Pucking Ridiculous (The OBG Chronicles): Developer Dialogue

[speels]

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.

While I do agree with you that it is what they get paid to do, I also believe that there is one thing to remember. To continue with the waiter analogy, as long as you are courteous to a waiter you will normally get good service, but be an *** once and don't leave a tip and see if you don't get a snot sandwich the next time you have that same waiter.

Too many people use the excuse that "they get paid to do it." inorder to make themselves feel better about treating others like garbage. I always look at it like "how would I feel if someone said that to me?" The way I like to be "helped" is a little praise then tell me what I could do to improve.

If the person speaking to me can't think of anything that is good, then hopefully all they say is "You suck!" and they leave me alone. I think OBG is talking about the posters with an "Agenda". They tell the devs there game sucks, but they say it everywhere (many threads) whereas they should let it go at once. I.E. "I do not enjoy your game." end of story, don't post about it again. Not everyone is going to like every game, but just say your piece and let it be.

[Redshirt_EA]

If you really want a restaurant analogy chef would be far better comparison than waiter.

[plaidchuck]

Well I agree that you should be civil and courteous in EVERYTHING you do, whether it's interactions in real life or a message board like this. At the same time I don't think it's wrong to show a wee bit of frustration(still in a respectful manner) with a certain aspect of a game especially if it has been in multiple iterations of the game. Of course the more constructive the criticism, the better.

I just become annoyed when people do make constructive posts and some other members immediately jump on their case acting like they're simply a troll because they made a criticism or point about the game. Or they have the strange attitude "don't say anything negative because the devs will get mad and never listen to us again"

[onlybygrace]

Quote: Originally Posted by plaidchuck

Well I agree that you should be civil and courteous in EVERYTHING you do, whether it's interactions in real life or a message board like this. At the same time I don't think it's wrong to show a wee bit of frustration(still in a respectful manner) with a certain aspect of a game especially if it has been in multiple iterations of the game. Of course the more constructive the criticism, the better. I just become annoyed when people do make constructive posts and some other members immediately jump on their case acting like they're simply a troll because they made a criticism or point about the game. Or they have the strange attitude "don't say anything negative because the devs will get mad and never listen to us again"

I'd be the first one to admit that I've been guilty of that, but many posters really have no idea where to draw the line between whining and complaining constructively.

Also, constructive critism looses its constructivity when it is brought up repeatedly and then some.

If someone has a problem:

*Start a thread or find related one.

*Address the problem, explaining specifically what it is and how/why it bothers you.

*Offer some ideas as to how you believe it should be fixed. Many fail on this point. They complain and then proceed to forget that they've left nothing but their complaint for everyone else to figure out. If someone will bother to complain, maybe that same someone should bother to offer some ideas on how a specified problem should be fixed.

*Try not to mention it over and over again. Like 'speels' posted in his 3rd paragraph, its really the 'agenda' posters I was referencing. We've all seen them, they're the guys who'll come around and seem as though they are absolutely hellbent on sounding off until all OSers know just how they feel.

I will explain this in the 2nd edition of Pucking Ridiculous (The OBG Chronicles).

Its 12:50 and time to go to sleep. Peace.

[Redshirt_EA]

Quote: Originally Posted by plaidchuck

Well I agree that you should be civil and courteous in EVERYTHING you do, whether it's interactions in real life or a message board like this. At the same time I don't think it's wrong to show a wee bit of frustration(still in a respectful manner) with a certain aspect of a game especially if it has been in multiple iterations of the game. Of course the more constructive the criticism, the better. I just become annoyed when people do make constructive posts and some other members immediately jump on their case acting like they're simply a troll because they made a criticism or point about the game. Or they have the strange attitude "don't say anything negative because the devs will get mad and never listen to us again"

Agree completely with this. Honestly I don't think there's much need to worry about how things go here, it is very rarely outside of what I'd consider constructive. EA Forums are much worse, it took me all of 10 seconds there to find an example of what isn't useful:
http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/1117158.page

It could have been very easy for the poster there to recast his criticism in a more reasonable form -- with less hyperbole and less bile. Imagine how reading that makes someone who's just finished two months of 90-100 hour work weeks feel. I'm pretty numb to it by now, but I certainly don't push any of the younger devs on the team to subject themselves to it because I think it could affect their morale. If there are shortcomings in the game it certainly isn't for lack of effort (or ability I suggest) on the part of any developer who would be taking the time to go looking for feedback, so the attitude of that poster is completely misguided.

It is pretty much a non-issue on OS.

[milesizdead]

Yeah EA forums can get quite venomous

They must be quite frustrating at times to moderate, so hats off to those guys!

At least it shows how passionate folks are about the NHL series?

Much respect for Redshirt for coming here, and EA´s forums occasionally, to give us some contact to the devs...You make a wicked game you do.

Now just please work on Euro servers and get rid of looping

[Dalsanto0026]

Well said Bama83. I totally agree with your comments.

[Bama83]

Quote: Originally Posted by speels

While I do agree with you that it is what they get paid to do, I also believe that there is one thing to remember. To continue with the waiter analogy, as long as you are courteous to a waiter you will normally get good service, but be an *** once and don't leave a tip and see if you don't get a snot sandwich the next time you have that same waiter. Too many people use the excuse that "they get paid to do it." inorder to make themselves feel better about treating others like garbage.

I think an important part of that message (or a later one) was that despite the fact that I believe this dialogue is basically a function of their job (despite Redshirt's feedback) I don't believe it gives someone free reign to be an effin' jackass. There's no excuse for that.

Overall, I don't see that here. I see it on NCAA and Madden, but not here. Granted, our NHL product is lightyears ahead of Madden/NCAA in terms of representing the sport.