Abakan
01-12-2002, 12:42 AM
I enter this forum from UO Stratics. My experience with online gaming is limited to 10 months of UO. I'm 37 years old. The email profiled in biting the hand deals with issues that I've personally discussed on uo forums since shortly after purchasing the game.
My first experiences with UO was marked by remarkable contrast. I was pleased with the 'eye candy' and the interaction possible between players ingame. I liked the relationship between building skills, and creating a personally unique player. Initially the hack and slash was appealing.
I found the support materials designed to explain game play unbelieveably inadequate. This lead to some bad experiences with what at that time was laughingly presented as customer service.
I noticed immediately that the tone taken by those who I expected to help me play and enjoy the product seemed designed to discourage me from future inquiries, and encourage me to look elsewhere for help. I thought several times that I would just unsubscribe and find other entertainment.
My wife played with me and found many of the more purely social aspects of game play much more appealing than I. She chatted. She met people. I participated to a level I found comfortable.
My experiences pretty much mirrored those of the writer of the email.
I still play. My wife has stopped.
The customer service over the last 6 months has improved tremendously.
I think these changes are the result of a shift in attitude. I see less effort spent training me to enjoy the product in way that isn't appealing to me. There are still problems.
The first deals with concentual and non-concentual PVP. Elements of these 2 concepts will probably determine whether I stay or whether I 'vote with my feet.' It is common knowledge that one of the most imortant aspect of PVP is adaquate hardware, connection speed, and supporting software.
My participation in PVP is limited in 2 ways. First there is the limitation caused by the hardware, software, and connection speed listed above, and second my attitude towards how and why I play. Neither is any more important that the other. The mechanical limitation could be fixed, my attitude may change or it may not. However, I would say to any designer or developer, please resist the urge to 'train' me to adopt or enjoy the PVP concept.
Second, the community concepts discussed and the aspect of social interaction are a double edged sword. For example, it is often mentioned that aspects of new changes specifically to UO appear to be designed to encourage 'group play.' I'd hope that the encouragement doesn't take any form that limits how I enjoy playing the game.
Lastly, there are darker elements within the game that should be carefully watched. How the game mechanics and rules address scamming, exploitation, and general behavior that may appeal to an extremely small percentage of players will in the end be very important.
So, at a personal level the best way to keep me happy is to give me what I want, not what you think I'd want with enough encouragement.
My first experiences with UO was marked by remarkable contrast. I was pleased with the 'eye candy' and the interaction possible between players ingame. I liked the relationship between building skills, and creating a personally unique player. Initially the hack and slash was appealing.
I found the support materials designed to explain game play unbelieveably inadequate. This lead to some bad experiences with what at that time was laughingly presented as customer service.
I noticed immediately that the tone taken by those who I expected to help me play and enjoy the product seemed designed to discourage me from future inquiries, and encourage me to look elsewhere for help. I thought several times that I would just unsubscribe and find other entertainment.
My wife played with me and found many of the more purely social aspects of game play much more appealing than I. She chatted. She met people. I participated to a level I found comfortable.
My experiences pretty much mirrored those of the writer of the email.
I still play. My wife has stopped.
The customer service over the last 6 months has improved tremendously.
I think these changes are the result of a shift in attitude. I see less effort spent training me to enjoy the product in way that isn't appealing to me. There are still problems.
The first deals with concentual and non-concentual PVP. Elements of these 2 concepts will probably determine whether I stay or whether I 'vote with my feet.' It is common knowledge that one of the most imortant aspect of PVP is adaquate hardware, connection speed, and supporting software.
My participation in PVP is limited in 2 ways. First there is the limitation caused by the hardware, software, and connection speed listed above, and second my attitude towards how and why I play. Neither is any more important that the other. The mechanical limitation could be fixed, my attitude may change or it may not. However, I would say to any designer or developer, please resist the urge to 'train' me to adopt or enjoy the PVP concept.
Second, the community concepts discussed and the aspect of social interaction are a double edged sword. For example, it is often mentioned that aspects of new changes specifically to UO appear to be designed to encourage 'group play.' I'd hope that the encouragement doesn't take any form that limits how I enjoy playing the game.
Lastly, there are darker elements within the game that should be carefully watched. How the game mechanics and rules address scamming, exploitation, and general behavior that may appeal to an extremely small percentage of players will in the end be very important.
So, at a personal level the best way to keep me happy is to give me what I want, not what you think I'd want with enough encouragement.