205 replies to this topic

[Quicksilver Aberration]

Bombast, on 23 November 2016 - 10:39 AM, said:

I'm not saying that they shouldn't be better at community communication, just that it's not fair to compare them to companies that are arguably at the top of that field. Comparing PGI to Blizzard and HBS is like comparing a high school baseball team to professional and college teams.

This analogy isn't quite right, it would be more apt to say PGI is like a school district with one high school team while Blizzard is a school district with several, that doesn't necessarily mean they have a lot more resources at their disposal, just more experience and diversity. Keep in mind Riot Games only had LoL for the longest time, and were hugely successful despite starting as a small company and not being like Blizzard.

[TercieI]

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 23 November 2016 - 09:59 AM, said:

understanding the game

That's why.

[Appogee]

Bombast, on 23 November 2016 - 10:39 AM, said:

If I were PGI, I'd fire whoever their community manager is (Sorry, whats your name), and hire a Battletech/Mechwarrior fan with a shelf full of TROs, a passion of the lore, and the ability to make videos, and give that ******* a full run at PGIs art assets.

The fact that they appointed such an inexperienced person to be Community Manager demonstrates just how much value PGI place on the community and on that role.

Edited by Appogee, 23 November 2016 - 10:54 AM.

[1453 R]

I also tend to mentally compare Pirazhathoth to Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile's team. Again, Piranha comes out on the bottom of that comparison.

Both are smaller teams which are wholly devoted to their one online game...and yet GGG delivers daily updates on their site - as in new web content/communication every flippin' day, whether that be a development manifesto, a status update on in-development projects, upcoming content reveals (NO GOD DAMNED "Wait until WraeCon!" IDIOCY FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS), or even just cool fan content highlights or pointing out new MTX options or whatever. Point being, there is a new update on what GGG is doing, or something they feel is worth looking at, every day.

GGG's team posts relatively frequently in their own forums, especially compared to Piranha, and they have a dedicated "How Do These Mechanics Work/Interact?" thread started, and run by, a systems dev (admittedly it updates slowly, and Path is an insanely complex game with a billion moving parts next to MWO, but still).

Also? GGG manages a major game update every three months. Not "90 days" - every three months, like clockwork, and has basically since the game's inception. Twice-yearly expansion updates, and smaller content/league updates also twice a year between the bigger expansions.

Certainly Path is a much different type of game than MWO, and (arguably) easier to work on...but GGG also built their own scratch-built engine for the game from the ground up and has to deal with a thousand times the weird moving parts Piranha does, and they still manage daily news updates and quarterly game content updates.

I really do have to wonder sometimes what the hell Piranha is doing with its time, and how any online game company can be this putrid at dealing with its playerbase. Well, and still have a playerbase, anyways.

[Appogee]

1453 R, on 23 November 2016 - 10:58 AM, said:

I really do have to wonder sometimes what the hell Piranha is doing with its time, and how any online game company can be this putrid at dealing with its playerbase. Well, and still have a playerbase, anyways.

It is all down to the players' loyalty to the licence.

[Mcgral18]

Tarogato, on 23 November 2016 - 10:06 AM, said:

Where is this from?

[Lyoto Machida]

Mcgral18, on 23 November 2016 - 12:01 PM, said:

Where is this from?

Last week...prepping for MechCon. Probably Whistler, since PGI is based in Vancouver.

Edited by Lyoto Machida, 23 November 2016 - 12:03 PM.

[BlueFlames]

Quote

Why can't Paul be more like this?

Your questions will not be answered.

[Alistair Winter]

He used to be a little bit like that. But then PGI decided to go radio silent, except for Russ.

No dev logs, no vlogs, no posting on the forum.

I get that it's probably frustrating to be at the receiving end of the hate that comes with being a public figure in game development, but I still wish that PGI staff had the fortitude, patience and openness of other gaming companies, instead of locking themselves in a tower for years at a time.

