Pucking Ridiculous (The OBG Chronicles): Developer Dialogue

[Bama83]

I think my biggest issue is that they don't share with us the "road map" that they envision. While it's great having them pop in from time to time, I think that communication needs to be constantly present. Tell us why or how you're listening to ideas and why things can and can't be done.

I know there is the whole "marketing" hoopla that they feel they need to generate "buzz", but the truth is - people aren't so easily bought off on features. I think it's a poor move to not give us more insight into where they anticipate improvements.

With a full disclosure (or even a more thorough disclosure) like that, the developers and the community can corroborate on unprecedented levels.

Incorporate questionnaires inside the game while loading screens are ... well... loading. Ask the community what is important.

I think the secrecy about their plans only creates frustration. They market this game like they do every other genre of video games and I truly think it's a disservice.

That's my gripe.

[b3organ]

I totally agree with Bama83 (above post) but I think the situation is so that the devs are also open-minded and they would/want to tell us nearly everything they know but the business world is made so that they are not allowed. It is same thing in all "sectors". People who develop cars, phones, computers are not allowed to talk about their product before publishing. There are always those who control what can be said at certain time of dev cycle.

[Game4fun]

Wish I new more about Hockey. Sometime I will pick it up. I'm big on football and basketball. Someday. I agree about showing the devs some respect.

[JimPaek]

I appreciate the work put into the game. However, there can always be the little things that can hurt the game for some people. It's no different every year. I played NHL10 less than any other year because of some small, but important, flaws (like players not wanting to change lines and get off the ice, etc.) that would not help my enjoyment of the game.

That being said, I do think that the NHL team appears to be plugged into the community and strives to make the best game possible. Unfortunately for everyone, they haven't mastered a perfect game yet,

[Redshirt_EA]

Some thoughts on the subject...

For the most part people behave with civility towards devs on forums, esp. on OS. It is the internet and it is more or less anonymous, so a certain amount of garbage is to be expected and with that understanding I have no real complaints about how things go. I don't want dev presence here to change how the boards work, esp. with respect to rules for posting and censoring.

Contrary to what's been suggested by one of the posts devs do not have to post here. It is not part of our jobs and we have to go out of our way to be allowed to post on forums. There are people who have the job of doing PR, devs jobs are to make the game. For a dev, hours spent on forums are hours not spent directly on improving the game, or hours taken from personal time (overwhelmingly the latter, when there's a distinction between the two). I think the feedback from forums, along with playing the game ourselves, is essential to the job. That's a big part of why I'm here, but that is my own decision.

Posting can be quite awkward for a dev for a number of reasons. There are things we can't say, e.g. future plans that are (or may be) business sensitive, and things I can't discuss because they were not my decision or in my area of responsibility. Dealing with criticism can also be awkward because we don't control the resources that are available, which is typically what limits us from doing more. For me these limitations are the biggest challenge being here and most of the headaches interacting in the forums come from people who can't separate me, as an individual developer, from NHL as a whole or EA as a company.

[JMBOO]

Well hello Redshirt. Always nice to see you here. Looking sexy as ever.

Whilst I agree with the underlying thought about being respectful to the devs that post here, it just does not seem to be that bad really in this forum.

I think most of the members that post here have a great deal of respect for Redshirt and his team. Honestly, when you have a guy that will take the time to not only expain, but also show a novice how to post properly, it says alot about what kind of person you are dealing with and why he has earned the respect of the community.

I mean, you will always have those who have no respect, that is just how it is. And, you will always have hot-button issues which usually tend to bring out the baser aspects of people, and this is just usually the result of being passionate about something. However, in the end, I guess I just do not see the NHL forum as a place where the devs are being really disrespected.

[Peter_OS]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bama83

I can see where you're going, but honestly - that's their job. To sell games. How do you best do this? Give what the consumer wants. I'm not saying people need to treat the devs like animals, but this is what they are PAID TO DO. The truth is - the developers should be thanking us on a daily basis for keeping them employed and doing something they enjoy. It's like giving a hug to your waiter at the local cafe -- after you've paid for your meal and left a hearty tip.

Well said Bama. I agree. At the end of the day it's all about the consumer, and what they want to see in a game. We are the ones who are going to fork out our hard earned $$ to buy their games. They need to listen and take criticism at the same time. It's their job to do so. Like you said, without us they wouldn't be employed and doing something they enjoy.

[onlybygrace]

Quote: Originally Posted by Redshirt_EA

Some thoughts on the subject... For the most part people behave with civility towards devs on forums, esp. on OS. It is the internet and it is more or less anonymous, so a certain amount of garbage is to be expected and with that understanding I have no real complaints about how things go. I don't want dev presence here to change how the boards work, esp. with respect to rules for posting and censoring. Contrary to what's been suggested by one of the posts devs do not have to post here. It is not part of our jobs and we have to go out of our way to be allowed to post on forums. There are people who have the job of doing PR, devs jobs are to make the game. For a dev, hours spent on forums are hours not spent directly on improving the game, or hours taken from personal time (overwhelmingly the latter, when there's a distinction between the two). I think the feedback from forums, along with playing the game ourselves, is essential to the job. That's a big part of why I'm here, but that is my own decision. Posting can be quite awkward for a dev for a number of reasons. There are things we can't say, e.g. future plans that are (or may be) business sensitive, and things I can't discuss because they were not my decision or in my area of responsibility. Dealing with criticism can also be awkward because we don't control the resources that are available, which is typically what limits us from doing more. For me these limitations are the biggest challenge being here and most of the headaches interacting in the forums come from people who can't separate me, as an individual developer, from NHL as a whole or EA as a company.

Thanks for the feedback, Redshirt.