Year ahead -2017- Suggestions for ZOS staff to read

NewBlacksmurf

Perhaps a different approach for next year would lead to better results (not that the current results are bad)
(Seems ppl want to add their ideas as well....go ahead and do so)

*Please do not go with promising things a year out like last year....instead just share what things you're working on for 2017. That way people have context to things you're working on but it opens you up to discuss things vs trying to talk in part. People can feel lied to or mislead but more important than this....if you were to continue shows like ZOS Live, the devs and PR team can actually speak intelligently vs talking around topics.

It's O K to say we are working on x, y and Z but there is a possibility that X may not ever come into the game.
This is the type of stuff that causes customers to drool and stay around....just don't dangle the carrot too much. Let's keep it to realistic features that are feasible in some section and then another section about ideas.

Year ahead Format suggestion:
-Confirmed content and features
-Development content and features
-Drawing board ideas and features/content
-Items/features/content not in development but mentioned.
-canceled development or on hold


Specific suggestions:
1. Remove your quarterly dlc schedule entirely and in its place commit to bug fix patches
2. Remove the separation of DLC release dates (perhaps day's apart in the same week instead)
3. Do continue quarterly PTS content testing even if the content isn't to be released in 60 days
4. Remove the quarterly crown crate idea and offer all possibilities and add new possibilities quarterly
5. Continue the monthly crown store updates
6. (Added due to forum updates) - Stop using redirect links in news articles and post the actual content with a hidden button for Safari users



Details on each item and logic behind each:
1. We all look forward to new content regardless if it's a revamp of existing content as well as new content and paid DLC. What's frustrating often times is that when the content comes, consistently, we experience added bugs as well as existing unresolved bugs. While some are minor annoyances, others often touch on QoL, balance, and even what can be game breaking or content completion preventative issues.

We don't expect the company to be perfect but it's conforming to see and experience intentional and strategic plans to resolve and commit to improvements.
While this will have an impact on releasing content, personally (not speaking for others), this leads to a higher quality game and should raise the value in the marketplace.

2. This is a touchy topic. I'm in no way suggesting that PC should wait on console certifications. Honestly having a PC account I use to jump over and play PTS and PC ahead of a console release. Now, what seems to be the case, is that the separation seems to contribute to groups of dedicated customers providing feedback and building platform specific known and unknown bug report threads or external sites with more detailed explanations.

My thought process could be flawed but from a production management or corporate strategy/go forward ideal.....unifying all to work best.
You all have teams that work independent as well as those who work with others and I'd only imagine that time is limited. Deadlines internally are necessary but externally, the end user is happier with quality and polished content vs throwing things out there and taking months to address some of the larger issues while taking 6-12 months on smaller issues if ever addressed at all. When teams are on the same release, it's more likely to produce higher quality products as the priorities align across the enterprise

Note:
-inventory and bank issues when the bank is full
-guild bank stacking /adding/removing
-getting kicked while playing when it's not an ISP, console server or network issue
-activity finder bug adding more than 4 players or adding a new player while the kicked player is still in the instance preventing the new player from joining
-various sets not doing what the tool top suggests
-falling through the game floor when teleporting or on a load screen
-inability to log out using the game menu
-console voice chat timer that never stops preventing ppl from leaving or entering channels
-friends list sync issues
-never adding back zone LFG
-never adding back trials LFG

3. PTS is a gold mine for content feedback.
Ive found that over the years, developers who keep this often and front of mind tend to have higher production upon releases. This directly influences items 1 and 2 above.

Also, people really want to experience coming soon updates even if they end up getting delayed for weeks and months.
What was good about PTS is having content in the works for weeks but what's began to hurt PTS is only releasing content for very few weeks and then releasing it live on all platforms with the reported issues, bugs or even those 9+ page topic threads where a lot of aggressive conversations occur

This is the one important place to start content I'd say at least 90 days prior to an expected release. That means it would be polished to when content is sent to PTS but a buffer of 90 days or more is allowed to refine so that the PTS that's ends up being part of the console update gets the first patch normally on PC for console release. Again...ideally the update would hit all platforms within 7 days.

4. Crown crates.....
I won't even go into the pages upon pages of feedback for and against this. You've decided to do it so my best suggestion here is not to roll the season release ideas into this.

If you're going to add what some refer to as gamble boxes, a path to free to play or just borderline money grabs....let's do it in a way where the offerings actually provide a "chance" for new and existing players to "win" or be "rewarded" items that cannot otherwise be obtained which were attainable in the past.

5. Crown store - buy and have stuff
Those who are willing to spend real money...keep the offerings coming.

I'd say to carefully use PTS to gauge what's presented in the monthly articles.

nine9six

Stop taking things off the Crown Store to funnel into your Crown Crates.

