I think it's partly because of how bad was (at least for some of us) the server situation over the weekend. I understand there were some problems on Steam's side as well. But even after they've been resolved, I couldn't access the trading centre, which isn't really ideal when I need to make like 4 new breeding pairs/groups and I would like to expand my zoo a bit too...so easentially my frustration comes from a point that I want to play, but I simply can't.
What's with the mood shift?
- Thread starter Masteradstriker
- Start date
WingardiumLevicoaster
Volunteer Moderator
Frustration is understandable of course. When it crosses the line though of being unkind, it doesn't help it get sorted any quicker. It adds extra stress for some people that makes it harder to resolve. ( Based on my personal experience outside of Frontier). It's a balancing act on a company's PR but also the user remembering the people behind the company.
IMO the reason for the mood shift started with people being way too quick to shut down criticism, and they weren't necessarily nice about it (even knowing Frontier is listening or we wouldn't be getting a new game mode). That made the people who were critiquing the game defensive, which led to hostility, which led to more people shutting down the criticism instead of targeting the nasty behavior, which led to more nasty behavior, and so on. Snowball effect. 
I personally won't stop critiquing the game, but that's because Frontier is an excellent team and does listen to us. So I have hope that my voice and others' will be heard and considered. Most of the things I've found frustrating have been fixed or are being improved, which is really exciting. Without feedback, I'm not sure that would've happened. That said, it's important to remember that Frontier is an excellent team, which is the whole reason why critique isn't meaningless, and they should be treated as such. I've seen everything from jabs to personal attacks and it's not cool.
I personally won't stop critiquing the game, but that's because Frontier is an excellent team and does listen to us. So I have hope that my voice and others' will be heard and considered. Most of the things I've found frustrating have been fixed or are being improved, which is really exciting. Without feedback, I'm not sure that would've happened. That said, it's important to remember that Frontier is an excellent team, which is the whole reason why critique isn't meaningless, and they should be treated as such. I've seen everything from jabs to personal attacks and it's not cool.
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Great post, @WLeonhart, I absolutly agree.
I said that a few times but I come from a game (as a player) and a company that is completly hostile to their customers, does NEVER listen to feedback, turn your words around in your mouth and the favorite sentence their is "that's not possible". I am still shocked sometimes as how much responsive Frontier often is. I love it, even though sometimes people don't see it, if they read critique posts from me.
I saw words like "liars" and all flying around. That's way too much for me. But that doesn't mean I can't critisize marketing decisions or point out when keyfeatures do not deliver.
I said that a few times but I come from a game (as a player) and a company that is completly hostile to their customers, does NEVER listen to feedback, turn your words around in your mouth and the favorite sentence their is "that's not possible". I am still shocked sometimes as how much responsive Frontier often is. I love it, even though sometimes people don't see it, if they read critique posts from me.
I saw words like "liars" and all flying around. That's way too much for me. But that doesn't mean I can't critisize marketing decisions or point out when keyfeatures do not deliver.
I agree with this but then again it's not their fault. Simple test what games with animals do you have? Zoo Tycoon both for PC and Xbox, Wildlife Park, Afrika for PS3, Cabela hunting game, and that silly Wild expansion for RCT3. They said Planet Zoo will have the best animals so far in the games (which also people should know that some of it is for marketing purposes of course) right? Just Compare Planet Zoo animals to all those in other games and they didn't lied.
The different thing is if "Karl" go out from reallity and start to imagine things.
People like "Karl" could also be rude and ungrateful. Remember when they announced first Aldabra tortoise and then Himalayan brown bear.. there were dozens of threads how Frontier doing the same thing like with Zoo Tycoon (XBox) adding numbers of same subspecies and overcrowding roster with them. I mean WHAT! Seriously. We have amazing roster in the Planet Zoo and it could be just better and out of 50 different great animal species you are bothered with just two alike ones? We have aardwarks, african wild dogs, african buffalos, gharials, orangutans, mandrills, snow leopards, okapis, pronghorns etc. and you are bothered with Himalayan brown bear? It is ridiculous.
But some people obviously have version of Planet Zoo in their minds and if Frontier step off just a bit from their imagination then you will have rant threads and posts.
Of course this has nothing to do with bugs in the game, which again people should be more patiant and reasonable, but they should give feedback and Frontier wants and needs that of course how they be able to make best experience for the game at launch.
Great example of what I was talking about in the post above. "Ungrateful," "ridiculous," "unreasonable," "going out from reality and imagining things," etc.
Attacking people for critiquing the game = defensive behavior = hostile behavior = mood shift.
