101 replies to this topic

[Iqfish]

Niko joining them in their offices... That could quite possibly be the fresh talent they need and the turnaround for the game, but let's not get our hopes up.

Don't expect anything so you won't get disappointed again.

By the way: Take a camera, walk around the office and ask every single person to describe in two sentences what they are doing for PGI.

Boom instant communication, takes not more than an hour.

Edited by Iqfish, 26 May 2014 - 08:44 AM.

[Mylardis]

Imperius, on 25 May 2014 - 10:03 PM, said:

Only if the VLOG's start to make it out in time and contain info we don't already know...

This, very much. Until today, all 3 VLOGs were basically "late", since everything discussed within had already been finalized. The illusion it was discussed was pretty wrong.

I appreciate the will to change communication, Niko, and strongly support it.

I have voted for more communication, although I do not really need VLOGs. I prefer written text, since it's much easier to scan for topics I'm interested in.

May I add that the point (quite a few people have made and I support) is, that just adding communication isn't everything. It should, in my opinion, include two very important details:

- It needs to be meaningful. For that, there is a simple solution: Make feedback matter. In the past, nearly all official feedback threads were never visited by any dev. That needs to change. Nothing against you, but if a dev, no matter who, writes a lengthy command chair post on why something is done in a specific way, I want him or her to stand up to it and actually interact with the community in person. And if, oh wonder, there's a better idea provided by the comm, why not actually implement it?

- It needs to be in the right place. Look, these are your official forums, it is totally inacceptable from my point that official communication happens more on Twitter or Reddit than here. Yes, this place can be and is toxic (and sometimes rightfully so!), but that will not change when you guys run away. You can change it by actually winning people over - with meaningful communication (see above)

I will listen and I will give feedback. That's what I expect of you, too.

Edited by DasAmok, 26 May 2014 - 09:21 AM.

[Maver0ick]

I voted no to more Reddit AMA events. I'd would like to see it on the mwomercs.com site rather than some other site.

[IraqiWalker]

Not to rain on this conversation, but I think we are moving off topic. Could we get back to talking about how to fine-tune PGI's method of communicating with us?

[DeadDomineus]

IraqiWalker, on 26 May 2014 - 11:30 AM, said:

Not to rain on this conversation, but I think we are moving off topic. Could we get back to talking about how to fine-tune PGI's method of communicating with us?

Oh I don't know how about responding to twitter, I don't know how many times I've @ed them only to receive nothing, that is always cool.

[Kaeseblock]

Iqfish, on 26 May 2014 - 08:33 AM, said:

[...]

By the way: Take a camera, walk around the office and ask every single person to describe in two sentences what they are doing for PGI.

Boom instant communication, [...]

Would love to see that

[IraqiWalker]

DeadDomineus, on 26 May 2014 - 11:47 AM, said:

Oh I don't know how about responding to twitter, I don't know how many times I've @ed them only to receive nothing, that is always cool.

How about something more helpful. Not responding to your tweets is nowhere near the level we need to work on.

We have the chance right now, in this thread, to put forth some genuine suggestions. In order to do that, people need to put their emotions aside, and provide a professional perspective. No outrages, and no personal issues and sleights.

If PGI ignores it, then we can go back to yelling at each other and everyone else on the forums, but on the off chance that they listen (which they have shown they are trying to do), this can be a good step forward.


We have the chance to offer suggestions, ones more helpful than "how about the devs drop what they're doing and respond to every tweet and e-mail they receive." Something as simple as designating one or two people to be in charge of the MWO twitter account would be a good way to minimize the number of people who do the responding, and the number of locations where they need to go.

[CyclonerM]

Of course yes to all the answers.

I am especially interested in the "Know the devs" idea. Ok, i should not talk about other games, but as someone else already suggested, there is a famous space-sim project you might know whose dev team manages to make us feel so optimist..

I suppose the coffee breaks would be a fitting moment to have a chat with one of the less known devs (and a sneak peek over the shoulder of a tester piloting a Timberwolf would not be unwelcome ).

