179 replies to this topic

[GaussDragon]

This is fairly straightforward, I want to know what everyone's top 3 priorities are (in order). I've tried to come up with 10 of what I think are the most frequent or broadly appealing demands. I know that many, or close to all of the items on the list are in development but this is also to satisfy my curiosity as to what should have been focused on retroactively too. I know that not all of PGI's staff have expertise in every single field and that you can't suddenly shift your entire graphical department into network coding so you have to keep them busy producing other content.

I'd love to hear feedback/reasoning on what everyone selected as their top 3 and why. It'd help me better understand why people prioritize the things they do in this game.

I'll start with myself.

1. Netcode: I'm a strong believer in getting the fundamentals right first before layering on more content. I know that they're working hard on improving the netcode but it kills me that it so regressed dramatically right when open beta hit and it's one of the most consistent fun killers for me.

2. ELO/Better user experience: I'm not a new user and I'm not the one getting pubstomped by vets so this priority doesn't directly affect me much. However, this game's learning curve is not nice to newbies and it's adding insult to injury by forcing them to use trial mechs (even with the newbie bonus). Originally, I would have liked to have seen S-Bills (starter bills): You get a certain amount of S-bills on a new account that act like C-bills only that any item you purchase with S-Bills gets a tag applied to in the database meaning you can't sell off items bought with S-bills for C-bills. Perhaps only give back a certain percentage of S-bills back for sold items since newbies will inevitably make poor purchases but keep the two currency systems separate. It's the mech that generates the the money, not the items.

3. Lobby: By far and away the largest thing that keeps me interested in this game is the Run Hot or Die tournament. A lobby, or anything that will help facilitate a better competitive experience right now would be much welcomed. The Run Hot or Die tournament is essentially players putting more value in other players as content/substitute goods for actual game content like mechs, maps, etc. While actual content only enhances the competitive experience, as people who love the MW series, competition was first and foremost in our mind when we first heard about MWO.

[Tennex]

cool poll. never seen one like this before. wonder how informative it will be

[GaussDragon]

Tennex, on 14 January 2013 - 11:00 AM, said:

cool poll. never seen one like this before. wonder how informative it will be

Let's hope it will be very informative to everyone!

[Odins Fist]

You forgot "COLLISIONS"...

[GaussDragon]

Odins Fist, on 14 January 2013 - 11:01 AM, said:

You forgot "COLLISIONS"...

I know I was forgetting something. However, I think the other 10 choices are more broad/encompassing.

[Tennex]

Odins Fist, on 14 January 2013 - 11:01 AM, said:

You forgot "COLLISIONS"...

i think it can be considered to grouped with netcode

[Tkags]

I second "Collisions."
Also what about another option for "New Features" such as Melee.

[Dayuhan]

1. Netcode. As the OP said, getting the fundamentals right should be of highest priority. It is pointless to add more features and content to the game if the foundation of the game is still unstable. Like building a house on sand, the bigger it gets the harder it will fall when the foundation fails. So fix the basics while the house is still small then add the extras.

2. Community Warfare. Going all the way back to before closed-beta this was touted as the big thing that would make MWO different from all the other MW games out there. Currently MWO is just like all the other 'mech games I have played - a FPS in 'mechs. We need really CW implemented so players can start seeing the vision PGI has for this game.

3. DX11 support. The DX9 code has some inherent limitations that cannot be hurdled. The implementation of DX11 will go a long way to overcoming those limitations.

[Flossme]

My two cents. I think Maps to start(keep those of us who play this already busy), then the netcode because sometimes it can be frustrating however it is playable, and then lobby.

I understand the DEV team has a ton on their plates.

[Ihasa]

I put Netcode, then Lobby, then ELO

Like you, I think it should be: build the strongest foundation first, then add to it. In this case the foundation is cracked and jagged, so it needs work. Making the best, most optimized netcode possible will improve so many other aspects of the game and perhaps make the remaining problems even bigger problems to move on to next. We'll have to see. but unfortunately it seems that this one task is the task that will be the most ongoing for the longest time. Sadly, time is the enemy to growth.

Then adding an in-game lobby will greatly enhance not only the new user experience, but allow random groups to be better balanced within themselves as well. It will also appeal to and improve the social aspect of the game greatly. It is after all, supposed to me an MMO.

Then ELO. But really given the first two, this was tied to me with balance and new maps for the third priority. Clearly this game needs an improved new user experience, but because like any IP based game, this one has a finite target market and there's going to be a point at which we need to stop caring about new users and their experience and focus on retention. I think ELO does both and that's why I voted it third.

Edited by Ihasa, 14 January 2013 - 11:16 AM.

[Corralis]

1 Clan Wars/Community Warfare (the game isn't done until this is in)

2 Netcode

3 More Maps (although I would add More Mech's as well)

I would really like to add a fourth here cause all those are important but the really massive one for me is to actually launch the game before you get mired down in 'permabeta'. At some stage you have just got to get it over with and launch the game and it doesn't have to be a bug free perfect game (look at WoW at launch, it was horrible) it just needs to be a complete game.

[Arclight]

Netcode, maps and lobby.

(taking ELO for granted to be honest. Should be in soon enough. Pretty important to at least improve new user experience))

Better playability, more variation and better coordination.

Edited by Arclight, 14 January 2013 - 11:10 AM.

[De La Fresniere]

1. The ability to damage what you shoot at (I'm looking at you, Ravens); note my latency is usually around 20ms so it's not a problem on my end, it's the game.

2. Being able to see. If you won't remove the blurs, fogs, smogs, film grain and color blending, at least make it possible to choose out maps/time/weather so I can always play in ones that you can see in.

There's other critical issues, but those two take precedence.

[Odins Fist]

GaussDragon, on 14 January 2013 - 11:03 AM, said:

I know I was forgetting something. However, I think the other 10 choices are more broad/encompassing.

.
I understand, but "COLLISIONS" have been discussed just as much, if not more than some of the other choices...
.
Thanks for the OP though...

[GaussDragon]

Ihasa, on 14 January 2013 - 11:05 AM, said:

Then ELO. But really given the first two, this was tied to me with balance and new maps for the third priority. Clearly this game needs an improved new user experience, but because like an IP based game, this one has a finite target market and there's going to be a point at which we need to stop caring about new users and their experience and focus on retention. I think ELO does both and that's why I voted it third.

For me, new maps was up there but didn't quite seem as important to me as the first 3, but it's easily number 4 without a doubt. I want balance too, but I think that will be more important once they get all the major weapons/modules/first slate of mechs into the game and then go from there. As for the area I bolded/underlined in your quote, I completely agree.

[malibu43]

Tennex, on 14 January 2013 - 11:00 AM, said:

cool poll. never seen one like this before. wonder how informative it will be

I hope that was sarcastic.

[Tennex]

i picked balance, netcode, and CW

figured netcode was probably coming next patch. with the "lagshield" leak

[GaussDragon]

Corralis, on 14 January 2013 - 11:06 AM, said:

I would really like to add a fourth here cause all those are important

It would only let me choose 3 questions.

Arclight, on 14 January 2013 - 11:07 AM, said:

(taking ELO for granted to be honest. Should be in soon enough.

That's a good point. However, too late now haha.

[Tennex]

according to this poll, priorities are

1. netcode
2. netcode
3. community warfare


seems about right

[SI The Joker]

Good poll.

Mine were:

1. Netcode
2. Lobby
3. Community Warfare