Blue, please explain the purpose of forums

#0 - Sept. 23, 2009, midnight

Q u o t e:
World of Warcraft is an ever growing and evolving world. Competitive player systems are, to many, the most important part of a Massively Multiplayer Online game.

We have a dedicated team working hard to provide a system that offers opportunities for PvP while also making sure it is a fair and fun addition to the game. We have also designed the game so that those who do not wish to partake in PvP can join one of the other non-PvP (or PvE) servers.

We continue to refine the game, and we do listen to the feedback of our fans. We urge you to post your suggestions on the forums as this is the best place for our developers to read and hopefully implement the changes you want to see. It is very possible that in a subsequent update the changes you want will be added.

Until we know the issues our customers have with specific aspects of the game we will be unable to make these changes. Please post your suggestions and, if you are willing, stay with the current implementation until we can bring these changes to the game.

So says the Weeping Peon when I express the reason I am canceling is because I am unhappy with the implementation of PvP.

Q u o t e:
...because we make the assumption that since WoW was engaging enough for 80 levels of play to get to the scenario you mention that most people aren't actually that horribly offended by doing pve content (which is arguably the core of the game).

We may need to reconsider that particular philosophy if doing heroics is indeed that unappealing to many players. Although, I'm not sure how "many" players that really is TBH... forums like these are a surprisingly poor way to actually figure out what percentage of players think what about a given issue.

So says Kalgan when pressed about adding PvP weapons for honor, which had been a hot-button issue on the forums for a very long time.

What is it, Blizzard? What is the purpose of the forums?

I am told on the one hand that, should I make my concerns known, it is VERY POSSIBLE they will be brought to the game, and the forums are the place to do it.

On the other hand, I have the quote of a Blue, who states that people on the forums don’t represent the greater population of WoW, and can be easily dismissed. This is a statement I have read from many of Blizzard's forum representatives - I quote Kalgan because his quote stuck in my mind as a very glib way of dismissing something I really wanted to see implemented.

So, if possible, I seek a bit of clarity. I am upset about the changes to AV, and the treatment of BGs overall, and would like to express my concerns and suggestions. Where I am supposed to do this if not here?

Zarhym

#8 - Sept. 23, 2009, 12:20 a.m.

Q u o t e:
The purpose of the forums is given in the first sticky post.

They're a place for the players of the game to come and discuss the game.

This is correct. When players are making suggestions or sharing their opinions, there may be times where we disagree. When players are asking questions or requesting feedback about game changes, there may be times where we don't immediately have the appropriate information available to disseminate to the public. Folks from many departments at Blizzard do, however, read the forums on a regular basis. The community team in specific uses these forums for sharing information, interacting with a portion of the community, and taking feedback from players to our developers. They're also a place for simply building a broader sense of community of World of Warcraft players. :)

Zarhym

#20 - Sept. 23, 2009, 12:41 a.m.

Q u o t e:

Another glib response wrapped in some pretty words and ends with a smiley :) Nice follow-up to Kalgan's glib response :)

At any rate, I think the OP is basically saying he feels unheard and his concerns about BG's being third-fiddle (behind end game instance grinding and arenas) are not satisfactorily addressed.

Sure, the forums are to communicate but that's not what he's asking about. He's asking IF the forums are for player-player-gamemaker communication, why does Kalgan insult the portion of players that are passionate enough about the game to post here?

And while we are on that subject, why does Blizzard show such contempt for its customers in the first place?

To be fair, if you're going to read into everything written in blue as coming from an insincere place, it's difficult to have any meaningful conversation.

The World of Warcraft community has made this game what it is today. Ultimately, as employees we are a part of the community as well. We hold no contempt for a community and game for which we are very passionate, and on which we focus a great deal of our professional and personal lives.