Return said removed items.

NewBlacksmurf

nine9six wrote: »

Stop taking things off the Crown Store to funnel into your Crown Crates.

Return said removed items.

This is an overwhelming agreement across many but it seems the company has committed otherwise. Prob someone jumping the gun on a presentation that was signed off on absent of user feedback

ANGEL_BtVS

* Stackable motifs (bank space is at a premium given all the new items introduced)
* Ability to convert dropped sets into any motif style you have learned

VinyParsley2016

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Perhaps a different approach for next year would lead to better results (not that the current results are bad)
*Please do not go with promising things a year out like last year....instead just share what things you're working on for 2017. That way people have context to things you're working on but it opens you up to discuss things vs trying to talk in part. People can feel lied to or mislead but more important than this....if you were to continue shows like ZOS Live, the devs and PR team can actually speak intelligently vs talking around topics.

It's O K to say we are working on x, y and Z but there is a possibility that X may not ever come into the game.
This is the type of stuff that causes customers to drool and stay around....just don't dangle the carrot too much. Let's keep it to realistic features that are feasible in some section and then another section about ideas.

Format suggestion:
-Confirmed content and features
-Development content and features
-Drawing board ideas and features/content
-Items/features/content not in development but mentioned.


Specific suggestions:
1. Remove your quarterly dlc schedule entirely and in its place commit to bug fix patches
2. Remove the separation of DLC release dates (perhaps day's apart in the same week instead)
3. Do continue quarterly PTS content testing even if the content isn't to be released in 60 days
4. Remove the quarterly crown crate idea and offer all possibilities and add new possibilities quarterly
5. Continue the monthly crown store updates



Details on each item and logic behind each:
1. We all look forward to new content regardless if it's a revamp of existing content as well as new content and paid DLC. What's frustrating often times is that when the content comes, consistently, we experience added bugs as well as existing unresolved bugs. While some are minor annoyances, others often touch on QoL, balance, and even what can be game breaking or content completion preventative issues.

We don't expect the company to be perfect but it's conforming to see and experience intentional and strategic plans to resolve and commit to improvements.
While this will have an impact on releasing content, personally (not speaking for others), this leads to a higher quality game and should raise the value in the marketplace.

2. This is a touchy topic. I'm in no way suggesting that PC should wait on console certifications. Honestly having a PC account I use to jump over and play PTS and PC ahead of a console release. Now, what seems to be the case, is that the separation seems to contribute to groups of dedicated customers providing feedback and building platform specific known and unknown bug report threads or external sites with more detailed explanations.

My thought process could be flawed but from a production management or corporate strategy/go forward ideal.....unifying arms to work best.
You all have teams that work independent as well as those who work with others and I'd only imagine that time is limited. Deadlines internally are necessary but externally, the end user is happier with quality and polished content vs throwing things out there and taking months to address some of the larger issues while taking 6-12 months on smaller issues if ever addressed at all. When teams are on the same release, it's more likely to produce higher quality products as the priorities align across the enterprise

Note:
-inventory and bank issues when the bank is full
-guild bank stacking /adding/removing
-getting kicked while playing when it's not an ISP, console server or network issue
-activity finder bug adding more than 4 players or adding a new player while the kicked player is still in the instance preventing the new player from joining
-various sets not doing what the tool top suggests
-falling through the game floor when teleporting or on a load screen
-inability to log out using the game menu
-console voice chat timer that never stops preventing ppl from leaving or entering channels
-friends list sync issues
-never adding back zone LFG
-never adding back trials LFG

3. PTS is a gold mine for content feedback.
Ive found that over the years, developers who keep this often and front of mind tend to have higher production upon releases. This directly influences items 1 and 2 above.

Also, people really want to experience coming soon updates even if they end up getting delayed for weeks and months.
What was good about PTS is having content in the works for weeks but what's began to hurt PTS is only releasing content for very few weeks and then releasing it live on all platforms with the reported issues, bugs or even those 9+ page topic threads where a lot of aggressive conversations occur

This is the one important place to start content I'd say at least 90 days prior to an expected release. That means it would be polished to when content is sent to PTS but a buffer of 90 days or more is allowed to refine so that the PTS that's ends up being part of the console update gets the first patch normally on PC for console release. Again...ideally the update would hit all platforms within 7 days.

4. Crown crates.....
I won't even go into the pages upon pages of feedback for and against this. You've decided to do it so my best suggestion here is not to roll the season release ideas into this.

If you're going to add what some refer to as gamble boxes, a path to free to play or just borderline money grabs....let's do it in a way where the offerings actually provide a "chance" for new and existing players to "win" or be "rewarded" items that cannot otherwise be obtained which were attainable in the past.

