Remove cancelled accounts from the forums

Ohioastro · June 2014

There are three important practical reasons why it's crucial to restrict posting to subscribers.

1) MMOs change. People who quit the games months ago aren't playing the same game as people who are playing now. Their contributions will be out of date and distorted - which adds a lot of noise, not signal, to discussions.

2) People are not always honest. There is a huge problem in things like Yelp reviews of restaurants and internet reviews. Competitors will pay people to post hit jobs. It's real, it's serious, and there are very large financial incentives. If you let random people post to your forums you open the floodgates to bad behavior. See, for example,

http://www.webpronews.com/just-how-bad-is-yelps-fake-review-problem-2014-01

3) There are trolls. There are people who get a huge kick out of making other people miserable. If you let random internet people post on your forums you'll get sociopaths who don't care one way or another about the game. They thrive on getting a reaction and making people upset.

http://time.com/8265/internet-trolls-are-actually-sadists-study-finds/

If everyone has a sub, then they both have a paper trail (to verify that they are not, for example, employees of rivals posting trash talk) and they have consequences for sociopathic behavior. There is a good, good reason why game companies restrict their forums to current subscribers.

SFBryan18 · June 2014

Unsubscribing doesn't mean they won't come back. Besides that, I don't think your forum account has much contact with your game account. This is why you pick a new name at the forum, because all the forum really sees is that you purchased the game.

Loco_Mofo · June 2014

Silence the critics!!!

malbaboeb17_ESO · June 2014

Ohioastro wrote: »

There are three important practical reasons why it's crucial to restrict posting to subscribers.

1) MMOs change. People who quit the games months ago aren't playing the same game as people who are playing now. Their contributions will be out of date and distorted - which adds a lot of noise, not signal, to discussions.

2) People are not always honest. There is a huge problem in things like Yelp reviews of restaurants and internet reviews. Competitors will pay people to post hit jobs. It's real, it's serious, and there are very large financial incentives. If you let random people post to your forums you open the floodgates to bad behavior. See, for example,

http://www.webpronews.com/just-how-bad-is-yelps-fake-review-problem-2014-01

3) There are trolls. There are people who get a huge kick out of making other people miserable. If you let random internet people post on your forums you'll get sociopaths who don't care one way or another about the game. They thrive on getting a reaction and making people upset.

http://time.com/8265/internet-trolls-are-actually-sadists-study-finds/

If everyone has a sub, then they both have a paper trail (to verify that they are not, for example, employees of rivals posting trash talk) and they have consequences for sociopathic behavior. There is a good, good reason why game companies restrict their forums to current subscribers.

This pretty much sums it up. Anyone (including ex-subscribers) should be allowed to read the forums, but shouldn't be allowed to post.

Forums should be exclusive to paying costumers, not open to just anyone that decides its a good day to troll. This is not how you build a community.

MANY posts in these forums, are blatantly traps set up by trolls. Threads mentioning other games, for example. Apparently the moderators can make a thread go away, or slowly die by not allowing it to be bumped, but the trolls wont go away with just that.

Some people just stick around for the joy of being negative about a game that didn't turn out the way they wanted.

Sakiri · June 2014

I know people that subscribe to online video games just so they can troll the forums. you think it's going to get rid of trolls? I don't think so.

And expired accounts *cant* post so loosen your knickers.

Loco_Mofo · June 2014

malbaboeb17_ESO wrote: »

Some people just stick around for the joy of being negative about a game that didn't turn out the way they wanted.

And some people poke their head in for time to time to see if certain parts of the game have finally been fixed. Should we block people who could possibly re-sub because of a few trolls?

ShADoW0s · June 2014

I have a feeling that the forums would come to a stand still.

MaxBat · June 2014

malbaboeb17_ESO wrote: »

Anyone (including ex-subscribers) should be allowed to read the forums, but shouldn't be allowed to post.

Forums should be exclusive to paying costumers, not open to just anyone that decides its a good day to troll. This is not how you build a community.

MANY posts in these forums, are blatantly traps set up by trolls. Threads mentioning other games, for example. Apparently the moderators can make a thread go away, or slowly die by not allowing it to be bumped, but the trolls wont go away with just that.

Some people just stick around for the joy of being negative about a game that didn't turn out the way they wanted.

A number of video game companies are going in this direction, including non-MMO game companies. It's not uncommon for you to have to buy and register the game to have access to strategy forums, mod forums, AAR forums, etc. Usually, you're given access to some part of the forum - including posting access - so that people can ask questions without having to pay for the game.

I think there should be one "public" forum. History has taught us that often the most honest insight into a game comes from players - not trolls, but players who are willing to share the good and bad about a game. Then people can ask questions and get (hopefully) helpful feedback.

I really think Zeni needs one public forum. Remember: there is no demo. There's no way to get a feel for what this game is like unless you watch some YouTube video. Will it invite trolls? Probably. But then, having this private forum has done so much to stop them, hasn't it?

Phantorang · June 2014

This is no democracy, get rid of them!

Create public forums for everyone, and closed forums for the players who pay. I dont want to pay ZoS money if anyone can post freely, including those who dont have an ongoing subscription.

If you need to know stuff, then we got a public forum. Please make this happen ZoS.

stungateb14_ESO · June 2014

These forums are for beginners most use reddit.

Heres a secret its where the devs hangout but you didn't hear it from me.

LareliRose · June 2014

Arsenic_Touch wrote: »

LareliRose wrote: »

FYI Your forum account isn't tied to your game account. Anyone can make a forum account and never purchase or sub to the game.