Oh, and the fluff. I loved it, but it may have to wait until (if) timeline is restarted or officially reintroduced in some form.
A last suggestion: since many were disappointed by the "bussinessy" presentation of the Clan Invasion, i would love to see a long enough piece of fiction and an amazing video for the start of Operation Revival! An idea? Rewrite the battle between the Kell Hounds' scout lance led by Phelan Kell and the pirates first and the unidentified hostiles later.. Then write it from the point of view of the Golden Keshik meeting the pirates and mercenaries as briefly described in a sourcebook (maybe The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky? Not sure). Then add a cool video. Well, we (the Clan community) will make some anyway.

P.s. Give us a Wolfhound!

It would be a classic mixed with something new. PGI in my eyes needs to show again some passion for the franchise!

[StillRadioactive]

It seems as though the vast majority of people voted "yes" for all questions. This shouldn't be surprising. You've got a community that's been asking for 2 things:
1) More frequent and more open communication to and from the devs.
2) More depth to the game, because BattleTech's greatest strength has always been its depth.

So when you ask whether or not we want more communication and more depth, OF COURSE we're going to say yes!

[Will9761]

Yes to everything, the more info, the better.

[Mr G]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 25 May 2014 - 09:22 PM, said:

Bonus Survey Question:
If you answered yes to question 2:
What sort of fun/friendly/casual questions would you like to see in a "Get to Know The Devs" event?

What other games have they worked on or given the chance would love to work on?

How long have they known about and played battletech or mechwarrior?

what are their all time favorite mechs/weapons?

have they pledged for star citizen? if so what ships did they get?

what is their all time favorite PC or console game and why?

favorite books?

what do they love and hate the most about Cry Engine?

If you had star citizen style backer money what would you do with it?

[Imperius]

$500 more dollars will go to PGI if they allow me to gift a Masakari Pack to a friend and change the 12man queue to Big Group/Any Size group queue. I've said the first part since Nov 2013 sadly I had to add the second part in Dec 2013.

[Theycallmetheworkingman]

You'd probably get more yesses if you guys took the time to actually address the issues we have been attempting to approach you about for a long time rather than ignoring us.

[Gasoline]

As much as I agree, that this has been a mishap, we're seriously derailing.

Niko, how long are you planning on leaving this open, and when are we to expect results (if there're going to be any)? Will Vlog #4 be out this week (and again terribly outdated )?

[Omaha]

I know this prolly doesnt count as get to know dev's event. But I'd personally just like to see them playing publicly more, and also dev hunter event. hehe. It's always fun to protect/hunt them. I'm sure they play alot and often. Just want to see more of them around the ingame world.

Edited by Omaha, 27 May 2014 - 02:30 AM.

[Reno Blade]

Seeing the devs play and stream it with a cam/webcam added.
Would show them from the office and in the game

[IceCase88]

How about weekly updates on each piece of major content you are promising? It is obvious communication is lacking and the source of much of the problems you are experiencing. Especially given the fact you have to post a poll asking people if they want more communication.

The secrecy is what is upsetting people. Why the secrecy? You are not divulging trade secrets by being more open. The secrecy appears to be hiding lies. Especially when Russ comes out and says work will begin on CW, and maps, when it has been previously stated these will be released soon. Do you now see why there is anger because the secrecy appears to be hiding lies? People are investing their hard earned money based on promises by your company, and you, and those promises are not being fulfilled nor being fulfilled anytime soon. The flippant attitude the company, and its representatives, have towards people who have invested money into the game is astonishing. People work hard to earn that money and their anger is justified given the fact the new revelations have revealed major content promised as coming out soon for a long time has not even been started.

Detach yourselves from the company and put yourselves in the place as a customer. You would not tolerate being treated like this so why would you expect others to accept this treatment? If you bought a home theater system from your local electronics store with the promise you can have the TV now and the surround sound system later and they did not deliver the whole package you would be extremely angry. You would run down there with your torches and pitchforks demanding what you were promised. Hell... if your company bought a workstation you would be angry if you were only delivered a computer but did not get the keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.. Then that vendor said they would have the missing pieces to you soon only to send you a mouse with the promise more will follow. Your company would be angry and threaten to not utilize the vendor ever again. Do you now understand?

