Response to this weeks FoF

[Nenime]

http://www.uo.com/fof/fiveonfriday118.html

I know y'all look forward to the FoF every week, and get most upset when it's not up to par

The reason why people get upset is that there are enough unanswered questions to make a HoF. But even more (myself included) if we - as your loyal community - feel not been respected. We sure deserve that our feedback and critic is heared (as long as it is constructive). When circumstances occur that makes a FoF impossible and we are told in the way you did, it's ok for me. But I think that there are still a lot of question which can be answered without having the whole team around. The FoFs are considered as a feedback forum and it shouldn't be dropped easily - it's just five questions a week, come on. I respect your decision though that you rather give no information at all than a potential false one.

So, although I'm somehow disappointed (again), your clarification is reasonable and - under the given circumstances - respectful too. Thank you, Jeremy

 

[NuSair]

The ability to not communicate with someone over vast distances for information ESPECIALLY over several days(weeks) in unacceptable in todays business world. With cell phones and e-mail it is a ridiculous answer.

It just goes to show another incompetancy in EA/Mythic.

Feel free to chime in Bob.

 

[Black Sun]

It just goes to show another incompetancy in EA/Mythic.

I don't know why, but this attitude annoys me to no end. You do realize that you're voluntary paying to play this game right? If you don't like the quality of service, then just turn around and leave. Close your accounts, find that company with the perfect customer service dept, the 100% bug free game that's perfectly balanced, and updated with new events/items/quests/features without fail every 4-6 weeks, that has perfect lines of communication between devs and players, and a dev team who has time to listen to and implement every single thought the players have.

And when you do find that perfect game, please let us know, we'll all hop on our flying unicorns and come over to your house and have a big party with all the leprechauns and pixies. [/rant]

I feel better having vented that.

 

[Lord Sir Scott]

I don't know why, but this attitude annoys me to no end. You do realize that you're voluntary paying to play this game right? If you don't like the quality of service, then just turn around and leave..

it is not a matter of Service it is the matter of we are the player base and as such we dislike being snubed so often in regards to a few simple questions...

 

[Black Sun]

If you feel you're being snubbed, why do you stick around for it to happen again? Seems to me like there's a lot of people hanging around who are very unhappy, yet they do nothing to remove themselves from the situation.

 

[KoolAidAddict]

Well, for my two pence worth..........its not like there isnt a backlog of questions that could have been answered before the "team" left for sun and sushi.

Its not like there wasnt an expected FoF coming up when they were off this continent.

Its not like they werent there teaching that "team" whats up, part of which better include the need for communication.

Its not like the "team" couldnt have each answered one question before bed and emailed it, what are we talking about.........5 mins each?

Its not like, I suppose, we havent been disappointed with the lack of FoF's before, but dang, to go so far as to have a FoF and not even answer ONE question?

Ok, well, whatever.
Any chance we can expect a TEN on friday next week?
Yeah.......im not holding my breath!!

 

[Lord Sir Scott]

"If you feel you're being snubbed, why do you stick around for it to happen again? Seems to me like there's a lot of people hanging around who are very unhappy, yet they do nothing to remove themselves from the situation."


So basicly your saying if you dont like it leave? Sorry that not the way to get things done...The Squeeky Wheel gets the Grease...

 

[Winker]

To be fair the fof have been a pile of dog poo in the last few weeks. Its like were getting fobed off alittle more each week untill we have...This week nothing!

 

[Uriah Heep]

If you don't like the quality of service, then just turn around and leave. Close your accounts,

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the attitude that got us the sub #s we have now.
Because, it seems, this is the prevailing attitude, from the top of the food chain right on down to the fanbois.

Everyone jokes and complains about customer service and gms, but really, arent they just taking their cue from Community? We are seriously sposed to believe, in this day and age, someone being out of town is a hindrance to communication? Seriously, Bob, Cal, whoever, and Jeremy, what community are the coordinating/serving? Cuz I don't see em here very much!

 

[love2winalot]

Hail: Those of you who think we are un happy, or being to harsh....It is called five on friday. FoF. We did not make it up, or invent it, EA did. It is their own, "Motto" so to speak, that they are violating.

Rename it to CFU, Casual Friday Update, and no one could complain if there were 12 questions one week, 2 the next, and 4 after that. If you are not going to answer, "5" questions, then that is fine, don't. But stop calling it "Five" on friday. simple......

 

[Black Sun]

"If you feel you're being snubbed, why do you stick around for it to happen again? Seems to me like there's a lot of people hanging around who are very unhappy, yet they do nothing to remove themselves from the situation."


