Frustrated With Communication

#1 - Sept. 27, 2014, 3:46 p.m.

The thread “Communicating With You” was locked recently, and it left a lot of things unresolved. I’d summarize it, but I really don’t have the energy for doing that sort of thing anymore. Loads of questions were noted as being important and an answer was said to be forthcoming, but a month later and we’re still missing things like the promised top 10 list of things implemented from the CDI threads.

I know Chris Whiteside has had some family emergency of some sort and my thoughts go out to him, but is he really the only one at ANET who is motivated to communicate with people? Is there really nobody else who could pick up the slack while he deals with his hardship? I don’t expect the same level of commitment, but at least answer SOME of the questions? Maybe try to group up with the five people slated to run through the NPE with Mr. Whiteside? Perhaps an update on how that discussion of the trait system is going?

Communication doesn’t need to be feast or famine. Feast is a good way to burn out employees and famine is a good way to alienate players. Figure out some kind of happy medium. Please. Thanks for reading.

Gaile Gray

#51 - Sept. 29, 2014, 5:29 p.m.

Ok, let’s all take a deep breath here.

First, the thread has become a bit off topic, with its many “I don’t like your style” comments. Let’s keep in mind that this is a discussion forum, and that means you’re going to see a lot of opinions, not all of which will be identical or even close to your own. That’s ok. That’s actually good. A conversation gains from a wide variety of opinions and input.

We can do better if we:

Share our opinions as opinions, and not as absolute fact.
Focus on the post, and not the poster. That is, consider the content of what someone says and don’t dismiss it simply because you have a certain mindset about another forum member.
Stay on topic.

And now, assuredly on topic to the theme of this thread ~ahem~ someone asked about the CDI and it’s now in Phase 2 and we invite you to add your thoughts!

Gaile Gray

#63 - Sept. 30, 2014, 2:01 p.m.

Labjax.2465:
JohnnySupernova.9182:
Arena net has some of the worst communication out of any game company I can think of. When they’re not giving crappy non-answers and ignoring problems, they’re outright lying to the playerbase.

you really wont see a change in communication. Josh foreman got yelled at for communicating TOO MUCH. Even if anyone at anet WANTED to communicate, they wont be able to because the higher ups deemed it bad for business.

I’ve only been around for a few months, but in that time, I’ve seen them not only make an effort to communicate more, but Gaile now has the title “ArenaNet Forum Communications Team Lead” and has been posting in several threads.

If that’s non-answers and outright lying, then consider me fully duped.

Duping!!?! ~gasp!~ Oh, sorry, different type, gotcha.

Things aren’t going to change overnight, but we are making a concerted effort to improve communications. Not every thread gets — or realistically can get — a reply. That is driven not so much by a particular topic but more critically by sheer volume. And yes, not every question can be answered, but maybe it just can’t be answered in the short term, or maybe it’s taken under consideration for a more focused means of communication, such as a CDI, or maybe you’ll see an answer in the Update Notes. And sure, I guess some questions will go unanswered, too, but not for lack of effort or interest.

The truth is, you’re noticing, or I hope you’re noticing: We’re actively taking steps to be more communicative and involved, and we’ll continue to do so as time passes.

Gaile Gray

#78 - Sept. 30, 2014, 4:37 p.m.

Guhracie — Yes, I do understand you, and I appreciate your position. I feel you make very valid points, some of them related simply to common courtesy (which is what I was thinking as I read what you wrote, and which you then said, so two minds and all that). Some want dev posts everywhere. Some, like you, have a reasonable expectation. I am truly hopeful that we’ll be moving that way and I’m doing my small part to help. (For instance, flagging a post to specific devs to see if an answer is possible. Not hourly, not every dev or every team, but selectively and, I hope, with some level of wisdom. We’ll see how that works out — I might drive ’em nuts. )

Donari.5237:
I’ve been pleased at the uptick as well! I do wish we had some more concrete comments on what’s actually coming. Not nitty gritty details, but more like “at some point we’ll have a third heavy profession” or “we do intend to open up a zone the size of Frostgorge.” And then if worst comes to worst and the coding just won’t work or whatever, you can say “We’re really sorry, but you remember how we talked about a third heavy profession? This weird thing came up that made it unplayable as designed, we have to start over when we have time.”

My sense is that many would be forgiving, but many others would not. I don’t drive the Revelation Train, but I’ve seen a “We’re going to do this… uhhh… no, never mind” scenario work out poorly for game companies, from cancelled titles to reduced features or simple delays. (Won’t name names, but I’m talking broadly, not specifically to Guild Wars/Guild Wars 2 or ArenaNet.)

Emtiarbi.3281:
I Think something like this would be appreciated.
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/looking-ahead-guild-wars-2-in-2013/

Yes, I like that, too! I’ll pass along the suggestion.