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How much does BioWare listen to the fans and their suggestions?


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#1
patocerda

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   I was asking this myself when I considered that ME2 had improved on pretty much everything (maybe some gameplay things were forgotten / not well implemented, but that's not the point).
  So, for the veteran ME fans that have been here long before since ME2 was published: How much did BioWare listen to the community, the fans, their suggestions, AND how much of them actually made it into to the final game??
  I found this to be a good question since ME3 is coming and the wishlist is..well, massive to say the least :P
  So i wonder if BioWare does actually have someone to write down the great sugestions and hand them to the team, you know?

  So, any thoughts?

#2
Sidac

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They probably take bits and pieces just like every other developer. They have their idea for a story and try to incorporate what the fans want into the game.

#3
Skilled Seeker

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Of course they listen. Every developer does since at the end of the day it is the fans that buy your game.

#4
patocerda

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@Skilled Seeker: Do not get me wrong. I'm not asking if they do or do not listen their fans, I'm certain they do. What I'm asking, though, is to what degree they apply the community suggestions, more like if you could tell me for example which fan ideas, suggestions, critics, etc. made it into ME2..

#5
Rhaigun

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patocerda wrote...

@Skilled Seeker: Do not get me wrong. I'm not asking if they do or do not listen their fans, I'm certain they do. What I'm asking, though, is to what degree they apply the community suggestions, more like if you could tell me for example which fan ideas, suggestions, critics, etc. made it into ME2..

It doesn't really work like that, as they'd have to give some kind of credit to the sole person whose idea they used. Bioware already has a good idea of what they already want to do, so most of it is usually decided. After the first game was released, they perused the forums for common complaints and worked to find workable solutions for the second game. Nothing major that would be a major game/character/plot changer.

Except for all my ideas. I've been a consultant for years, and Chris Priestly is my personal liaison. :P

#6
The Spamming Troll

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i think they listen to their fans. i notice alot of things mentioned in ME2 that i first saw in the old forum. i remember there being topics about loyalty missions, slam, removing the mako, elevators, that hanar spectre, .....theres more i cant think of, but alot of the time im playing ME2, im reminded of something that was discussed in ME1 forums.

#7
Terror_K

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From my experience they seem to just to the gist of the complaints, but don't actually properly delve into the reasoning and nature of them.

A classic example of this is the recent art book that was released for sale at the BioWare store. Despite claiming that it was there due to popular fan demand, if they'd actually read what the fans had wanted they'd have realised that we were after a proper, full-sized art book in the same vein as the original one and not just a larger remake of the dinky Collector's Edition one. It's like they saw "fans want art book" and didn't look at it beyond that.

The disappearance of the elevators and The Mako are other cases of this, where they seemed to completely misinterpret what fans both liked and didn't like about those factors in the first game. The fans said "the elevators and Mako suck because..." and then listed the reasons, but BioWare just didn't seem to get past the "because" and simply went, "okay, let's scrap the whole thing in both cases and replace it with alternatives that completely miss the point of the factors that did work with the original ones entirely."

I feel they also listen to the wrong fans quite often, and also listen more to reviews in magazines and on websites than their core fanbase.

Modifié par Terror_K, 15 décembre 2010 - 03:15 .


#8
Tron Evolution

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Bioware is different company. they are always listening to us. they even check this forum regularly. that's why mass effect 2 has been most satisfied game, and the best for this year. it's not just a game.

#9
Kane-Corr

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They listen ALOT. If you look at the old forums and the suggestions that people had made for the second game....then you'd see that Bioware REALLY REALLY listened to us. We are important to them....















We are Harbinger.

#10
Khayness

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Thanfully not enough. This game would end up being an interspecies dating sim with dual wielding Cains and recruiting everyone, from the salarian gameclerk to the Turian Councillor if that's the case.

#11
Stanley Woo

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we do listen. A lot. We just don't always agree with you.



