Do developers really listen to feedback and make changes?

TehMagnus · February 2015

Sometimes.

SantieClaws · February 2015

I'm sure the game would be very different if they had unlimited devs and unlimited time and no limiations caused by existing tech or compatability isues. I'd imagine trying to fix this game across four platforms is a bit like trying to untangle an ocean of spaghetti let alone add new things into the mix.

They know the things we want. They know what needs fixing. They need more pairs of hands to do it. The balance is how long will we wait for content x, y, z against how much will it cost them in terms of hiring the hands and loss of revenue if they lose players because we wait too long for content x, y, z.

BlueIllyrian · February 2015

Of course, they are listening to the community, they said so multiple times themselves.

The definition of community they are listening to is up for debate though.

Razzak · February 2015

BlueIllyrian wrote: »

Of course, they are listening to the community, they said so multiple times themselves.

The definition of community they are listening to is up for debate though.

I think it must be the community of intestinal parasites. It's where their heads are usually found. It's just the question of whose intestinal parasites are the ones they listen to the most.

Kragorn · February 2015

BlueIllyrian wrote: »

Of course, they are listening to the community, they said so multiple times themselves.

The definition of community they are listening to is up for debate though.

Well we know for a fact they are, or certainly were for a long time, listening to small groups like Entropy Rising, ZOS were on their TS/Vent channel .. and not long after the game had three end-game group-only content updates targeted at the small minority of players who run such content.

Funny that.

Lionxoft · February 2015

No, they don't listen. Take a look at PvP and it's development (or lack thereof) since beta.

Dazin93 · February 2015

ZO$ doesn't care about feedback; all they care about is the bottom line. Anything that has been implemented or changed has only been to string players along while collecting as much money as possible. The promise to remove VR ranks is a great example of this. The promise of large scale PvP as a mainstay in ESO is another.

I stated in early December that ZO$ was more focused on console release than improving the current game based on their comments during a guild meeting and people laughed. Who is laughing now about not having any new content in the foreseeable future.

ZO$ continues to throw out empty promises and players continue to give them the benefit of the doubt. It's unbelievable really.

TheLaw · February 2015

They do and they have on PTS, nothing major though. We've been asking for PVP content for 8 months and @ZOS_BrianWheeler‌ could care less.

Elsonso · February 2015

It is clear that they listen to input, and even take and act on that input. I will suggest that input that is biased towards what they want to do already will carry more weight than random critical opinion. Input that come with graphs, tables, and figures that indicate that the poster took the time to carefully think about what they were saying may have the ability to change minds, but only if there is room in the schedule to change minds.

As for the people who are going after @ZOS_BrianWheeler‌ , all I have to say is that of all of the developers, he is 10x more active and actually answers questions and shares information. You may not like what he says,and he may not agree with you, but at least he is out here in the forum.

Nivzruo_ESO · February 2015

They listen... but the only people that really bother with forums are whiners and complainers, and before you say "BUT YOU'RE HERE" yes I too whine and complain all the time like everyone else reading this. We all should really form our own guild, Whiners Inc or something.

Dazin93 · February 2015

TheLaw wrote: »

They do and they have on PTS, nothing major though. We've been asking for PVP content for 8 months and @ZOS_BrianWheeler‌ could care less.

I think the devs do care to a point, but corporate is controlling the major decisions instead of them. There does come a time however that everyone is individually held accountable.

I applaud the integrity of the devs that departed, and the devs and mods that remain should seriously be considering the impact and potential ramifications of their continued affiliation with ZO$.

Morshire · February 2015

Nivzruo_ESO wrote: »

They listen... but the only people that really bother with forums are whiners and complainers, and before you say "BUT YOU'RE HERE" yes I too whine and complain all the time like everyone else reading this. We all should really form our own guild, Whiners Inc or something.

I am in. Can we think about Complainers Company for a name though. We can make Crybaby Colors and everything. W.F.T.W (Whining For The Win) Sorry, it was just funny this part:

Nivzruo_ESO wrote: »

...forums are whiners and complainers, and before you say "BUT YOU'RE HERE" yes I too whine and complain all the time like everyone else reading this....

I think we would need more than one though, as there is the 500 member cap.

