1.2 BETHESDA WILL COMMENT SOON : V - Skyrim

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:05 am

A major company can't just make "two second comments." I know it's frustrating but as someone who does PR I'm pretty damn familiar with this. When the problems started on the forums, the forum people had to consult the techs, then the techs had to consult the PR department who had to ponder exactly the problem as they went back and forth with the actual coders. Is it kinda lame? Yes, but that's our modern business climate, but I just wanted to explain why even a "simple answer" isn't so simple in corporate culture.

[img]http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/0OOdV85ghjfi6t34rVp0zy8ao1_500.jpg[/img]

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:51 am

I think that terminology is symptomatic of the problem: I'm not a consumer, I'm a customer. I hate the way those who actually pay for goods and services are depersonalised into a demanding and ungrateful "consumer".

What's wrong with "consumer"?

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:22 pm

I think people have a right to be a little pissed off at this attitude.

PR is one of the wrost things capitalist society has created. Theres little to no connection with consumers anymore.

That's because "consumers" cannot be communicated with easily.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:21 pm

Furthermore, it will only spark more outrage:

Bethesda: Hi, we know the patch broke some stuff, we are looking into a fix.

Ravening Hoard: OMG U SUK! Y U not done yet?

Slobbering Troll: Stop posting nonsense and fix the game!

Bethesda can't win in this situation.

They can win, it's quite simple - all they need to do is either release patch that doesn't break, but fixes...or release CK. If they did both, they would be even loved again.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:44 pm

They do not have an obligation, read the fiine print on the box. They do know about the isssues but you cannot reasonably asume they can just fix them overnight, which is what 90% of all these complaint threads want them to do. Fixes take time.

Funny you should say that.
The Skyrim Script Extender team fixed the resistances bug.
Overnight.
:happy:

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:41 am

I hate the way those who actually pay for goods and services are depersonalised into a demanding and ungrateful "consumer".

It's either that or "user". The only two industries that call customers "users" are IT and narcotics.

I try to avoid both terms.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:47 pm

I think people have a right to be a little pissed off at this attitude.

PR is one of the wrost things capitalist society has created. Theres little to no connection with consumers anymore.

Funny thing is I don't even disagree with you, my post was simply to remind people that in a company simple things rarely are simple. Say the wrong thing or even the right thing just at the wrong time and without checking with everyone first and your job can be on the line. I'd even hate my own PR job except it's with a not-for-profit and I get to do good things in the world. If I had to do corporate PR...ugh I probably wouldn't want to get up each morning.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:42 pm

What's wrong with "consumer"?

What I said: it depersonalises customers and I think it inverts the relationship from those providing a business with its income to a business doing a favour for consumers. I admit those words are weighted, but that's my perception of the difference, and I think it's not unlikely that the transition to describing customers as "consumers" was done for a purpose that wasn't in the customers' best interests. But that's just my take on things; as it is, describing me as a "consumer" is one of my pet hates.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:42 pm

What's wrong with "consumer"?

All customers are consumers, but customers make a decision about what they consume and who the purchase from based on need and experience.
Making your customers happy keeps you with a high percentage of consumers of your product.
That makes you a successful business - in theory.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:31 pm

Fingers crossed we here something soon. Even it is just "We are aware of problems caused by the patch....etc) at least then we know they are working on a fix.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:27 pm

I don't expect (and am not calling for) immediate fixes to problems.

What I'd like from Bethesda is what I'd like from all the developers: a list of acknowledged problems that they're working on.

I don't even want them to say when the issues will be fixed, but it's reassuring to know that the problems I'm having in a game are recognized. Not knowing if they even they know the problem exists is the worst thing, for me, and is easy to solve by just letting us know what they're working on. Yeah, then there will be people asking why their problem isn't on the list, but their bugs can either be added (maybe with a "thanks for letting us know") or otherwise handled.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:43 am

What's wrong with "consumer"?

The term can make it sound like people are simply consuming without paying for what it's worth. I don't think it's anything close to a derogatory term, but I agree that it reflects modern business mentality. It seems people nowadays are either dumb sheep that will buy anything or whining ingrates that complain about things they don't pay (enough) for.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:03 pm

Any information they give us will just be extremely vague and uninformative as seems to be their trend this last month.

