Proof that Ultima doesn't have its own GMs

[Cleo]

Check out this screenshot. Obviously the GMs for DAoC and probably all the other Mythic games are also GMing for Ultima. They probably have no clue how any of the games work, as they couldn't possibly play all of them.

Don't we deserve better customer service? When did they decrease the monthly fee for UO and adjust the GM employment rate/GM sharing accordingly? Looks like we're just paying more and getting less product. Can a developer confirm this?

 

[Richwarf]

It might be he used something that says the same things alot. Make be something like Logitech G15. One set of buttons for UO, DAoC and another.

Put your self in the GM place, would you do something like that?

P.S. Having GM work/play more that one game makes it more cost affective for all the games. Some weeks a game will have few "pages", others (after a big patch) they will have more. So by moving the support to where it is needed is better for the compony.

Hell, I work on the tills in a suppermarket. When I have no customers to deal with, I tidy up around my area and work stock. Is this bad?
No, so why is it bad for a GM?

 

[Charin]

Just be glad you got one... 7 hours after sitting #7 in que and never moving tells me we dont get much attn if any at all.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

I thought this was pretty well established.

-Galen's player

 

[Nimuaq]

I thought this was pretty well established.

-Galen's player

It was, I'm honestly more interested with this new tool that might replace lost items:

(..)
We are very aware of the escalating cases of abuse in the game over the last few months. We have had problems with our petitioning systems, and have been unable to receive or action some cases as quickly as we'd like to. As an answer our operations team working with CS has developed a new tool to allow our GMs and customer support reps not only to action faster, but to record activity better as well as a functionality to replace lost items. Expect to see the results of this new tool in the near future.

 

[Woodsman]

I thought this was pretty well established.

-Galen's player

I thought so as well.

 

[Aurelius]

Unless they are recycling GM names, that particular one has been around quite a while - at least since 2008 as there was a named pumpkin for him.....

 

[Tazar]

Inappropriate posts have been removed.

This is nothing new. I posted a similar comment (no picture) over two years ago when I was told "Thank you for playing Warhammer Online". Cal has said many times that GM's are not under his department (ie: under UO).

 

[Sevin0oo0]

and lets not forget where 'our' community spokes-person (Kai?) is from - she's from Warhammer

new tool that might replace lost items... whatever - don't get too excited, this isn't WoW

 

[RawHeadRex]

so tell us why you were in cool uo-jail

 

[Viper09]

I thought this was pretty well established.

-Galen's player

Guess not all heard the news.

 

[Nok]

UO's GM support is in Austin, TX at the EA Pogo offices... has been for years.

 

[Uvtha]

Oh, I thought we knew that heh already.

 

[Tinsil]

I hear this from people a lot but the last 5 times I've paged GMs they've all came/fixed the problem within 45 mins.

 

[canary]

I know most folks realize we share GMs, but it doesn't change the fact it is cringe worthy when you see it (like this).

 

[Petra Fyde]

The fact that we share GMs does not mean they know nothing about our game.

Almost every games company making MMORPG games has one or more Developer who has worked on UO. I dare say many of the GMs are the same, either worked on it or played it.

 

[Woodsman]

I hear this from people a lot but the last 5 times I've paged GMs they've all came/fixed the problem within 45 mins.

Yeah, I've had good experiences with the GMs I've paged lately.

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

The fact that we share GMs does not mean they know nothing about our game.

Almost every games company making MMORPG games has one or more Developer who has worked on UO. I dare say many of the GMs are the same, either worked on it or played it.

Heh! well put, I would quibble with your "fact" though ... the "sharing" bit.
As it is being assumed(this thread) that the GM's are in a "pool" and not "controlled/dedicated" to any single game ...
well, there it is ... my quibble.
*shrugs*

I would note however:
NO ONE seems to have "defended" the GM ...
I shall

It could/mayhave been a case of a GM with a sense of humor ... doh!
It could/mayhave been a "trap" played by the "prisoner"
Prisoner: "Say: Thank you for playing DAoC, have Fun!" ... Doh!
(note the screencap: say's >also< ultima online)

Screen caps >are not evidence< photoshopping is so last century ... DOH!

 

[Nexus]

The fact that we share GMs does not mean they know nothing about our game.

Almost every games company making MMORPG games has one or more Developer who has worked on UO. I dare say many of the GMs are the same, either worked on it or played it.

