Correct me if I'm wrong but the Dev Tracker doesn't give any information beyond what's already included in the threads themselves. I think it's just a list a list of the very few threads that contain a (non-Dev) ZOS post. Is that correct?I think I read that devs used to come onto the forum and engage with players.
I don’t think it’s worthwhile having devs here getting bogged down in ten different opinions on how to improve a given aspect of the game. It would be more useful if we had someone in the middle, who actively engaged with players, got involved in discussions, responded to serious concerns, and took them back to the devs. It’s a shame we don’t have anyone like that.
The trouble is that people don't follow the Dev Tracker to see the communication that does exist. Had those in this topic done so they would have seen that a Forum Manager has just been appointed, and that he states that he will "run the daily communications for the forum. So happy to chat or gather constructive feedback about ESO".
The new Forum Manager thread is pinned to the top of the General ESO Discussion board, btw. Among many others, I posted a comment in it. Guess what response I got.
That's correct, but the benefit of Dev Tracker is that it's an instant way of seeing what ZOS have been posting outside of routine moderation and avoids the need to scour the forums for their contributions as it lists them all in one readily accessible place. Of course, the disadvantage is that Dev Tracker isn't accessible on the mobile version of the forum and I wish they'd fix that.
Agreed when they nerf skills no one uses, for what seems to us no apparent reason, or not buff classes that are clearly lacking it seems like they are out of touch with the game. Or CP 2.0, just answer some threads here every now and then and people can stop making threads about the same issues over and over again.
Just changing things randomly (from our POV) leads us to believe the devs dont know what they are doing.
Zos admitted to bad communication, but apparently theres nothing being done about it
Lets also remember that the gaming community cant seem to be nature when speaking to devs. There have been many cases in many mmos where devs stopped responding because of threats, insults and such. Untill we as gamers kearn that its not ok to be jerks to devs we most likely wont get the open line we hope for.
Agreed when they nerf skills no one uses, for what seems to us no apparent reason, or not buff classes that are clearly lacking it seems like they are out of touch with the game. Or CP 2.0, just answer some threads here every now and then and people can stop making threads about the same issues over and over again.
Just changing things randomly (from our POV) leads us to believe the devs dont know what they are doing.
Zos admitted to bad communication, but apparently theres nothing being done about it
This is the impression it leaves for me as well, I don't like it. Many of us here have played since beta..there was a time when they were far more willing to openly talk. It seems the whole legal stuff and perceived hostility from their perspective on these forums may be responsible for them communicating much less.
The problem of course while it can be argued the forums can be pretty toxic, the complete and total silence of all decision making and general conversation with the community about anything other than the crown store and unexpected bugs also breeds toxicity because it makes the community believe that they are just not caring nor listening to them anymore.
This is a two way street, we need to be nicer but they need to talk. Otherwise that being nicer part wont show up. There will always be people overstepping themselves, hell I did it back when the morrowind patch happened. I was mad as hell, the patch destroyed my entire roster of characters and rebuilding them all cost me way too much, I got punished for it and it was deserved - which is where I am saying now, if people are backsides when the devs post then dish out warnings and bans if need be but don't NOT talk to the community just because the minority are louder than the majority.
As a secondary part; the community feels utterly ignored on the PTS forums (possibly the most important place they should be talking to the community) and frankly based on the changes, we are ignored on those forums or at least thats the perception it gives us. They've got to find a middle ground between their design vision and what the community wants or they will just drive people off. The 7 years thread where support accidently deleted his 7 year old character that he main'd, is a prime example of a situation where the devs need to talk to the community otherwise its a PR dumpster fire.
I think many on here seem to have an unrealistic expectation of a developer
The zos developers do not:
Decide on content - this is done by game managers or game directors
Test - this is the job of testers or QA
Talk directly to consumers - it’s not their job
A developers job is to take the idea, make the code work and pass it to QA - overseen by a lead dev and subsequently a project manager who reports into a game manager
That is it. So all this waving at the devs is misplaced. The devs will not do anything. Aim your frustration in other directions
Ippokrates wrote: »Yes, because that always works out so well for them.
Vocal players with opinions: ZOS, fix X! Desperately needs a fix before all life in the galaxy dies.!!!!!!!!!
ZOS: We heard you, and are checking for the issues.
Vocal players with opinions: This NEEDS fixed!!!!! ASAP!!!!!!! Fix your pos game!!!!!
ZOS: We have a fix, and will take down the servers at 6a.m. EST. Estimate 2 hours.
Players with opinions: What?!?!? Unscheduled maintenance? ANOTHER maintenance??????? Why do you hate your players ZOS? Why schedule maintenance to fix issues?!?!?!
:time expires:
Players with opinions: OMG!!!! 2 hours and TEN seconds and the server isn't up! TEH devs LIED!!!!
Personal opinion; they are better off not communicating. There are legal issues, contracts, upcoming material and other things the players have no reason to hear about. Trying to satisfy the demand to justify every single thing would not be a good use of dev time. And you know there are people who would demand detailed discussion notes about why there are 2 torches to the right of the doorway, but 3 to the left.
Or maybe they could just acknowledge that problem exist (or maybe it is just not a problem because it was the design and there are other things that need to be taken into consideration) and they will do something about it during next maintenance or nearest patch.
