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Kevall Longstride
DUST University
Ivy League
2411
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Posted - 2015.02.08 11:18:00 -
[1] - Quote
I hope a lot of you read this post by Pokey because it illustrates beautifully exactly the kind of constructive quality feedback we need so we can bring it to CCP's attention.
I've kept clear of the forums in the last few days and just read through the various Skype channels I'm in because tensions have been rather high this last week and I thought it best to wait till emotions die down. The reason for this is very simple but some of you won't like it.
I've been deeply embarrassed by the attitude of some in the community.
The level of vitriolic passive aggressive and just straight out aggressive that's been flung around is frankly unacceptable. And while it could be argued that it's a result of the passion we all share for the game, there has been far too many instances of personal abuse of members of the Dev team wrapped in the cloak of 'alleged' constructive feedback. And having worked closely with these guys closely for months now I can tell you all, without any fear of contradiction, whatever passion you may hold for the game is nothing compared to theirs.
They are paid to work on the game, improve it, use feedback from you and the CPM to tighten up aspects of it and try to come up new ways to engage us. They work 24/7 to make the game better for you.
They are NOT paid to take personal abuse.
No one should have to put up with that and if any of you have thought or expressed an opinion as such in the last few days, you need to take a moment, reflect and if after that you still hold that opinion, then frankly the problem is you.
Now the sermon is over...
The first stage of Warlords was to get the systems in place in the game, find that they work and what needs tweaking, fixing or just out and out changed. That has happened and is in the process of being worked on. As much as they can test and test again these systems in studio, there is just no way to know how they are going to work in the real world once it hits TQ and thousands of players hammer it.
This was also compounded by a technical problem that Ratatti has spoken about when the database in one of the servers was found to be incompatible with the new version of the game. This was unfortunate but there was no way it could be tested first without the game going live. These problems are in the process of being worked on.
The game mechanics added to the game in Warlords, both visible and back office, needed to be in place and working correctly for the implementation of PC 2.0 in a later point release. That process is ongoing.
As to the various issues that Pokey brought up so eloquently they can be all iterated upon and changed based on constructive feedback. The length of time that it takes to upgrade the Warbarge is likely so long right now for the same reason that the loyalty rank is. The team didn't want everyone to be maxed out right away and removing the sense of progression they'd hope that the feature would bring. But the time required can be altered once it's shown that the mechanic works. Nothing is set in stone.
And I'd have thought that many of you would take comfort in the fact that it'll take so long to max it all out. After all, it shows does it not, that the team at CCP see this game has having a long term future? Yes, the PS3 is dying but the fact that we have a mechanic in place that'll see the game beyond the supposed lifespan of the format it's on now should tell you something as to the longevity of the game.
But you can dismiss that as me being the glass half full type if you really want to protect and cherish your inner bitter vet. 
As to the accusations of cash grab with Warlords..
Dust 514 is a free game funded by in game purchases. That much is known to all. But when you sit down and analyse the last two years, the monetisation model for the game has been disjointed and incoherent to say the least. With Warlords I think you'll find that a clear strategy is now in the process of being implemented. The use of components to reduce cool down and their purchase using real money is no different from Gems in Clash of Clans and other popular mobile free to play games.
For me at least the goal is clear.
1. Get revenue stream working efficiently
2. Earn money from the game.
3. Use profit to create more content.
Now like I said, just the mearest bit of analysis of what's been before should tell you that stage 1 hasn't worked as well as it could in the past and effected stages 2 and 3. The purchase of BPO and boosters was a really short term vision, relying heavily on the collectibility of said BPO. So what happens when everyone has them? Revenue stream stops.
The purchase of cool down reduction is the way to go for me. I've been playing Clash of Clans, found it enjoyable and not paid any money. But I know that the price for my cheapness is significantly slower progression.
I'd agree that maybe the purchase of components for Aurum rather than just straight use of Aurum for cool down reduction might be problematic in terms of farming alts but that is something that can be worked on further using the kind of constructive feedback that Pokey has given us here.
I'd urge you all, to continue his example here and we can all help progress the game in a mature and enlightened way.
Thanks.
CPM 1 member
CEO of DUST University
Vist dustcpm.com
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Kevall Longstride
DUST University
Ivy League
2415
|
Posted - 2015.02.08 18:14:00 -
[2] - Quote
Again I'll reiterate, there is nothing here that can't be altered tweaked or changed provided it's done after constructive feedback.
As to accusations of pay to win now. I guess my definition of what is pay to win is different from others. My understanding of pay to win is providing for the paying customer only, a benefit that can not be grinded out from the game given time. An example of that would be a gun that has 200% more DPS than any other in the game or a suit that has 4000 hp and can only be purchased directly using real money.
That to me, is pay to win.
What Clash of Clans, Star Wars Commander, other mobile phone games, World of Planes, H1Z1 and Dust 514 amongst other have to Pay to Progress. There is no element in the game that can't be earned through time and effort.
Now that definition is something that others will take issue with perhaps but while there is no element to the game that can't be earned with grind alone, my position is that Dust 514 is not pay to win. Simply saying that it is over and over again does not make it so.
I have my Warbarge to Level five, all but one of the subsystems are level two or one, with the augmented ammo to level 3. And with that I'm perfectly happy to cough up the -ú40 of Aurum to do it. The rest I'll leave to the grind. I do not consider this pay to win as it was my option to do and if someone wants to cough up -ú100 to max it out fair play to them and more money to CCP to use for further game development.
Now is three years too long to leave it to grind alone? Probably. Can that be changed? Most definitely. Should it be instant cool down with Aurum? Probably not. Should paying for quicker progress in principal not be a option? Definitely not.
It's an established and successful business model that virtually every other free to play game now employs. What is it that means that Dust 514 should be exempt from such notions as CCP earning some money? Nothing from what I can see. It needs tweaking, a nip and tuck here and there, which with your help can done constructively.
Now you can accuse me of being a corporate creature if you wish, a toady of CCP perhaps. But if CCP went pay to win as I percieve it with 'golden' ammo or 'golden suits', believe me, they'll get a mouthful and a half from not only myself but the rest of the CPM.
But I'm not going to get in the way of them legitimately earning money from the game especially as I know how important that is for continued development of the game. Nor would it be my place to do so.
Speaking for myself now, it's now just about finding a balance between the needs of CCP as a business to pay for development and server coasts and the needs of the player base to not feel like they're being taken for a ride. That balance isn't yet there but it's certainly within reach now, much more so than it has been since July when CPM1 took office.
Dust 514 might be free to play but it most certainly is not free to make.
CPM 1 member
CEO of DUST University
Vist dustcpm.com
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Kevall Longstride
DUST University
Ivy League
2416
|
Posted - 2015.02.08 18:29:00 -
[3] - Quote
Thanks again to Pokey for his continued feedback.
The CPM and CCP are already having detailed discussion as to how the system can be iterated upon to address the legitimate concerns that some have expressed. We will hopefully be able to speak more as to those discussions once an agreed course of action is in place.
CPM 1 member
CEO of DUST University
Vist dustcpm.com
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