What is the purpose of a town hall meeting?

[love2winalot]

Well? What do you actually do at a UO Town Hall meeting that could not be done over the internet, ? It is not like you have a new expansion in Beta, or am going to embark on a marketing blitz, or actually tell anyone about the status of SA.

It takes time/effort/money to do this. So, what does EA get in return?

 

[BartofCats]

tax write off?

 

[canary]

A free weekend vacation for three or four hours 'work'.

 

[Lady-Tor]

*shrugs* I dont think they need a reason to do anything. They sure dont want to spend the money on advertizing.

 

[AesSedai]

It takes time/effort/money to do this. So, what does EA get in return?

- They get a better response than they do from the anonymity of the internet, that is for certain.

What's the purpose? I'm not positive.

How about a question for you:
If you only had a few minutes to try to get to know someone, do you think you would know them better if you talked in-person or via a few text messages?

 

[GAMBIT35]

Well? What do you actually do at a UO Town Hall meeting that could not be done over the internet, ? It is not like you have a new expansion in Beta, or am going to embark on a marketing blitz, or actually tell anyone about the status of SA.

It takes time/effort/money to do this. So, what does EA get in return?

They have an opportunity to tell 15-20 people absolutely nothing.

 

[Hildebrand]

I went to the one last year in NY. We had snacks and got t-shirts.

 

[DevilsOwn]

- They get a better response than they do from the anonymity of the internet, that is for certain.

What's the purpose? I'm not positive.

How about a question for you:
If you only had a few minutes to try to get to know someone, do you think you would know them better if you talked in-person or via a few text messages?

one aspect that can do nothing but help the game, the developers get to see the types of people that care enough about the world they build to come sit and talk with them about it

 

[Joyous2K]

Well? What do you actually do at a UO Town Hall meeting that could not be done over the internet, ? It is not like you have a new expansion in Beta, or am going to embark on a marketing blitz, or actually tell anyone about the status of SA.

It takes time/effort/money to do this. So, what does EA get in return?

Last year they were showcasing KR. I don't know what they do now.

 

[Desolation87]

To annoy the players not in the US......

 

[Sarphus]

LOL

I love your sig quote desolations. I sometimes refer to people as having more money than brains when I see them doing stupid things with money.

 

[Snakeman]

To smoke & screen the players that ask intelligent questions of them. Then abruptly go off topic hoping that question will be forgotten... The devs need to start listening to the community of UO, what is LEFT! All we get from them when we ask serious questions & our concerns is "Oh we are working on that" and nothing becomes of it. We have asked many many times for more Stable slots for all players because of the many new tamables & the imprisoned pets as loot that we can get. We have asked again, numerous times on fixing Siege P's ROT rate & still nothing. How many times have PVP & PVM concerns been asked & we get blown off on.. Scripting, no need for more here! Come on Dev's, Start Answering the whats left Faithful players concerns of this game. For without the faithful Ol timers that you have left (and many are leaving just because of this no response attitude you're taking) this game will flop. Do us all a Huge Favor, start with this Town Hall ACTUALLY answering questions fully, no smoke & screens.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Executive Summary of the Post to Follow:
I understand why they have them. They are fun and there's a level of interaction there that the Internet can't duplicate. Memorable, meaningful moments happen at these. Enthusiasm is contagious.

I don't think I agree with having one in the present climate, however. I think that for now they should just post a lot and save the Town Hall meeting for the next time they have something to promote.


The Full Text of the Post:
They seem like fun and, I could see it under many circumstances helping to build community. Also, you have personal, face-to-face interactions with your customers.

Anyone remember when Admiral Ruffle (I am getting his name wrong, I know it....Sorry dude.....) gave the team a replica of one of the Serpent Pillars to thank them for fixing the Pillars in-game? Or when some member of the team kicked a player's ass in a PvP tournament? Or when Richard Garriott showed up to the 10th Anniversary party? Or when 2 players from LS whipped two of the team member's asses at pool after a meeting? Or when Drunk Guy entertained us with his drunken plea for more skill points at the Mondain's Legacy launch? Or the excited gasps at the first unveiling of Kingdom Reborn?

You can't duplicate that kind of thing online. I wasn't even at any of those and all of those moments still meant something to me.

