200 réponses à ce sujet

[Archer]

Chris Priestly wrote...

eveynameiwantisfekintaken wrote...

And for the record i am not "attacking" a Bioware employee, i am simplying voicing my upset and disatisfaction about the way we are spoken to sometimes.

Yet when I do it....

Thats my whole point. As a Bioware employee you should rise above it and be the bigger man so to speak.

Believe me i do understand the frustrations. There have been many occasions when i have wanted to physicaly eject a complaining customer from my store because i personaly  have been wound up but their attitude towards me.

But i cant do that. I cant do it because i am "the face" of my company. If i did, the only thing that customer would remember is the poor way in which i responded to their complaint. All i would achieve in doing is angering that customer further and fueling further negativity in them.

That said abusive language, threatening behaviour, posts calling for people to be sacked etc are never acceptable. I wouldnt accept it in my line of work and neither should you guys. BUT it has to be accepted that sometimes critisism will be entirley negative and not necesarily constructive. People will react in the heat of the moment in a negative way when they are angry or upset about something. I freely admit i have myself in the past, possibly even to an extent in this thread

A lot of posts on these boards arent people complaining because they get a kick out of seeing Bioware fail. Its because we genuinley care. The Mass Effect series IMHO is a true gaming masterpiece, and yes i do include ME3 in this despite several issues i personaly have with endings and pre release hype etc.

Its probably a catch 22 situation. We keep calling for more information and a lot of the time when you guys do respond, we tear you apart, and again i will admit i have done this myself, recently in fact in the new patch thread where i took the oportunity to again raise the EMS issue that has yet to be addressed. But again some of these remarks are relevant and do really need some kind of response/action.

Frustration, anger and aggression on either side doesnt help but at the end of the day its more critical to your business that you guys rise above it and be the bigger man so to speak.

[devSin]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Yet when I do it....

Really? "Woe is me"? That's the card you're going to play?

But I forgive you. It's tough, being old. Especially with all the young hooligans always bothering you, reminding you what it was like to still be vibrant and full of life.

Modifié par devSin, 28 mai 2012 - 08:52 .

[Accism]

Chris Priestly wrote...
And your little "yes we are listening" thing... yeah. Awesome. This is exactly the sort of thing that makes us want to announce. "Why aren't the Devs telling us anything? Why have they stopped talking? Why are they ignoring us?" Gee... I wonder why?

Are you kidding me? What's with all this passive aggressive nonsense from Chris? All this stuff only serves to make him (and by extension, BioWare as a whole) look like an **** and only degrade the level of the conversation even further into an us vs. them thing. It doesn't matter who started it, it *should* be someone like Chris's job to be the bigger man and moderate discussion, not act like all the other nerds arguing on the internet and get directly involved.

Oh and by the way, that ridiculous devil emoticon only makes things worse, it makes everything he says look like it's meant as a troll. I suggest Chris use tthis as a signature instead:

[Persephone]

BrotherWarth wrote...

Chris Priestly wrote...

eveynameiwantisfekintaken wrote...

And for the record i am not "attacking" a Bioware employee, i am simplying voicing my upset and disatisfaction about the way we are spoken to sometimes.

Yet when I do it....

When you do it it makes you bad at your job. You're supposed to be able to handle a few mean comments and act as if you care about customer relations. But when you insinuate that people are stupid if they don't like the ending and complain when people complain then you are failing at your job. If you think people are being meanie-heads then keep it to yourself and act like a professional.

I'm all for CS being conducted in a polite, productive way. But really? After all that has been said and done, the fanbase complains about "rudeness", sarcasm and tongue in cheek remarks? Really? 

You want the devs to communicate? Want official stuff about releases, be involved as much as you can? It's a two way street. Whenever Bioware DOES communicate, they are torn to shreds. When they are silent to prevent further damage, they "don't care". Gee, I wonder which solution is less frustrating. Maybe if both Bioware AND the fanbase communicated like mature, level headed adults....? Nah, this is the BSN!

