Blizzard probably. Most people fail to grasp that it is really hard to satisfy the crowd of a game that has 6 or 11 (6 for haters, 11 for non haters) million subs and yet they have done it. This doesn't imply that they don't have their own fiascos ( Wow's forum is currently full of complaints and whines and yet there is not a tide wave of leavers.) but at least damage control is fast. CCP and turbine are pretty good also.
I'd be willing to bet that most of the complainers in WoW's forums are people that never played another mmorpg and don't realize how good Blizzard is about addressing community complaints and in-game bugs.
This last week a new patch was released in WoW and for the first time that I remember it contained some huge bugs. Blizzard (within hours) disabled the portions of the game that were messed up so they stopped affecting the gameplay for everybody and had a fix done in less than two days. While they were working on a fix they kept the community updated on both the forums and the game's log-in screen.
Can anybody even fathom SOE being that responsive?
Edit: Just saw this story...further proof of what an awesome company Blizzard is.
WoW by FAR had the best response of any game I've played.
When I quit Star Wars, I got a little card where I had to check the points I didn't like about the game. Along with one single line to say anything I would like to add.
WoW offered me unlimited space for feedback - what a switch!
CCP Mostly because the Devs are just as dedicated to playing EVE as we are.
That's not too difficult to do, they can give themselves ISK and not lose any grinding time when ganked. In fact they probably don't have to grind at all if they can give themselves ISK.
I've posed this question to other gamers, in other venues, and I keep hearing the same thing over and over again: EVE, LoTR and WoW. For companies that'd be Blizzard, Turbine and CCP. They're obviously doing many things right. Hopefully they'll continue and be rewarded for their efforts.
NCsoft comes up occasionally, but also gets shot down a fair bit for two massive and largely unwanted game revamps. One was called E.D. and happened years ago. The more recent revamp was of the badge system, the Task Force system, and the PvP system. Segments of that game's population are still up in arms.
As for other companies, one can hope that they will look at the successful ones, and follow their example in terms of quality and customer service. What I've noticed with Smed is that he'll see someone else's success, but rather than embracing their successful philosophy, he'll try to take what they've done and turn it into some kind of cheap gimmick. At this point, I honestly don't think he's capable of shaking this gimmicky mind-set.
Comments
CCP & Blizzard hands down, NCSoft are good with City of Heroes as well churning out content twice a year.
Without a doubt, LOTRO.
I'd be willing to bet that most of the complainers in WoW's forums are people that never played another mmorpg and don't realize how good Blizzard is about addressing community complaints and in-game bugs.
This last week a new patch was released in WoW and for the first time that I remember it contained some huge bugs. Blizzard (within hours) disabled the portions of the game that were messed up so they stopped affecting the gameplay for everybody and had a fix done in less than two days. While they were working on a fix they kept the community updated on both the forums and the game's log-in screen.
Can anybody even fathom SOE being that responsive?
Edit: Just saw this story...further proof of what an awesome company Blizzard is.
WoW by FAR had the best response of any game I've played.
When I quit Star Wars, I got a little card where I had to check the points I didn't like about the game. Along with one single line to say anything I would like to add.
WoW offered me unlimited space for feedback - what a switch!
That's not too difficult to do, they can give themselves ISK and not lose any grinding time when ganked. In fact they probably don't have to grind at all if they can give themselves ISK.
Turbine for sure, they listen and deliver and they do it well
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds
-Solid non level based game
-Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
I've posed this question to other gamers, in other venues, and I keep hearing the same thing over and over again: EVE, LoTR and WoW. For companies that'd be Blizzard, Turbine and CCP. They're obviously doing many things right. Hopefully they'll continue and be rewarded for their efforts.
NCsoft comes up occasionally, but also gets shot down a fair bit for two massive and largely unwanted game revamps. One was called E.D. and happened years ago. The more recent revamp was of the badge system, the Task Force system, and the PvP system. Segments of that game's population are still up in arms.
As for other companies, one can hope that they will look at the successful ones, and follow their example in terms of quality and customer service. What I've noticed with Smed is that he'll see someone else's success, but rather than embracing their successful philosophy, he'll try to take what they've done and turn it into some kind of cheap gimmick. At this point, I honestly don't think he's capable of shaking this gimmicky mind-set.