I think that in the present climate, however, they could get more mileage out of communicating with us on the boards. The issues right now are the next stage of the event; the Spellweaving issue still unresolved; the bug where Faction guilds can't be allied to non-Faction guilds. Stuff like that. Not really the stuff of the Town Halls, and yet if they seek to duck those questions, but also have nothing major to say, it'll just look ridiculous. To duck a question about a bug when you've just announced an expansion is one thing.

I would've suggested they save the next Town Hall for after the next major decision is made (like Stygian Abyss), or when there's something to promote (like an anniversary edition box).

But we'll see.

-Galen's player

 

[Yalp]

You get snacks and a t-shirt, yes. But if that's all you get then you're going with a bad attitude. Anyone who's met the person behind the name would have a hard time bashing them in a post... at least if they had any humanity in them (i.e.attacks on Jeremy). Issues are raised, attempts are made to raise excitement in the game, concerns are expressed, other EA game town halls are piggy-backed.

And it might just be, that if you don't get the change you've requested, it's not because they aren't paying attention, it's that the answer is "NO". Which is as it should be.. until you become the producer of UO.

LORD Yalp of Zento, CTDM

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

Maybe it's just the fact that there doesn't seem to be much communication between the development tean and the palyers anymore. That being said, it's been that way since Binky left the liaison role. I remember the lead GM coming to the boards back then...la

 

[love2winalot]

How about a question for you:
If you only had a few minutes to try to get to know someone, do you think you would know them better if you talked in-person or via a few text messages?

I will bite: As we all know people will say what they, "Really" mean on a board. Things that they would never say to someone in person. So it is the same.

Board: "You idiots, KR vet reward graphics suck, i thought it was illegal to hire 7 year olds to do the art work, fix it now...."

that now becomes

In Person: Why is the Vet Reward graphics are so bad, as compared to the same reward graphics in 2d?

Also, on the board you can post screen shots to prove a point. I never heard of players showing up at a town hall meeting, and giving screen shots to EA reps, and then have them comment on them.

Now, if on the other hand, they show the trailor of SA, and open Beta starts on 1 Aug, 08, Then that would be a different story, and i would them be asking why the town hall meeting was not held in Vegas? hehehe

 

[Lady_Mina]

I agree with Snakeman.

I started to play UO again a month ago..and already starting to slightly regrett it when i see EA's attitude towards the VERY FEW subscribers.

I've been member since 2000...had a two year break.

I'm holding on and hoping it will get better...but i doubt it...Uo is quite old.
There's no other game that managed to reach this age.

I understand they got other 'better' and 'bigger' games to run...
But UO is one of their oldest babies and should not be left to die.

 

[Raina]

They get to push Warhammer! Get everyone to switch *nods sagely*

They sure as heck don't provide any UO related info!

~Rai

 

[Emil Ispep]

Re: Purpose of a town hall meeting...

Not so much a purpose, as whos gonna be there.

Nerds.

 

[Joyous2K]

Well? What do you actually do at a UO Town Hall meeting that could not be done over the internet, ? It is not like you have a new expansion in Beta, or am going to embark on a marketing blitz, or actually tell anyone about the status of SA.

It takes time/effort/money to do this. So, what does EA get in return?

WEll, last year it was to promo the better interface and awesomely epic expansion. Remember that?

The last one was a cross promo, where they were advertising their new game? Is that right? DOC or TOS or whatever the newest latest MMORPG acronym is.

It's good for these guys to get out every now and then. Our company is always sending us on these "training seminars," read, mini-vacations, where we spend a day and half learning something and then spend a day and a half golfing and puking. That is what companies do for their professionals. So these guys are out to train on what subs want and golf a bit, or play video games or whatver they do.

 

[the 4th man]

How about a question for you:
If you only had a few minutes to try to get to know someone, do you think you would know them better if you talked in-person or via a few text messages?

I will bite: As we all know people will say what they, "Really" mean on a board. Things that they would never say to someone in person. So it is the same.
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In regards to your bite, we all don't know what people will say in person, maybe you wouldn't, but I have audacity to open my mouth and speak my peace, in a blunt, but courteous way.....other times, hey, I'll be blunt and to the point.....what can happen? Someone gets offended?? If they do then they personal issues.....I'll be at D&B's down on clark in oct. I won't hold back, or fall for any side stepping bs.
First rounds on me.

 

[Uriah Heep]

Heheh
Yeah I am about as obnoxious in person as I am here on the boards.
And in person I would plainly tell em I don't like the two-step side-step we always seem to get.

