Smuggler Archive
Thread: HoC SWG Chat log
Tiggs wrote:
Rhu wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
Nope it is all done for free.
So it is just being used as another marketing outlet for canned replies to predictable questions on narrow topics, then?
At least that's how I read all the, "We can't answer, but believe me, you can't wait!" replies. :/
Edit: What I was hoping that the HoC chats were were an opportunity to discuss and understand the nature and direction of the present and future of the game.
Message Edited by Rhu on 08-25-2005 05:13 PM
HoC chats are an opportunity to discuss the topic at hand. Last night's chat discussion was based upon the new expansion announcement and experience changes from last week.
We can only answer questions that pretain to those chat discussions. Players submit the questions to question takers and they are forwarded on to us during the chat. There will always be certain topics we can't discuss due to trade secrets so to speak.
hmm yeh wow or any other other mmorpg would love to steal your ideas
Tiggs wrote:
Ternque01 wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
WesBelden wrote:
Personally, I think the person in charge of picking the questions needs a good hard prod up the backside from a heavily shined boot; for some reason questions that were answered kept being repeated (and it's not as if there weren't a wide variety to choose from). Ah well, here's the log:
Before a chat starts everyone is notified of what will be dicussed. Question takes post questions to the Dev teams and we get to sort through them. I can tell you last night it was a chore due to the same questions getting spammed over and over and they had nothing to do with the expansion. We stay on topic because we have members of that particular team present to deal iwth the questions asked.
Tiggs, how can these producers, in their right mind, watch the only endgame for non-Jedi, the Galactic Civil War, fall directly into Jedi clutches? Non-Jedi are forced out of their endgame while Jedi will have the new FRS, Mustafar, AND the GCW at the end of the day.
How in the HELL is that supposed to be a fun place for non-Jedi players.
I am really so disgusted at the REFUSAL to ensure a viable endgame for non-Jedi players, be that through not adding non-Jedi content, i.e. a smuggling system, or by refusing to address the Jedi domination of the GCW.
Many smugglers might not like you, Tiggs, but I know that you are a person doing a specific job, which involves not calling these horrible game-direction decisions. I know that I can count on you to relay to those in chargethat many non-Jedi out there are PISSED OFF about the very REAL situation of their endgames being given to Jedi players and the griefing we endure from Jedi players in the GCW.
I, like others before me, have cancelled my account until two things happen: the place of non-Jedi in the GCW is protected and smugglers ACTUALLY GET A SMUGGLING GIG.
Mustafar is not a Jedi expansion. The primary focus of Mustafar is for combat classes but there is still content for non-combat oriented professions as well.
I will also pass on the other concerns you posted above.
LEC_Neif - Yes, we have lots of lootable schematic items on ROTW as it is, and we will be adding more. We're watching out for the crafters, so watch for lots of cool items that are lootable schematics only.
Tiggs wrote:
Ternque01 wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
Tiggs, how can these producers, in their right mind, watch the only endgame for non-Jedi, the Galactic Civil War, fall directly into Jedi clutches? Non-Jedi are forced out of their endgame while Jedi will have the new FRS, Mustafar, AND the GCW at the end of the day.
How in the HELL is that supposed to be a fun place for non-Jedi players.
I am really so disgusted at the REFUSAL to ensure a viable endgame for non-Jedi players, be that through not adding non-Jedi content, i.e. a smuggling
Mustafar is not a Jedi expansion. The primary focus of Mustafar is for combat classes but there is still content for non-combat oriented professions as well.
I will also pass on the other concerns you posted above.
I have to say i somewhat agree with this person. I used to have 5 accounts, now i have cancelled down to 1 and seek content refuge in other games and SWG has just become a PVP shell for me.
WHen the game came out in 2003, it was promoted with GCW.. all the tv spots have promoted the gcw.
More people care about a fun GCW I think than obscure planets that were in the movie for a meer 15 minutes with no GCW importance.
We want stormtroopers, darth vader and rebels and means to kill eachother.
Sorry if SOE disagrees, but it will lead to more loyal SW fans leaving
SamhainLFC wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
Ternque01 wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
Tiggs, how can these producers, in their right mind, watch the only endgame for non-Jedi, the Galactic Civil War, fall directly into Jedi clutches? Non-Jedi are forced out of their endgame while Jedi will have the new FRS, Mustafar, AND the GCW at the end of the day.
