97 réponses à ce sujet

[Puffy9999]

From a business point of view it is tough to always have to respond to critics. However, the point above about someone posting on a closed forum on a somewhat regular basis (weekly imo) should be very easy to do, something BW would want to do and it is almost unfathomable why they do not. it would literally take 1 minute to post.

 

You don't have to give away the farm, you just have to throw out tidbits or general things you are working on and update the list periodically. I doubt a major competing studio cares what BW is posting on some forum so from a competitive point of view it would seem not a big deal.

 

Not doing this tells me that some Engineering mgr does not care or that there is not enough resources to do this, or that the people inside BW realize this is a sinking ship.

[SofaJockey]

Not doing this tells me that some Engineering mgr does not care or that there is not enough resources to do this, or that the people inside BW realize this is a sinking ship.

 

To paraphrase Mark Darrah, here are reasons why I understand some information may not be provided:

1. because of a contractual obligations
2. because of SEC or other regulatory laws
3. because the information would trigger a revenue recognition issue
4. because it's a surprise
5. because they don't know the answer (yet)
6. because they are avoiding bad news. (Best avoided as it rarely works out. But happens on occasion.)
7. because people asked for it a way that didn't make someone want to answer.
8. because the information request got lost.

I think it is more likely to be one or more of these.

[ParthianShotX]

To paraphrase Mark Darrah, here are reasons why I understand some information may not be provided:

1. because of a contractual obligations
2. because of SEC or other regulatory laws
3. because the information would trigger a revenue recognition issue
4. because it's a surprise
5. because they don't know the answer (yet)
6. because they are avoiding bad news. (Best avoided as it rarely works out. But happens on occasion.)
7. because people asked for it a way that didn't make someone want to answer.
8. because the information request got lost.

I think it is more likely to be one or more of these.

 

 

But all of this is not even what I was seeking;  derailed train this thread -- should have foreseen it.  I was thinking general game insights.  Maybe even commenting on schools of thought that are out there:    "someone said if you never use the fonts you get more money."   

[TormDK]

"Because the information would trigger a revenue recognition issue" is likely the "root cause" on why we hear no mention of DLC.

[Kenny Bania]

But all of this is not even what I was seeking;  derailed train this thread -- should have foreseen it.

 

Yep. This isn't only about DLC. The "supporters" seem to think it is though.

[Creator Limbs]

BioWare is now part of the EA machine. Welcome to the new order.

[BioMasika]

Can you comment on the exploding mushrooms?
They are awesome
(particularly for Luka)

The exploding mushrooms in the eleven ruins destruction map were added by Nolan, who is the level artist that worked on MP with me since the beginning. He did an amazing job on the visuals for that route:)

[Puffy9999]

I wish I could figure out this word editor but that bullet list is pretty much a smokescreen/lack of commitment IMO..

 

Is that what they teach you in PR 101?

 

LMAO..

[BioMasika]

"someone said if you never use the fonts you get more money."

No, this is false. I discussed ALL of the ways to get loot in another thread. There is no secret action you can perform to affect it.

[jerky]

You guys are spoiled. I played Payday 2 for PS3.

[Creator Limbs]

You guys are spoiled. I played Payday 2 for PS3.

 

and I played ME3 on PS3, so what's your point.

[SofaJockey]

I wish I could figure out this word editor but that bullet list is pretty much a smokescreen/lack of commitment IMO..

Is that what they teach you in PR 101?

LMAO..

 

I didn't write the list, I'm just sharing it, but ok, let's do the converse and see if that works:

• Share information breaching contractual obligations.
• Share information breaching SEC or other regulatory laws .
• Share information and pay taxes because revenue for unreleased content has been recognised.
• Spoil surprises before launch.
• Guess at information not yet complete (because that worked for Crestwood).
• Try hard to share news that will hack people off.
• Prioritise information for those who whine the most or are the angriest.
• Prioritise answering questions over game development

Congratulations, that would be a much more successful PR approach.

 

Actually no.

[ParthianShotX]

 

• Try hard to share news that will hack people off.

 

This one's my favorite.

[Creator Limbs]

I didn't write the list, I'm just sharing it, but ok, let's do the converse and see if that works:

• Share information breaching contractual obligations.
• Share information breaching SEC or other regulatory laws .
• Share information and pay taxes because revenue for unreleased content has been recognised.
• Spoil surprises before launch.
• Guess at information not yet complete (because that worked for Crestwood).
• Try hard to share news that will hack people off.
• Prioritise information for those who whine the most or are the angriest.
• Prioritise answering questions over game development

Congratulations, that would be a much more successful PR approach.

 

Actually no.

 

Try changing the points entirely as opposed to just doing the opposite

[Puffy9999]

Jesus- That is a bunch of crap and unless you are the brother of the VP at BW what is your point? Do you actually believe that?

 

Repeat after me...

 

You can give out information in a general manner that would not cross any of those lines. Hell they probably do it about 50 times a day at any trade show, or industry event or at beers with bob and everybody at the local watering hole. If you are so concerned about all of that to the extent of alienating your customers you should rethink why you are in business.

[nightscrawl]

Several of the devs have said they can only do one social media, which for them is Twitter.
 