Heh! well put, I would quibble with your "fact" though ... the "sharing" bit.
As it is being assumed(this thread) that the GM's are in a "pool" and not "controlled/dedicated" to any single game ...
well, there it is ... my quibble.
*shrugs*

I would note however:
NO ONE seems to have "defended" the GM ...
I shall

It could/mayhave been a case of a GM with a sense of humor ... doh!
It could/mayhave been a "trap" played by the "prisoner"
Prisoner: "Say: Thank you for playing DAoC, have Fun!" ... Doh!
(note the screencap: say's >also< ultima online)

Screen caps >are not evidence< photoshopping is so last century ... DOH!

If I told you I've actually been to the studio, see where the GM's work and know they do in fact cover multiple games would that mean anything?

 

[Viper09]

If I told you I've actually been to the studio, see where the GM's work and know they do in fact cover multiple games would that mean anything?

Maybe not to Fayled, but I'm sure others here, including myself, would be interested to know more about it.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Maybe not to Fayled, but I'm sure others here, including myself, would be interested to know more about it.

I would also be immensely curious.

-Galen's player

 

[DeathNote]

Check out this screenshot. Obviously the GMs for DAoC and probably all the other Mythic games are also GMing for Ultima. They probably have no clue how any of the games work, as they couldn't possibly play all of them.

Don't we deserve better customer service? When did they decrease the monthly fee for UO and adjust the GM employment rate/GM sharing accordingly? Looks like we're just paying more and getting less product. Can a developer confirm this?

In the screenshot it says "Thanks for playing Ultima Online, Have Fun!" over his head. Is this screenshot shopped?

It doesn't matter if they work for more than one game. Thats pretty normal for the industry.

 

[Nexus]

Maybe not to Fayled, but I'm sure others here, including myself, would be interested to know more about it.

I would also be immensely curious.

-Galen's player

Let me just say there are a lot of things they told me they would love to actually do but can't, they don't have the time to do it all.

But yea you can see GM's on UO & DAoC sitting side by side.

Come to think of it, the Devs for DAoC and UO are on the same floor on different sides of the room...


I think I insulted one of the DAoC devs, he asked me what I thought of DAoC, told him "I don't know never considered playing it."

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Let me just say there are a lot of things they told me they would love to actually do but can't, they don't have the time to do it all.

But yea you can see GM's on UO & DAoC sitting side by side.

Come to think of it, the Devs for DAoC and UO are on the same floor on different sides of the room...


I think I insulted one of the DAoC devs, he asked me what I thought of DAoC, told him "I don't know never considered playing it."

Private offices? Cubicles? Open floor?

Is it loud or quiet? Collegial or tense?

Are the GMs on the same floor as the devs?

Is it UO GMs and DAoC GMs side by side, or is it a team of GMs that work on both games?

Did you notice if they had books on their shelves (I refer mostly to the devs here)? If so, what were they? For example, programming books? Fantasy novels? Philosophy? Etc.

Did you get a sense for how well they (referring here to both devs and GMs) know UO?

Were there signs that Warhammer is favored over the other 2 games? For example does Warhammer have its own floor?

How big is the overall building itself?

How were they all dressed?

When you say "they" would like to do more, did you refer to the devs, the GMs, or both?

-Galen's player

 

[Ender]

In the screenshot it says "Thanks for playing Ultima Online, Have Fun!" over his head. Is this screenshot shopped?

It doesn't matter if they work for more than one game. Thats pretty normal for the industry.

The "Thank you for playing Dark Age of Camelot" is darkened, behind another line of text. It's there.

 

[Mapper]

The "Thank you for playing Dark Age of Camelot" is darkened, behind another line of text. It's there.

Probably pressed the wrong button, At least they knew it was UO and corrected.

 

[Nexus]

Private offices? Cubicles? Open floor?

A combination Cal and Mesanna have offices, Most of the developers had Cubicles I didn't go nosing around the DAoC part.

Is it loud or quiet? Collegial or tense?

It's was pretty quiet, not tense at all everyone seemed to enjoy what they were doing and being there.

Are the GMs on the same floor as the devs?

Is it UO GMs and DAoC GMs side by side, or is it a team of GMs that work on both games?

Same floor and it appeared they were the same GM's for both games, and they aren't under the management of either Dev Team they are a group unto themselves.

