Remove cancelled accounts from the forums

Cogo

The problem on ESO forums isn't to let people post if they have an account or not.

Its the constant huge "attack" (I cant find any other fitting word) on ANYONE who has anything positive to say about anything in ESO.

I get pretty much targeted here because I happen to like the game and see beyond my own nose, and the game today. But I've been around forums a lot to not take things personally, nor care about useless posts.

Not all forum users accept getting pointless "attacks" against them. I do not blame them. But this is a problem. We dont get a lot of other players view because of the pointless negative "feeling" here.

We need feedback and discussions. But ESO forums have sadly become a playground for people who seams to get off, on attacking other peoples views, unless they are pure negative and blames Zenimax for all the problems in the world. Hell, we have forum trolls even attacking each other, about NONE ESO issues even.

I want all peoples views!
We do have a problem on these forums, that if you DARE to come with some positive opinion, suggestion or anything other then ESO sucks, broken, etc..... you have mob on you.

I am for free speech. There are a few users on these forums who have succeeded to create this negative environment that any new forum user wouldn't be interested here. Free speech does not mean you can bully anyone just because they do not agree with you.

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on discussing real-world religion or politics.]

MajikMyst

Daethz wrote: »

Maybe ZOS should listen closely to their unsatisfied customers and try harder to fix the problems?

The most important post written by anyone is one that is critical of the game and expresses ways that the game might be improved..

Subscriber or not..

Well said @Daethz

AlexDougherty

malbaboeb17_ESO wrote: »

If a player stops playing and wants to explain why, they should have 2-3 days max, to do so, on the forums or with the feedback tool. But ex-players staying for more than those said days, are here just to bring negativity and troll. The forums are filled with said comments and, quite honestly, its getting to the point where i don't even feel like coming here anymore.

So when can you start cleansing the forums from old accounts?! It makes no sense to let trolls wonder around.

EDIT: im not saying the game is perfect. Its far from it. But usually players that pay for the game, give feedback, with the intent of improving it. Players who have cancelled, for the most part, only complain about what made them quit and get that "i have nothing to lose" attitude.

When I left Swtor, I made a goodbye thread, and left. I looked back to see what people had written, but I didn't post again.

I can't understand why anyone would quit a game, but hang around the forums. So I have to say I agree with this.

MajikMyst

cfurlin wrote: »

There's a big difference between an unsatisfied customer and an entitlement baby with gas.

There is.. The problem is, I doubt anyone on the forums is qualified to make the determination as to who is who.. In fact, nobody on the forums should even attempt to make such a determination..

Putting labels on people is just a childish attempt to make yourself look better and someone else look bad..

Whether someone is being called a fanboi or a entitlement baby with gas, there is only one truth.. Generally speaking, when someone else calls someone a name, it is because they lack the intelligence to come up with an intelligent response.. They are also desperate to make themselves look good at the expense of someone else..

MajikMyst

AlexDougherty wrote: »

When I left Swtor, I made a goodbye thread, and left. I looked back to see what people had written, but I didn't post again.

I can't understand why anyone would quit a game, but hang around the forums. So I have to say I agree with this.

The difference is, some people simply take some time off.. If you are going to Europe on business for 6 months, why maintain your subscription??

As I said earlier in the thread, I am moving here soon.. I actually have 2 unused 60 day time cards.. I am holding on to them until I move and get all set up at the new place.. I don't see the point in putting in the code, only to have a portion of it burned up by the move..

The problem I am having is, why is this an issue and why does anyone care if they are subscribed or not??

That is what I want to know..

AlexDougherty

MajikMyst wrote: »

AlexDougherty wrote: »

When I left Swtor, I made a goodbye thread, and left. I looked back to see what people had written, but I didn't post again.

I can't understand why anyone would quit a game, but hang around the forums. So I have to say I agree with this.

The difference is, some people simply take some time off.. If you are going to Europe on business for 6 months, why maintain your subscription??

As I said earlier in the thread, I am moving here soon.. I actually have 2 unused 60 day time cards.. I am holding on to them until I move and get all set up at the new place.. I don't see the point in putting in the code, only to have a portion of it burned up by the move..