Elsonso · February 2015

Dazin93 wrote: »

TheLaw wrote: »

They do and they have on PTS, nothing major though. We've been asking for PVP content for 8 months and @ZOS_BrianWheeler‌ could care less.

I think the devs do care to a point, but corporate is controlling the major decisions instead of them. There does come a time however that everyone is individually held accountable.

I applaud the integrity of the devs that departed, and the devs and mods that remain should seriously be considering the impact and potential ramifications of their continued affiliation with ZO$.

I am not sure if I should be complimenting you on your axe.

Where are you seeing that developers are leaving?

Gyudan · February 2015

Suggestion for a future ESO Live: show the treatment process of /feedback and /bug reports.

Khivas_Carrick · February 2015

BBSooner wrote: »

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

VR was first developed from player outcry to be able to play all zones on all characters.

VR now being removed (presumably unless this has changed) and being replaced with champion.

Collections tab asked for and implemented.

Class skills being effected by stamina and not just magicka asked for and implemented.

Change in initial CP for 1.6 howled for and implemented.

Loyalty rewards asked for and implemented.

Improvements to WW skill line and desirability asked for and implemented.

Only a few examples, many smaller examples. I'd say they do listen (sometimes to a fault: I'd say some occasions of listening to their player base has been to their detriment). The important thing to remember is "not listening" is not the same thing as "not implementing"; alot of player ideas are not feasible or just plain bad.

What he said, all of it.

Also harder raids are a good thing, trust me.

Elsonso · February 2015

Life at ZOS... bug reports.

Joejudas · February 2015

I suspect they listen to the 100,000 people on Facebook who didnt pay to play the game saying....." We want free shiny stuff " and saw dollar signs instead of all its paying customers who are here right now.

Khivas_Carrick · February 2015

Also, ffs people need to stop complaining right off the bat about being nerfed. Sometimes you're not nerfed, sometimes the world got too buffed, or sometimes it's neither.

Sometimes the world is fine, your class is fine, you were just used to being so vastly overpowered that now that you got balanced from a much needed nerf, you don't know what to do with yourself.

Look past just you, look at the big picture.

Grunim · February 2015

Gyudan wrote: »

Suggestion for a future ESO Live: show the treatment process of /feedback and /bug reports.

I would love to see this on a future ESO Live. I wonder if more people would provide valid /bug and /feedback reports if they believed their input didn't just vanish into a black hole.

AlexDougherty · February 2015

Lionxoft wrote: »

No, they don't listen. Take a look at PvP and it's development (or lack thereof) since beta.

Um, they have made tons of changes because of PVP, admittedly very few new campaigns though.

They removed forward Camps because people complained.
They made changes to class abilities so they would be balanced in PVP
The made it impossible to get pulled up walls.
They changed class abilities for PVP again.
They introduced Population limits
They changed class abilities yet again for PVP purposes.
They introduced low population bonuses.
Etc.

Bouvin · February 2015

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

No, because if they did:

1. Shadow Cloak would be fixed. This has been getting promised since August 2014
2. NB Agony would be replaced with a self heal or damage shield
3. NB Haste would have been left alone and not replaced with the crappy skill we got (now have 2 useless skills cause Agony is still pure crap).

These are 3 things that NB are pretty unanimous on, but the devs don't want to budge.

Bouvin · February 2015

newtinmpls wrote: »

LonePirate wrote: »

PVP specific bugs often go months before they are fixed, provided they are fixed at all.

Well.... there are still plenty of quest bugs in the PVE content that don't appear to have been touched in months. So it's not just you.

THere are still quest bugs that have been there since beta that are known issues.

AlexDougherty · February 2015

Bouvin wrote: »

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

No, because if they did:

1. Shadow Cloak would be fixed. This has been getting promised since August 2014
2. NB Agony would be replaced with a self heal or damage shield
3. NB Haste would have been left alone and not replaced with the crappy skill we got (now have 2 useless skills cause Agony is still pure crap).

These are 3 things that NB are pretty unanimous on, but the devs don't want to budge.

I agree shadow cloak needs fixing, but a lack of action is not the same as a lack of listening.

kevlarto_ESO · February 2015

LonePirate wrote: »

Emma_Eunjung wrote: »

Devs only listen to PVP whiners and a handful of PVE raiding guilds. The needs and concerns of the vast majority of PVE players aren't worth jack.