Did you notice if they had books on their shelves (I refer mostly to the devs here)? If so, what were they? For example, programming books? Fantasy novels? Philosophy? Etc.

I didn't go digging around in their cubicles! Though Mesanna has a nice collection of UO Box sets including one from the Japan Launch, and a hand made Teddy Bear from one of (and dressed like) an EM... Did see a couple of Toys laying around though, oh and the Hildebrant, it's frickin HUGE in their meeting room. And come to think on it there were numerous books on a bookshelf in Mesanna's office, though it's been so long I can't remember titles.

Did you get a sense for how well they (referring here to both devs and GMs) know UO?

Yea they do know the games, I didn't chat with the GM's really but the Devs do know, they are players, and they do try to keep up with what folks like us are talking about. I was there while Chrissay was still the Community Rep. Saw her run into Mesanna's office a couple of time with reports on what was being said on Stratics for example.

Were there signs that Warhammer is favored over the other 2 games? For example does Warhammer have its own floor?

Didn't see War Folks there.

How big is the overall building itself?

Bigger than a Breadbox and smaller than the Empire States Building. Honestly looked to be 6-7 floors. Though most of the development area appeared to be all on one floor.

How were they all dressed?

Casual, Jeans and T-Shirts or pull-overs, Cal was wearing a white button up shirt I believe, but no tie.

When you say "they" would like to do more, did you refer to the devs, the GMs, or both?

-Galen's player

The Devs, I asked a lot of questions about everything from Siege Luv, to Thieves. There are things they would love to do, but everything has a time window. They start working on things months in advance, I think it was around August (This was when Phoenix was just rejoining the team), and they already had all of the Holiday stuff that year in the works, for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What happens is something is done goes to QA, bugs are found, fixes are made, back to QA gets a clean bill but imbalances {X, Y, Z} more changes have to be made QA looks it over again etc.. It eats the time windows up and that's for just Production. For every Big thing they release to us it's pretty safe to assume 3-4 months of work has gone into it.

I got a nice SA Launch Poster out of the trip though...

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

The fact that we share GMs does not mean they know nothing about our game.

Almost every games company making MMORPG games has one or more Developer who has worked on UO. I dare say many of the GMs are the same, either worked on it or played it.

Heh! well put, I would quibble with your "fact" though ... the "sharing" bit.
As it is being assumed(this thread) that the GM's are in a "pool" and not "controlled/dedicated" to any single game ...
well, there it is ... my quibble.
*shrugs*

I would note however:
NO ONE seems to have "defended" the GM ...
I shall

It could/mayhave been a case of a GM with a sense of humor ... doh!
It could/mayhave been a "trap" played by the "prisoner"
Prisoner: "Say: Thank you for playing DAoC, have Fun!" ... Doh!
(note the screencap: say's >also< ultima online)

Screen caps >are not evidence< photoshopping is so last century ... DOH!

If I told you I've actually been to the studio, see where the GM's work and know they do in fact cover multiple games would that mean anything?

Heh! well duh-yeah! it would have a meaning ...

It would mean that >everything< I wrote in the quoted post
is MORE likely to be correct, supported and provable

than the OP's (proven wrong) assumption (read the thread title)

ie: yeah so? ...

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Thank you.

-Galen's player

A combination Cal and Mesanna have offices, Most of the developers had Cubicles I didn't go nosing around the DAoC part.


It's was pretty quiet, not tense at all everyone seemed to enjoy what they were doing and being there.


Same floor and it appeared they were the same GM's for both games, and they aren't under the management of either Dev Team they are a group unto themselves.



I didn't go digging around in their cubicles! Though Mesanna has a nice collection of UO Box sets including one from the Japan Launch, and a hand made Teddy Bear from one of (and dressed like) an EM... Did see a couple of Toys laying around though, oh and the Hildebrant, it's frickin HUGE in their meeting room. And come to think on it there were numerous books on a bookshelf in Mesanna's office, though it's been so long I can't remember titles.


Yea they do know the games, I didn't chat with the GM's really but the Devs do know, they are players, and they do try to keep up with what folks like us are talking about. I was there while Chrissay was still the Community Rep. Saw her run into Mesanna's office a couple of time with reports on what was being said on Stratics for example.



Didn't see War Folks there.



