Community Managers, you only got ONE job

[Ervig]

I like the fact that you guys are playing (CQC) with us. I like your community involvement. But what I would mostt like to see, is that you keep us informed and talk to us about important changes to the game BEFORE those changes are in effect!

I've been here a long time, and time and time again I see (unannounced) changes to the game that causes some kind of uproar. I see Community Managers that are hastily trying to explain those changes and developers that hastily (over-)rectify the problem. All this can be easily remedied if you guys would just talk to us about those changes, before making them.

The most recent example is the Ram Tah debacle that could easily have been avoided if (for example) a Galnet post would have stated that Ram Tah almost had enough data, and that the mission rewards would be nerfed in the coming month. But I'm also talking about CQC. If you would have told us you were working on this, we could have told you about lobbies, AI and our wishes. I'm also talking about PowerPlay... or rather let's not....

Talk to us about changes in the mission system, the BGS, Group content (wings/ multicrew etc) and RNG. And please do so while you're still working on those features. You might find our ideas interesting.

There might not always be time to implement our wishes, there might be specific reasons why some things cannot be done, and maybe we will often disagree. But we're also smart, we love the game and are generally quite nice people. We want your game to succeed! Even if you're busy, you actually only have one job: engage with your community and communicate with us about upcoming important changes to our/ your game.

I might be salty sometimes, but that is mostly my passion for this game. I'll see you in the black!

 

[Arry]

letting people know what is to come; only opens the door to grief. Plain and simple as that.

 

[verminstar]

I repped ye fer the effort...its a lost cause though. Ive lost me mojo trying...got burnout from the frustration trying to understand frontier, so Ill be brief and to the point. Even replying to a single thread now takes more enthusiasm than Ive been feeling lately, but I will say I know exactly where yer coming from and I agree absolutely, but as far as I can see...they really, really dont care.

And I care a lot less than I used to...cya in the black cmdr ^

 

[Cruel_R]

...they really, really dont care.

I'm pretty sure that's not the case, I think it's more likely to be some kind of FD internal 'thing' that we will never, ever know about. Too many chiefs, or lack of communication between departments, or whatever. Politics, dude.

 

[iFred]

I like the fact that you guys are playing (CQC) with us. I like your community involvement. But what I would mostt like to see, is that you keep us informed and talk to us about important changes to the game BEFORE those changes are in effect!

I've been here a long time, and time and time again I see (unannounced) changes to the game that causes some kind of uproar. I see Community Managers that are hastily trying to explain those changes and developers that hastily (over-)rectify the problem. All this can be easily remedied if you guys would just talk to us about those changes, before making those changes.

The most recent example is the Ram Tah debacle that could easily have been avoided if (for example) a Galnet post would have stated that Ram Tah almost had enough data, and that the mission rewards would be nerfed in the coming month. But I'm also talking about CQC. If you would have told us you were working on this, we could have told you about lobbies, AI and our wishes. I'm also talking about PowerPlay... or rather let's not.... Talk to us about changes in the mission system, the BGS, Group content (wings/ multicrew etc) and RNG. And please do so while you're still working on those features. You might find our ideas interesting.

There might not always be time to implement our wishes, there might be specific reasons why some things cannot be done, and maybe we will often disagree. But we're also smart, we love the game and are generally quite nice people. We want your game to succeed! Even if you're busy, you actually only have one job: engage with your community and communicate with us about upcoming important changes to our/ your game.

I might be salty sometimes, but that is mostly my passion for this game. I'll see you in the black!

That´s a problem from day 1 on to today. The CM´s are all nice guys, but for whatever reason they are limited to give us information that was approved by 10+ people inside FD. While I understand that it´s important to have some information in the bag for the big 3 announcement-days (E3, Gamescom etc.) I personally don´t understand that paying customers and all-day-players don´t have the slightest idea what it´s coming in the next weeks, not to talk about a developement plan for next year. Planning and plans only were important during kickstarter and beta.

I think giving ObsidianAnt a look into FDs´ office was a first step in the right direction. From my perspective we need a layer between CM and the community, and who else can fill it better than very well recognized players.

 

[Ervig]

letting people know what is to come; only opens the door to grief. Plain and simple as that.

What do you mean? A lot of game companies interact with their playerbase with success. Even Elite had the DDF (I was not a member though) with lots of great interaction between players and the developers.

