Smuggler Archive
Thread: Tuesday Tip
John Smedley Talks MMOGs
John Smedley, the president of SOE, has posted a fascinating article about the future of massively multiplayer online gaming on EverQuestLive.com. He reflects a little on the things they've learned over the years and even delves into the success of World of Warcraft, which is arguably their largest competitor. "Kudos to Blizzard on what I think is a spectacular game. I've played the heck out of it, and I love it (as have many people here at SOE). To a game developer, having another game developer play your game is the ultimate compliment… so to the folks at Blizzard we say 'Nicely done'."
Iv'e played the heck out of it... "being wow" and we allllllllllll wonder why we cant get crap done here? lol
Gee, why is it only 2.8% again?
What secrets? Is that one of them? LOL
Dont it strike ya as if someone is in fact searching for secrets rather than trying to hide em?
Hmmmm.....
Wolveryne40 wrote:
RankorCity wrote:
TashunkaSapa wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
Direction of games change every day due to various reasons. That is why there is nothing definite being posted until it is almost out on Test Center.
Game design requires planning - and the problem seems to be, you guys don't even have a plan. The problem isn't that the "direction" changes every day, the problem is that the company line changes every day.
We make a committment to you each month, it's not unreasonable to expect one in return. Show us that you care about your customers, decide what you need to do to satisfy them, tell us what you've got planned and then MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Stop making excuses and start making progress.
You have to understand that they are not only constrained by what the bosses at SOE says they can do, they are also under a gag order of sorts from Lucas Arts, big George himself.
I would imagine that it goes something like this:
1) Brainstorming by devs/content developers
2) Meeting within SOE (i.e. - is this doable?)
3) The idea is tossed to LA for approval
4) Waiting game
5) Approval (or not) from LA - if yes, continue to step 6. If no, then back to step 1
6) Idea is refined
7) The refined idea is tossed BACK to LA for approval
8) Approval (or not) from LA - if yes, continue to step 9. If no, then back to step 6
9) "Idea" is posted to forums as "In Concept", if approved to release it. If not, more time is wasted waiting on LA to approve its release
10) While players are posting feedback, "Idea" is further refined
11) "Idea" is pitched BACK to LA for final approval
12) If approved then "Idea" is put on some variation of TC
13) 50 percent of the players praise / 50 percent of the players hate it
14) For the next couple months, 50 bugs that were introduced by said "Idea" are fixed/attempted to be fixed
They are not constrained to fix what is already here. New ideas? Sure can see that. But smugglers not smuggling? ah no. busted parts of this game going on two plus years?
Nope, sorry, doesn't fly.
I'm not talking about fixes. I am talking about the direction of the game, the focus, its business plan.
"Fixes" are a whole 'nother ball game together.
One reason that no timeline (or whatever) can be given about fixes is because every hotfix/patch typically has gamebreaking bugs in it for non-related items. They are in a constant mode of catch up /shrug
I've been a smuggler, only reason I dropped it was cause my fiance' wanted to play the toon.. I know all about smuggler woe's.... the behavior in this thread is nothing short of childish.
magnum1138 wrote:
ravingbantha wrote:
Wow and I though jedi acted like babies alot. People getting offended over such a small thing. Please do you hoenstly think the dev's sit around thinking of ways to attack you personally? Grow up you childish bunch of ingrates.
This tuesday tip like every other is nothing more than something to add a little flavor into the game. Did TH come up with it? No probably not, he most likely heard it from another source and though it was cool, so he passed it along. Or mabey it was another Dev that gave him the idea, and since these threads seems to be his baby, he posted it.
If you got offended by my post, good, you fall into that winny sack of **** catagory, and need to get a ******* life. For the rest of you, glad to see some people on these forums don't act like spoiled little 10 year olds.
Okay -
no DEV is allowed to use the word "smuggler" in any way or form unless it's about an improvement or revamp.
Or he will be flamed to pulp.
There is a good reason for that - read the HISTORY thread and you will understand that it in now way compares to any other profession anymore. Read it - then post again - and tell us again we are out of line.
MAgnum
WesBelden wrote:
So you know, this was not done with the intention of annoying anyone (or for the ammusement of the developers), but as part of the Tuesday Tips feature which is an attempt at bringing handy information to players and encouraging others to give out their own tips of the discussed profession/area of the game.
Also, they are paying heed to people telling them they're pissed that Smugglers can't Smuggle, there's just nothing they have to say on that score as the developers are doing other things. It's frustrating, but that's the way it is.
lets take a look at what i highlighted. Please enlighten me as to how the useless emote macro in any way lives up to what you described a tuesday tip to be. That macro is a novilty, it has no useful practical aplication. That macro can be used by anyone, to initially single out smugglers who have some serious game related issues which we as a community are unhappy about, was just plane wrong.