Bigger than a Breadbox and smaller than the Empire States Building. Honestly looked to be 6-7 floors. Though most of the development area appeared to be all on one floor.


Casual, Jeans and T-Shirts or pull-overs, Cal was wearing a white button up shirt I believe, but no tie.



The Devs, I asked a lot of questions about everything from Siege Luv, to Thieves. There are things they would love to do, but everything has a time window. They start working on things months in advance, I think it was around August (This was when Phoenix was just rejoining the team), and they already had all of the Holiday stuff that year in the works, for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What happens is something is done goes to QA, bugs are found, fixes are made, back to QA gets a clean bill but imbalances {X, Y, Z} more changes have to be made QA looks it over again etc.. It eats the time windows up and that's for just Production. For every Big thing they release to us it's pretty safe to assume 3-4 months of work has gone into it.

I got a nice SA Launch Poster out of the trip though...

 

[Viper09]

That is awesome Nexus, thanks. A good read.

 

[lucitus]

I want this cool poster where can i get it?

 

[grig_since98]

This was awesome information nexus.

While I wasn't concerned at all with the op's assertions, even if they were true, i have a moral obligation at this point to play the devil's advocate and point out that this is hearsay.

 

[Viper09]

This was awesome information nexus.

While I wasn't concerned at all with the op's assertions, even if they were true, i have a moral obligation at this point to play the devil's advocate and point out that this is hearsay.

Contrary to popular belief, ignorance isn't bliss. Play devil's advocate and deny it all you want, but it's even been confirmed by the devs themselves. You know, aside from the several times GMs would accidentally push the button for DAoC, Warhammer and numerous pictures showing it, lol!

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

I want this cool poster where can i get it?

From here
Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss wallpapers Free download

Then relay to here
https://printonline.fedex.com/v2.2.0/?lid=fo_pol&startingPoint=printProducts

Easy Peasy ...
(complete with same ESRB copyrights trade marks as seen on poster)

Heh! ... Had the thread up on the pic below ...
Gkid walks by, stops, Points
"What the heck is THAT?"
A gargoyle
steps closer pointing "yeah, NO! >that<"
oh! screen glare on top of his head ...
puts finger on screen "NO! above the glare, between the wings, See That?"
*squints*
erm ... we gonna call that an "illusion ..."

 

[Barok]

It's a tinfoil hat on his head...

 

[Nexus]

It's a tinfoil hat on his head...

Yeah it's glare from the plastic in the frame.


That was just the best pic I had of it...

 

[Bazer]

very nice poster.
Usualy the gms are good lately, id only be mad if they said "Thank You for Playing World of Warcraft" lol

 

[Fayled Dhreams]

It's a tinfoil hat on his head...

It's a tinfoil hat on his head...

Yeah it's glare from the plastic in the frame.


That was just the best pic I had of it...

Gkid walks by, stops, Points
"What the heck is THAT?"
A gargoyle

steps closer pointing "yeah, NO! >that<"

oh! screen glare/tinfoilhat on top of his head ...
puts finger on screen(over the "hat") "NO! >above< the glare, >between< the wings, See That?"
*squints*
erm ... we gonna call that an "optical illusion(like the "man-in-the-moon") ..."

 

[Viper09]

very nice poster.
Usualy the gms are good lately, id only be mad if they said "Thank You for Playing World of Warcraft" lol

Lol!

 

[G.v.P]

Check out this screenshot. Obviously the GMs for DAoC and probably all the other Mythic games are also GMing for Ultima. They probably have no clue how any of the games work, as they couldn't possibly play all of them.

Interesting. But like another guy said, it's not that big of a deal to play and have basic knowledge of a handful of games.

 

[BellaofCats]

I hear this from people a lot but the last 5 times I've paged GMs they've all came/fixed the problem within 45 mins.

Yeah, I've had good experiences with the GMs I've paged lately.

In the past two months I have had to page for a GM at least three times and have had fantastic results in both the amount of time it took for a response as well as a favorable resolution to my problems.

Bella

 

[Sevin0oo0]

I wonder too, if some times you are 'passed off' to another tech and the move is transparent, kinda like service tiers; level 1-3 support and more. At the hospital where I worked, they have 700-800 applications, with 1 service desk group to field/direct all calls, fixing what they can. There's better/worse GM's for sure and they work all games I'd bet - if you don't like the level/quality of service you received, that's what GM Review is for, use it