An Open Letter: Accountability

[Rathgar]

Dear GS Players,


This is just a theory and just a theory so please just see it as such. Well, it may be cynicism but don't you guys think that some of these "updates" are well really... kinda weak? I mean I'm really grateful for all the GMs are doing.
But this isn't directed toward GMs, I adore all the GMs (except a couple) and thank them for any work they put in.

But I am directing this open letter to Simu. Simu is a business, they take money from my checking account every month to the tune of nearly forty bucks. I mean that may not mean much too people, but thats like my cable bill every month or my gym dues. And my cable gets constantly upgraded (different shows come on, different cable channels like HBO bring in new shows to garner more and more customers) and my gym fees pay for constant improvements to the gym (more machines and more trainers).

However, how come GS never seems to quite update all that much? I mean how long does it take to add a couple of lines of code for a MUD? People laud the "complexity" and "uniqueness" of GS but I just don't buy it. Because there are ton of graphical games that are far more complex and yet manage to upgrade consistently? Am I wrong about this? Is it unfair of me to ask for consistent updates or at least consistent release dates when I'm paying 2-3 times for a twenty year old MUD versus a 50 million dollar graphical game?

No, I don't believe so. I love this game because I'm nostalgic of my past and want to escape some of the craziness of the real world. But, really... at some point there should be some kind of standard, some kind of accountability by a company for it's paying customers. I believe this is the right of the players. What do you believe?

[Warriorbird]

http://backdoorlife.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/epic-fail.jpg

[longshot]

Dear GS Players,

Am I wrong about this?

Yes. Really, really wrong.

I like the "an open letter" touch too. That's really, really weak.

Don't play if you're frustrated that the game you like hasn't changed as much as you'd like it too. I'm betting you'd also be the first to bitch when you didn't like any changes they made.

And where does this $40 a month come from? Last I checked, prime was $14.95 a month. If you choose to have three accounts, that's your problem.

Maybe there's a nice pillow you can go cry into?

[CrystalTears]

Premium is $40.

[GS4Ranger]

Rathgar has a point to a degree, yet considering the updates 'weak' is merely an opinion that I don't share. This is a complex codebase from what I am told and as such, has several many different systems trying to interact with each other.

The process of implementing a system that will not take down the game, cause a memory leak, or completely reset all our characters to level 0 and then save the information to the backups (Except the tapes if they are still using 'em) is a time consuming and often lengthy process. Most MUDs out there don't have half the systems that GS is running. My opinion though.

[Rathgar]

Rathgar has a point to a degree, yet considering the updates 'weak' is merely an opinion that I don't share. This is a complex codebase from what I am told and as such, has several many different systems trying to interact with each other.

The process of implementing a system that will not take down the game, cause a memory leak, or completely reset all our characters to level 0 and then save the information to the backups (Except the tapes if they are still using 'em) is a time consuming and often lengthy process. Most MUDs out there don't have half the systems that GS is running. My opinion though.

Point taken, but I still think people are overdramatizing the 'complexity' of GS. It is for all intents and purposes a text based multi-player game using technology from the early 80's. Fourth Gen MMO's are incredibly detailed graphically and have some insane amount of interaction level with NPCs and players.

Your cloak flutters in the wind (and in the direction of the wind) in these new MMO's. Wind and weather is taken into account in these MMO's in flights of arrows,catapults , siege equipment, all the way to animal behavior. They use real world weather patterns as a template. This is all incorporated into a three dimensional world thats physically viewable (meaning it's graphical). That is a FAR cry from...

wear cloak
You wear your cloak.
...minutes later some auto script pops in and says
Your cloak flutters in the wind.

My god I think I can create that just using the scripting language knowledge I gained over the years using some proprietary programming language.

I just want the game to improve. But I'm starting to face the facts... I really think this game is run by maybe 1 full time dude and maybe a helper. Everyone else are just volunteers spending whatever time they have between work, kids, and life in general.

[diethx]

I agree to SOME degree regarding the inability to meet a release date or whatever (RSN is just meaningless at this point). Obviously though not enough to make me create a bitch thread or quit, or stop paying the ridiculous amount of cash I pay every month to play how I like. I guess it's something i've come to accept (and even expect) over the years of playing this game.

[Rathgar]

I agree to SOME degree regarding the inability to meet a release date or whatever (RSN is just meaningless at this point). Obviously though not enough to make me create a bitch thread or quit, or stop paying the ridiculous amount of cash I pay every month to play how I like. I guess it's something i've come to accept (and even expect) over the years of playing this game.

Yeah, but doesn't it bother you that all these years paying like 40 bucks (if you're a premie) and then one day noticing "hey back the fuck up here buddy... those other games are getting crap loads of content for a fraction of the price."

I don't know... I'll still play the game and still pay the 40 but it's starting to feel like someones reaching into my pocket and taking more then they deserve. It's still a great game and all, just maybe if they can keep on a reasonable schedule that would be better. And not RSN 2003 or whatever and it's been like 5 years. Hell, people are fed up with a freakin RL WAR! during that time... we must have some truly tolerant people to not care too much about waiting years and years for some minor thing to be fixed or something or other to be implemented.