5. Crown store - buy and have stuff
Those who are willing to spend real money...keep the offerings coming.

I'd say to carefully use PTS to gauge what's presented in the monthly articles.

The ESO team manager should buy you a beer
Now, he doesn't need to google "2017 Plan" anymore.

Shader_Shibes

ANGEL_BtVS wrote: »

* Stackable motifs (bank space is at a premium given all the new items introduced)
* Ability to convert dropped sets into any motif style you have learned

This so god damn much!! Half of my crafted gear is still Xivkyn coz i will not fork out 500k+ to craft the same set, but different style every time they release a nice motif (Stahlrim motif, looking at you!)

Eh, nvm, mis read, but still should be able to re style any crafted armour.

User_Name

PTS for consoles so we can craft different styles and check out looks before committing to it. Or some sort of style shop where you can check out how the different styles look.

Listen to the pro pvp'ers / streamers and go all-in on fixing PVP.

NewBlacksmurf

User_Name wrote: »

PTS for consoles so we can craft different styles and check out looks before committing to it. Or some sort of style shop where you can check out how the different styles look.

Listen to the pro pvp'ers / streamers and go all-in on fixing PVP.

@User_Name
This isn't a realistic suggestion. They've addressed that a console PTS isn't permissible for released products in their support article over a year ago

Regarding PvP....respectfully neither PvE or PvP feedback should be taken until the two are completely separated.

Meaning when you enter PvP the champion points, character stats, gear and skills should have a completely differ effect. Same skills but different effects and same gear but different effects.

Think of a set that has PvE effects that when you enter PvP it adjusts

That means you'd have both a PvE and PvP build that both are customizable independent of the other.

Then they can start listening to the PvP crowd because as is, one change hinders or hurts the other

SneaK

Qtr1 2017 *Sell game to another company that can fix it*

DHale

This is not the way any business has or will ever operate works. ah to be young and naive again.... ZOS is here to make a profit... end of story. Just like... every other business...

Tandor

The main problem with this sort of stuff is that if a developer details things and specifically states that they are only being mentioned or are on the drawing board then a while later when they say they're not proceeding with them they will get accused of having lied and broken promises etc. It's little wonder that developers generally prefer to stay silent on stuff until they're really sure that something is coming in the next update!

Not that I disagree with the idea of having a detailed Road Ahead report in the New Year, I think that'd be great - I just think that ZOS might think it more trouble in the long term than it's worth in the short term.

NewBlacksmurf

....

Tandor wrote: »

The main problem with this sort of stuff is that if a developer details things and specifically states that they are only being mentioned or are on the drawing board then a while later when they say they're not proceeding with them they will get accused of having lied and broken promises etc. It's little wonder that developers generally prefer to stay silent on stuff until they're really sure that something is coming in the next update!

Not that I disagree with the idea of having a detailed Road Ahead report in the New Year, I think that'd be great - I just think that ZOS might think it more trouble in the long term than it's worth in the short term.

@Tandor
I can understand that people will be people and there no way to avoid that...if it's in writing vs said on an ESO live or some other interview, how is that bad?

I do believe it's more damaging to "say" something vs having produced a detailed strategy on the developers website.

NewBlacksmurf

DHale wrote: »

This is not the way any business has or will ever operate works. ah to be young and naive again.... ZOS is here to make a profit... end of story. Just like... every other business...

@DHale
Actually there are businesses that do operate with closely aligned strategies across their enterprises.
Those that don't often end up cutting or scaling down, selling off divisions due to poor performance or loss of revenue. A lot of what we've already seen from ZOS.

Companies with governing boards or investors also vote out or have the influence to take things public which leads to mergers, sales, going under, etc.

I think it's important not to generalize

Regarding being young or naive....unless you consider the late 30's as young and naive...(don't assume)

The company I currently work for...actually two, one where I develop and identify new channels for growth in over 19 states or terminate distribution channels disagrees with your statement. They've been around for over 200 years.

The other company is a lot more influential for marketing and television also has a different approach than your comment but some of what I wrote aligns with them.

The point I'm laying out is that the suggestions are just suggestions and not a must do. I've never presented to ZOS but I use to manage a lot of states they market to including their base office location for another industry. The thing in common is my end user is their exact same end user. Customer responses are very similar when it relates to products but will vary by age group.

What specific criticisms do you have on any of my points that you feel your perspective would better offer?

DHale

I had graduated from graduate school for the second time at about that time frame. So now that we have asserted... well nothing. The applicability to ZOS and its business model is not limited to vague businesses and models that are not associated with video games regarding design, development, or distribution. If you are trying to prove a point be....specific.
Personally, I would love to learn more about these successful not for profit video game companies.