@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)

#12
-Skorpious-

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Stanley Woo wrote...

we do listen. A lot. We just don't always agree with you.

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)


You guys agree with Garrus being a ME3 squadmate right? *wink wink, nudge nudge* =p

#13
Johnsen1972

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Stanley Woo wrote...

we do listen. A lot. We just don't always agree with you.

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)


It is not possible to agree with everyone. Dont even try Image IPB. That would make ME3 a real bad game.

#14
Dionkey

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Stanley Woo wrote...

we do listen. A lot. We just don't always agree with you.

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)

Just make sure there is a priizze :police:

#15
kglaser

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Dionkey wrote...

Stanley Woo wrote...

we do listen. A lot. We just don't always agree with you.

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)

Just make sure there is a priizze :police:


Heavy risk...

#16
AdmiralCheez

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Stanley Woo wrote...

we do listen. A lot. We just don't always agree with you.

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)

The volus is good, the volus is wise.

Hey, hey, Stanley!  Garrus?  Plz?  *nudge nudge wink wink*

#17
kglaser

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AdmiralCheez wrote...
Hey, hey, Stanley!  Garrus?  Plz?  *nudge nudge wink wink*


Just in case it makes a difference...
this.  Please. <3

#18
Terror_K

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Stanley Woo wrote...

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)


Yes, but in both these cases it just seems like you missed the point regarding the good aspects of them and replaced them with things that completely defeat the purpose and ignore these factors (namely, the loading screens and Hammerhead).

Only you guys know for absolute sure of course, but the message sent to me with the choices you made with ME2 just says to me that you missed the point. The elevators were actually good at keeping one immersed in the game by purposefully ignoring loading screens in favour of a more natural transition. They merely needed to be sped up and not removed. Regarding The Mako, it wasn't the vehicle that was the main issue but the worlds we had to drive it on. The Hammerhead is an awful, gamey vehicle that completely misses what was actually fun and practical about The Mako in the first place.

It just seems that in both cases (and in other ones) you noted that these things were a problem, but you didn't (seem to) look into why they were a problem.

It just seems to me you guys in most cases where there were complaints about ME1 cut off your noses to spite your face and threw the baby out with the bathwater. Simply put, you overcompensated for ME1's failings and took away what was good about them in the process for the sake of simplicity and a more user-friendly approach. You guys didn't just cut the fat on these things, you cut off a whole bunch of good meat too, leaving a tiny, simple portion that just isn't satisfying enough.

#19
The-Person

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Terror_K wrote...

Stanley Woo wrote...

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)


Yes, but in both these cases it just seems like you missed the point regarding the good aspects of them and replaced them with things that completely defeat the purpose and ignore these factors (namely, the loading screens and Hammerhead).

Only you guys know for absolute sure of course, but the message sent to me with the choices you made with ME2 just says to me that you missed the point. The elevators were actually good at keeping one immersed in the game by purposefully ignoring loading screens in favour of a more natural transition. They merely needed to be sped up and not removed. Regarding The Mako, it wasn't the vehicle that was the main issue but the worlds we had to drive it on. The Hammerhead is an awful, gamey vehicle that completely misses what was actually fun and practical about The Mako in the first place.

It just seems that in both cases (and in other ones) you noted that these things were a problem, but you didn't (seem to) look into why they were a problem.

It just seems to me you guys in most cases where there were complaints about ME1 cut off your noses to spite your face and threw the baby out with the bathwater. Simply put, you overcompensated for ME1's failings and took away what was good about them in the process for the sake of simplicity and a more user-friendly approach. You guys didn't just cut the fat on these things, you cut off a whole bunch of good meat too, leaving a tiny, simple portion that just isn't satisfying enough.

No, most people before ME2 said they did not want Elevators, I remember reading it up after ME1 came out. Same with the Mako it self, people complained about the planet and the mako it self and how bad it was to drive it. Anyways, I don't think that Bioware should listen to the fans on forums, because they are just listening to a small number of people/ If the forums were the voice of the majority, you would think most people played fem shep, but the statitics show otherwise.