[AdamJenson]

Persephone wrote...

BrotherWarth wrote...

Chris Priestly wrote...

eveynameiwantisfekintaken wrote...

And for the record i am not "attacking" a Bioware employee, i am simplying voicing my upset and disatisfaction about the way we are spoken to sometimes.

Yet when I do it....

When you do it it makes you bad at your job. You're supposed to be able to handle a few mean comments and act as if you care about customer relations. But when you insinuate that people are stupid if they don't like the ending and complain when people complain then you are failing at your job. If you think people are being meanie-heads then keep it to yourself and act like a professional.

I'm all for CS being conducted in a polite, productive way. But really? After all that has been said and done, the fanbase complains about "rudeness", sarcasm and tongue in cheek remarks? Really? 

You want the devs to communicate? Want official stuff about releases, be involved as much as you can? It's a two way street. Whenever Bioware DOES communicate, they are torn to shreds. When they are silent to prevent further damage, they "don't care". Gee, I wonder which solution is less frustrating. Maybe if both Bioware AND the fanbase communicated like mature, level headed adults....? Nah, this is the BSN!

The environment has changed 'round these here parts.  Oddly, it seems to have coincided with the time it took people to play ME3 to the ending and go all justifiably ballistic over it. Prior to that it was, oh, pretty much butterflies and ponies here.  Then there was also the build up of various issues like the whole SP EMS thing and other actual showstoppers not being addressed.  At all.  Not even in the forums.  

In any case, you have all been seeing "official" somethings.  Any time Priestly posts ANYTHING that is hearing something official.  Be it an official insult, official snide comment, official clarification, official justification, official prevarication, etc.  Official.  Tweets from officials at Bioware are, intended or not, also "official", particularly when they say ANYTHING about ANY Bioware project or game.  

[Chris Priestly]

Ok. To those that were offended or similar to what I said, I am sorry. I genuinely believe that when communicating BOTH parties should be polite, respect each other, play nice, etc. I should not abuse my power or position at BioWare and should not come off making light of genuine concerns. However, people should also be polite if they want open discussion with us here at BioWare. I have been (perhaps failry) accused of some degree of shorttemperedness here. When you spend your day reading the vast amounts of negativity here, it does tend to wear one down. I let this example get under my skin. I shouldn't have.

Yes, I understand the arguement that we should openly communicate with people, especially in times where there is concern. However, when daily we have to close or remove threads threatening violence against staff, calling for people to be fired, how our company is failing and similar it has gone beyond a point where Devs and even myself are open to a lot of open communcation. That does not mean we are not reading and listening to what is being said and suggested, but it hopefully will explain a bit as to why communication is lower now than usual.

Also, the Extended Cut is being worked on. The team has been listening to what fans have asked for and are using suggestions to help create it. It is too soon to talk about it yet. I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good. When the product is ready to be discussed (as decided by the team making it), then there will be details, release dates, etc.

[Chala]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Ok. To those that were offended or similar to what I said, I am sorry. I genuinely believe that when communicating BOTH parties should be polite, respect each other, play nice, etc. I should not abuse my power or position at BioWare and should not come off making light of genuine concerns. However, people should also be polite if they want open discussion with us here at BioWare. I have been (perhaps failry) accused of some degree of shorttemperedness here. When you spend your day reading the vast amounts of negativity here, it does tend to wear one down. I let this example get under my skin. I shouldn't have.

Yes, I understand the arguement that we should openly communicate with people, especially in times where there is concern. However, when daily we have to close or remove threads threatening violence against staff, calling for people to be fired, how our company is failing and similar it has gone beyond a point where Devs and even myself are open to a lot of open communcation. That does not mean we are not reading and listening to what is being said and suggested, but it hopefully will explain a bit as to why communication is lower now than usual.

Also, the Extended Cut is being worked on. The team has been listening to what fans have asked for and are using suggestions to help create it. It is too soon to talk about it yet. I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good. When the product is ready to be discussed (as decided by the team making it), then there will be details, release dates, etc.

