DUST Search - CPM Activity Report #8

CCP Dolan wrote:

These are all incredibly valid questions (and quite constructively asked I might add), and I need a break from writing statements, so I guess I'll answer a few of them from CCP's side.

So I think there are a few core reasons that the CSM and CPM are particularly good institutions in the game development process at CCP. The councils provide CCP with a group of player experts, that are in touch with the community in a way we never really can be. I as a member of the community team, can't be in private forums, or teamspeaks, and I don't have the ear of leaders in the DUST 514 community on a day to day basis. I also, can never be as good at the game as the people likely to be elected as CPM members, just because I lack the core talent at the game. Other companies will have focus groups, but CCP games aren't like other games. No focus group can understand the depth of play in EVE and DUST in a few hours, and if we asked them to play for longer, who can know if they'd enjoy it or represent a general player's opinions.

The reason we have councils is because it makes good business sense. CCP games are deep, and the people who are the best at them are experts at what they do. They might not be good at game design, or community management, or programming, but they can work with those people to help explain how new changes to the game will interact with the game at the highest level in a safe NDA'd enviroment, and are elected to ensure that the group stays current and keeps up with the game as it evolves. When we don't share ideas with them, we have the potential to lose perspective on the repercussions of our decisions, and not see that bigger picture.

I think that getting used to a council can be quite a change for people in the gaming industry who are unaccustomed to such a group, and a particularly fast paced release schedule (like the current release schedule for DUST) can exacerbate the problem. But, I think that people at the highest level and those who work with them quickly realize their value.

Damn I'm totally gonna steal some of this post for my statement, thanks man.


Author	Thread Statistics \| Show CCP posts - 2 post(s)
Thor McStrut Reckoners 235	Posted - 2013.10.16 22:15:00 - [1] - Quote Forlorn Destrier wrote: Nice to see that the CPM can't spell "Rogue", by the way. I'm sure the EP doesn't enjoy being called by a type of make-up... Don't you look silly...
Thor McStrut Reckoners 236	Posted - 2013.10.16 22:23:00 - [2] - Quote Forlorn Destrier wrote: Thor McStrut wrote: Forlorn Destrier wrote: Nice to see that the CPM can't spell "Rogue", by the way. I'm sure the EP doesn't enjoy being called by a type of make-up... Don't you look silly... Could have sworn the devblog he signed it was spelled as Rogue. Great - we have make-up in charge of the game now. I was when I read it too. Maybe he's a bit flamboyant? Who knows. I'm just hoping it wasn't his own typo on choosing the name. That doesn't spell success for Dust if that's the case.
Thor McStrut Reckoners 236	Posted - 2013.10.16 23:43:00 - [3] - Quote CCP Dolan wrote: These are all incredibly valid questions (and quite constructively asked I might add), and I need a break from writing statements, so I guess I'll answer a few of them from CCP's side. So I think there are a few core reasons that the CSM and CPM are particularly good institutions in the game development process at CCP. The councils provide CCP with a group of player experts, that are in touch with the community in a way we never really can be. I as a member of the community team, can't be in private forums, or teamspeaks, and I don't have the ear of leaders in the DUST 514 community on a day to day basis. I also, can never be as good at the game as the people likely to be elected as CPM members, just because I lack the core talent at the game. Other companies will have focus groups, but CCP games aren't like other games. No focus group can understand the depth of play in EVE and DUST in a few hours, and if we asked them to play for longer, who can know if they'd enjoy it or represent a general player's opinions. The reason we have councils is because it makes good business sense. CCP games are deep, and the people who are the best at them are experts at what they do. They might not be good at game design, or community management, or programming, but they can work with those people to help explain how new changes to the game will interact with the game at the highest level in a safe NDA'd enviroment, and are elected to ensure that the group stays current and keeps up with the game as it evolves. When we don't share ideas with them, we have the potential to lose perspective on the repercussions of our decisions, and not see that bigger picture. I think that getting used to a council can be quite a change for people in the gaming industry who are unaccustomed to such a group, and a particularly fast paced release schedule (like the current release schedule for DUST) can exacerbate the problem. But, I think that people at the highest level and those who work with them quickly realize their value. Damn I'm totally gonna steal some of this post for my statement, thanks man. This is a great explanation. As an Eve veteran of several years, I know how important a council can be. But as with any elected body, it can have downfalls, and serious pitfalls. While I don't personally have any problems with CPM 0, I can see why many are wondering why there is such a delay in getting the charter and the first elected CPM in place. Hopefully this statement that CCP is making will clear this up some.