» Mon May 14, 2012 5:32 am Join our forum community
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Far too many times, when a developer decides to go a different way from what the majority of the community is asking for, they cite feedback from unvarrifyable sources as the reason. Such as Customer Service calls, or Focus Group feedback. And they tend to say things like "the community doesn't represent the majority of the player base."
Well, if the developer in question were to define the community forums as THE place to go to express one's self, be it bug reporting, content suggestions, general feedback or whatever. And if said developer actually uses community communication to determine development response, then transparency between developer and customer would exist. Any changes or additions made can point to the place where community feedback dictated a need for it.
I am assuming that TESO is going to be subscription-based. If so, I am hoping that ZOS will drop the NONE clause in the terms of service.
A NONE clause is a declaration in the terms which basically tells the customer that the developer is Not Obligated to provide anything beyond access to the service, and that the subscriber is Not Entitled to anything beyond said access. It is this clause which has allowed MMO developers to just sit pretty for months, raking in the money, while putting forth little if any effort to release additional playable content that would keep players interested. SOE was horrible about this with Star Wars Galaxies. Cryptic was horrible about it before they took Star Trek Online free to play. The former game is no more and the latter one still lacks content, but you get what you pay for...
And incidentally, the NONE clause is usually followed by a statement that says the company reserves the right to alter or terminate the service as they see fit, and that the subscriber reserves the right to alter or terminate their subscription as they see fit.
It essentially translates to, "We don't have to do anything you ask us to do, and if you don't like it, you can leave..."
If I am paying for a service, then I expect service. If it were a restaurant, I can generally walk in and sit down without charge (access). What I pay for is the food and I tip based on quality of service (content).
So I am hoping that while the initial release of TESO is done according to how ZOS thinks it ought to be, that they will base their forward-going development on what their paying customers express a need for.
Granted, not every idea can be implemented. Some are not technically possible. Some would just be jumping the shark. Which is why an idea should be monitored to measure the responses of those who support it and those who say it is a bad idea. And a blanket statement of "that's not a good idea" will not cut it. The one who proposes it should put forth reasons why adding whatever to the game would benefit the game as a whole, not just for his/her own personal wish fulfillment. Those against a well-reasoned idea need to also explain why they feel it would detract from the game as a whole, not just for their own personal lack of interest.
The company would ideally take the five mose prominantly supported ideas that are technically feasible and let the community vote on which one they most want. When the winning feature goes in, they do the next vote. So the community that pays to play can and should effect what is playable. Debate on an idea would have to be conducted with civility. Violation of that condition would mean removal from the forum group that would have access to forward-going development discussion. No second chances. You get snarky with someone just because you don't like what they think, you're out. Blatantly bait someone into being snarky? You're gone too.
So it would have to be a tightly monitored process, but there are passionate players in every MMO community. And their ideas are good a lot of times. And of course, there would have to be a statement in the terms that any ideas or suggestions expressed are subject to disposal as the company sees fit.
The company at no time will offer any guarantee of use for an idea or suggestion, and offers no form of compensation should any idea or suggestion be used. By posting in this conceptual development forum, you acknowledge the above and waive all rights to any credit, compensation or recognition. Violation of these conditions will result in loss of access to this forum...
That condition should be a message at the top of such a forum and be the first thing that anyone who enters it sees. In that manner there would be no excuse for anyone to say "That was my idea and I demand credit!".
Will ZOS be open to community involvement? Will they blatantly ignore community concerns like so many other MMO developers do? Here's hoping they will treat the community like paying customers rather than clods of dirt to be kicked to the curb at every turn.