Aww C'mon!
That was mean

Modifié par El_Chala_Legalizado, 28 mai 2012 - 09:34 .

[Spectre197]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Ok. To those that were offended or similar to what I said, I am sorry. I genuinely believe that when communicating BOTH parties should be polite, respect each other, play nice, etc. I should not abuse my power or position at BioWare and should not come off making light of genuine concerns. However, people should also be polite if they want open discussion with us here at BioWare. I have been (perhaps failry) accused of some degree of shorttemperedness here. When you spend your day reading the vast amounts of negativity here, it does tend to wear one down. I let this example get under my skin. I shouldn't have.

Yes, I understand the arguement that we should openly communicate with people, especially in times where there is concern. However, when daily we have to close or remove threads threatening violence against staff, calling for people to be fired, how our company is failing and similar it has gone beyond a point where Devs and even myself are open to a lot of open communcation. That does not mean we are not reading and listening to what is being said and suggested, but it hopefully will explain a bit as to why communication is lower now than usual.

Also, the Extended Cut is being worked on. The team has been listening to what fans have asked for and are using suggestions to help create it. It is too soon to talk about it yet. I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good. When the product is ready to be discussed (as decided by the team making it), then there will be details, release dates, etc.

Come on guy's give Chris here a break hes here to help out we dont need flame wars and people getting banned for stupid stuff so hey lets give some respect just like they give to use because I have seen the stuff that is said and Im glad that Chris has the respect to talk nice to us so lets return the favor and be kind and be nice to everyone.

[LiquidGrape]

Huntress wrote...


2 of the ends in mass effect 3 are so.. wrong thats why people are so upset, tell me if after watching Aliens+ the rest of the movies at the end of Alien resurrection ended like this:
How is that artistic?

The ending to Alien: Resurrection is actually a very fitting conclusion, taking the film's themes of maternity and existential guilt into account. Ripley is reconstructed from the dead with no biological precedent for the sole purpose of breeding xenomorphs, and she must consequently destroy her only offspring in order to survive.
The whole thing was handled a lot better than the trite and forced family unit in Cameron's Aliens.

That out of the way, I have no interest in the rest of this debate.

Good day.

Modifié par LiquidGrape, 28 mai 2012 - 09:45 .

[AdamJenson]

I'm not jumping Priestly's "post" or anything here but..."I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good." Seriously, why say that? What ELSE are you going to say. "I've seen it and it isn't going to do what ya'll really think or want it to do. It will simply expand on the current ending exactly as it is to give 'closure'."

In short, I guess don't say anything along those lines. Leave it at "they are working on it and it is not yet ready to be commented on." I mean, the EC could (and will) simply expand on "synthetics always turn on their creators blah blah" and yet ALL Bioware staff, from janitorial staff to CEO would HAVE to say, "It's WONDERFUL!"

Modifié par Chris Priestly, 28 mai 2012 - 09:49 .

[Chris Priestly]

Fans: "Speak to us".
Me: "Ok. It looks good".
Fans: "Yeah well what else would you say."
Me: *sigh*

[freler31]

Chris, while I have my current issues with Bioware I just wanted to say that any violent and threating messages you've been getting are completely unacceptable and I hope you and the rest of the staff can disregard those (hopefully few) bunch of idiots.

[Berkilak]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Fans: "Speak to us".
Me: "Ok. It looks good".
Fans: "Yeah well what else would you say."
Me: *sigh*

I don't mean this as a combative statement, but methinks you need to take a few steps back from your involvement in the community right now. Yes, it's a terrible thing when people do nothing but spew hate toward a company you've been with and grown to love over quite some time, justified or otherwise. But that comes with the territory. You cannot allow it to become personal, regardless of how bad it becomes.

I've been there before. I've been that public face who became a scapegoat for anyone who had a beef with that organization I was with. It's not fun. But you can't let them get to you. Just say what needs to be said. It's always nice to have a bit of personality with interactions in the community, but you're definitely getting burned out and your further reactions are simply exacerbating that burn out.

