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Do mesage boards affect game experience?
Jaruseleh
Member Posts: 4
This is something I've always wanted to get other people's opinion on, especially those who frequent the message boards for their respective games often.
So many times, MMO's change based on what the people on the message boards are talking about. This can be a good AND bad thing. It's good because it gives the devs an idea of what needs fixed in the game, but I also think it's bad for a couple reasons:
1.) The people who frequent the message boards are a small percentage of the people actually playing the game. And an even smaller percentage are those who want a certain thing "fixed".
2.) Opinions are like the flu. They spread like wildfire. For example, if one person makes a suggestion of something he/she wants changed, other people who never thought of the idea jump on the bandwagon. You might think this is a good thing, but think about those people and their opinion prior to this instance. They were just rolling along, having a good time (with this particular aspect of the game) and didn't really have an opinion on it until someone else brought it up.
I guess what I'm getting at is that I've been involved in 2 games where I look at the message board, and there's SOOO many people griping about this or that. Prior to going to the message boards, I didn't notice these things, and I thought the game was fine. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to. Suddenly the game is patched, and in some cases, changes the entire game experience, all because a select few people on the message boards cought the devs eye about a particular subject.
Like I said, this isn't always a bad thing. If there's a bug in the game that needs fixed, the people NEED to be able to have a voice. But I'm guessing there's a lot of people out there like me who had no problems with Game X until they went to the message boards. Then suddenly they're pissed at the devs, the game, other players, etc....
Disclaimer: If I enjoy a game, I will still play it, despite being angry about certain things...but my point is that these "certain things" generally don't arise until I visit the message board for said game.
By the way, this is my first post here, so be nice. lol
So many times, MMO's change based on what the people on the message boards are talking about. This can be a good AND bad thing. It's good because it gives the devs an idea of what needs fixed in the game, but I also think it's bad for a couple reasons:
1.) The people who frequent the message boards are a small percentage of the people actually playing the game. And an even smaller percentage are those who want a certain thing "fixed".
2.) Opinions are like the flu. They spread like wildfire. For example, if one person makes a suggestion of something he/she wants changed, other people who never thought of the idea jump on the bandwagon. You might think this is a good thing, but think about those people and their opinion prior to this instance. They were just rolling along, having a good time (with this particular aspect of the game) and didn't really have an opinion on it until someone else brought it up.
I guess what I'm getting at is that I've been involved in 2 games where I look at the message board, and there's SOOO many people griping about this or that. Prior to going to the message boards, I didn't notice these things, and I thought the game was fine. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to. Suddenly the game is patched, and in some cases, changes the entire game experience, all because a select few people on the message boards cought the devs eye about a particular subject.
Like I said, this isn't always a bad thing. If there's a bug in the game that needs fixed, the people NEED to be able to have a voice. But I'm guessing there's a lot of people out there like me who had no problems with Game X until they went to the message boards. Then suddenly they're pissed at the devs, the game, other players, etc....
Disclaimer: If I enjoy a game, I will still play it, despite being angry about certain things...but my point is that these "certain things" generally don't arise until I visit the message board for said game.
By the way, this is my first post here, so be nice. lol
check out my band at:
Comments
And a good post it is, my first was how I saved mexico using nohing but cigarette butts and beer cans.
As for the topic, yeah definately.
I think message boards are by far the most influential towards sweeping/standard game chages and very often as I've found the vocal minority wins, only because they tend to "scream" like a child who REALLY wants his way. Eventually the stupid parent gives in and bam. NGE.
(example)
Anyhow I also find on the player to player aspect that the more i frequent the game I play boards, the less enthralled I am at said game.
For instance, If I wandered over and read the wow boards right now? I'd probally reduce my playing and fondnes of the game.
This always happens because out of the three good posts you read, most of the time...yeah it's crap. People whining,demanding, and being complete asses so that they can get their way.
Quite a bummer really.
This has been like this and all games that I play, since I started playing mmo's.
I would say that while they can be a danger of what you're suggesting, it's up to the devs what they can change and what they think is worth changing and what method they choose to decide how many players are actually calling for that change.
Without the input of the players, the devs might introduce all kinds of things that might not go down well at all with players. For me, the more the devlopers can react to what the players want, the more the players can feel they are having some influence in the world and in the long run, the better the game will be.
The players and developers need to be able to communicate. If not forums, what would you suggest?
btw. Welcome to the boards! (or posting on them anyway) You should make that link to your band a clicky one. Well worth people taking the time to go have a listen to. Very impressive!
Chat rooms!
So you can have 10000000 ideas fly by per second!
It'd be like the ulitmate hell.
check out my band at:
http://www.myspace.com/disingagedband
I don't read official message boards until after I am done with the game.
They have a habit of pointing out every fault, nerf and bug within the game, so that things I would never have noticed now become apparent to me everytime I play.
There are also some very ugly types in the communtiy who I don't want to communicate with at all. On a server like attracts like and you end up gaming with people you appreciate, on the forums all the scum who would not normally be privvy to your discussions all join in.
I fully enjoy and usually visit indendant forums for my games. In these forums one can usually air ones opinion without censorship. Communities tend to be more tight knit and the like attracts like factor comes back into it.
I've been in too many official forums where, when asking for help or having an issue that I would like to see resolved or seeking a work around, an army of fanboys has insisted that the problems are all my fault. That I shouldn't even be attemptting to address them in first place and that I am disrespectful twat for mentioning it. The posts continue unmoderated until such time as I return the "compliments" at which time the thread is immediately locked by the moderators and disappears into obscurity. My issue unaddressed.
I'm sure you know the type of thing.
Some teenage twonk wants to teach me how much respect a developer deserves for giving me the priviliage of buying his work, or how to turn on my computer. Or rather doesn't want to teach me anything at all, but is looking for the excuse to humiliate me and stroke his own ego.
In short official forums are the absolute worst part of games. Avoid at all costs.
I tend to use them during the dissection phase after I have finished the game and it is dead or in the development phase, when the theme of the game sounds good and there are features I would like to see included.