If those of us critiquing the game would be kind and considerate toward the dev team, and those of us who are anti-critique would not be so quick to attack the people who are doing the critiquing, there wouldn't be nearly as many angry people on these boards.
If people would treat others with kindness, whether it's other players or the dev team, the boards would be a much nicer place.
Attacking people for critiquing the game = defensive behavior = hostile behavior = mood shift.
If those of us critiquing the game would be kind and considerate toward the dev team, and those of us who are anti-critique would not be so quick to attack the people who are doing the critiquing, there wouldn't be nearly as many angry people on these boards.
If people would treat others with kindness, whether it's other players or the dev team, the boards would be a much nicer place.
WingardiumLevicoaster
Volunteer Moderator
Another state I have seen in the Planco release days is those giving positive feedback attacked in their threads slamming them and their opinion. That's also not ok. Someone's positive experience doesn't negate someone's bad one and visa versa. All feedback is valuable.
Also, people should report whenever such an situation occurs. Instead of responding in the thread where others in their turn will also respond to.
Mods here are very active with any report they get, I believe that is the best way to keep threads on target.
Others send DM's to tell you they don't like the things you say. Which is better than having it in a thread.
Unless that gets a bit out of control as well, you can still report DM's.
I think we all have to appreciate that the industry is exploiting its consumers at the moment and with that comes suspicion, frustration and exhaustion. I've seen some very fair concerns and criticisms on the forum and while they might be a bit buzzkilly, those voices deserve to be heard amidst the praise as well.
WingardiumLevicoaster
Volunteer Moderator
While exploitation thoughts deserve to be aired, they often become personal attacks on individuals or sometimes are based on misconceptions about software development or even project management. However I still feel these views can be discussed in a polite way. Such views do not break rules, rules are broken if they are delivered in the ways described above. The same for those responding negatively to these posts.
Strongly judgmental language almost always says more about the person using it than about the person being referred to. I hope we won't get too sensitive.
It's not problem in that. There are dozens of good examples of feedback. We all know what bug is and we all could agree that most all bugs should be gone untill launch. Especially those who are cracks game. The problem is when someone come and ask something what he imagined and present that like a bug. Also in not polite way.
There is difference when someone opens thread and name it "why animals are so static in Planet Zoo" and "Is there possibility for animal in Planet Zoo do that (some) thing or behaviour or whatever? Or "Is behaviour of animals would change a bit and become more intense at final release?" But no. Let's right away bashing the game and call out like failure and it is not what they expected from. Or better it is not what they are promised to us!
I think what you've identified is what happens when a beta isn't free. When you have to pay to access it, it can lead to people having expectations and while I agree that they should be polite, they're not in the wrong.
EDIT: Just where I stand with this. Not putting it out there that any of you are saying they're in the wrong.
You might find this an interesting read (bad language warning ) :
The topic every game dev is talking about behind closed doors : The cost of doing business
Content warning : I’ve embedded some tweets to various developers that show the sorts of comments that they receive every day. There’s some…
I personally think the game is good, but rather hold off to play the actual game. This is mainly due to not wanting to build anything that takes time or effort, as it will be deleted.
I think what you've identified is what happens when a beta isn't free. When you have to pay to access it, it can lead to people having expectations and while I agree that they should be polite, they're not in the wrong.
EDIT: Just where I stand with this. Not putting it out there that any of you are saying they're in the wrong.
People who state: I payed for the beta so I should get a working product, don't understand the essence of a beta IMHO.
And I thought Beta was a bonus for the Deluxe Edition, not necessarely something they paid for, but paid extra for the 3 extra animals, soundtrack etc.
WingardiumLevicoaster
Volunteer Moderator
and this is why I am glad I write HR consultancy software. I am not a bad dev, but if I was a game dev, I would go home and cry every day.You might find this an interesting read (bad language warning ) :
The topic every game dev is talking about behind closed doors : The cost of doing business
Content warning : I’ve embedded some tweets to various developers that show the sorts of comments that they receive every day. There’s some…medium.com
I think what you've identified is what happens when a beta isn't free. When you have to pay to access it, it can lead to people having expectations and while I agree that they should be polite, they're not in the wrong.
EDIT: Just where I stand with this. Not putting it out there that any of you are saying they're in the wrong.
I fully understood that the beta would be buggy. This game and the animals are fine to me. Sure I'd rather have less static animals, but then again, zoo tycoon was worse off in terms of animals then this game.
Wow, thanks for all the responses, folks. Nice to hear that you are in the same page as I am.
We can all agree that feedback is good and helpful to someone if it is delivered nicely so that it won't offend that person.
We can all agree that feedback is good and helpful to someone if it is delivered nicely so that it won't offend that person.