The problem I am having is, why is this an issue and why does anyone care if they are subscribed or not??

That is what I want to know..

Ok, I can appreciate your situation, and can see why you would want to stay on the forums.

But I have seen others just hang around trolling and being a negative pain in the proverbial. I can see that this wouldn't be the case for you, and as with everything, no one policy covers everyone.

drogon1

malbaboeb17_ESO wrote: »

If a player stops playing and wants to explain why, they should have 2-3 days max, to do so, on the forums or with the feedback tool. But ex-players staying for more than those said days, are here just to bring negativity and troll. The forums are filled with said comments and, quite honestly, its getting to the point where i don't even feel like coming here anymore.

So when can you start cleansing the forums from old accounts?! It makes no sense to let trolls wonder around.

EDIT: im not saying the game is perfect. Its far from it. But usually players that pay for the game, give feedback, with the intent of improving it. Players who have cancelled, for the most part, only complain about what made them quit and get that "i have nothing to lose" attitude.

Hehe that's some thin skin. Players that unsub lose access to the forums when their subs run dry, so you are probably seeing already a lot LESS criticism than otherwise.

Criticism of the game should not be removed from forums or "sunk" by moderators. Anyone who has a sub should have full access to the forums to post their views. You don't want to read a thread, skip over it.

Having said that, I have no problem with censoring outright rudeness. But many players are passionate about the game. Do not mistake player passion with rudeness due to your own thin skin.

Head.hunter

The sub should be required, and players who have time remaining should have partial but not total access. I'd agree that not all of them are trashing the game.

How about a limited amount of posts per day/week?

GreySix

Head.hunter wrote: »

The sub should be required, and players who have time remaining should have partial but not total access. I'd agree that not all of them are trashing the game.

How about a limited amount of posts per day/week?

Nope. If you have even a day of subscription left, then you should have full and non-impaired posting privileges for that remaining day

Period.

Anilahation

Use reddit

Sendarya

What about people who are interested in the game and want to come ask questions? I suppose we could limit them to viewing everything and only posting in the "new players" area, but what if they have crafting questions, or PvP?

If you allow access for subs only, you are shutting the door on potential customers.

Shiroro

Reddit deletes all negative threads and posts about the game now and that's one of only 2 outside sites we know that Zeni looks at for feedback. They need to hear the bad as well as the good, right here where someone might stumble upon it one day.

JKorr

KitLightning wrote: »

Coggage wrote: »

No sub should mean no posting allowed. There are other forums devoted to ESO that they can use.

Absolutely reduncolous. How on earth would a company ever get more customers with such an approach. Sometimes a user will create an account basically to get the news feeds or read up on data elsewhere inaccessible as a Guest user. Do you think that a player feels at home from the start, when they are greeted by a guardian waving the keys to the castle in front of them, with an extortion as a means of achievement.

Go to EABioware's "social site". Try to post. Unless you have a game registered, you can not post. read all you want, but you can't post. Even without EA's involvement, you had to have a key registered to post on Bioware's forums. Its why, for the time before EA decided no trolls or problem posters would ever get banned, posters behaved for the most part. If you caused problems on Bioware's forums, your key got banned, not your ip. If you wanted to post again, you had to get a new game/key.

These forums can be read by anyone. Only current accounts can post; if you still have paid for time, you can post. Once that is gone, then no. If someone has to get in touch with a Zenimax person, you can send a email on the Help/Support page, even if you don't have a current account. There isn't any reason to let people who don't have the game post here.

Kililin

There is a reason for the overwhelming bad feedback.
It does not help to silence the critics, in most other MMO's i saw a lot more balance of positive and negative opinions. In the official forums, but also on external sites.

ESO either gets ignored (2month after release!) or negative feedback. Negative feedback is helpful. Even more than positive feedback.
People posting here care about the game.
There is no hidden agenda, other publishers do not pay the critics.
If you dont want to hear negative opinions you need to stop reading, even zone chat at times.

