Community

Oct 27, 2010 -- 3:22PM, Dane_McArdy wrote:

Oct 27, 2010 -- 10:44AM, PaoloM wrote:

On the other hand, I am known to make jokes

But in this case, I didn't say anything untrue. It is going to be awesome and we're not yet ready to tell you more about it.

And, considering that in the end this is a game, I like environments that are fun and entertaining. The constant negativity (and it is warranted sometimes, I know very well) is just tiring and doesn't get us anywhere. I'm not advocating rah rah gushing posts with no room for dissenters, but dogpiles and repetitions... are just not fun.

Huh. I've been asking for something to do be done about the dogpiling for some time now. To deaf ears it seems.

There are things they can do to make the forums a friendlier place if they tried.

And what, pray tell, would you propose be done, short of outlawing negative comments bout the company/game/whatever?  I can't imagine the latter would be practical, even if they wanted to. 

Oct 26, 2010 -- 3:28PM, mudbunny wrote:

Oct 26, 2010 -- 3:24PM, dbmeboy wrote:

Oct 26, 2010 -- 3:21PM, Dane_McArdy wrote:

Sorry, evidence and history shows that people would still complain and speculate the worst and make up problems that don't exist, in anticipation. Not you specifically, but in general, people.

You are welcome to disagree, but history says differently. Look at essentials.

You are of course right, I probably shouldn't have said "all."  However, if you continue reading down the thread a ways you'll see that this has already been covered.  What I was trying to say was that it would be better to give us something to be excited about.  Sure people would complain, but that's a given no matter what.  If they gave us something to look forward to at least some of us could discuss that instead.

WotC has given some information out. Not a whole lot ("web-based tools") but it is, compared to what they had previously been saying, a start. Keep in mind that this is a company that previously, said nothing about what was coming until the days before it got released. It is a start, and it is baby-steps.

Now, that being said, I would be lying if I said that I would not like to see more communication from WotC on stuff.

People keep stating that they have not been saying anything about what was coming.  This has only applied to DDI.  They are drowning us in things to come on the main web page.  So this gag order that we keep hearing about is just DDI.   What can we do as a community to have this gag-order removed?  It really seems dumb for WotC to have this policy because a few people might complain as opposed to almost everyone complaining.  It's not like they have to give us exact dates on when something they are working is coming out. 

To me, keeping quiet just says that nothing will ever come out.  In my opinion, if they were positive that what they are working on is going to function they would tell us.  And if they aren't going to produce anything then I see no reason to buy their service.  I realize that they are probably doing "something" but they haven't sold the idea to me and until they do I will not renew.

Oct 27, 2010 -- 5:35PM, Mock wrote:

I, uh...well, I don't want to confirm Dane's worst suspicions about all of us, but could one of the VCLs maybe poke someone to see if they can put the next update date on November's calendar (since it's up now?)

That worries me.

Oct 27, 2010 -- 10:44AM, PaoloM wrote:

On the other hand, I am known to make jokes

But in this case, I didn't say anything untrue. It is going to be awesome and we're not yet ready to tell you more about it.

And, considering that in the end this is a game, I like environments that are fun and entertaining. The constant negativity (and it is warranted sometimes, I know very well) is just tiring and doesn't get us anywhere. I'm not advocating rah rah gushing posts with no room for dissenters, but dogpiles and repetitions... are just not fun.

Unfortunately, internet forums tend to amplify certain negative dynamics.  It is far more common to visit a company forum to complain about a product or to look for a solution to something that doesn't seem right, rather than to heap on praise for a job well done. 

It can be very hard to live up to the customer's expectations, and it's devastating when a company can't live up its own expectations.  WOTC certainly expected to have a cool suite of tool for the release of 4E, but it was unfortunately not in the cards they got dealt.  They went all in and got busted on the flop.

Things have been so quite the past year that it wasn't even clear they were sitting at the table.  I can understand not wanting to make a bit bet in until you're sure you have the nuts, but I have to seriously question the business sense of not engaging with your own customers for over a year. 

While I have been disappointed that there hasn't been any substantial new tools for DDI that should have been relatively easy to produce (I'm talking encounter building and support, not VTT), I am happy enough to use the CB and MB for what they are.  I have not asked for a refund and I have no plans to turn off my auto-renew.

I really hope your new tools are six kinds of Awesome as you suggest.  I'll be able to read topics on what cool stuff folks have done with them, and be using them myself.  It still will not be all roses and sunshine as there will always be those who expectations you have not met.

Here's to hope that this happens "sooner" rather than later.