That´s a problem from day 1 on to today. The CM´s are all nice guys, but for whatever reason they are limited to give us information that was approved by 10+ people inside FD. While I understand that it´s important to have some information in the bag for the big 3 announcement-days (E3, Gamescom etc.) I personally don´t understand that paying customers and all-day-players don´t have the slightest idea what it´s coming in the next weeks, not to talk about a developement plan for next year. Planning and plans only were important during kickstarter and beta.

I think giving ObsidianAnt a look into FDs´ office was a first step in the right direction. From my perspective we need a layer between CM and the community, and who else can fill it better than very well recognized players.

I agree that giving players an extra inside look can be great. I also think FD could only win by talking about upcoming features if they have the guts to make changes during the development process when players disagree. OR explain those decisions to the players. As an example: Powerplay was kept secret till there was no time left to alter anything about it.... Maybe FD is currently working on a Powerplay revamp. But if they are working on it, why not let us in and see how we like those changes before completely committing to it.

 

[Cruel_R]

What do you mean? A lot of game companies interact with their playerbase with success. Even Elite had the DDF (I was not a member though) with lots of great interaction between players and the developers.

And what became of that, pray tell?

 

[verminstar]

I'm pretty sure that's not the case, I think it's more likely to be some kind of FD internal 'thing' that we will never, ever know about. Too many chiefs, or lack of communication between departments, or whatever. Politics, dude.

And when has any politician actually cared about those who vote fer them? Ive been around games and forums long enough to have seen this exact attitude many times...seen it all before sorta routine.

"shrugs" It hurts them more in the long run...but we shall see ^

 

[Arry]

What do you mean? A lot of game companies interact with their playerbase with success. Even Elite had the DDF (I was not a member though) with lots of great interaction between players and the developers.

OK.

1st: The main voices will be the negative ones and they will make a big thing, about the 'new issues' they have. Those who are happy with the reported coming content, will remain silent, or limit themselves to a few words. This happens all of the time with beta forums.

2nd: The more notice given, the more opportunities for complaints and to rally any opposition to them.

3rd: There i always the crowd that shouts; 'what's with time being spent on new stuff, when you haven't fixed the current issues?' Even if many of said issues, are perceived by the complainant themselves.

4th: It is not F.Ds. way of doing things.

 

[yodajedifishmaster]

i think you should all go look at EA and specifically trawl the battlefront forums. lots of rage posts there about how they get little to no info at all. and while they tend to blame DICE (the developers) and EA or just DICE for it, its plainly obvious that its EA managers, none of whom seem to have any connection to gaming other than working for EA and plainly dont understand anything except profit margin, who call the shots as to not giving info to the playerbase. but its mainly DICE who have to do as they are told by EA, who get it in the neck! this is why i dont complain about Frontier - because its an order of magnitude better than EA, and the WORST i will say is that FD can use the example i gave as a warning; firstly, dont let yourselves be bought out by a gigantic publisher run by accountants, and secondly, dont fall into the trap of saving all info for shareholders, to boost share price, NOR give out too much info and become spoilers.

OP, i like surprises myself. i get the impression, perhaps wrongly, that you want to know all about the thargoid stuff long before its released. sort of like a kid who insists on being told what they are getting for christmas in mid july. which is fine if you enjoy that, and dont complain at christmas that its all boring because you knew all about it.

 

[Cruel_R]

And when has any politician actually cared about those who vote fer them? Ive been around games and forums long enough to have seen this exact attitude many times...seen it all before sorta routine.

"shrugs" It hurts them more in the long run...but we shall see ^

Not disputing that for a second, brother. Yes, I've been a gamer for over 30 years, and all the shenanigans that devs pull have left me kinda... jaded. What will be will be.

 

[Ian Phillips]

Community Managers, you only got ONE job

You have NO idea how wrong you are.

 

[Ervig]

And what became of that, pray tell?

You got me there I actually don't know anymore what came out of it. I know supercruise was one of those things, but I don't know what the alternative was. So I can't tell you if it was a success. I can tell you that the open discussion was mature, insightful and (as far as I can tell) pushed the game in the right direction.

OK.

1st: The main voices will be the negative ones and they will make a big thing, about the 'new issues' they have. Those who are happy with the reported coming content, will remain silent, or limit themselves to a few words. This happens all of the time with beta forums.

2nd: The more notice given, the more opportunities for complaints and to rally any opposition to them.

3rd: There i always the crowd that shouts; 'what's with time being spent on new stuff, when you haven't fixed the current issues?' Even if many of said issues, are perceived by the complainant themselves.