MajikMyst

AlexDougherty wrote: »

Ok, I can appreciate your situation, and can see why you would want to stay on the forums.

But I have seen others just hang around trolling and being a negative pain in the proverbial. I can see that this wouldn't be the case for you, and as with everything, no one policy covers everyone.

It isn't really an issue of policy.. It is the assumption that when a subscription ends, they automatically become a troll and post nothing but trash.. Are you making the claim that people with a subscription are incapable of being a troll and posting trash??

Preventing people with expired or no subscriptions from posting isn't going to solve the troll problem..

People need to learn to live with trolls or if trolls are simply to much for them.. They are the ones that need to stay off the forums.. I have yet to find a forum for a video game that didn't have it's share of trolls.. Demanding that a group of people not be allowed to post is just stupid in my opinion..

Moiskormoimi

No...you can't post on the forums after your time has expired. IF you cancel your account, you still paid for a month and the remainder of your days are bought and paid for to use as you see fit. Denying someone the right to use their time as they want simply because you don't agree that they cancelled is childish.

ers101284b14_ESO

MajikMyst wrote: »

AlexDougherty wrote: »

When I left Swtor, I made a goodbye thread, and left. I looked back to see what people had written, but I didn't post again.

I can't understand why anyone would quit a game, but hang around the forums. So I have to say I agree with this.

The difference is, some people simply take some time off.. If you are going to Europe on business for 6 months, why maintain your subscription??

As I said earlier in the thread, I am moving here soon.. I actually have 2 unused 60 day time cards.. I am holding on to them until I move and get all set up at the new place.. I don't see the point in putting in the code, only to have a portion of it burned up by the move..

The problem I am having is, why is this an issue and why does anyone care if they are subscribed or not??

That is what I want to know..

My biggest problem with letting people with no sub comment is because the devs actually do take what we say into account. If people without subs where allowed ot continue to comment then there would be tons of trolls and butt hurt people who hated the game providing input for a game I am paying for and they have no intention of returning to. That is my only problem with it. It would be like buying shares in Walmart stock but the CEO and employees of Kmart get to provide input on how it was run.

Obviously that's an exaggeration but still your paying but other people get to shape the game you pay for and judging by the level of hatred around here I wouldn't want that.

ZOS_HugoP

Greetings folks,

Just to clarify: access to the forums is limited to players having game time on their account / an active subscription.

It means that if you subscription is running out, and you don't actually renew it, your forum access will be revoked as well once your game time has expired.

ers101284b14_ESO

ZOS_HugoP wrote: »

Greetings folks,

Just to clarify: access to the forums is limited to players having game time on their account / an active subscription.

It means that if you subscription is running out, and you don't actually renew it, your forum access will be revoked as well once your game time has expired.

We know that! some people are just opposed because they want to still be able to post after they quit in case they want to return.

GreySix

ers101284b14_ESO wrote: »

ZOS_HugoP wrote: »

Greetings folks,

Just to clarify: access to the forums is limited to players having game time on their account / an active subscription.

It means that if you subscription is running out, and you don't actually renew it, your forum access will be revoked as well once your game time has expired.

We know that! some people are just opposed because they want to still be able to post after they quit in case they want to return.

Know of no mainstream MMO that allows that.

ers101284b14_ESO

GreySix wrote: »

ers101284b14_ESO wrote: »

ZOS_HugoP wrote: »

Greetings folks,

Just to clarify: access to the forums is limited to players having game time on their account / an active subscription.

It means that if you subscription is running out, and you don't actually renew it, your forum access will be revoked as well once your game time has expired.

We know that! some people are just opposed because they want to still be able to post after they quit in case they want to return.

Know of no mainstream MMO that allows that.

FF14 if I remember right. Other than that me either. I'm fine with not letting people post who don't have a sub.

Phantorang

AngryNord wrote: »

Coggage wrote: »

No sub should mean no posting allowed. There are other forums devoted to ESO that they can use.

Yeah, I mean, God forbid that someone unhappy with aspects of the game told the developers about it so they had an opportunity to improve, huh?