But alas, travel funds and vacation funds are a bit limited, the NHRA FallNationals will be in Ennis, and as much as I would like to go get kicked out of Dave and Busters in Austin, I would rather watch the TF dragsters and funny cars run live

Noise, fires, crashes, thrills, meeting the drivers and getting autographs, (the kids always ask for an old blower belt, signed of course ), vs hearing we can't discuss that right now, but if you keep paying you will be shocked and awed at what the future holds.

Yep, Fall nationals it is!

 

[Sneaky Que]

I don't think I agree with having one in the present climate, however. I think that for now they should just post a lot and save the Town Hall meeting for the next time they have something to promote.

Maybe, *hopes* that time has come...


On a related issue, the Devs should make a real holiday of it and come down and do a town hall for us Oceanians (and provide some much needed advertising in Australia at the same time)! That is if they can get EA to pay for it lol. Common Devs, a holiday in Australia that you can wright off as a work expense, it doesn't get much better than that

 

[Basara]

You know, there are several things I brought up as rarely or never reported issues at Town halls, that later got handled in the game.

In 2004 (IIRC) in Indianapolis, I told the devs about the freeze/ghost-image issues in Haven (even demonstrated it for them at the EA booth); it took them a few years, but they fixed it - By BLOWING IT UP, when they couldn't fix the issues any other way than rebuilding the server section. I guess you could say I was the one that blew it up (why do I hear Charlton Heston screaming in my mind???)

In Columbus, July 2007, a few of the issues I told the reps/devs about got fixed, or at least worked on. For example, a human can now turn in BODs until they go over 430 stone weight - used to be under 390 (the pre-BOD-System max STR capacity for 100 STR, which was max at the time). A couple other minor issues were also dealt with, but with such little sleep, I can't remember them exactly. It was also where I got confirmation that my 2004 demonstration was one of the reasons they nuked the landscape code in Haven, to clear the bugs.

A lot of the game-breakers get reported on and worked through normal channels - it's often the little things players tell them at the Town halls, that get worked on in the devs spare time, and end up as part of one of those "page-of-minor-fixes" type publishes - but would have never been fixed without the Town Halls, and the ability of players to explain the issues directly.

 

[Connor_Graham]

But alas, travel funds and vacation funds are a bit limited, the NHRA FallNationals will be in Ennis, and as much as I would like to go get kicked out of Dave and Busters in Austin, I would rather watch the TF dragsters and funny cars run live

What are the dates for that? I might have to change my mind about going to Austin. Sorry Dev's, but drag racing pwns a Town Hall.

 

[NuSair]

To give canned responses to players in person and say things personally like 'that is a great idea make sure we write that one down'--

Which was actually said at least 3 times at the Atlanta townhall and none of which were implemented or ever mentioned again.

Oh, and for the producer to show off his 100% hit lightening longsword.

 

[dukarlo]

one aspect that can do nothing but help the game, the developers get to see the types of people that care enough about the world they build to come sit and talk with them about it

What good is sitting down with the people that play the game when they dont answer questions players have reguarding the rampant cheating? I hope anyone going to the meeting repeatedly demands answers to the whole speedhacking thing. EMails dont work, phone calls dont workpaging gms doesnt work and posting on these forums certainly doesnt work. The meeting is the only place where answers can be asked directly to a real person. I hope that more than just fanboy questions will be answered.

 

[Uriah Heep]

For Connor:

http://www.oreillyfallnationals.com/schedule.php

Sept 18-21

 

[Connor_Graham]

For Connor:

http://www.oreillyfallnationals.com/schedule.php

Sept 18-21

Great! Thanks!

 

[Joyous2K]

Well? What do you actually do at a UO Town Hall meeting that could not be done over the internet, ? It is not like you have a new expansion in Beta, or am going to embark on a marketing blitz, or actually tell anyone about the status of SA.

It takes time/effort/money to do this. So, what does EA get in return?

Well if they transcribe all that stuff that was said and read it privately and then have a meeting to talk about it, it could be good.

But the event itself sounded fun though.

 

[Sunrise]

Re: What is the purpose of a town hall meeting?



Nuff said

 

[Cogniac]

Or when Drunk Guy entertained us with his drunken plea for more skill points at the Mondain's Legacy launch?

Don't forget his sidekick: One Pixel Woman.

I was there. It was a sight to behold.