So basicly your saying if you dont like it leave? Sorry that not the way to get things done...The Squeeky Wheel gets the Grease...

When the wheel has been squeaking this long, and still hasn't been greased, its a safe bet it's not going to be greased anytime soon (if ever). Things have been getting worse for a long time now. Anyone out there who thinks UO will continue to go on and on forever, and will eventually take an upwards turn is either a fool, or in some serious denial. Sad to say it, but UO is nearing the end of it's run I think. I for one have decided to just relax and enjoy the time that's left.

 

[Lord Sir Scott]

When the wheel has been squeaking this long, and still hasn't been greased, its a safe bet it's not going to be greased anytime soon (if ever). Things have been getting worse for a long time now. Anyone out there who thinks UO will continue to go on and on forever, and will eventually take an upwards turn is either a fool, or in some serious denial.

Nobodys asking for a Brand new rose garden just some one to tend to the one we have now...

Sad to say it, but UO is nearing the end of it's run I think. I for one have decided to just relax and enjoy the time that's left.

to me this would be considered passing the buck,IE: Well screw it till it gets better or they shut it down... Any voice is a voice heard no matter how quiet or small... but on another hand... i'll bet if you notice things getting better or seemed to lean to your game style you would be more into it.
Some of us enjoy the game due to the way it is designed, yeah any one can move on to another game and play. vs Some of us are dedicated to this one.... Help us dont hender us...

 

[Stoutblade]

Well, just to add my own input here...

In response to the original thread I have to agree that it is ridiculous that the team can't communicate over long distances. There are cell phones, e-mail, chat clients, message boards, etc. Surely there is some way that a question could be sent out and an answer received.

As for the customer service issue, I have to agree that it is not anywhere near where it should be. I was really hopeful when KR was announced. It seemed like they were going to really put their noses to the grindstone and turn UO around. Instead they let it die--again (I believe that makes three times, two failed sequels plus one failed redesign, although I guess it could be four if you consider the death of UO3D).

The only reason I still play (and I don't play continuously, I take long breaks where I have no subscription) is because I enjoy the skill system and the open-ended gameplay. My old friends aren't even much of a draw anymore because not many of them still play (or they take very long breaks like me). The sad part about all of this is that the situation is completely fixable. All the dev team would have to do is fix some of the major issues that are plaguing the game and be responsive to a community that is still rabid for the game. If you can keep your community happy then they will stay and work to get more people in and improve the community. It has to be a team effort, the devs can't just dump all of the community-building onto the community and then just let the game go down the toilet. But that's just how this (on and off) player sees it.

 

[the 4th man]

I wholeheartidly agree,.....you gripers voluntarily play this game. And that's all it is, is a game.

EA never promised to write an FoF, they do it out of free will. When something isn't posted, or God forbid, someones specifics aren't met, we get the tantrums. We get the no respect line....want respect?? Earn it.....just logging on and playing isn't exactly a claim to respect. Claiming to be loyal isn't a claim to respect either, half the posters waste their time playing other games too.

Want answers or got a gripe about customer service....call corporate, see how far these attitudes go then.

 

[Joyous2K]

I don't know why, but this attitude annoys me to no end. You do realize that you're voluntary paying to play this game right? If you don't like the quality of service, then just turn around and leave. Close your accounts, find that company with the perfect customer service dept, the 100% bug free game that's perfectly balanced, and updated with new events/items/quests/features without fail every 4-6 weeks, that has perfect lines of communication between devs and players, and a dev team who has time to listen to and implement every single thought the players have.

And when you do find that perfect game, please let us know, we'll all hop on our flying unicorns and come over to your house and have a big party with all the leprechauns and pixies. [/rant]

I feel better having vented that.

It's my understanding (wasn't here then) that they raised UO rates so they could improve communications with existing subs. They aren't maintaining good communications or improving customer service. UO rate needs to go down. THey can't even maintain the events 2008 page. It's missing the strangers, but maybe they removed that link because it was a big mess with all the shard outages it caused. That, to me, is a major tell that they don't care about their work. Events 2008 is the big thing for UO this year and they aren't even creating and maintaining a page worth looking at. They could put in item descritpions for special items (thread, cloak, cloak, box, jewels, etc), could have images of the new things that happen, and all kinds of stuff, but instead it is text and is missing major events of Events 2008. More shoddy tradecraft.

Also, you should quit. Or quit reading the boards at least if it gets you upset to read about people's disappointment. Disappointment is expressed differently for different people, but mainly you are reading disappointment or feelings of being let down which is starting to verge on disgust at incompetence and conclusions that UO is inept.

