11 replies to this topic

[Mornhaven]

So I was looking around the newsfeed on the front page and I spied this under the "Dev of a Dark Age":

"Well, I can't give away too much just yet, but I can tell you that every Wednesday at 3:00 our team takes a break from the grind to play our game." -CraigFraser

I find this great that you guys take a step back and test it yourselves from (what I am assuming) is a player perspective. I also play a lot of other online games such as Sc2 and LoL and the huge differences can be seen in the way the developers interact with their player base. A good example is how Riots staff members are also involved players playing against the community and generally interacting over the forums. Thus I hope that you devs keep up the this interaction and join us on the ladder(or whatever system you will use) once SoDA is released.

Also, on a more curious note with the quote above, are you devs going to stream yourselves playing the game for us to see and get a feel for it? Obviously I'm talking about closer to beta, when the game is ready, but all I am saying is: I can't wait to see it.

To the community, tell us about your experiences with interactions with devs of other games and what do you hope this community will evolve into?

Edited by Mornhaven, 29 February 2012 - 06:10 PM.

[Derantol]

Honestly, and as cheesy as it sounds, I hope that we build a tight-knit community that allows for easy entry by people who discover the game after the community truly starts developing. More importantly, though, I hope that we can set up a community that is more inclined to help a person when they're doing poorly as opposed to berate them and get on their case for being a bad player. LoL has problems with that, and HoN actually has it programmed into the game. It is, 100% of the time, a huge turn off to be told that you're doing badly and not have the follow up of helpful advice.

I'd like to see a weekly gameplay video, since you guys are playing anyway! Obviously, that's pending your marketing department decisions, but I think that would be a cool way to generate interest in the game.

[Mornhaven]

No thats a great idea, not in the least bit cheesy. Like I said I play LoL, and I often have bad games were everything goes wrong and we all end up at eachother's throats. I personally hate when this happens. I understand that it is a competitive game but there is no need to rage after a bad game. I believe as long as we start forming the communities attitude early we can create a player friendly environment, which in turn, would help the community by creating more people grateful for help they recieved and willing to pass the experience on to others.

[Sarudak]

Gameplay videos!

[CraigFraser]

Yes, we will be playing among you, sometimes anonymously, sometimes with our real names.
We really want to create a large friendly community that encourages teamwork, mentoring, and self-improvement but not at the expense of others. We hope to convince people that the entire community benefits when skilled players help those below them and they in turn share that knowledge with those below them.

[Thanatological]

@CraigFraserWell this is is another concern I have been freed of. Anyway, I may be a bit unfriendly, but I do teach people and share my experience often. Often in the form of somewhat negative criticism, so  I am not top ranked in games like LoL or anything, but I am rather far up there.  In terms of competitive levels, I was ranked about 50 on the Killzone 3 boards(However that's not saying much only about 200 hardcore players so..meh). 1800 ELO in LoL, and a few other decent ranks, now I do love too teach other people So yes, I love this stance, that you want skilled players too teach. I myself hate communities that don't accept new blood.

@OP, Riot has a bad history with their player base. While they do play it down, and try too make it sound like they are all mushy mushy they have a strong history of "corruption" Where as Starcraft 2, you got a legitimate company that realizes one person can provide a good steam of income and not to ban randomly, while holding a semi-loose code too try too keep community happy. I hope we don't have either of those approach.


@Derantol, I hate tight nit communties. Those are the communities that don't accept new blood well. While is is fine too know the people you play with have a few names that stand out ect ect, it still tends too make a rather closed community if we get too close too quick.  Sorta the pack mentality if we try too stay "tight" with people, will cause us too isolate new people.

Edited by Thanatological, 01 March 2012 - 11:31 AM.

[Ascanius31]

@Thanatological  I think you're taking the definition of a tight knit community a little too far. I think Derantol and CraigFraser are basically talking about the same thing...I agree it does have that potential, but it doesn't HAVE to be that way...

Besides--we all would love to be in the beta on this site, and what else can you call a beta testing group but a tight knit, or even exclusive community. That doesn't mean we're exclusionary, it just means we could share some experiences the majority of players on this game may not see. I'm not trying to be elitist--I'm just pointing out that it should enrich the community and give us the opportunity to welcome new players in with guidance and experience while still having fun.

That's what we all want anyway, right?

OP: I have to say, I love when development teams are involved in the community. I really enjoyed when I saw the achievement on Borderlands that required you to play with a Gearbox employee or someone else who had the achievement already--cool idea. I like the notion that sometimes when I'm getting schooled at a game it's because one of the folks who helped design it is kicking my butt. I get pride out of that--that I maybe put up a decent fight.

Looking forward to the chance to get crushed sometime @CraigFraser!

[Arkainon]

Agreed, with all of these.

Thanatological, good insight on the "tight-knit communities," but I think what is really meant here is a friendly, knowledgeable community where the players feel their feedback is being heard by the devs, new players are helped and taught in order to make everyone's experience more enriched (who wants to play with the same people all the time?), and griefers are dealt with swiftly and severely. And about the negative criticism- If it's still constructive, fine. You can't expect everyone to be nice little goody-two shoes, and some people actually appreciate being talked to bluntly rather than having someone hold their hand.
But for the sake of the newbs, try not to scare them off too badly. XD

Mornhaven, I'll have you to know that I just finished reading Blackveil for the fourth time last week. And I may end up dying of suspense before the next one comes out.

And to all the devs- /applaud. I couldn't believe it when I found out Sins was made by only ten people. My god. Hats off to you, sirs. You have my utmost respect and appreciation. And I look forward to the videos!

[Thanatological]

Ahh I can understand that, I do apologize, I am use too the concept of tight knit being closed and familiar with everyone. This is my fault for misinterpreting.

Anyway Sins is a mater piece in my opinion. It went in the direction I liked too see an a RTS game. Ten people is what makes it truly amazing. So I must agree its a respectable and good piece of work.

[Arkainon]

Thanatological, on 02 March 2012 - 02:20 AM, said:

Ahh I can understand that, I do apologize, I am use too the concept of tight knit being closed and familiar with everyone. This is my fault for misinterpreting.

Anyway Sins is a mater piece in my opinion. It went in the direction I liked too see an a RTS game. Ten people is what makes it truly amazing. So I must agree its a respectable and good piece of work.

No need for apologies.

I'm twenty-one now, but my childhood was spent moving from place to place. I went to twelve different schools in as many years, so I was always the "new kid." I know exactly where you're coming from with that. It can be hard for new people to insert themselves into a group a lot of times, especially if they don't know anyone. I like to think I learned a lot of ways to insinuate myself into an existing community, but in all likelihood, I just learned how to be annoying.

[Mornhaven]

Thanatolocial, it is ok your initial comment is a legitimate consern, but yeah, I believe we are aiming for the community that Craig described of mutually helping each other.

Arkainon, I am legitimately suprised you got the reference, I have had this name for 3-4 years and you are the first person to see the reference.

[Arkainon]

Mornhaven, on 02 March 2012 - 07:57 AM, said:

Thanatolocial, it is ok your initial comment is a legitimate consern, but yeah, I believe we are aiming for the community that Craig described of mutually helping each other.

Arkainon, I am legitimately suprised you got the reference, I have had this name for 3-4 years and you are the first person to see the reference.

I know, right? You're the first person I've ever met who's read Green Rider besides me... and I first read it in 2000. I don't get why it doesn't have a larger following.. The series is still going, it's brilliantly written... We should spread the word! XD

Although, I have to admit, waiting 3-4 years between books is kiling me.