annonymous_01 (not verified) on June 7, 2005 - 10:09.
I agree (insert long time reader, first time poster comment here). I'm a lead designer/producer on one of the smaller MMOs, and I can't emphasize how important it is to communicate with your playerbase, run it through the "bs" filter my years of experience in the industry have given me privy to, and incorporate it the best I can to my game.
Closed off forums where no one communicates are bad for everyone. Ivory towers where I lounge and revel in my artistic domain with no consequence are bad for everyone. I'm not above "communing with the mortals" because the mortals are the ones logging into my game every day and loving it. Any MMO that takes a different approach, in honesty, makes me sad.
I'm not so bold as to say what game I work on. That's irrelevant. The point is, I'm on an underfunded game that has forums that are about 80% positive comments/suggestions/posts. And thats because I'm on there everyday, giving feedback to their feedback, letting them know what's coming up...etc, etc. My community manager supports me and we kick ass on a daily basis.
I hope someday other MMOs realize that they, too, can have the wonderful, supportive community we have if they stick out their necks, "get dirty with the mortals" and lose the attitude that they're holier than thou. Most of the kind, lovely MMO folk are full of understanding, ideas, suggestions, and sympathy if given a chance, if you turn a cold shoulder to them, then they become the beast that many MMOs face today.
Someday I might perhaps ignore the feedback from my forums/customer service/QA department and decide that my word is GOD. I hope that I decide to retire the next day.
Thank you for indulging my rant :) have a lovely night.
Yes!!!
I agree (insert long time reader, first time poster comment here). I'm a lead designer/producer on one of the smaller MMOs, and I can't emphasize how important it is to communicate with your playerbase, run it through the "bs" filter my years of experience in the industry have given me privy to, and incorporate it the best I can to my game.
Closed off forums where no one communicates are bad for everyone. Ivory towers where I lounge and revel in my artistic domain with no consequence are bad for everyone. I'm not above "communing with the mortals" because the mortals are the ones logging into my game every day and loving it. Any MMO that takes a different approach, in honesty, makes me sad.
I'm not so bold as to say what game I work on. That's irrelevant. The point is, I'm on an underfunded game that has forums that are about 80% positive comments/suggestions/posts. And thats because I'm on there everyday, giving feedback to their feedback, letting them know what's coming up...etc, etc. My community manager supports me and we kick ass on a daily basis.
I hope someday other MMOs realize that they, too, can have the wonderful, supportive community we have if they stick out their necks, "get dirty with the mortals" and lose the attitude that they're holier than thou. Most of the kind, lovely MMO folk are full of understanding, ideas, suggestions, and sympathy if given a chance, if you turn a cold shoulder to them, then they become the beast that many MMOs face today.
Someday I might perhaps ignore the feedback from my forums/customer service/QA department and decide that my word is GOD. I hope that I decide to retire the next day.
Thank you for indulging my rant :) have a lovely night.