Dart'
TashunkaSapa wrote:
Warryyr wrote:
I'm doing nothing but explaining one possible motivation for them to not divulge everything they planned for now, the near future, and the future - because it will change, it does change, and the competition (other MMORPG's, there are plenty out there) doesn't need any help in besting SWG at this point.
You're right - they don't need help because they've already done so. SOE can't even get SWG right - what the hell could they give away to the competition? Borrowing ideas from a game that's still broken after two years is like copying your test answers from the kid who was held back a grade.
...is super funny, and also true. I have my doubts that other companies are trolling our forums stealing ideas from SOE.
And, as many have said, we need to help SOE understand that communication is extremely important, and that a whole lot of players feel ignored, and as we have discussed, insulted at times.
Message Edited by Avethian on 08-10-2005 05:25 PM
Kaorset wrote:
Tiggs, for what it's worth, some of us do appreciate what you do and REALLY appreciate the fact that the Devs have been keeping in contact with the player base more lately.
Of course you do. Your a BH.
Duh
Avethian wrote:
And, as many have said, we need to help SOE understand that communication is extremely important, and that a whole lot of players feel ignored, and as we have discussed, insulted at times.
Lotussutol wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tiggs wrote:
We have many un-announced plans that one day soon will be public knowledge. Until we receive the go-ahead nothing will be said, sorry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
can you guess what word I like in Tiggs reply?
public?
Rueger_Karde wrote:
Lotussutol wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tiggs wrote:We have many un-announced plans that one day soon will be public knowledge. Until we receive the go-ahead nothing will be said, sorry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
can you guess what word I like in Tiggs reply?
public?
I believe it's "soon"
Why can't you all respect the trademark already!!!
Somebody's owed a big time royalty check!
Moriendor wrote:
No, we are not on auto-pilot.We know exactly what concerns and issues players are currently experiencing as well as wish lists. Please do not twist my words around or troll any further.
Right. That's probably why the group XP changes (which were luckily pulled) were recently introduced on TC (was that on the imaginary wishlist or an imaginary concern/issue that prompted the temporary implementation of the -sorry but no other way to say it- retarded idea?).
Was the implementation of loot-based slicing components the way the systemis currently on live an issue/concern or a frequently mentioned wishlist item? If you say 'yes' then there must be some other secret SWG forums that I'm not aware of. Could you post the link, please?
Could go on and on but for what purpose? You guys *are* on auto-pilot and prioritizing/implementing stuff as you see fit. Please stop pretending like the *word* of us customers has any weight on any decisions. You only react to mass cancellations. We know that. You know that. Let's quit the pretending game.
SmugglinZane wrote:
Warryyr wrote:
magnum1138 wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
TashunkaSapa wrote:
Tiggs wrote:
Direction of games change every day due to various reasons. That is why there is nothing definite being posted until it is almost out on Test Center.
Game design requires planning - and the problem seems to be, you guys don't even have a plan. The problem isn't that the "direction" changes every day, the problem is that the company line changes every day.
We make a committment to you each month, it's not unreasonable to expect one in return. Show us that you care about your customers, decide what you need to do to satisfy them, tell us what you've got planned and then MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Stop making excuses and start making progress.
We have many un-announced plans that one day soon will be public knowledge. Until we receive the go-ahead nothing will be said, sorry.
You say this, like it's a good reason.
You (Company not you Tiggs (well a bit)) don't get the problem i fear.
You are just all doing a bad job in making people become excited (again) about your game.
Comments like these do nothing.
MAgnum
It IS a good reason.
It's called proprietary knowledge, and it's what keeps a business ahead of the competition. Sure, some bits and pieces *might* get devulged, but in general businesses competing with other businesses don't want to give out all of their secrets - or a competitor might say, dang we need to steal their thunder - we need something BIGGER and BETTER!
Instead, the competition says, oh dang - they just did this, we need to step up!
And for anyone who regularly reads my posts, stop laughing about me defending the Devs.
maxtheusher says:
Warryyr, just one thing. Every system instituted since the CU has etiher been a partial rip or a TOTAL AND COMPLETE rip off of WoW. See "new" slicing for an example of a total and complete rip off of WoW. Keeping things secret from us doesn't accomplish much since none of their "secrets" CAN be stolen by any competitors, as they are already in use by them. The only thing they want to keep from us is the actual internal document titled WoW(crossed out) SWG game systems.
This post brought to you by the coalition of lost Smugglers.
DUDE! You are smuggling WORDS! This is phenomenal!!