Also, people have quit. I think it is mostly because of cheaters, but I think some people quit because the game can't be improved by current team.

 

[Surindur]

At least they posted something. It's much better than the 2 year old news that was on the site when they took over.

 

[Erekose]

At least they posted something. It's much better than the 2 year old news that was on the site when they took over.

Yeah...now if we could get them to actually list UO as one of their games on their website I might just believe Mythic gives a crap about UO.

 

[Black Sun]

Also, you should quit. Or quit reading the boards at least if it gets you upset to read about people's disappointment. Disappointment is expressed differently for different people, but mainly you are reading disappointment or feelings of being let down which is starting to verge on disgust at incompetence and conclusions that UO is inept.

I have no feelings of being let down at all. I have never been let down in all the time I played this game. Why do you feel I should quit? I'm not the one complaining about the state of the game, and the lack of communication between EA and the players. It just boggles my mind that people can complain so much about something, yet they continue to subject themselves to it.

As for the subscription price increase, I don't know where you ever got the idea that it was specifically to improve customer service. I'm sure it was actually intended to help cover the always rising cost of doing business in the modern world. For a long time UO continued to charge $9.99 when most other MMO's were making up to an extra 5 bucks on top of what UO charged. The attitude that most of the complainers I have come across is like they are owed something from the powers that be just because they have a paid subscription. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work that way. Be happy with what you get. EA holds up their end of the deal by keeping the servers running, the content (reasonably) fresh, and by providing us with entertainment. Beyond that they're not obligated to tell us jack squat. They could keep us 100% in the dark if they so choose, but thankfully they don't. Granted the quality of info they do put out on upcoming content, and answering the questions the playerbase has isn't too great, but be glad you're getting anything at all.

You pay to play UO, as long as you're able to do that you've really got very little gripe about.

 

[Black Sun]

I wholeheartidly agree,.....you gripers voluntarily play this game. And that's all it is, is a game.

EA never promised to write an FoF, they do it out of free will. When something isn't posted, or God forbid, someones specifics aren't met, we get the tantrums. We get the no respect line....want respect?? Earn it.....just logging on and playing isn't exactly a claim to respect. Claiming to be loyal isn't a claim to respect either, half the posters waste their time playing other games too.

Want answers or got a gripe about customer service....call corporate, see how far these attitudes go then.

Well put.

 

[MalagAste]

I've played for many years... while some changes have improved the game dramatically others have not.

AoS had some good elements... housing changes were one of them... though I don't care for the boxes and cubes that I see there are some very beautiful houses about.... from folk with Incredible imaginations and design ideas.

I won't get into the whole Trammel/Felluca thing.... my only thought is if you want to play where it's kill or be killed and you want to do that everywhere .... You have two choices.... Siege or Mugen.... take your pick.... Leave me to my shard I like it just fine the way it is... (However, I would like the pass through to be on ALL facets... drives me nuts when folk stand on me or walk threw me like I'm not even there) I would also like friendly fire for warring guilds... Trammel and Fel....

Are there improvements that can be made to customer service? Heck Yeah!... like you can make the GM's actually play UO and know what the heck your talking about.... Seems to me that a vast majority of them have never spent 20 min in game.... you sure can tell the ones who have from the ones who haven't....

Give the GM's a bit more insight into cheaters/dupers and scammers and let them have more control over this... Also as we clean up Britannia with the spring clean would be nice if they could too with removing the hundreds of silly things you find all over the landscape that just shouldn't be there... statues in the middle of nowhere, paintings, horseshoes, sledgehammers..... silly stuff like that you find all over the ground just lying about blocking house placement and really being a blemish on the face of the lands....

I'm getting to the point where I'd like them to implement PUNKBUSTER or something like it.... there has got to be a better way to combat hackers and dupers.... As it's totally obvious that what is happening now isn't working....

I'm not ever going to say get rid of UOAssist as the program is more helpful than harmful.... UO Automap is everybit as helpful..... the sad attempt by EA/Dev's to impliment these things into KR tells me that we can't get by without them....

I'm almost to the point where I would go for them totally redoing the game to a true 3d with all new shards..... Just let us pack up and transfer there.... If there were a way to do it where it was "fair" to folk to be able to import to the new 3d shards and not lose things like player towns and such... Would really suck to lose so many old landmarks as well......

