Dust settling?

[TannakaObi]

Three to six months, although you will always have a turnover of people that will criticize. Also, some people are just mardy. They may like the game but sound like they would like to throw up over it.

But in terms of forums, three to six months.

 

[oO Para Oo]

Without new players the game will die. Take your head out of your...
wake up and realise being a fanboy will get you nowhere.

I could say I played the original so am I better than you? The game is uber uber non new player friendly.. Grow up, and help new players.. Elite? yes says it all, so many people here feel they are above new players.. a bad community.

 

[Renegade Roach]

It will also depend on how FD handle adding content. If, over the next few months, they can add a significant amount of stuff that was expected at launch (or even unexpected) then I'd imagine the community will calm down. If they throw us a few bones and then move straight onto paid expansions, well....

 

[medwyn]

The quality of a community forum is reflecting the quality of the members.
As long as there are people driven by their uncontrolled emotions which are reactive rather than constructive and expectations are superseeding facts and real potential we'll see some mess around.
They say it's human nature.
However it's easy to prove otherwise - just needs different decisions in an actual situation.
Another element which causes trouble is that what people think about something appears to be more "relevant" (but at least more important) than the object they are thinking about. I usually scroll through those comments where I find sentences starting with "I think" and replies starting with "Yes, but I think". They are just aiming to support/argue what thoughs people have rather than the game or topic itself.

Judgements can also be dangerous - making judgements on anything (the game elements, each other, etc.) will most likely trigger a response based on submission or rebellion. As another "human nature"-thing is based on personal identification with opinions or any other elements ("I am what I said", "I am what I expect/suggest/demand" etc.) these are ending up with the feeling of personal offence rather than recognizing the borderline between the personality and the topic itself.

So it's all about consciousness and communication. Or more about the lack of them.
This dust may not settle as long as there's no will to change attitude and no will of picking up more knowledge about control and consciousness. And it's not a steep tendency in the last thousands of years since the first written sources.
So we may have to live with it and develop some skills not to consider or respond inadequate entries.

 

[Varrag]

According to my own experience, I'd say - never. Gaming forums are very different while the game is in early development and later when it's released, with the general tone always changing from constructive and positive to usual mix of trolling, hating and whining. I am seeing this pattern over and over again.

 

[Seonid]

Without new players the game will die. Take your head out of your...
wake up and realise being a fanboy will get you nowhere.

That didn't take long did it.

 

[domdavis]

My experience of MMO forums is there are generally two types of post:

Type 1: This game sucks/is doomed due to [insert ranty reason here]
Type 2: OMFG the server is down and I haven't been able to log in for 2 nanoseconds. I pay good money for this, fix it, fix it now!

We've not had many server problems

 

[Connor Caple]

I hope it doesn't settle, because that will be a sign that the game is dead.

As long as people want changes and new features, the game has a healthy population. Once the self-proclaimed 'fanbois' get what they want, the game will be dead.

Seen it happen with other games in the past. The successful games keep developing and attracting new players, even after a shaky release. The few games that have listened to their 'hardcore fanboi' forum members are dead and buried, some spectacularly so...

 

[Agony_Aunt]

I'm a little confused by the anti-fanboi comments, in that a couple of posters seem to think that we do not want more content.

The main point is we think FD have released an awesome game and its just going to get better and better, but we are gagging for new content just as much as the most rabid hater. We do want more! Trust me.

One thing i think FD should have done though and that is they should have pulled a Google. Instead of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, they should have had Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and Alpha 3, and then on the 16th kicked off with an Open Beta. They could have kept the beta label on the game for years! Why not, it works for Google!

 

[Billy Chase]

The worst thing about the shift in tone on the forums appears to be that both sides of the argument probably will never see eye to eye on the issue. Personally I'm a fanboy (*). I'm enjoying almost every minute of gameplay and I just can't get my head around why people might not like the game. I suspect that exactly the same happens in the other "camp", they probably shake their head why the fans are in fact fans. As a direct result of this I'm pretty sure the forum will never revert to what it was during premium beta and before. However I do hope that things will eventually calm down somewhat so that those who like the game actually can edge a word in sideways.

My favourite argument in the anti camp is "if you don't criticise the game then it will die". This shows a crucial misunderstanding. Being a fan of the game doesn't mean I like every feature of it, or every decision the developers make. I will still criticise them but I will do it in a constructive spirit. (That's "I don't like A because B but you could try doing C then it would be better because D" as opposed to "I hate the game because A sucks! Nuff said.") It is this that is the difference between trolling and constructive criticism. When I find a thread with constructive criticism I'll read it, think carefully about what is said, may or may not revise my own opinion and generally participate in the discussion if I have something to add. If I stumble upon a troll it's better to back off and do this.

(*) Did you notice how a new word has been invented? It used to be called "fans". I distinctly remember, back in the day! But I guess "fan" as in "fanatic" lost its sting so a new derogative word had to be invented. Well, call it what you will but I'm proud to be either a fan or a fanboy. Beats a negative attitude to things, dunnit?

 

[mugendo]

I've never played a MMO (more than a few tries that ended in minutes) so I really have no clue how long it takes for the dust to settle, so to speak, and the "core" gamers to have back the game. If you know what I'm trying to say.

I'm not trying to offend but, does anyone know about how long it takes for the dust to clear and momentum to shift back to people that like the game and will be playing it for a long time? I suppose it could be months, a year or maybe longer?

If you don't like the game that's ok, to each their own but, being a "fanboi" of the game I look forward to the days of peace and harmony like it used to be but, I have no idea how long, if ever, it usually takes for things to settle.

I sure do miss the community being like it was a few months ago, peaceful, helpful and a real sense of community even when disagreeing.