Take a few days off. Maybe even a week or more. Yeah, people are going to cry about it. But I feel that you need to divorce yourself from this negativity - a period to re-engergize yourself.

[cyniel]

Chris Priestly wrote...

I'm not jumping Priestly's "post" or anything here but..."I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good." Seriously, why say that? What ELSE are you going to say. "I've seen it and it isn't going to do what ya'll really think or want it to do. It will simply expand on the current ending exactly as it is to give 'closure'."

In short, I guess don't say anything along those lines. Leave it at "they are working on it and it is not yet ready to be commented on." I mean, the EC could (and will) simply expand on "synthetics always turn on their creators blah blah" and yet ALL Bioware staff, from janitorial staff to CEO would HAVE to say, "It's WONDERFUL!"

It really does sound like you jumped on that post, especially those lines. He stated his opinion about what he saw so far from EC without revealing anything in detail. I don't see what's wrong with stating an opinion unless that's not allowed anymore?

[hoorayforicecream]

Devs aren't paid to post on forums *or* communicate with fans. Devs are paid to *develop games*. If the community wants information that isn't filtered through PR, the community has to stop venting its frustrations at the people who aren't being paid to deal with it.

The community managers always post what they can; it isn't out of some misguided "I could tell them this, but I won't! Muahaha!" conspiracy to punish the community. It's really a catch-22 - if they say it looks good, they get told they have to say those things. And if they say nothing, then the community complains at the silence. It's not like they are going to post weekly reports. I'm pretty sure you aren't particularly interested in stuff like "Finished clean pass on vorcha_green_head_03 texture better, starting pass on normal map next week" or "Found bug with animation system that causes physics objects handles to go out of scope occasionally, working on a fix".

[Seifer006]

Chris Priestly wrote...

When you spend your day reading the vast amounts of negativity here, it does tend to wear one down. I let this example get under my skin. I shouldn't have.

If it helps. I think you've handled yourself much better then I could. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably would have been "fired" from Bioware.

[Emeck73]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Fans: "Speak to us".
Me: "Ok. It looks good".
Fans: "Yeah well what else would you say."
Me: *sigh*

I feel for ya on that one Chris.
Some people must live to complain.
Thanks for the info Chris.

[Archer]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Ok. To those that were offended or similar to what I said, I am sorry. I genuinely believe that when communicating BOTH parties should be polite, respect each other, play nice, etc. I should not abuse my power or position at BioWare and should not come off making light of genuine concerns. However, people should also be polite if they want open discussion with us here at BioWare. I have been (perhaps failry) accused of some degree of shorttemperedness here. When you spend your day reading the vast amounts of negativity here, it does tend to wear one down. I let this example get under my skin. I shouldn't have.

Yes, I understand the arguement that we should openly communicate with people, especially in times where there is concern. However, when daily we have to close or remove threads threatening violence against staff, calling for people to be fired, how our company is failing and similar it has gone beyond a point where Devs and even myself are open to a lot of open communcation. That does not mean we are not reading and listening to what is being said and suggested, but it hopefully will explain a bit as to why communication is lower now than usual.

Also, the Extended Cut is being worked on. The team has been listening to what fans have asked for and are using suggestions to help create it. It is too soon to talk about it yet. I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good. When the product is ready to be discussed (as decided by the team making it), then there will be details, release dates, etc.

Respect and thanks for that response Chris

And as i indicated earlier out right abuse, threats of violence and threads that keep calling for people to be sacked, i am 100% with you. Its just not acceptable.

I personaly would like to see more dialogue between the team and the fans, but i really do understand the frustrations from both parties. As i indicated earlier being in a position where you are percieved as being the "face of the company" and dealing with so much negativity on a daily basis, it is going to be a challenge to keep your cool and not react at some point.