Modifié par The-Person, 15 décembre 2010 - 05:04 .


#20
SithLordExarKun

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Terror_K wrote...

Stanley Woo wrote...

@Terror_K: Perhaps while discussing and developing the "we don't like Mako and elevators because..." arguments, the development team had some other ideas that they wanted to add. i mean, we are allowed to fit our own ideas into our own game as well as fan ideas, are we not? ;)


Yes, but in both these cases it just seems like you missed the point regarding the good aspects of them and replaced them with things that completely defeat the purpose and ignore these factors (namely, the loading screens and Hammerhead).

Only you guys know for absolute sure of course, but the message sent to me with the choices you made with ME2 just says to me that you missed the point. The elevators were actually good at keeping one immersed in the game by purposefully ignoring loading screens in favour of a more natural transition. They merely needed to be sped up and not removed. Regarding The Mako, it wasn't the vehicle that was the main issue but the worlds we had to drive it on. The Hammerhead is an awful, gamey vehicle that completely misses what was actually fun and practical about The Mako in the first place.

It just seems that in both cases (and in other ones) you noted that these things were a problem, but you didn't (seem to) look into why they were a problem.

It just seems to me you guys in most cases where there were complaints about ME1 cut off your noses to spite your face and threw the baby out with the bathwater. Simply put, you overcompensated for ME1's failings and took away what was good about them in the process for the sake of simplicity and a more user-friendly approach. You guys didn't just cut the fat on these things, you cut off a whole bunch of good meat too, leaving a tiny, simple portion that just isn't satisfying enough.

Are you telling bioware how to do their jobs?

#21
The Chosen Predator

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in most cases i wish they never listened to SOME of the fans, lol.

#22
sinosleep

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Terror_K wrote...
I feel they also listen to the wrong fans quite often, and also listen more to reviews in magazines and on websites than their core fanbase.


The core fanbase doesn't post on internet forums.

#23
Terror_K

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The-Person wrote...

No, most people before ME2 said they did not want Elevators, I remember reading it up after ME1 came out. Same with the Mako it self, people complained about the planet and the mako it self and how bad it was to drive it. Anyways, I don't think that Bioware should listen to the fans on forums, because they are just listening to a small number of people/ If the forums were the voice of the majority, you would think most people played fem shep, but the statitics show otherwise.


No, people said elevators were too slow, not necessarily that they should go (though, yes, some did). Right now on these forums is a thread about which people would prefer: loading screens or elevators. A great majority are saying elevators in there.

Regarding The Mako, there was a thread about that not too long ago, and a good majority in that agree that The Mako itself wasn't so much an issue as the terrain. Many didn't like the 360 version's camera-dependent controls either, but when the PC version came out and they were altered there was almost universal approval from the players. In either case, most said the samey planets and bases and steep terrain was the main fault of The Mako, and that the vehicle itself was mostly fine (if a tad too bouncy).

sinosleep wrote...
The core fanbase doesn't post on internet forums.


If by that you mean that casual, mainstream gamers are more the target audience now than the hardcore BioWare fans, then you're right.

SithLordExarKun wrote...

Are you telling bioware how to do their jobs?


I'm just saying that they aren't perfect, can make bad decisions and that the results in ME2 seem to suggest that they didn't fully explore the issues as well as they could have.

Modifié par Terror_K, 15 décembre 2010 - 05:14 .


#24
Fiery Phoenix

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sinosleep wrote...

Terror_K wrote...
I feel they also listen to the wrong fans quite often, and also listen more to reviews in magazines and on websites than their core fanbase.


The core fanbase doesn't post on internet forums.

False. In fact, it's exactly the opposite.

#25
SithLordExarKun

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Terror_K wrote...


I'm just saying that they aren't perfect, can make bad decisions and that the results in ME2 seem to suggest that they didn't fully explore the issues as well as they could have.

Huh guess you're right.