proudly F2P. Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
Neither is mine. However there is "free speech" to certain degree even if PWE is private (see last DEVs comments). The nature of free speech is to voice a concern that is not being heard or received by others. However, you CANNOT silence free speech if is done in a respectful manner.
The "Best expansion ever" was a civil protest from the playerbase. As any other method with "free speech" some will be hurt to some degree depends on sensitivity. We encouraged players to discord in a civil manner...look the threads in the archives to that reasoning. If someone does not like what is being said in a civil manner that does not give them authority to "ban, mute or expel" players for their viewpoint.
Some did not want to hear about it and took them upon themselves to ban civil discord. It is a private company but when it comes to it I will support your right to disagree without being abusive to others and don't the signature threads were abusive at all. There was never a response from management but sure it made some sort of an impact.
I'm an artist myself. When people criticize my work it gets to me.
Do you know how I avoid that negative feedback?
None of my work gets made public until I am 100% satisfied with it.
That's all I have to say about that.
Free Tibet!
The DR sigs might not accomplish anything, but it's not like people just made those and were done. Feedback was given countless times, in many ways. But instead of lightening up about the XP for example, they got nerfed even further.
I might just make mine a giant "FINISH NOW" button. That one thing alone is symbolic of the turn this game has taken.
Free Tibet!
I started this post with turning the question around and asking what the Dev team has done to bring back the sense of fun to the game .
Then I remembered that we're 2 days shy from the 3 month debut of DR , and I'm here , trying to ask the team artist about things that he can't fix , while he's asking for feedback that has been plastered all over the forums for the blind to see in the last 3 months .
As the reality of it as a whole sank in , I deleted most of what I wrote .
You are right ... , that is interesting .
... diversity always is ...
Mine says not much, but the message is quite clear.
They do not seem to staff adequately to ensure the devs have proper, adequate QA and customer service staffs to provide fresh eyes on their work (and JS, it's my perspective that even if you are 100% satisfied with your own work, a good solid outside perspective is very helpful for professional creative work), and to put it bluntly I think upper management really threw Taco under the bus whether they meant to do it or not, by the ill timing of the Club 47 release (or alternatively, failing to pair it with major bug fixes and reversions of the mistakes they made with DR) and basically leaving him alone to take a ton of heat he did not deserve. Whether intended or recognized or not, this is IMO likely to be symptomatic of a priority problem on management's part.
I cannot speak for any particular dev's ambitions but I honestly believe Cryptic is risking a talent drain by forcing things out half done. Because the thing is, the people who are likely to be the *least* tolerant of a forced violation of their high personal standards and the negative impact this will have on the perception of their portfolios by other potential bosses *are the most talented individuals.*
Taco--to be clear, I know I am speaking about certain individuals who are your coworkers, but this is absolutely not meant as a personal attack. In fact I consider it quite possible that the *intentions* of these individuals are good. It is, however, my opinion that some of their decisions end up being self-sabotaging. (I also know full well that if you were having any reservations about your job, that's something you would never dare say in public and with VERY good reason, so I am NOT expecting you to comment on that. I have actually refused potential job candidates further interviews on the basis of their bad mouthing a current or prior employer so I do NOT want this to be taken as an attempt to try to get anyone to do that.)
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
Proudly F2P. Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
Copy mine and replace the text as you see fit!
I don't think there's anything Machiavellian -- Tacovellian? -- about Taco's post.
Nor do I think there's much to divide people over.
I'd say the actual content and many aspects of DR having 80% or more positive comments, probably including the IDEA of a gear upgrade system.
The negatives fall pretty squarely in a few areas:
Upgrade costs
Artificial time delays
Corralling of players
Low reward for time spent
Excessive focus on patrols
Inequality between players as a result of the above
Six words:
Time. Money. Grind. Patrols. Low value.
If you want to make that eight words, toss in:
Design. Bugs.
I've praised the artistic work on the forums quite a few times, in particular the Kobali Ground Zone. That place should be packed with players, it looks amazing and the combat is fun and challenging.
I've asked around to see why it's empty and the 27 people I asked (yes I counted) all said the same thing - I'll let you all guess what it was.
Free Tibet!
as with the lies that have been told in the past on the forums about what is coming out and not coming out and the lack of communication. maybe its better not to have the communication as you all are out of touch with reality.
you failed at making this game the best game on the market. you have been told by many of players what they want and expect. YOU and YOUR TEAM have ignored them. so if you precieve the peoples sigs as a racist remark against you. then so be it, as you deserve it considering if they told you what they really feel they would be banned.
i still believe that this game has potential but not with anyone working at cryptic. would love for pwe to hire another company to replace you to take over the star trek title as you have only succeeded in upsetting alot of people.
we've broken all our bonds, but life kept going on, what a time, what a time it was..." - Clem Tholet
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
Proudly F2P. Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
So much win.