They can report their concerns while they still have an active subscription. I dont see how someone who isnt playing the game got anything valuable to report, that they couldnt report while they were actually playing the game.

Phantorang

GreySix wrote: »

Elirienne wrote: »

Completely agree. IF you are not playing the game, you do not belong here and I am not interested in what you have to say.

If you have X days left on your subscription, then you should be able to post for X days.

Yes of course, as long as you have paid for the game and got an active subsciption, you should be able to post, thats the point. While those who doesnt pay, they should only be able to read, and/or post on a public forum, while this is closed for subscribers.

Moiskormoimi

GreySix wrote: »

ers101284b14_ESO wrote: »

ZOS_HugoP wrote: »

Greetings folks,

Just to clarify: access to the forums is limited to players having game time on their account / an active subscription.

It means that if you subscription is running out, and you don't actually renew it, your forum access will be revoked as well once your game time has expired.

We know that! some people are just opposed because they want to still be able to post after they quit in case they want to return.

Know of no mainstream MMO that allows that.

WoW allows it. They also have limited forums that you can post in without a sub once your time allotted has lapsed.

Moiskormoimi

Phantorang wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

Elirienne wrote: »

Completely agree. IF you are not playing the game, you do not belong here and I am not interested in what you have to say.

If you have X days left on your subscription, then you should be able to post for X days.

Yes of course, as long as you have paid for the game and got an active subsciption, you should be able to post, thats the point. While those who doesnt pay, they should only be able to read, and/or post on a public forum, while this is closed for subscribers.

It's already like that. Once the sub runs out, you can't post, only read. Until then, you can post until your time lapses.

Drasn

One of the biggest problems imo, is that people don't understand what a troll is. They think that anyone that has an opposite viewpoint of theirs is a troll. The fact is, people disagree and some simply cannot take being disagreed with, and so they get butt-hurt.

There are people that like the game, people that want to like the game, and people who don't like the game. Whether someone is not paying a sub or waiting for a sub to run out, there is a reason why. Those reasons should be taken into account when looking at making changes to the game.

There are people that wanted this game to succeed beyond anyone's expectations, and it is painful to watch something you believed in fall apart. Opinions matter, negative or positive.

People post about the mistakes that were made, not to troll, but rather to see the game improved. Some word choices and perceived tones may not be exceptional, but that doesn't make their opinion any less valid.

You notice that most of the people saying they left for X game, give examples of why X game is better. That actually provides a huge amount of feedback to the developers about features that ESO is lacking and other games are offering. Could it have been done differently? Sure, but sometimes the best truth is the hurtful one.

Hadria

Let them read but don't let them post

AlexDougherty

Hadria wrote: »

Let them read but don't let them post

Um, you don't even have to log in to read, so it isn't a case of let them read.

Alazarz

Since this is a subscription based game... You must be actively subscribed to the game before you are allowed to post. Isn't that the way it is!? If it isn't then it should be! Duh!

rayeab16_ESO wrote: »

...

I'm sorry but that's just BS plain and simply. Anything you may want to know can be found by using google or visiting forums and using the search function. A new thread containing a question is very rarely a necessity as similar threads already exist 99 times out of 100. You should not infact be able to post without an active subscription. Why you ask? . . .

Because more times than not, people who do not (especially previous subscribers) have an active subscription are just here to flame bait and troll.

Hypersillyman

I happen to know for a fact that inactive players can still post. I have no problem with this. I've never liked the idea that you have to have an active account to post on the forums. What if you are a potential new player and want to ask some questions first? What if you are a former player who is considering returning and want to know if enough has changed? By blocking expired accounts from posting, you discourage return players. By blocking non-account holders, you discourage incoming new players.

If I were to have cancelled my account for now, I may come back to the game someday. What if I want to ask some questions about the state of the game before returning? Not allowing me to do that would discourage me from returning, simply because it would make me feel like they don't care about my opinion, my loyalty, or my desire to return. This would be a bit of a turn-off.

I say, let the people post. That's what moderators are for. As long as they do their job correctly, I don't see the problem.