From the standpoint of a huge fan of the series i have failed to keep my cool in the past. I will be honest i have been fairly vocal about some of my issues and i have been very critical of Casey Hudson, Mac Walters and Mike Gamble regarding their pre release statements regarding the content of the game. I would like to say i would love those guys to respond to those issues here but in all fairness could i honestly say i wouldnt jump down their throats if they did? Probably not. So despite my upset with those particular issues i can relate to why it may be better to let the dust settle so to speak before talking about some issues the player base has raised.

Perhaps this thread is a good example of what we need to start seeing again on these boards. Some open and honest dialogue between the Bioware team and the fans. Despite my earlier observations i have a lot of respect for the position you are in, in all honesty with the mood on the forums as it is at present it strikes me that you are stuck between a rock and a hardplace in a somewaht thankless role, and as i indicated earlier, much respect to you for taking the time to make that response. A genuine thank you from me.

All that said, now that everyone is friends again would this be a good time to ask if theres any updates or information available regarding the Single Player EMS issue?

Worth a try

[spiriticon]

A real fan of BioWare would actually give respect to the ideas BioWare are trying to create and be civil about feedback when it goes wrong, rather then pull this "I'm a paying customer so I have all the power" bull****.

Being a paying customer does not automatically give rights to insist the developer change the content of the game if you don't like it.

BioWare needs to lose "fans" like this.

[AdamJenson]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Fans: "Speak to us".
Me: "Ok. It looks good".
Fans: "Yeah well what else would you say."
Me: *sigh*

No no no.  That is not what I mean.  I mean provide information with valid, useful content.  It is stone-cold fact that your OPINION of the quality/basis of ANY piece of Bioware work is going to be, "It's GREAT!"  You cannot say anything else.  What you CAN do is give status reports, "they are working hard on it and we have a rough timeline..." or even "we are addressing many of that actual complaints..." (though this latter is also bordering on useless - it could mean "we heard you and so we are expanding on 'The reapers are synthetics that wipe out organics before organics can be wiped out by their own synthetics' which would do nothing to fix things....but I digress).  

You are free to voice your opinion of the work being done but...it IS fact that whatever your stated opinion is, it will always turn out to be "It's GREAT!"  So simply avoid that sort of thing and give assurance that bugs ARE being looked at and dealt with (EMS issue, whether it is even CONSIDERED an issue - that you cannot get gasp of breath by SP alone...bug or feature?  Other actual bugs.  WHEN something may be ready...rough timeline is all really).  

Honestly, when it comes to your opinion on whether some Bioware design or plan or project is good or not...what are you going to say?  We already know so there is no actual information content there.  That's all I meant.  You are tightly constrained by the fact that you want to keep your job.

[Icemix]

Chris Priestly wrote...

Ok. To those that were offended or similar to what I said, I am sorry. I genuinely believe that when communicating BOTH parties should be polite, respect each other, play nice, etc. I should not abuse my power or position at BioWare and should not come off making light of genuine concerns. However, people should also be polite if they want open discussion with us here at BioWare. I have been (perhaps failry) accused of some degree of shorttemperedness here. When you spend your day reading the vast amounts of negativity here, it does tend to wear one down. I let this example get under my skin. I shouldn't have.

Yes, I understand the arguement that we should openly communicate with people, especially in times where there is concern. However, when daily we have to close or remove threads threatening violence against staff, calling for people to be fired, how our company is failing and similar it has gone beyond a point where Devs and even myself are open to a lot of open communcation. That does not mean we are not reading and listening to what is being said and suggested, but it hopefully will explain a bit as to why communication is lower now than usual.

Also, the Extended Cut is being worked on. The team has been listening to what fans have asked for and are using suggestions to help create it. It is too soon to talk about it yet. I have seen some early work (no I will not give details) and what is being done is very good. When the product is ready to be discussed (as decided by the team making it), then there will be details, release dates, etc.

AWWWW such a tease! That is just mean.

[Spectre197]

I don't think Chris should leave the community here people need to stop being disrespectful to a person that is here to help us out. I promise you that when something new.comes it about EC Chris were will be the first one to tell us when he is able to tell us.