Certainly, it may influence my future ESO forum posting. That said, Both Bethesda and Zenimax online studios are for profit businesses. Neither are not for profit business models that were alluded to in the op. Alas, I just may be daft being an old Infantry Marine... we are not known for our smarts when I say again ZOS is here to make a profit. In summary, for future posts I will be specific in clarifying video games company business models. So that we are are clearly comparing and contrasting similar institutional levels of analysis.

NewBlacksmurf

DHale wrote: »

I had graduated from graduate school for the second time at about that time frame. So now that we have asserted... well nothing. The applicability to ZOS and its business model is not limited to vague businesses and models that are not associated with video games regarding design, development, or distribution. If you are trying to prove a point be....specific.
Personally, I would love to learn more about these successful not for profit video game companies.

Certainly, it may influence my future ESO forum posting. That said, Both Bethesda and Zenimax online studios are for profit businesses. Neither are not for profit business models that were alluded to in the op. Alas, I just may be daft being an old Infantry Marine... we are not known for our smarts when I say again ZOS is here to make a profit. In summary, for future posts I will be specific in clarifying video games company business models. So that we are are clearly comparing and contrasting similar institutional levels of analysis.

@DHale

I'm not referring to any not for profit businesses.

These two companies make billions each year and pay out in the top 10% of their respective industries to their producers, performers and production staff as well as partners and affiliates.

Again, I don't have the answers but the suggestion is from interactions while working with profitable for profit companies. One which actually rings the stock market bell with their employees.

One of my managers was for over 10 years in the US gov working and helping many bipartisan ideas.

Tandor

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

....

Tandor wrote: »

The main problem with this sort of stuff is that if a developer details things and specifically states that they are only being mentioned or are on the drawing board then a while later when they say they're not proceeding with them they will get accused of having lied and broken promises etc. It's little wonder that developers generally prefer to stay silent on stuff until they're really sure that something is coming in the next update!

Not that I disagree with the idea of having a detailed Road Ahead report in the New Year, I think that'd be great - I just think that ZOS might think it more trouble in the long term than it's worth in the short term.

@Tandor
I can understand that people will be people and there no way to avoid that...if it's in writing vs said on an ESO live or some other interview, how is that bad?

I do believe it's more damaging to "say" something vs having produced a detailed strategy on the developers website.

Agreed, but my point is that it's less damaging to say nothing.

NewBlacksmurf

Tandor wrote: »

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

....

Tandor wrote: »

The main problem with this sort of stuff is that if a developer details things and specifically states that they are only being mentioned or are on the drawing board then a while later when they say they're not proceeding with them they will get accused of having lied and broken promises etc. It's little wonder that developers generally prefer to stay silent on stuff until they're really sure that something is coming in the next update!

Not that I disagree with the idea of having a detailed Road Ahead report in the New Year, I think that'd be great - I just think that ZOS might think it more trouble in the long term than it's worth in the short term.

@Tandor
I can understand that people will be people and there no way to avoid that...if it's in writing vs said on an ESO live or some other interview, how is that bad?

I do believe it's more damaging to "say" something vs having produced a detailed strategy on the developers website.

Agreed, but my point is that it's less damaging to say nothing.

@Tandor

So what do you do if you're ZOS and have confirmed you will be posting another year ahead article?

WuffyCerulei

1. Give us a release date for when Clockwork City is to be out. We know it's a confirmed DLC. We just wanna know!
2. Horse riding lessons be account-wide. It is a major, long, expensive, and tedious task to train horses every day on all toons.
3. More extras for ESO+ subscribers. We pay the premium for a reason, and that's to have the nice stuff!
4. Reduce the cost of the Imperial City DLC. Not everyone PvPs, but they do wanna do White Gold Tower and Imperial City Prison.

Tandor

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

....

Tandor wrote: »

The main problem with this sort of stuff is that if a developer details things and specifically states that they are only being mentioned or are on the drawing board then a while later when they say they're not proceeding with them they will get accused of having lied and broken promises etc. It's little wonder that developers generally prefer to stay silent on stuff until they're really sure that something is coming in the next update!

Not that I disagree with the idea of having a detailed Road Ahead report in the New Year, I think that'd be great - I just think that ZOS might think it more trouble in the long term than it's worth in the short term.

@Tandor
I can understand that people will be people and there no way to avoid that...if it's in writing vs said on an ESO live or some other interview, how is that bad?

I do believe it's more damaging to "say" something vs having produced a detailed strategy on the developers website.

Agreed, but my point is that it's less damaging to say nothing.

@Tandor

So what do you do if you're ZOS and have confirmed you will be posting another year ahead article?

Review the past year, give plenty of info on stuff for the new year that is confirmed, and as little info as you can on anything that is open to doubt.

Liofa

Fix the bugs before they become a joke in the community . (chains , templar charge , scales , battle roar tooltip and many more)