Usually I wait 6 months before playing a 'new' game. Of course I am here since Beta...so I get to 'enjoy' the company of the transit gamers until the new 'shiney spinney bauble' attract their attention. The Universe is big enough to make this period of time tolerable.

 

[Cody]

The Beta / Gamma forums did not restrict access to players confirmed as having bought the game...

<nods> That was definitely a mistake, I reckon!

 

[Renegade Roach]

Regarding the 'fanboy' thing; Yes it has become a pejorative term in the gaming world, it's become an easy way to have a dig at anybody who posts supporting a developer or game. Where I used the term in my earlier post I was not referring to people who enjoy and support Elite but rather to those who currently attack anybody posting a criticism of the game design no matter how rational or reasoned. They're no better than the 'Elite is terrible, game gunna die' crowd and are potentially more harmful to its development.

It's easy for a developer to ignore those who post nothing but doomsaying and over the top criticism without any constructive input. What is harder is for them to gain a more objective view of how their players think if debate is killed off by people who simply post 'no, it's fine' or 'Elite isn't the game for you' and so on. Currently these forums are rather polarised between these two mindsets, hence the lack of truly constructive threads of late.

One area of debate where this has been apparent is that of player communication and social tools. There exists a distinct camp of players, usually early KS backers, who simply refuse to countenance that the game might need and greatly benefit from a serious overhaul of how comms and grouping work. Beyond the introduction of wings they seem to see no need for further development and actively campaign against it, usually with no greater level of input than 'it's fine, space is lonely' or 'I don't want WoW spamming in space'.

 

[kaivalagi]

Only joining the forums after my pre-order late November I don't know what the user base on here was like back in beta but I have seen a silly increase in "dust" since the release date, to the point where I have no patience anymore with the doom and gloom ED will fail rubbish being published or this should change and that should change nonsense.

Surely any gaming issues will have been discussed during beta and gamma and now the game has been released there is no way core game logic will be changed for such things as insurance, gaming mode etc, it should only be added to and improved now right? Alright there there may be a few issues that need ironing out where things aren't working 100% but the fundamentals for all of it are sound to me, having had feedback from all the backers earlier on. If I really wanted a say I would have joined the fold much earlier and voice my opinions when they could have an real impact.

I'll be here long after all the whiners are gone, I hope the forum at that point becomes more civilised and calm again like I saw in early December.

I have much respect for the backers of the game, without them I wouldn't be playing an awesome game I first got lost in on my BBC B back in the day

 

[Flavourless]

There is a huge difference between fans and fanboys.

There is a vociferous group of the latter here who utterly destroy the forum as a place for constructive criticism.
The merest hint of a bug report is shouted down with "the game is awesome and has no problems whinger".

This is the most negative attitude found here, and I look forward to the time when most of those people get bored and leave so we can get on with the job of discussing the problems the game has with a view to helping to find reasonable solutions to them.

I am afraid that it might take some time.

 

[Sanderson]

How I wish they'd make a premium beta forum.

 

[Sanderson]

Without new players the game will die. Take your head out of your...
wake up and realise being a fanboy will get you nowhere.

I could say I played the original so am I better than you? The game is uber uber non new player friendly.. Grow up, and help new players.. Elite? yes says it all, so many people here feel they are above new players.. a bad community.

Perfect example..........

 

[Muthax]

I've never played a MMO (more than a few tries that ended in minutes) so I really have no clue how long it takes for the dust to settle, so to speak, and the "core" gamers to have back the game. If you know what I'm trying to say.

I'm not trying to offend but, does anyone know about how long it takes for the dust to clear and momentum to shift back to people that like the game and will be playing it for a long time? I suppose it could be months, a year or maybe longer?

If you don't like the game that's ok, to each their own but, being a "fanboi" of the game I look forward to the days of peace and harmony like it used to be but, I have no idea how long, if ever, it usually takes for things to settle.

I sure do miss the community being like it was a few months ago, peaceful, helpful and a real sense of community even when disagreeing.

It all depends on how quick Mods are in eliminating blatant trolls. All you can do is report people who break forum rules, it seem to work as many of the worst offfenders hacve stopped posting or toned down a lot

 

[Speculative]

It was the same at each stage of pre release...I came in at Prem Beta and it was a bit of a hassle, then Beta, people went made, then Gamma it was an uproar and on release it went bat crazy.

Each one died down over time and became a bit better, I think this will happen here too eventually. The game is out now, the main laws and rules have been set, when people realise that they won't change FD's mind to make it the game that each individual wants they can then start to play the game they HAVE rather than the never reached perfect game of their minds eye.

At that stage hopefully it will only be the occasional new comer that complains... (here's hoping!)

 

[Roybe]

I've never played a MMO (more than a few tries that ended in minutes) so I really have no clue how long it takes for the dust to settle, so to speak, and the "core" gamers to have back the game. If you know what I'm trying to say.

I'm not trying to offend but, does anyone know about how long it takes for the dust to clear and momentum to shift back to people that like the game and will be playing it for a long time? I suppose it could be months, a year or maybe longer?

If you don't like the game that's ok, to each their own but, being a "fanboi" of the game I look forward to the days of peace and harmony like it used to be but, I have no idea how long, if ever, it usually takes for things to settle.

I sure do miss the community being like it was a few months ago, peaceful, helpful and a real sense of community even when disagreeing.

Never happens. Any time someone buys a product, if they are unhappy with the product, they will let the manufacturer know what they want in the product to make that consumer happy. Doesn't matter if it's a game or cheese, if there is a forum, there will be people 'explaining' why something is wrong and all the manufacture has to do is 'just' fix it....'really, it isn't that hard, I could do it in a few days so someone doing it for a living should be able to fix it in just seconds'.