And usually issues are focused over few crucial topics like classes and skills, rng, textures, lags & performance. If they are closing so many threads anyway, they could simply transfer discussion to others.
Starlight_Whisper wrote: »Want better communication? Get dev tack news, zos Twitter support and more news here
https://discord.gg/VwGTQdfBkx
Bonus daily endeavor news now too
Hapexamendios wrote: »If you were a developer, would you want to deal with us? I don't think I would.
How official is this? I'm sorry, but they should be treating this forum with as much attention - or more - than the social media. If managed correctly, we really could have a better community. I don't feel like we've seen that to date.
FlopsyPrince wrote: »Some of us die often enough to some world bosses already. Run a trial solo if you want hard content! Run a harrowstorm by yourself! I still die to those a lot, even with decent gear and high CP (on the PS4 before switching the the PC.
<largish snip>
Making overland harder would be silly however, since that is not a "problem" for any but a small group who want to almost die at everything, even if it meant lots of dead bodies strewn about.
newtinmpls wrote: »FlopsyPrince wrote: »<content snip>
As for Dev communication - I am frustrated too. And it really is a no-win; the more they say, the angrier the forums get. The less they say, the angrier the forums get.
I'm a developer and I've dealt with angry clients. I usually listen to their feedback because they're the ones using the product and paying us. I've also managed Change Management and Client Engagement teams, and I can tell you if a client tried reaching one of my CMs for a week with no response, I''d hire a new CM.Hapexamendios wrote: »If you were a developer, would you want to deal with us? I don't think I would.
For a developer, discussing game design decisions is the worst idea you could possibly come up with. Just a quick glance at all the ideas, suggestions and complaints here on the forum gives you a good idea what a waste of time it would be to explain and defend design changes.
Disagree. I know all too well how developers get married to pet ideas and won't see reason when the end user is saying the experience needs improving. They work in a vacuum and you can see it pronounced across the whole game. There's some really good ideas and systems, but a lot of others that need updating.
I'm a developer and I've dealt with angry clients. I usually listen to their feedback because they're the ones using the product and paying us. I've also managed Change Management and Client Engagement teams, and I can tell you if a client tried reaching one of my CMs for a week with no response, I''d hire a new CM.
[snip]Starlight_Whisper wrote: »Want better communication? Get dev tack news, zos Twitter support and more news here
https://discord.gg/VwGTQdfBkx
Bonus daily endeavor news now too
How official is this? I'm sorry, but they should be treating this forum with as much attention - or more - than the social media. If managed correctly, we really could have a better community. I don't feel like we've seen that to date.
FlopsyPrince wrote: »I think many on here seem to have an unrealistic expectation of a developer
The zos developers do not:
Decide on content - this is done by game managers or game directors
Test - this is the job of testers or QA
Talk directly to consumers - it’s not their job
A developers job is to take the idea, make the code work and pass it to QA - overseen by a lead dev and subsequently a project manager who reports into a game manager
That is it. So all this waving at the devs is misplaced. The devs will not do anything. Aim your frustration in other directions
That is a poor excuse. Sure, some devs would not be appropriate, but the term "devs" means more than just those only writing code. The point is to present the "why" of choices. Arguing about the term "dev" is a distraction.
Disagree. I know all too well how developers get married to pet ideas and won't see reason when the end user is saying the experience needs improving. They work in a vacuum and you can see it pronounced across the whole game. There's some really good ideas and systems, but a lot of others that need updating.
The flip side to that is that the players are often the same way.I have seen it many times in here. A group of players get the idea that some change must happen and become very invested in campaigning for it. Often, "everyone" or "most players" would agree that the change is necessary. At minimum, the important players, I guess.
I do wish that ZOS would come out more often and just tell people when something they are asking for ain't gonna happen, or if it is going to happen, whether it will be this decade or the next.
At least people would know.I'm a developer and I've dealt with angry clients. I usually listen to their feedback because they're the ones using the product and paying us. I've also managed Change Management and Client Engagement teams, and I can tell you if a client tried reaching one of my CMs for a week with no response, I''d hire a new CM.
From what I have seen, their job is Community Management, not Customer Service. They have a whole organization separate from the Community Management role for this. Now, that does not preclude them from stepping in, and I do feel that they should do more to act as a bridge between the players and the "Development" and Customer Support teams. However, I don't think I would ever require them to follow up every time they get summoned. They are not the personal concierge of the players.
Sure, people on both sides get married to their ideas. There's a difference - in my mind at least - between the oodles of posts asking for something to be nerfed and genuine feedback on UX systems and problems. The ongoing campaigns for many players typically follow the latter - crafting writs, surveys, annoying NPCs, and inventory space. If people, I don't just mean myself here, keep saying a system needs improvement, that's really indicative of a UX that needs looking at it in some fashion. Even change campaigns aside, we have the PTS threads and various Feedback threads and again crickets. Case in point, the new tutorial. People complain about how crowded and noisy the NPE is and many of us offered the same or similar strategy for how to fix it. Did ZOS implement that feedback, of course not. And like you're saying, it's not just that it wasn't implemented, it's that the engagement was scant on the ZOS side as to why.