As someone who mostly engages in PVP content, I find this post to be hysterical because it simply is not true. Cyrodiil has not received a single content update since the game's launch. Game performance in Cyrodiil oscillates from mediocre to abysmal. Exploiters run rampant. Changes made for PVE content/players often have catastrophic results in Cyrodiil. PVP specific bugs often go months before they are fixed, provided they are fixed at all. Lastly, try levelling up a character from level 10 to VR14 in Cyrodiil and you will appreciate the high quality of life the vast majority of PVE players enjoy.

I agree and with the fact that content will be coming at a slower pace until at least consoles get released, I no longer hear the dev's talk about the Imperial City at all they used to mention it a lot along with the Dark Brotherhood and few other things, I am sure these things will make it into game at some point, since they will want to sell dlc's. But the wait time is getting a bit crazy now

nerevarine1138 · February 2015

Bouvin wrote: »

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

No, because if they did:

1. Shadow Cloak would be fixed. This has been getting promised since August 2014
2. NB Agony would be replaced with a self heal or damage shield
3. NB Haste would have been left alone and not replaced with the crappy skill we got (now have 2 useless skills cause Agony is still pure crap).

These are 3 things that NB are pretty unanimous on, but the devs don't want to budge.

There's this odd misconception that the developers listening to players is the same as the developers taking your personal ideas to heart and implementing them.

The developers clearly listen to players and change the game based on feedback. That doesn't change just because your feedback didn't make the cut.

Psychobunni · February 2015

about as much as sending feedback to the POTUS is listened to

PlagueMonk · February 2015

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

PLEASE pay no attention to what you read on the PTS forum (or elsewhere for that fact). The reactions ppl are posting are the min/maxers who are upset their current build can't ROLFSTOMP on the PTS.....yet.

All classes should still be viable. (although by all indications the DK is STILL #1.....real tired of Zenimax not able to bring up the other classes to the level of the DK)

LegacyDM · February 2015

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

No. DKs are still OP and NB cloak is still broke.

Joejudas · February 2015

PlagueMonk wrote: »

jdyatespreub18_ESO wrote: »

I've recently returned to the game and want to play a sorcerer. All information being shared thus far is that they are truly lacking. Believing 1.6 was going to help, I've spent my time leveling up a sorc anyway. Now reading the feedback from PTS things have gone from bad to worse. So my question is "Do developers listen to this feedback?" So far, it appears they do not. Hope I am wrong.

PLEASE pay no attention to what you read on the PTS forum (or elsewhere for that fact). The reactions ppl are posting are the min/maxers who are upset their current build can't ROLFSTOMP on the PTS.....yet.

All classes should still be viable. (although by all indications the DK is STILL #1.....real tired of Zenimax not able to bring up the other classes to the level of the DK)

Well did you spend hundreds of hours doing the same content trying to get Vicious Ophidian. Cause if you had you would be upset to.

Auldjohn · February 2015

Emma_Eunjung wrote: »

Devs only listen to PVP whiners and a handful of PVE raiding guilds. The needs and concerns of the vast majority of PVE players aren't worth jack.

@Emma_Eunjung:

ESO is a balance of PvE and PvP with something for every play style including solo, small and large groups, player Guilds, crafters, RP, you name it. IMO, since early Closed Beta the Developers have tried to address and balance all these player interests in an immense, expanding Tamriel universe, still rich in Lore, set in an awesome environment.

From the comments in these Forums and elsewhere, it's obvious that it is difficult to please everyone in these differing audiences and interests. Many of the changes and improvements to ESO -- and the forthcoming Tamriel Unlimited I presume -- are the direct result of player feedback so I take exception to your remark The needs and concerns of the vast majority of PVE players aren't worth jack.

I, for one, would like to see more content for PvE since I come from a long history of Elder Scrolls gaming. While I enjoy some of the MMO/PvP aspects of ESO, I prefer to take my time enjoying and exploring Tamriel whether solo or multiplayer. I've played ESO since mid-August 2013 during early Closed Beta and extend my thanks to the Developers -- and to the many players who offer constructive feedback.