I know before there is even a reply to this thread, that others are going to have different opinions, and that Community Warfare is most likely going to top this list, if not for "embarrassing" but for "BIGGER", but I wanted to dredge up their C3 comms system.

Does anyone even use this? I don't recall ever seeing a player message, "Hey hop on C3 with us" or get an invite over the past 6 months.

My club and our players use TeamSpeak 3, we can invite people to join us, and even though it's not "one click easy" it's a lot simpler than using C3. I would still like a built in method that allows us to connect with pubbers though.

One a priority list of things to address with the game I know that voice comms is also way, WAY, down most players lists, and for that reason it's unlikely that the Devs are putting any resources towards it at this time.

Why isn't it possible to implement a Battlefield 2 type voice comm system, that's invisible, automatic, and works well? I'd imagine that just licensing a system like that to other companys would be a lucrative side business, but I guess that if C3 is what they thought was the best option, the question answers itself.

So help me out here. I still have virtually all my Founders cash, and I have yet to hit the "activate" button on my premium time but I just can't "buy in" to the marketplace for the game.

I look at the newest mech, Pretty Baby, and they basically want about $25 for it in real cash. I know that there are probably quite a few buying it too, but really? $25 for one mech, when I can damn near buy a whole game (not at release) on Steam, if not several.

Now I'm not intending to get into an argument with those who have bought the new mech, or spent bucket loads of cash, more power to you guys. You are who you are and you don't let price point affect your decision to add to your entertainment. However I have to question just how many of you are there?

Anyone remember those MAX/MIN questions in math class? they basically showed you how you could find that sweet spot in a price where you actually lower the cost to purchase but vastly increase you sales and net profits.

I know that it isn't gonna happen, but I would love one of the Developers to take the time to show us how they evaluate the metrics of the game, in particular the marketplace.

I like to think I'm probably above average as a gamer in terms of what I spend on games annually, but I find that I just have no interest on spending my cash on the game, With the exception of mech bays for mechws I've paid for with C-bills, and the one Atlas I bought , stripped down and sold the chasis many months ago, I'm holding onto my cash.

I know about the "world of tanks" comparison as well, and I wouldn't pay that either.

It's just too much. Don't you think that if a mech like pretty baby cost, lets say $10, that they wouldn't make up for the lower cost in vastly increased volume? Maybe i'm wrong. They Almost had my attention with the 1/2 off sale, but I didn't want those particular mechs.

And don't get me started on the while paint scheme. I really think they are missing the boat here. I'd actually pay for paint;

- IF it were cheap, they should sell whole palettes for $1.99
- IF it were permanent
- IF it was universally appliable with unlimited use for all my mechs

I think they would roll in the cash with these MICRO-transactions.

How about other specials at least? Hey.....it's my birthday very soon. Why not send me a "Happy Birthday Festus" email and offer my 50% off any purchases I make that day, or my next purchase?

Make it easy Devs, and I will give it away. Right now you aren't.

Don't know if it's been requested yet or not, but since we are required to pay to add DHS do you think you could make it possible for us to see the change in heat efficiency BEFORE we buy them?

Below is a post I made in a thread I started that I started several weeks ago, about the time that a ruckus started over a future mode "that shall not be named". I decided to take a 2 week vacation from the forums to see how it affected my attitude towards the game (as it currently stands).

Just so the Mod who closed it is aware, I'm not doing this to annoy him, I just figured out that my last post was the significant one, that explained how I felt after a 2 week break from the forums, and I wanted to share it.

for the TL:DR crowd...............

"Taking a break from the forums can be a good thing".


Long-winded version;

Not sure how many will read this but after 2 weeks of no forum visits I'm back.

In those 2 weeks I probably played the game on more nights on a weekly basis than I did when I was reading the forums.

Did I learn anything by staying away from the forums? Didn't I miss out on lively discussion, thoughtful input, and updated game information?

Not one bit.

[color=#959595]I actually played the game and just plain enjoyed it for what it is. I didn't worry about imbalances, or group sizes, or lack of new content. I just played. Enjoyed the heck out of it as well.[/color]

I know that the game has many flaws, still needs work, and seems to be moving forward too slowly, but playing strictly as a "no forum visits or reading" pubber, I quite enjoyed it. All the doom and gloom on these forums is the product of a vocal 2-5% of the player base that 80% of the players never read/listen to. If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around, does it make any noise?

So my vacation from these forums really only proved one thing to me and that is that the vast majority of players that play the game and do not visit the forums can find the game entertaining

I will say that they have set up the grind to be frustrating enough that it will tempt new players to spend some cash, as I saw it do to some of my buddies who haven't put any money into it, but that's the intent after all isn't it? Quite a few of them just toughed it out and have a couple of mechs of their own now without spending a dime.

I'm doing a couple of other betas as well and I have noticed the same phenomena there. The active forum users get all in a lather over every little detail or issue, while the casual players carry on oblivious to the clucking of the Chicken Littles in the forums.

My plan now is to carry on, visit the forums infrequently, thereby ignoring most of the negativism in the forums and just enjoy enjoy the game with my friends. If you find you are getting frustrated I highly recommend you try taking a break from the forums, not necessarily the game.


Cheers!

I admit it, I didn't listen to the original podcast that started the recent 3rd Person angst, instead I read posts and comments from people who did or people who simply extrapolated from comments made in other posts.

Having listened to the podcast, it pretty much confirmed for me that my understanding of what they plan to do was mostly accurate;

- they are considering adding (and I think they will do it) to satisfy a certain market/player base, those that want to fight in 3rd person. I personally believe that market will outnumber 1st person players substantially. Enevitably that will mean they will cater more to that group as that's where the money will be.

- they say they are going to use it for "new players/training purposes. I think it is enviable that that purpose will be expanded.

- they intend to make it possible to segregate matches so you can opt not to play against mixed view modes.

- they claim that they will try to implement 3rd person in such a manner as to minimize any advantages it may provide. I hope they can do that.


In the end, I completely understand the forces driving this decision, it's money and market share, something that cannot be ignored by the Developers. I get that.

I can personally live with it if it's an option that I can choose to use or not. Only time will tell if it diminishes the game play for me or not.

What I did decide to do is take a 2 week vacation from the forums, just as a personal experiment, and see how I feel about the game then. I will still play, and I will still read any patch notes or emails from PGI, but I will stay away from the forums. I think this will probably reduce my stress level about this game and hopefully bring some of the enjoyment back. I'll start this little experiment at the end of the day.

At that point I will return and post on how I feel about the game. GL HF ALL!!!