How in the HELL is that supposed to be a fun place for non-Jedi players.
I am really so disgusted at the REFUSAL to ensure a viable endgame for non-Jedi players, be that through not adding non-Jedi content, i.e. a smuggling
Mustafar is not a Jedi expansion. The primary focus of Mustafar is for combat classes but there is still content for non-combat oriented professions as well.
I will also pass on the other concerns you posted above.
I have to say i somewhat agree with this person. I used to have 5 accounts, now i have cancelled down to 1 and seek content refuge in other games and SWG has just become a PVP shell for me.
WHen the game came out in 2003, it was promoted with GCW.. all the tv spots have promoted the gcw.
More people care about a fun GCW I think than obscure planets that were in the movie for a meer 15 minutes with no GCW importance.
We want stormtroopers, darth vader and rebels and means to kill eachother.
Sorry if SOE disagrees, but it will lead to more loyal SW fans leaving
I'd love to see an Astromech stats where you guys tell us what percentage of those 1 million copies of SWG sold are still ACTIVE subscriptions. You can sell a million copies of anything, but it's subscriptions that really tell a story.
SOE and LA are surely baffled that the most beloved franchise in the history of film isn't doing 1/8th of the business that a generic MMO like WoW is...the turnover rate is so high for this game that it's probably confused all of you...why hasn't SWG performed the way it SHOULD? The simple fact of the matter is this: you can NOT implement an Alpha class into an MMO. It never works, because over time, everyone will have attained that Alpha class (with the exception of people purposefully trying NOT to,) and the game becomes heavily unbalanced and nowhere near "fun." Yes, you looked the other way when it came to Jedi, and I have no problem with that. It's the fact that they remain an Alpha class that has sucked the heart and soul out of this game. Armorsmiths and Weaponsmiths quit everyday because there are less and less players to craft for, since Jedi don't wear craftable armor and craft their own weapons. Entertainers have left in droves because they have no place in the GCW, and have been far removed from the rest of the playerbase. Everyone else (except BH) are cancelling because for the most part, they're treated like annoying flies on a hot summer day.
If SOE and LA only realized that if they stopped directing most content towards Jedi, and subsequently spread out that extra attention to EVERY NON-JEDI profession, the entire game would flourish again. Do you realize that resources being used right now on the FRS system could be used to re-build the GCW, give smugglers smuggling, re-energize the Entertainer professions, and possibly fix so many of the bugs still plaguing crafters?
I know it's just your job to relay information...but as Community Director, you're supposed to be on OUR side, not theirs. You need to want to help us, not just relay one way and not the other.
I'm aware you have other posts to read, but if you do read this, relay it to someone that has some common sense and can do something about it. You weren't around when this game first launched, so let me paint a picture of my server for you:
Theed was a bustling commerce city...people were hawking their wares, dancing, laughing, dueling, and having a rollicking good time. Cantinas were packed with beautiful Entertainers of every race, shape and size...along with scoundrels, Stormtroopers, and drunks. People grouped up and stuck together in the wilderness, and you ALWAYS took a Scout or a Ranger with you. We lived our own Star Wars saga. We created our own personas, our own histories, and it all blended into this wonderful, magical experience that I will always remember.
That magic is gone now, but I'd pay 50 bucks a month to have it back.
/tiphat
MISTagent01 wrote:
Tiggs:
I'd love to see an Astromech stats where you guys tell us what percentage of those 1 million copies of SWG sold are still ACTIVE subscriptions. You can sell a million copies of anything, but it's subscriptions that really tell a story.
i count 25 SWG serverswow has over100US servers alone so draw your own conclusions
SOE and LA are surely baffled that the most beloved franchise in the history of film isn't doing 1/8th of the business that a generic MMO like WoW is...the turnover rate is so high for this game that it's probably confused all of you...why hasn't SWG performed the way it SHOULD? The simple fact of the matter is this: you can NOT implement an Alpha class into an MMO.