Sadly, that is what has happened. What we've seen in the past 3 months has been an epic ramp-up of devs ignoring the customer base, but it has been going on for years now. They habitually dump broken code to the public even when the reports from tribble say it is horribly broken or something is game-breaking. They've done this for years. The total lack of QA and bug testing is astounding, Then take that same model of attentiveness and apply it to the decision making process that implements new features to the game.
The end result is with DR's epic ramp-up of this "feature," more and more are doing like you have, and simply deleting their posts before hitting "Submit"... The mods will simply delete it. The devs will simply ignore it. The yes-men fanboi brigade will simply ignore facts and logic (and grammar) and attack you personally. Then people progress to a higher level of understanding of what is going on, and simply not hit POST at all.... Then people stop logging in. Then people delete accounts.
It's all happening quite rapidly in the past few months. The fanbois on this forum are the most toxic element that is killing off more discussion and gameplay than even the lead devs' ignoring of customers and the game breaking bugs which remain for years on end at times.
This game is dying. When you get the active ear of a developer (even if it's one who doesn't make the decisions) and you are going to respond but you stop and say "**** it, he can't do anything and nothing will change" you know the entire process is dead and nobody is listening. Cryptic has killed STO.
Well put, I agree with all you just said and allow me to make your words mines.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Flaming and/or Trolling
You may not post content which contains insults to other users or Perfect World Entertainment Staff, are specifically made to create undue discontent on the forums, disturbances in forum threads, pick fights or otherwise promote unfriendly conversation.
What seems to be the problem, Mr Moderator?
/edit: Just noticed you aren't a moderator.
Free Tibet!
Keep TRIBBLE the Star Trek name and be sure signatures and anger will keep coming from forums, its simple.
Still with signature
time to nerf url links?
GG Cryptic.
dnirg eht nioj
As long as people accept the consequences of their actions (or lack of consequences due to their actions?), they can use whatever they want (well, within the usual forum rules yaddayadda).
I would actually agree with that list in it's entirety.
The acting is phoned in a best, poorly directed and poorly recorded at worst. The story is, ahem, silly? for lack of a better family safe word - yes, it's better than dinosaurs with laser beams on their heads, but that's like saying Michael Bay is a better director than Roland Emmerich.
This ships, while obviously technically very competent and lovingly designed, look like bizarre fanart - it's not that they don't fit into Trek, the just don't fit into the game's rendering of Trek as it stands. This one is completely subjective on my end, as everyone's vision of Trek is completely at odds, as evidenced by some of the dreadful canon kitbashes.
As to the powers....yeah. A torrent of broken and semi-broken traits, ground traits that work in space, traits that when combined crash an entire instance, or just plain ludicrous faceroll easymode overpowered. Yeah, those are a real gem of game design.
If my signature is a direct attack on anyone (which it really isn't, it's purely satirical), it is aimed at those in leadership roles who bit off more than they could chew with DR. They are the ones making the forums a shooting gallery, not the hardworking devs upon whom the blame somehow seems to be diverted.
To quote interstellar law, the Captain is responsible for the actions and failings of his crew.
edited to correct quote.
after reading it twice, that made sence. lol
i dont know who to blame but when cryptic employee blatently lies on pod cast i have to say its cryptic. i dont know or care who is pulling the strings. all i know is what players know, the game is not fun anymore. there is no pvp to speak of. the pve ques are empty. there is nothing to do but grind.
there is no sence in saying how to improve game as cryptic or pwe doesnt listen. seems they just want to hear how bad they doing. well you have done that.
as for taco well you and your team mates should feel bad and take heart to everyones signature as it is trying to tell you that you all messed up badly and your not fixing it. your actually adding more grind with the boff system coming out.
I think you'll find that, for many, any insult is directed more at design than user or designer, the discontent is not undue, and the conversation is unfriendly unless the designer in question takes their design quite personally.
That said, I don't think the direction this has gone has been terribly productive. I think it should have been. I'd have loved it if the devs could have laughed this off grudgingly and viewed it as a challenge to adapt to. That hasn't happened as far as I can see though.
Very rarely does anything resembling that happen here.
Devs insult players almost constantly with the product, and in podcasts, and in interviews. But whenever a few people put sigs on for whatever their personal reaons might be, the focus is on that.
It's a two way street. There's more than one person on your team. It's beyond time for them to step up to the plate and begin the process of healing the busted relations with the player base. I think recent appointments to certain positions re: communication didn't work out as planned? My personal take on it is that it was all lip service to keep it together as long as possible.
I guess we'll see.