Development Cycle Archive

Thread: Team Comments – Gordon Walton, Studio Manager

ussallentown
Sat Aug 14, 2004 8:05 am
#157
please look into the beta signup, it is broken atm. please see this thread.


http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=lightspeed&message.id=59191#M59191


thanks.



Reid Allen - Rifleman/TKA trying to learn the ways of the force
Read Allen - Fencer/Swordsman/Pikeman finding loots where every they be
*self edit* - Jedi Padawan
Gikoa
Sat Aug 14, 2004 8:08 am
#158
AngusMacGregor wrote:
Then maybe you should have a talk with your boys in the Dev department about Smugglers. We've been an incomplete profession since beta, and tossed in at the last minute before release without any real improvements since.




Same with Ranger, Squad Leader, Pistoleer, Pikemen (except the Nightsister Lances), Carbineer, etc, etc.
Gikoa
Sat Aug 14, 2004 8:12 am
#159
SOETyrant wrote:

Improving the game we have is a very big part of my focus.





How long do we have to wait? You said yourself that the game wasn't fun. The fundamental things that have been broken since Beta are still broken, and have been pushed off to make way for something else we need to pay for. When do you see the game improving to where it should've been at launch, or at least six months ago?

I'm surprised you answered my post, Thanks! It actually means a lot that you read these - I don't think any of the other Devs do.
Aakhperkare
Sat Aug 14, 2004 8:18 am
#160




SOETyrant wrote:




Gikoa wrote:
Dear Gordon Walton,

If you want to, as you say in your own words, "give you the premier online entertainment experience", here is a suggestion.

FIX THE BROKEN **edit** FIRST!

That will probably go a long way toward giving us the premier online entertainment experience.

Sincerely,

A pissed off customer,
Gikoa



Improving the game we haveisa very big part of my focus.










Now this is one thing that impresses me, Tyrant. Responding to the negative as well as the positive.


I've been playin' since August 2003, just so you know my SWG credentials are in order. And many of us have become rather disillusioned as to what the devs promise.


Being a Creature Handler, we were knocked outta the park by the nerf bat in preparation of the Combat Revamp. Now having to wait until next year for the two main things promised (the GCW and Combat Revamps) you can imagine how some of us feel towards any red name promising or even suggesting anything.


I know my posts are pretty much ignored by devs all around, because we just don't get along...whatever.


But please consider this. You, the devs, have about the best license imaginable for an MMORPG. You don't even have to really come up with any storyline, or content, or anything because it's already there. Hell, you have gigs worth of player ideas that you could use.


So, I beg you, you, the devs as a group. Watch Star Wars Episodes 4-6 a few times. (I am being totally serious), and then compare what you have in SWG to what you have seen. I realize that the game cannot be completely like the movies, but there are some major problems and major improvements needed.


SWG has incredible potential that is not being realized in the slightest. SWG lacks the "movie" feel. The cinematic appeal. (even adding something as simple as the Star Wars type cut scenes during loading, or something similar would be awesome)


Anyways. I really do love this game. However, poor decissions have been made. Potential is being massively overlooked. And things are just not getting done in a reasonable amount of time.


I would hate to see SWG become just another MMO, comparable to EQ in space, when it could be so much more...

Gikoa
Sat Aug 14, 2004 8:36 am
#161
Aakhperkare wrote:

Now this is one thing that impresses me, Tyrant. Responding to the negative as well as the positive.



I agree, it impresses me also.


Aakhperkare wrote:


So, I beg you, you, the devs as a group. Watch Star Wars Episodes 4-6 a few times. (I am being totally serious), and then compare what you have in SWG to what you have seen. I realize that the game cannot be completely like the movies, but there are some major problems and major improvements needed.




That is about the best suggestion I have ever read on these forums.
Lires
Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:01 am
#162




SOETyrant wrote:




Gikoa wrote:
Dear Gordon Walton,

If you want to, as you say in your own words, "give you the premier online entertainment experience", here is a suggestion.

FIX THE BROKEN **edit** FIRST!

That will probably go a long way toward giving us the premier online entertainment experience.

Sincerely,

A pissed off customer,
Gikoa



Improving the game we haveisa very big part of my focus.







Aww man, I was hoping for a "No"




Erzenzia Silver s Goddess of Delta
s Delta s Vulcan's In-game Girl s
You don't know the power of the CUTE side
WolfwoodCross
Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:04 am
#163




SOETyrant wrote:


Improving the game we haveisa very big part of my focus.




Of this I have no doubt. But many players have been waiting a year or more for fixes to common things and relatively new and engaging content, without that really being delivered. This isn't your fault, since as I understand it you are relatively new to the team, and it is blatantly obvious that they (SOE)are reorganizing their staff with new people (as signified by the current Job Openings). But we need something tangible, something that when we see those patch notes come down we can honestly say "these guys are doing a GREAT job" without argument from other players.


