Analyzing a Firaxis statement

[scientist]

Libertarian Not Playing Nice

HalfLotus:

Libertarian is like a jilted lover. I used to suspect he was sleeping with someone at Firaxis, his posts regarding their conduct were so positive and considerate.

All the poor man wanted was stacked movement, or at least a nonequivocal acknowledgement from Firaxis that they were working on the problem. He was initially ignored and then treated like a petulant child.

This forum is much more interesting and full of pathos than the game it discusses.

[Venger]

I agree with scientist - there was PRECIOUS LITTLE feedback from Firaxis to game concerns. Lib was a staunch defender of Firaxis and the game in general, but when all the questions that had popped up went unanswered, he finally turned on them.

If someone at Firaxis could spend just FIVE minutes answering questions, even every other day, you'd have an infinite improvement in the regard for their PR.

Venger

[Libertarian]

I have agreed to refrain from criticizing Firaxians per se, and so I will. Instead, I will offer to compile the compendium that I mentioned earlier if I can be assured that the effort won't be wasted.

-----

Scientist:

Your discernment is keen.

[scientist]

I said:

Libertarian is like a jilted lover. I used to suspect he was sleeping with someone at Firaxis, his posts regarding their conduct were so positive and considerate.

To which Libertarian replied:

Scientist:

Your discernment is keen.

From which I can only conclude:

I can't believe it! So you WERE sleeping with someone at Firaxis! I meant it as a joke. I am shocked and appalled.

This forum is becoming an exercise in exposing moral, even criminal, turpitude. I may add that I frequently and notoriously jaywalk without remorse.

[Libertarian]

Yes, but we were sleeping ONLY.

[jbrians]

Re: Analyzing a Firaxis statement

Originally posted by Libertarian
Blah blah blah

SIGNAL--------------------------------------^--NOISE

[Venger]

Re: Re: Analyzing a Firaxis statement

Originally posted by jbrians


SIGNAL--------------------------------------^--NOISE

HUMAN--------------------------------------^--JACKASS

Venger

[Libertarian]

Thanks, Venger. I highly value your affirmation.

[Ming]

Sigh...

AGAIN... can we at least "try" to eliminate the "personal" attacks.

[jackshot]

I think everyone misses the point about Firaxis.

Human psychology was not invented yesterday. Boards have been stomping grounds for complaints since the internet began, there is no surprise at this. This one's actually fairly mild.

Firaxis knew what they had said. They knew what they were about to ship was not everything they had said. Do they really expect people to be cheering because the editor was junk - sheesh, spend ten minutes around here and tell me that modding isn't a big concern of a significant portion the community. Same with late game tedium. The people interested in these things are going to be disappointed, and once again, no surprise.
With all due respect to those who understand Firaxis' rock and a hard place in dealing with the community as it now stands, the ball WAS in their court. If they didn't expect disappointment with the editor they were fools - and I fail to see how anything they've done since the release shows they had any reasonable strategy for handling the disappointment they had to know was coming.

I'm sorry, this "it's the consumer's fault for not liking the right stuff" is bunk. I've watched game company after game company flounder on boards trying to deal with communities. I can respect the difficulties, but none seem to have any clue going in on handling what are very predictable situations.

"You shouldn't have complained, now we'll tell you nothing" doesnt cut it. Did they think it would?

If it were my company, some PR heads would roll.

[yin26]

Precisely. And when they find themselves having to close their doors or lose even more talent, we'll still be here as the source of all their problems.

Pinheads.

[jbrians]

Originally posted by jackshot
I'm sorry, this "it's the consumer's fault for not liking the right stuff" is bunk.

It's not that there are no legitimate gripes with the product. It's that the SAME people issue the SAME complaint 3 times a day and it just makes this forum far more noise than signal. It's like a bunch of attention-starved 12 year-olds in here.

Everyone realizes that the two major complaints are Editor flexibility and late-game tedium. Software development does not happen overnight. They are running a business and there is no sense telling people what is being worked on until it is done; expectation management is a genuine concern in this industry.

-Brian

[jackshot]

Originally posted by jbrians


It's not that there are no legitimate gripes with the product. It's that the SAME people issue the SAME complaint 3 times a day and it just makes this forum far more noise than signal. It's like a bunch of attention-starved 12 year-olds in here.

That's what all forums are, it's messy stuff. You can't expect everyone here to act in an organized manner and present Firaxis with coherent, restrained, and well-phrased messages. You can't herd cats, and any information here is gathered on the hoof.

I could go on, it's just frustrating. What Firaxis should do now is so simple. Forget the gooblespeak and the fear and loathing. Decide you're going to release a patch that upgrades the editor. Civ is a community experience, the editor is stopping that from happening. Get that creation forum going. Announce patch. Release patch. Gear up for Xpack. Make money, why not?

Seems obvious to me, seem like it should have been obvious to any marketing strategy in October, that's what's so curious about the whole thing.

[The Eliminator]

These types of threads are similar to watching starving rats eat each other. Entertaining at first, but it quickly degenerates into distgusting boredom.

[yin26]

but it quickly degenerates into distgusting boredom

Well, then it's on-topic for Civ3 discussion!