Pink Elephant in the room : V

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:46 am

I will bring this up for I have yet to see a topic about it.

In a nutshell, how do you interpret Todd Howard's silence concerning the harsh criticism SKyrim has recently suffered, both on the tech and gameplay fronts?
True, the game has sold like hot buns and received unprecedented accolades, but they seem just about proportional to the mix of just and unjust criticism.

My perdiction is DLC will still sell like buns out of the oven, but less so than Skyrim. Perhaps a message will get across.

Todd recently had plenty of oportunities to pass comment. Yet, he chose not to but for a laconic line where he mentioned DLC would be directed at making the game better.

What's your take?

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:21 am

Half of the complaints aren't legitimate. It's just a bunch of people complaining for the sake of complaining. As for the legitimate complaints, well some are addressed and some aren't. In the case of balancing weapons, well it's probably on Todd's "To Do when Half Life 3 comes out" list. His main concern is to address bugs and nothing more. If you're all complaining about balance, shut up, svck it up, and play. The chance of it being fixed is slim.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:01 am

Does Todd ever comment on anything outside of official interviews?

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:22 am

Half of the complaints aren't legitimate. It's just a bunch of people complaining for the sake of complaining. As for the legitimate complaints, well some are addressed and some aren't. In the case of balancing weapons, well it's probably on Todd's "To Do when Half Life 3 comes out" list. His main concern is to address bugs and nothing more. If you're all complaining about balance, shut up, svck it up, and play. The chance of it being fixed is slim.

Pretty much this and Christmas vacation.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:03 pm

i dont recall todd ever saying much about anything unless somthings coming...sides id imagine hes occupied

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:50 am

Half of the complaints aren't legitimate. It's just a bunch of people complaining for the sake of complaining. As for the legitimate complaints, well some are addressed and some aren't. In the case of balancing weapons, well it's probably on Todd's "To Do when Half Life 3 comes out" list. His main concern is to address bugs and nothing more. If you're all complaining about balance, shut up, svck it up, and play. The chance of it being fixed is slim.

I'm not. Yet I certainly wouldn't shut up because you tell me so. Maybe your kids do.

The question is why is Todd so numb-lipped about the tsunami of criticism.
And, surely, he can sort out legitimate from unjust accusations.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:25 am

This is nothing new. Bethesda have never been interested in communicating with their customers.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:44 pm

Does Todd ever comment on anything outside of official interviews?

He, of course, could have used those golden opportunities to pass comment.
He obviously chose not to.
It's not like Pete Hines is lurking behind him with a pocket knife to his belly and forcing him to remain silent.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:56 am

So what exactly do you want him to say? You just want a chance to bash him and he knows it. Either he and Bethesda will improve the game or they won't. Public statements or words of any kind will make no difference.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:09 pm

So what exactly do you want him to say? You just want a chance to bash him and he knows it. Either he and Bethesda will improve the game or they won't. Public statements or words of any kind will make no difference.

It's funny how the default mindset seems to be to pigeonhole others either on the hater or fan-boy camps.
I have mixed feelings about Skyrim: sometimes it's wonderful, others just dreadful.

Would that be too much of an alien concept to you?

Todd did say DLC was direted towards making the game better.
What do you make of this cryptic satement?

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:20 pm

I don’t think Bethesda owes these whining little brats a damn thing, TBO.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:02 am

Where's this tsunami of criticism exactly? Only thing that's been complained about out of this forum was the PS3 lag.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:53 pm

Where's this tsunami of criticism exactly? Only thing that's been complained about out of this forum was the PS3 lag.

You actually missed it?
Ok.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:54 am

You actually missed it?
Ok.

Um, what?

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:58 am

Um, what?

Let me put it this way:

When Todd says:

DLC is directed at making the game better.

How do you interpret these words? I see a
a hint of contrition.

A tiny one.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:00 am

Lol the criticism is NOWHERE NEAR proportional to the praise.

Don't believe me? Pick ten random people who play Skyrim and ask what they think of it.

For sure there are things to criticize, as with all games, but minus PS3 users with legitimate gripes most of the complaints are just the usual..i.e. 90% of it isn't well thought out criticism, just entitled griping.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:25 am

Bear in mind, that todd views "Making the game better." as "adding content to the game."

You want the game to actually BE better? More in tune with your style of gaming. Wait six months after the CK comes out. The modders will more than likely offer you several options on which way to go. Not to mention fixing more bugs than Beth does...... at least, for the PC crowd.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:15 pm

I figure he's laughing his way to the bank.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:33 am

Lol the criticism is NOWHERE NEAR proportional to the praise.

Don't believe me? Pick ten random people who play Skyrim and ask what they think of it.

For sure there are things to criticize, as with all games, but minus PS3 users with legitimate gripes most of the complaints are just the usual..i.e. 90% of it isn't well thought out criticism, just entitled griping.

I guess you and I hang out with different gamers then.

And why then the emphasis on making the game better?
Usually the scope of DLC is to expand on the theme, not to improve the theme. True, Shivering Isles brought small improvements to Oblivion - check Bruce Nesmith comments on the matter. But would you say Shivering Isles prime goal was to improve Oblivion?

Hardly.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:28 pm

I figure he's laughing his way to the bank.

Probably. Wasn't the dollar amount $650 mil last I saw.

:banana:

<------ I believe that's Todd, as we speak..... :laugh:

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:12 am

Not sure how this topic qualifies as a pink elephant, but most Bethesda fans (I use the term loosely) should know by now the formula:

Set a release date
Meet it
Fix the glitches

As opposed to companies like Blizzard who's formula is:

Don't set a release date
Release the game when it's polished
Fix the glitches

I don't think we need apologies as long as they are addressing the issues and doing their best to please the customers.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:35 am

Not sure how this topic qualifies as a pink elephant, but most Bethesda fans (I use the term loosely) should know by now the formula:

Set a release date
Meet it
Fix the glitches

As opposed to companies like Blizzard who's formula is:

Don't set a release date
Release the game when it's polished
Fix the glitches

I don't think we need apologies as long as they are addressing the issues and doing their best to please the customers.

I don't care for apologies. I'm not even sure they're due.
There's a Pink Elephant in the press room where everyone is congratulating Todd without ever bringing up the glitches, lags and some design misteps.

I see a hint of recalibration in Todd's words.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:15 am

The question is why is Todd so numb-lipped about the tsunami of criticism.
And, surely, he can sort out legitimate from unjust accusations.

Responding to unjust accusations just gives them the official sanction of "worth discussing".
Honestly, why bother addressing a "tsunami of criticism", when you have an entire ocean of success? Proportion matters.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:50 am

Does Todd ever comment on anything outside of official interviews?

This.

I don't ever recall him responding to anything on the forums, or to questions from the forums at all. I wish he was more like J. E. Sawyer and his team with forum participation.

» Mon Jun 18, 2012 10:21 am

Responding to unjust accusations just gives them the official sanction of "worth discussing".
Honestly, why bother addressing a "tsunami of criticism", when you have an entire ocean of success? Proportion matters.

It will be interesting to check those DLC sales figures...