That trend has gone on for quite some time now.

"We are aware of the issues and are currently looking into them, when we have more info we'll let you all know. Thanks for your patience and understanding."

Sounds about right. :nod:

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:05 pm

Funny you should say that.
The Skyrim Script Extender team fixed the resistances bug.
Overnight.
:happy:

http://www.bored383.com/gallery/albums/crap/vw_oh_snap.gif

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:35 pm

They may have no legal obligation, but from a PR perspective, it would probably be a good idea.

But in today's society, where everyone's first instinct when something goes wrong is to call their lawyer, the line between a PR obligation and a legal one can be very fuzzy, if such a line exists at all in some areas.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:33 pm

of all bethesda games, none have been as crazy and massive as skyrim, but i feel that is no excuse to release a game who they have an established fan base, literally make millions, and then do nothing to communicate their folly. they should not have released the game on nov. 11th and i think they are well aware of this now! this game is riddled with bugs. the more i play the more quests i cannot finish. the lag is still prominent and my save files are still increasing in size. the worst part is i love this game so much!!! FML

I wonder how many people have actually learnt the lesson, like me, and will only buy a TES game a year or more after release.

I am sorry so many ppl feel cheated, but.. Consumers - Unite: Your power lies in NOT buying, or at least postponing it.

This is the ONLY effective means of pressure upon any business.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:15 am

All customers are consumers, but customers make a decision about what they consume and who the purchase from based on need and experience.
Making your customers happy keeps you with a high percentage of consumers of your product.
That makes you a successful business - in theory.

That's impossible - most people will never be happy with anything they're offered.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:09 pm

PR is one of the wrost things capitalist society has created. Theres little to no connection with consumers anymore.

Well damn said.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:47 am

I hope they do, just so I don't have to see any more threads about people bawling how Bethesda won't talk to them. Seriously, is anyone else sick of this?

It's natural for you guys to share frustrations. For now, I can assure you we're looking at the problems being posted. We're not sitting idle. Hoping to have more information shortly.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:40 am

I'm well jerked off. I had the game working really well on my ageing XP machine, by running the original .exe in win98 compatibility mode (which stopped the 'Freezing for 5 seconds every 5 seconds' bug).

I set Steam to *not* update the game, Steam ignored my settings, installed update, and now it's unplayable.

I have played a total of 16 hrs of a purported 100+hr plus, and now it's just bombed. No amount of fiddling has got it working again, unless I've somehow missed something!

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:00 pm

It's natural for you guys to share frustrations. For now, I can assure you we're looking at the problems being posted. We're not sitting idle. Hoping to have more information shortly.

Thanks, be looking forward to it.

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:00 am

I've had zero issues with 1.2, u mad kids?

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:40 am

I really dig Bethesda; TESIV (PC) totally changed the type of games I like to play the most. Of course I bought it GOTY and by then most of the stuff was fixed.

Seriously Besthesda, love you like family but a spanking is in order for TESV.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:50 pm

You mean you think that despite the issues people are writing about, they shouldn't be complaining? Or do you mean that you have avoided reading the reasons that "everyone" is complaining? Not everyone is playing the flawless gem you must be running.

He meant no such thing - I got from him that he patched the game and it worked fine. No dragons flying backwards, no glitches X or Y nor quest breaking suddenly. He seems just curious why it worked fine for him and whether he is a minority or not. From the forum itself, I myself have no idea if the patch version X broke any sort of things for 1%, 10% or 50%.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:24 pm

He meant no such thing - I got from him that he patched the game and it worked fine. No dragons flying backwards, no glitches X or Y nor quest breaking suddenly. He seems just curious why it worked fine for him and whether he is a minority or not. From the forum itself, I myself have no idea if the patch version X broke any sort of things for 1%, 10% or 50%.

You pulled all that from what he said? On another thread, he suggested complainers call a "waambulance," which to me basically says that since he doesn't have any problems, there's no cause for alarm. I appreciate you're wanting to help him out, but he's hardly "curious." He's dismissive.