The slate can be wiped clean with openness and weekly updates on the progress of promised content. Well... not entirely clean I guess.... but it is a helluva start. You are the ones who dug yourselves in the hole. It is not the customer that did this to you. Your company made promises and set the expectations but failed to deliver.

Edited by IceCase88, 27 May 2014 - 05:48 AM.

[Mylardis]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 27 May 2014 - 02:55 AM, said:

Vlog 4: Out later this week. Between Wed and Fri by my estimation.
Leaving this Open: Probably another day or two.

More Command Chair posts to come in weeks ahead wherever possible in the scramble towards Clans. I'll still be looking to add fluff to what I can in the meantime too.

Most other expansions will otherwise continue at their regular rate until early to mid-July. At that point, first and foremost based on the results above, another Reddit AMA is due (Dev volunteer TBD). Also included towards that time-period will be me photographing things like a deranged tourist as well as trying my hand at helping the video prod and editing process for the Vlogs to help speed those up.

As I already mentioned in my longer answer to your opening questions:

Why does PGI choose channels like Twitter or Reddit over their own official forum?

I believe it casts a really bad light on any attempt of better and more communication. Admittingly, it can be and often is toxic here. But that can be changed, by hard work, actual and continuous interaction with the people here, and meaningful (read: dialogue, not monologue like in a feedback thread never again to be visited by a staff member) communication.

Doing it anywhere else looks a lot like "running away". You, Niko, have showed balls. Don't back off on that really improved communication. Badger your guys to show themselves, speak to us. Yes, you will get thrashed verbally more than once. But if you keep it up, I'm pretty sure many people here will appreciate and the official forums will get better. It's up to you.

[AdamBaines]

Nikolai Lubkiewicz, on 25 May 2014 - 09:22 PM, said:

Quick poll........

Bonus Survey Question:
If you answered yes to question 2:
What sort of fun/friendly/casual questions would you like to see in a "Get to Know The Devs" event?

I cant imagine anyone voting No to any of these :-)

On number 2, Id like to know a bit about what6 projects they have worked on before. Maybe things like "Their first job". Those are always interesting. What they like to pilot in MWO. If they have fav sports teams, what are they. That kind stuff.

On the VLOGs, I like them a lot but by the time they finally come out a lot of the info is older and really not note worthy as the info is out on the Forums or Twitter by that time. it does not need to be exclusive stuff, just timely.

I was not at the Redit AMA but i liked that I could come to the forums the next day and read up.

Command Chair posts are also great. I understand the time constraints on the team and they also have a life outside of PGI, but it would be nice if there was a solid schedule that I could look forward too. That said, Id rater waiting and not know when the next one comes out then to have a set schedule that they cant realistically adhere to and have the community break out in a tizzy.

But to be honest Niko, more of what your doing is great as well. Even though I loved the Garth, you have been the best and most responsive CM we have had so far. Your work is appreciated. Keep it up.

[Nightmare1]

Forte, on 27 May 2014 - 10:51 AM, said:

OH NO! You are the reason we don't have the Buckton SRM fix, please tell me you didnt kill him with SRMs JK JK

Yeah I've seen several of the IGP/PGI guys around in games. Average range of players. It would be cool to learn more about their favorite aspects (can't ask them negative questions because I doubt marketing would let that get out for a Q&A sesson) of the game and what mech holds a place in their heart.

Actually, ironically enough, I did get him with a mix of SRMs and Pulse Lasers.

Vid here:



When I saw that there were PGI guys, I went a bit crazy - I wanted a banner! Wasn't until afterwards that I remembered they weren't currently giving out banners for scoring PGI kills.

Edited by Nightmare1, 27 May 2014 - 11:34 AM.