4th: It is not F.Ds. way of doing things.

Would you rather have critisism during the development process where the devs can reflect on their decisions OR after the development process when it is too late to use player input?

You have NO idea how wrong you are.

I actually do know... I was (very likely unsuccesfully) using the 'you only got one job meme'.

OP, i like surprises myself. i get the impression, perhaps wrongly, that you want to know all about the thargoid stuff long before its released. sort of like a kid who insists on being told what they are getting for christmas in mid july. which is fine if you enjoy that, and dont complain at christmas that its all boring because you knew all about it.

Yep, you're wrong. I LOVE surprises and especially don't wanna know what the Thargoids are all about. What does make me sad is seeing features released (CQC, Powerplay) that, in my humble opinion, would have been a lot better with some player input. It also makes me sad if changes are being made that impact the game a lot for some players without telling those players in advance (Ram Tah).

 

[verminstar]

Not disputing that for a second, brother. Yes, I've been a gamer for over 30 years, and all the shenanigans that devs pull have left me kinda... jaded. What will be will be.

Im trying hard not to be salty, didnt mean to sound overly confrontational about it. Im just burned out from the chinese water torture aspect of it and Im tired of getting infractions every day because it drives me to climbing the walls while peeling my eyeballs level frustration.

If I keep trying, Ill stop loving this game. Thats how fed up I am with them...half expecting to get a warning because I just happen to speak my mind next time I refresh the front page...

Anyway, Im done trying and done caring...what will be will be...Im off to chase a dragon ^

 

[INaeem]

You have NO idea how wrong you are.

Amen. We have the finest Community Team and some. Live long and Elite!

 

[Turbosnowy]

You have NO idea how wrong you are.

So, just curious as the title Community Manager lends itself to me thinking they somehow manage the community, you know with updates and things - news as to what's going on, and general communication management between the player base the developer, which is kinda what the OP is having a brain melt about (changes not being communicated etc) - so if I and perhaps many other people are very wrong in this assumption, maybe you would care rather than just say 'you have no idea', you might perhaps expand and enlighten us, so we don't make the same mistaken assumption again of course...

 

[Arry]

You got me there I actually don't know anymore what came out of it. I know supercruise was one of those things, but I don't know what the alternative was. So I can't tell you if it was a success. I can tell you that the open discussion was mature, insightful and (as far as I can tell) pushed the game in the right direction.
which translates into: A direction you were happy with.



Would you rather have critisism during the development process where the devs can reflect on their decisions OR after the development process when it is too late to use player input?
I would rather no criticism at all. Truth be told; you are not looking for the gossip about what is coming in the future, you are looking for the opportunity to add your own input and dictate the changes you desire. Which as I have already pointed out: Is a reason against releasing too much information in the first place, because you are not alone in your desire to have 'influence' over the final content and the shear number of players that want to add their point, would be just overwhelming for F.D. to deal with.


I actually do know... I was (very likely unsuccesfully) using the 'you only got one job meme'.



Yep, you're wrong. I LOVE surprises and especially don't wanna know what the Thargoids are all about. What does make me sad is seeing features released (CQC, Powerplay) that, in my humble opinion, would have been a lot better with some player input. It also makes me sad if changes are being made that impact the game a lot for some players without telling those players in advance (Ram Tah).

My point proved: You want time to influence changes to a game that you do not own, control or program. It is your game to play and enjoy, but not your own personal project.

Understand that you are not unique in this desire, it is a common human trait and so nothing to worry about.

 

[Cruel_R]

All I can say is -

[video=youtube;nlaoR5m4L80]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaoR5m4L80[/video]

 

[Ervig]

I would rather no criticism at all. Truth be told; you are not looking for the gossip about what is coming in the future, you are looking for the opportunity to add your own input and dictate the changes you desire. Which as I have already pointed out: Is a reason against releasing too much information in the first place, because you are not alone in your desire to have 'influence' over the final content and the shear number of players that what to add there point, would be just overwhelming for F.D. to deal with.

It's not about what I want. It's what I want players to have: a chance to voice their ideas and concerns before everything is set in stone. It is my opinion that this can only lead to a better game. Feel free to disagree with me.

 

[tafkabb]

Why do we want to find these things out earlier? So we can uproar sooner? I like surprises. The changes happen when they happen, it doesn't matter if I know beforehand or not.

Spoiler