So give that a try.

I totally get that, and if that is what they want to stick with, then fine.

That said, I have two issues with this.

1 Twitter is a third party platform, and IMO it is a shame that there is more developer interaction there than on the official BioWare forums. These are their forums and I think they should be used to communicate with the fans.

 

2 You can't have a nuanced discussion on Twitter, so it really just appears as if the devs have gone beyond caring about any sort of meaningful discussion of any sort, or about addressing any concerns or problems in any great detail.

 

However, I will add that I understand many of the reasons the forums may have been abandoned. Seeing the same threads repeatedly, with many of the same posters, arguing the same points can get quite tiresome; there are only so many times you feel inclined to jump into a thread with a rehashed discussion and have the desire to contribute anything, which will get lost the next time someone starts the topic anew. Then there is the perpetual problem of -- no matter how carefully the dev tries to word their statement -- having their words taken out of context or blown out of proportion by whatever poster that has a bone to pick about said issue.

 

So, I can see why the general feeling might be, "Meh, why should we even bother?"

[DrKilledbyDeath]

So sick of Twitter/Facebook being forced down our throats. I just wish they would die.

[Creator Limbs]

I like how everyone against BioWare being more involved in their own forum likes to blame the users entirely as opposed to placing any sort of blame on the fact that EA will eviscerate BioWare employees for saying one wrong word.

 

You guys are pretty blind, or pretty dumb.

[Kenny Bania]

So, I can see why the general feeling might be, "Meh, why should we even bother?"

 

Except it was an issue long before this place became "toxic".

[DrKilledbyDeath]

I like how everyone against BioWare being more involved in their own forum likes to blame the users entirely as opposed to placing any sort of blame on the fact that EA will eviscerate BioWare employees for saying one wrong word.

 

You guys are pretty blind, or pretty dumb.

I think anyone who has played a lot of EA games over the years assumes 99% of the issues are caused by EA. Any game that has turned into a dumpster fire these days usually can be traced to a new publisher (EA, Activision, etc) pulling the strings and ****ing stuff up.

[Creator Limbs]

Ahem.
 
Destiny.

Except it was an issue long before this place became "toxic".

 
And let me tell you, since I've been called toxic by these people  - I'm less inclined to be kind or forgiving. It  becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that way.
But of course, that's basic sociology and I wouldn't expect anyone to know that.

[DaemionMoadrin]

This forum is just a place to collect all the malcontents where they can be controlled. Why bother trying to placate or *gasp* inform people in this forum, if they argue amongst themselves?

BioWare tries its best to appear to be listening to fans on other social media because they do not have full control there. They can not delete a twitter post made by a fan. Though I hear that they won't hesitate to delete posts on their facebook page and some reddit threads vanished, too.

 

It's a shame that we often get news from some third party gaming site instead of reading about here or on the BioWare blog.

 

Is there even a community manager anymore or was Jessica the last one?

[Kenny Bania]

And let me tell you, since I've been called toxic by these people  - I'm less inclined to be kind or forgiving. It  becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that way.
But of course, that's basic sociology and I wouldn't expect anyone to know that.

 

I'm in the same boat.

[SofaJockey]

Jesus- That is a bunch of crap and unless you are the brother of the VP at BW what is your point? Do you actually believe that?

 

Repeat after me...

 

You can give out information in a general manner that would not cross any of those lines. Hell they probably do it about 50 times a day at any trade show, or industry event or at beers with bob and everybody at the local watering hole. If you are so concerned about all of that to the extent of alienating your customers you should rethink why you are in business.

 

Let me meet you half (more than half) way  ,

you're not wrong that sharing general information is a good thing and at a trade show you are unlikely to be recorded or have come back because of it (though it does happen).

 

And pre-release there was plenty of discussion about the main game, gameplay videos, interviews, youtubers etc etc. but still very careful about what was said and clearly only with 'permission' from marketing.

 

But here we are talking about developers, people who I'm sure have to sign a lengthy Corporate Compliance Policy that will toast them if they say anything out of line. Even on the BioWare production staff's Twitter feeds there are very clear statements: "My posts are solely my opinion and do not reflect those of BioWare or EA."

 

It's also much easier for EA BioWare to distance themselves from a problematic opinion shared on a personal Twitter feed, than from a BioWare Employee on a BioWare Forum. In a world where every sentence, every word is analysed (and can have real world impact on stock price) such risk mitigation practices matter.

 

TL;DR

 

I agree with you that it would be excellent to read general information shared in a general manner that would not cross any of those lines.

However I've worked with Corporate organisations long enough to know that in practice that is much easier said than done.

 

You dismissed the list I adapted from Mark's comments as a smokescreen lacking in commitment, well I'm sorry but in a North American corporate environment, those restrictions, particularly over contract, regulation and revenue recognition are very real, it's very solid smoke and the developers didn't create it.

 

And of course I wrote the silly list to make a point, that may have been mean of me.

Your sentiments were not wrong, but it's just not that simple and so to blame those who cannot change the rules for lacking commitment is also a little mean.

[Kenny Bania]

Important question....

 

Why does using a healing potion break stealth?