Bring back the Seers/Councilors.... onto ALL shards.... don't let just the Japanese shards get special treatment..... Either ALL or NOTHING!.... Either let all shards get the SAME treatment or don't let any have special stuff... I think I'm growing increasingly IRRITATED that Japanese shards get all this special stuff and the US shards (WHERE The GAME is FROM!) gets the shaft time and time again.... Spring Decor, Tokuno dyes!!!!!, Special Cloth!!!!!! Need I say more! This kind of BOGUS stuff has GOT To end!.... You want to talk about alienating folk from UO...... how about the folk on the US shards who either have to pay tons of money to Transfer back and forth to those shards, have pings that could have their own Zip code they are sooo terrible trying to play on a Japanese shard, or spend tons of gold to get special items that really WE should be getting too!.... To me it's an outrage that needs to be addressed.... and now I'm told that the Dev team is over there!!!!!?!??!?!? WTF?!?!?!?.... Gonna be giving them some more freebies? More content that we over here DON'T get??? I hope NOT that would really burn me...

And lastly as for the FoF......... What FoF???? Hardly anything there worth taking the time to read.... and what was there only served to irritate me...

I'm glad you all are looking for someone with some experiance to hire.... I sure hope that does the trick... If I knew anything about Computers and programing I certainly would apply... but I don't... I'm just praying someone who actually does know something and has a passion for UO and all it's aspects including RP, PvP, PvM and the history of UO gets the job and helps the current team keep things moving in a positive direction....

Lets end with saying there are dozens of things that EA could do to help the players have a more secure account and gaming experience... I think it's high time that EA start looking at it's account management and UO log in and update them.... For the good of ALL... In my opinion if EA gave a rats.... they would have been doing this all along.... but so long as someone is footing the cash I don't suppose they care if that someone is a hacker or the rightful owner of the account.

 

[Flora Green]

If you feel you're being snubbed, why do you stick around for it to happen again? Seems to me like there's a lot of people hanging around who are very unhappy, yet they do nothing to remove themselves from the situation.

So the community reps don't do their jobs and WE should leave? Okay then. Even IF they ARE doing their jobs behind the scenes and EA/Mythic is preventing them from posting info, it looks VERY bad on Jeremy and Bob.

 

[Black Sun]

So the community reps don't do their jobs and WE should leave?

If it bothers you that much, then yes. Or perhaps you should submit an application to EA to be come the new community rep.

 

[Flora Green]

If it bothers you that much, then yes. Or perhaps you should submit an application to EA to be come the new community rep.

Classic. rolleyes:

 

[Eslake]

I wholeheartidly agree,.....you gripers voluntarily play this game. And that's all it is, is a game.

EA never promised to write an FoF, they do it out of free will. When something isn't posted, or God forbid, someones specifics aren't met, we get the tantrums. We get the no respect line....want respect?? Earn it.....just logging on and playing isn't exactly a claim to respect. Claiming to be loyal isn't a claim to respect either, half the posters waste their time playing other games too.

Want answers or got a gripe about customer service....call corporate, see how far these attitudes go then.

And what, pray tell, do you consider an action that gets "respect?"

Imagine if everyone took your suggestion to heart. The dev team does something seriously stupid, and suddenly 60% of the accounts are canceled. Nobody complains about anything, so they don't even know why everyone quit, just that they are quitting.

Pretty stupid way of doing something don't you think?


A paying customer has not only the right, but the Responsability to complain when service is substandard. That is what keeps service standards high.
Not quitting or leaving, those simply remove you from the equation.


As to the reason for this line of complaints, I feel the complainers are 100% justified.
I have seen every reason imaginable now for FoF screwups.

"We couldn't reach eachother"
Certainly, a common problem. After all, not everyone knows anything about computers.. or how to use the internet for communcations.
It isn't as if these are people who are Paid To Work With Computers or anything.

And my favorite is always..
"We were just too busy."

Yes, of course we understand!
After all, it takes at least 10 minutes to answer a few questions. And there are only 2,400 minutes in a work week.
That's a whole 0.004% of the work week potentially wasted on something so trivial as customer relations. It is simply inconceivable that they do such a thing.

 

[Lady-Tor]

I wholeheartidly agree,.....you gripers voluntarily play this game. And that's all it is, is a game.

EA never promised to write an FoF, they do it out of free will. When something isn't posted, or God forbid, someones specifics aren't met, we get the tantrums. We get the no respect line....want respect?? Earn it.....just logging on and playing isn't exactly a claim to respect. Claiming to be loyal isn't a claim to respect either, half the posters waste their time playing other games too.

Want answers or got a gripe about customer service....call corporate, see how far these attitudes go then.

I think thats a far more detrimental attitude to UO. Remember when they were going to bring in punkbuster. Imagine if all those people (me included) didnt make a single post, we just closed our accounts. We may not have lost the magority of the population, but at least a fair chunk of it.
Though there is a difference between whining and constructive critisisim, both are nessasary.