Patch 9.3 was one of those "Fixes" patches that really hit the nail on the head. I don't think many people at all can find anything wrong with it, and I for one applaud all of it. But we need more of that. We need "Content" patches that improve existing content instead of giving us new stuff to play with, since the new stuff just expands the work your team will have to do in the future.


Currently there is no "Elder Game." Once a player maxes out his character there is not much left to do. To this end, reinstate Battlefields, even if they are still broken. At least then we'll have something more to do post Character Building. Also, there are GCW Faction Strongholds (Like the Imperial Hyperdrive Facility on Rori). These buildings change faction when a certain faction takes them over. These were originally going to be used to track the GCW (whoever controlled the most of the is "winning" the GCW). Finish their implementation. Give them little bonuses for the GCW winners like Faction Bonuses (using Cries of Alderaan Coding) and Starport Time adjustments of 0 wait time for current GCW winners (using Theed Starport Code). It's not much, but it gives us SOMETHING to work with until the "Elder Game" can truely be fleshed out. Even better, if it is not Code Intensive, move the Battlefields so that they encompass the GCW strongholds. This kind of puts a nice spin on the whole of the GCW. And anyway you can make Theed Palace a GCW stronghold would be WONDERFUL, that place seems like it was built for battle.


Also, make PVE more interesting than going to a Waypoint and shooting at Dead Logs and Flags. Use all the same code, but change the Art Resources to use Cave, Dungeon, and Faction HQ models instead of Flags and Dirt Mounds. Let them work a little more like Base Runs, so they last longer and are lot more engaging and immersive. This suggestion is coming from a player that plays PVE without Buffing, so I'm not complaining about difficulty, just immersion and "Fun Factor."


Those are three suggestion that do not use alot of code on the part of the Devs, and yet I believe they will add exponentially better content to the game then simply adding new stuff.

Message Edited by WolfwoodCross on 08-14-2004 09:11 AM

Drunkenjedi420
Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:10 am
#164
This isnt the Broken game Post -


It's normal to turn any post into a "I know everything in the world - and you dont post".


This ones in almost every post I read... "The dev's said they would do it but they havent!".


Guys, lets get a grip on ourselves. I know we love the game, but I also love hanging out at the beach. If the games not working out....


1.) Cause bodily harm to yourself to help ease the pain or take multiple hits of LSD to knumb your brain...


2.) Go to school or work 25 years to become a part of a team who actually helps adjust things within the game bringing zero's and one's to life on your monitor...


3.) Just flat out turn your back and go play Diablo or Sim City.


---------


Otherwise, dont be a Cookie monster and cry about not having enough milk for the past year.


If you read TH;s Original post you will see that this post is meant to be a fun thing - to me it is.


Gordon I bet your gonna be a bounty hunter and kill us all - Man these guys must piss you guys off sometimes... I know I will try to refrain from acting negative on the boards from now on as much as I can. It doesnt help even if some of it is true.


WE TRUELY thank you for viewing these posts - you will become wiser from some of the guys in here - they are the Real Deal - and others, well need I say anything? hehe...



-Sazo



Sazo - Radiant
MY DIARY OF NGE
KyleKnox
Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:10 am
#165




Gikoa wrote:



Aakhperkare wrote:



Now this is one thing that impresses me, Tyrant. Responding to the negative as well as the positive.





I agree, it impresses me also.





Aakhperkare wrote:




So, I beg you, you, the devs as a group. Watch Star Wars Episodes 4-6 a few times. (I am being totally serious), and then compare what you have in SWG to what you have seen. I realize that the game cannot be completely like the movies, but there are some major problems and major improvements needed.





That is about the best suggestion I have ever read on these forums.




In all seriousness, I would say budget time for this ONCE PER MONTH. The game needs serious inspiration and sanity checks from the dev end. The game NEEDS THE SPIRIT of star wars breathed back into it.



Dyvim Storm - Eclipse
PrePatch9 4444 Guardian
Force Master
Morphink
Sat Aug 14, 2004 9:44 am
#166
Tyrant is just trying to get his post count up to a respectable number. Soon as he makes it look good, back to silence



Morph Fink - Master Smuggler
&
Aesh Tongro - Master Track Star

SOAL Valley - Sunrunner
Imp Radio Transmission: "I don't know what the technially millitary term for it is. But we're pretty f*%@ed up down here. We need men!"

Rebels Intercept and Respond: "Dude, how long have you guys been down there?"
Onimmanni
Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:49 am
#167
Atleast most of those profs were in BETA. Bioengineer was added in the last 3 days b4 live....yea..tested it was




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Gikoa
Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:08 am
#168
Onimmanni wrote:
Atleast most of those profs were in BETA. Bioengineer was added in the last 3 days b4 live....yea..tested it was




I wanted to add that to the list, but technically we did get *some* love. OK, most of it is broken/frustrating, but BE wasn't completely ignored. At least not hearing anybody ask about an overpowered level 10 in the last few months was nice
Terlo
Sun Aug 15, 2004 7:44 pm
#169
that was the template when i started playing at first



Terlo
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