ok this is the point JEDI IS NO LONGER AN ALPHA CLASS pre pub 9 yes pre cu yes now we are out healed, damage and out tanked the only thing jedi can do is run fast and live while incaped (AI) thats it jedi suck in all other areas
It never works, because over time, everyone will have attained that Alpha class (with the exception of people purposefully trying NOT to,) and the game becomes heavily unbalanced and nowhere near "fun." Yes, you looked the other way when it came to Jedi, and I have no problem with that. It's the fact that they remain an Alpha class that has sucked the heart and soul out of this game. Armorsmiths and Weaponsmiths quit everyday because there are less and less players to craft for, since Jedi don't wear craftable armor and craft their own weapons. Entertainers have left in droves because they have no place in the GCW, and have been far removed from the rest of the playerbase. Everyone else (except BH) are cancelling because for the most part, they're treated like annoying flies on a hot summer day.
If SOE and LA only realized that if they stopped directing most content towards Jedi, and subsequently spread out that extra attention to EVERY NON-JEDI profession, the entire game would flourish again. Do you realize that resources being used right now on the FRS system could be used to re-build the GCW, give smugglers smuggling, re-energize the Entertainer professions, and possibly fix so many of the bugs still plaguing crafters?
explane how jedi get all the love while everyone else suffers ??
I know it's just your job to relay information...but as Community Director, you're supposed to be on OUR side, not theirs. You need to want to help us, not just relay one way and not the other.
I'm aware you have other posts to read, but if you do read this, relay it to someone that has some common sense and can do something about it. You weren't around when this game first launched, so let me paint a picture of my server for you:
Theed was a bustling commerce city...people were hawking their wares, dancing, laughing, dueling, and having a rollicking good time. Cantinas were packed with beautiful Entertainers of every race, shape and size...along with scoundrels, Stormtroopers, and drunks. People grouped up and stuck together in the wilderness, and you ALWAYS took a Scout or a Ranger with you. We lived our own Star Wars saga. We created our own personas, our own histories, and it all blended into this wonderful, magical experience that I will always remember.
agree my server is nearly empty a hand full of dancer in coro theed is total empty
That magic is gone now, but I'd pay 50 bucks a month to have it back.
/tiphat
Message Edited by Orange-Lazarus on 08-26-2005 06:12 PM
Message Edited by MISTagent01 on 08-26-2005 10:21 AM
i couldn't have said it better myself.
although i would add this word of advice to the developers (however late it may be):
KEEP IT STAR WARS, STUPID!
continuity is a MAJOR issue for many of the Players who've left long ago, and it continues to prevail as one of the main issues.
you're not gonna capture the Star Wars fan by not sticking to the Star Wars continuity.
Having gotten that out of the way, the only profession to date to get 2 publishes is Droid Engineer, and look where it got them.
Chemistrius wrote:
Jedi only got 1 publish, not 2. Pub 9 was for jedi, pub 10 was for non jedi who wanted to become jedi. Jedi got didly squat in pub 10.
Having gotten that out of the way, the only profession to date to get 2 publishes is Droid Engineer, and look where it got them.
well when you add up all the parts of other publishes, jedi have gotten probably 3!
Presumably, it includes every product sold that is related to the game.
Meaning the original game, the special edition, JTL, RotW, and Total Experience.
So lets say that 300,000 people bought the original game or the special edition (not counting dupes just to get the special items), then 75% by JTL, that means they've sold 525,000 units, yet they still only have 300,000 'real' units sold.
It's all marketing, and it's all BS.
That aside, I came accross a link in the (I believe) Entertainer forums about MUD design. (Thanks to whomever posted it originally)
It's rather long, but very informative.
Someone should force the devs/producers/LA/SOE/whomever else to read it.
At the very least, someone (Tiggs?) should email the article to anyone who should be reading it.
Players Who Suit MUDs
The game could only get better by those in charge having an understanding of the points made there.
I haven't read all of it yet, but even after the first couple of screens, it's easy to see which people/professions are which type of player.
Just a quick summary:
Balance
There needs to be balance between the types of gameplay available. The current state of SWG is heavily skewed to the killers and achievers right now.
It was never perfect but it used to be much closer to balanced.
Unbalance leads to people leaving.