Wrong. Only an active subscription account can post here. You create your forum account through their automated system when you register a game account. Once your subscription has lapsed, you are unable to post here, it will actually say lapsed next to your name.

Keep in mind, people still have time depending on how much they prepaid, even if they cancelled their sub.

@Arsenic_Touch Try again.

This account that I post with is my beta testing account. I have never paid for anything under this account. Yet I still post.

GreySix · June 2014

double post

GreySix · June 2014

I thought that once cancellation was in effect (no longer able to log on and play), so was access to this forum.

Is that not the case?

aleister · June 2014

SFBryan18 wrote: »

Unsubscribing doesn't mean they won't come back. Besides that, I don't think your forum account has much contact with your game account. This is why you pick a new name at the forum, because all the forum really sees is that you purchased the game.

I unsubbed, but I still have quite a bit of time left on my current cycle. I've been playing WildStar since the head start, but I plan to check back on ESO periodically in hopes they rework veteran levels and fix some of the other seriously broken aspects of the game.

Arsenic_Touch · June 2014

LareliRose wrote: »

@Arsenic_Touch Try again.

This account that I post with is my beta testing account. I have never paid for anything under this account. Yet I still post.

Then you're an anomaly that I'm sure will be rectified shortly.

Phantorang · June 2014

Still nothing is changed?

Bangstin · June 2014

It's pretty standard practice in mmo forums that you lose your ability to post once your subscription runs out. But until then everyone should be free to post, as you paid for the game and the forum access is part of that.
I'm sure every smart company is interested to hear why people are quitting their game, sure it might get a little depressing to read the forums sometimes but maybe someone will learn something.

FlameStar · June 2014

I recently unsubbed. But I still like to keep up with forum conversations because I really like TESO and want it to do well. Doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to post. Not all people who stops playing dislikes the game and want to troll.
I hope eventually to re-sub anyway, just not right at this moment.

RedTalon · June 2014

Its more they need to do a survey when someone quits playing, so they have a place to give feedback and limit their posts to the customer support section.

AEnoch · June 2014

I cancelled my sub because I don't feel ZOS deserves anymore of my money until content is fixed. Hearing from other players is the only reliable method of knowing if things are getting better or worse. If I can't read the forums, I'm not coming back and that's revenue lost.

Wolfshead · June 2014

crislevin wrote: »

That's wrong thing to do, you can moderate trolls, but you cannot reject all unsub players because vast majority of them provide legit comments, however difficult to hear.

Why not Blizzard are doing if you do not renew your sub or cancel you can only read not write on there forum and why can't Zenimax do same + all other mmo have play that is sub base do samething you only read not write on there forum i don't see why it can't work here.

As OP most of them who have cancel the sub and are still write here are do so only to troll how can the provide any legit comments about the game the don't play anymore the no nothing what is happen to game or game machine anymore.

mndfreeze · June 2014

I'm glad forum access is tied to your sub. I can't even imagine the amount of negative garbage that would flow in here if you didn't need to have an active account to post. Of course it still flows stinky and fresh for those who stopped your sub but still have time left on it, but at least its a ticking stopwatch for them

Phantax · June 2014

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.

Or all take into consideration that those 'cancelled' players may at some point come back ! Maybe it might be a Dev blog, or admin post that helps them to make that decision.
If a post truly is a Troll Post then I'd hope the people reading it would have the brains to realise that and just ignore it.
If reading troll posts makes you want to quit reading the forums... DONT READ THE TROLL POSTS ! ! !

jamodo · June 2014

I'm unsubbed, because my account still has an "Error 301". The fact is that I'm on this forum trying to find someone to at least convince me that the game is still fun and enjoyable, even after they fix my account for the Error 301. But sadly I'm ready to find another game. Maybe Wildstar.

Phantax · June 2014

jamodo wrote: »

I'm unsubbed, because my account still has an "Error 301". The fact is that I'm on this forum trying to find someone to at least convince me that the game is still fun and enjoyable, even after they fix my account for the Error 301. But sadly I'm ready to find another game. Maybe Wildstar.

I'd advise you to stay here with us at ESO. Wildstar is fun for a little while but those graphics are... truly annoying after a while. If you like playing a childs cartoon its ok but it doesn't have the feel or immersion ESO does.
Not that you are getting any immersion with your current problem. Just keep updating your tickets, phone them, do whatever

see you in-game

jamodo · June 2014

Phantax wrote: »

I'd advise you to stay here with us at ESO. Wildstar is fun for a little while but those graphics are... truly annoying after a while. If you like playing a childs cartoon its ok but it doesn't have the feel or immersion ESO does.
Not that you are getting any immersion with your current problem. Just keep updating your tickets, phone them, do whatever

see you in-game

Would be nice to stay at ESO and see you in game. But I can't even log into my ESO account. It's been like this for a couple of days.

Justan · June 2014

So... you want NO ONE to be on these forums then? Most people here are here, even after the cancelled sub, because we care about the game and want it to improve via feedback or fair criticism.

Don't be so defensive about a game. I waited 10 years for an ES MMO, i feel disappointed and i have 150 days left of game time... i feel entitled to my voice being heard, unless you want to refund me OP on the game time i have left. If you refund my 150 days OP, i'll quit commenting. Until then, i'm going to keep telling them why i left and what needs improving on this game.

AngryNord · June 2014

Fanbois getting desperate and calling for draconian measures - usually a sign the game isn't in the best shape....

AngryNord · June 2014

Loco_Mofo wrote: »

Silence the critics!!!

Yeah that would be the fanboi's dream, wouldn't it?

Anilahation · June 2014

I'm sub for 45 more days but I'm not playing