[Tarogato]

Mcgral18, on 23 November 2016 - 12:01 PM, said:

Where is this from?

[cazidin]

PGI really needs a new balance overlord. Hmm... Balance Overlord... that title would look good on me.

[Lyoto Machida]

BlueFlames, on 23 November 2016 - 12:05 PM, said:

Your questions will not be answered.

This thread isn't for Paul to answer.

[dervishx5]

There's a reason that the White House has a press secretary.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

dervishx5, on 23 November 2016 - 01:47 PM, said:

There's a reason that the White House has a press secretary.

Ironically it is also the same reason why both the White House and PGI tend to go through so many of them.

[Revis Volek]

Bombast, on 23 November 2016 - 10:14 AM, said:

Or...



https://community.ba...ms/threads/4659

If we're being honest though, it's not fair to compare PGi to either Blizzard or HBS. HBS's niche is basically dancing with the fans, and Blizzard is the only multi-billion dollar game developer in the industry that gives two craps about their players and community support.

This man speaks all truth.

[Johnny Z]

Why Can't Paul Be Like This?

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 23 November 2016 - 09:59 AM, said:

The notes in the patches is a nice touch, but there is always room for improvements, like understanding the game and creating video updates for large changes, particularly the former.

I was wondering why he cant be like this.

Edited by Johnny Z, 23 November 2016 - 02:14 PM.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

Johnny Z, on 23 November 2016 - 02:10 PM, said:

I was wondering why he cant be like this. Its not fair really is it.

*some video*

I almost feel it patronizing that they have someone other than the developer trying to give the update even if it is meant to be in the spirit of the 50s or whatever.

Then again, I'm weird so that may just be me.

Edited by Quicksilver Kalasa, 23 November 2016 - 02:14 PM.

[Tordin]

Bombast, on 23 November 2016 - 10:14 AM, said:

and Blizzard is the only multi-billion dollar game developer in the industry that gives two craps about their players and community support.

Hahaha! Yeah dont get me started on the topic regarding how they ditched LAN possibilties for say SC, alot of odd online only feature. Remember the DIII auction screwup. Also as far as I recall, several core developers quit their position because of what Blizzard have become. The bigger some become the more rotten too. Sure Blizzard aint the worst, but after WOW became their cashmachine, I ditched them back. I admit they are great at storytelling, one of the truly best out there, so theres that. But ONLY that.

[Johnny Z]

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 23 November 2016 - 02:13 PM, said:

I almost feel it patronizing that they have someone other than the developer trying to give the update even if it is meant to be in the spirit of the 50s or whatever.

Then again, I'm weird so that may just be me.

I got no problems with how this game goes about it and I really think everything is great mostly. You don't see me constantly being negative on these forums. I am just saying.



Maybe some of the guys up top would get less trolling if they had nicer legs?

[Bombast]

Tordin, on 23 November 2016 - 02:21 PM, said:

Hahaha! Yeah dont get me started on the topic regarding how they ditched LAN possibilties for say SC, alot of odd online only feature. Remember the DIII auction screwup. Also as far as I recall, several core developers quit their position because of what Blizzard have become. The bigger some become the more rotten too. Sure Blizzard aint the worst, but after WOW became their cashmachine, I ditched them back. I admit they are great at storytelling, one of the truly best out there, so theres that. But ONLY that.

Oh, I know Blizzard isn't perfect. They are, remember, actually Activision Blizzard, with the Activision part trimmed off of the press releases for obvious reasons.

But they engage with players. They tell a story. They create universes, engage with the playerbase over updates, and are constantly trying to expand their games.

It's contemporaries are...

E 'Go **** Yourself' A, a company that has earned several 'Worst Company' awards. And while they don't really deserve that title, it's telling that so many people think they do.

Valve, the game company that abandoned games and sits atop a gambling empire (Autumn Steam Sales are up, by the way. I'm at 60+ bucks already)