[diethx]

Yeah, but doesn't it bother you that all these years paying like 40 bucks (if you're a premie) and then one day noticing "hey back the fuck up here buddy... those other games are getting crap loads of content for a fraction of the price."

I don't know... I'll still play the game and still pay the 40 but it's starting to feel like someones reaching into my pocket and taking more then they deserve. It's still a great game and all, just maybe if they can keep on a reasonable schedule that would be better. And not RSN 2003 or whatever and it's been like 5 years. Hell, people are fed up with a freakin RL WAR! during that time... we must have some truly tolerant people to not care too much about waiting years and years for some minor thing to be fixed or something or other to be implemented.

Sure, it sucks. But like I said, obviously it doesn't bother me enough to get me to quit paying. I've played the graphicals and some of them are great, but GS is what I always come back to for whatever reason. One day when I feel it sucks enough to override that reason, I guess i'll quit for good. Until then I figure there's no point in bitching about it, cause it's never going to change.

[Celephais]

Hell, people are fed up with a freakin RL WAR!
Why on earth would you bring that up in this thread?
http://www.sjfweb.net/usefire.jpg

[Warriorbird]

A game with a largely volunteer staff that gets paid a tiny fraction of minimum wage if they do get paid at all is in no way similar to a game with hundreds of programmers and a budget of 50 million.

Even tiny MMO companies like Five Rings are made up of salaried programmers.

If you don't feel like paying for what GS offers... don't. Vote with your feet. Some bullshit 'accountability' notion isn't going to do a damn bit of good unless you do something to the bottom line. David Whatley doesn't give a fuck about you.

[thefarmer]

Dear GS Players... blah blah

Haven't you stared enough crappy threads just to argue with yourself with other accounts?

[Rathgar]

David Whatley doesn't give a fuck about you.

Once upon a time he cared... he cared deeply about the game.

[Warriorbird]

QQ

[longshot]

QQ

Can someone please explain to me what this "QQ" thing is? Apparently I'm not so down with the internets anymore.

I don't want to be off topic: The original poster is really, really pathetic. I think everyone agrees on this?

I love it when someone sucking can bring people together in a beautiful moment of harmony.

[Daniel]

WTF are you like 37 now?

[Celephais]

Can someone please explain to me what this "QQ" thing is? Apparently I'm not so down with the internets anymore.
http://forum.gsplayers.com/member.php?u=1557
That'll explain.

[SpiffyJr]

Why on earth would you bring that up in this thread?
http://www.sjfweb.net/usefire.jpg

Such a great game.

[SpiffyJr]

QQ

QQ is supposed to look like eyes crying so, in effect, they're saying, "stop crying." I think it's pretty fucking stupid personally.

[Warriorbird]

Stop crying.

[Miscast]

http://backdoorlife.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/epic-fail.jpg

that is hilarious

[Apathy]

Cancel your account or shut up.

[Rathgar]

Ahhh... I see all the simu employees are coming out of the woodworks.

[TheEschaton]

I don't think anyone who posts here with any regularity is a Simu employee, except for the occassional mentor, who isn't actually an employee.

[Rathgar]

I don't think anyone who posts here with any regularity is a Simu employee, except for the occassional mentor, who isn't actually an employee.


Actually, this isn't true. I suspect theres a couple of Simu employees who posts with some frequency. And I definetly know almost the entire GS staff reads through these boards once in a while. In fact, I think some read these boards more so then the officials.

[Warriorbird]

My ex was a GM. What's your special insight into their reading habits?

I mainly think people object to threads filled with indirect already-argued generalities and people who use multiple accounts to debate with themselves.

[Apathy]

Actually, this isn't true. I suspect theres a couple of Simu employees who posts with some frequency. And I definetly know almost the entire GS staff reads through these boards once in a while. In fact, I think some read these boards more so then the officials.

http://meltyourfaceoff.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/tin-foil-hat.jpg

[Snapp]

Haven't you stared enough crappy threads just to argue with yourself with other accounts?

:lol:

And for the record, I think the QQ thing is stupid too.

[longshot]

WTF are you like 37 now?

I felt about that old for a minute... but now I understand how retarded "QQ" is, and feel better knowing that it looks nothing like it's supposed to.

What's wrong with :sniff: ?

Or :sad: ?

Fuck. I guess I do sound old...

As far as the game goes, I just started playing again after ~4 yrs. The game is way more complex than I remember it. A lot has changed. Sorry if it wasn't fast enough for the guy who felt the need to write an "open letter of accountability."

Really weak.

[diethx]

As far as the game goes, I just started playing again after ~4 yrs. The game is way more complex than I remember it. A lot has changed. Sorry if it wasn't fast enough for the guy who felt the need to write an "open letter of accountability."

Really weak.


I felt that way after I came back after the switch to GSIV. It had been a couple years since I played GSIII, and everything seemed like 100x more complex than i'd left it. It won't take you long to catch up though.

[Asha]

We all know by now the way Simu works with GS.
In some areas they lack and it's no different to when you or I first signed up.

You know what you're getting and what you're paying for, like you've been told here already.
And if suddenly you feel it's not up to par with what you expect for your money and you haven't yet quit, the real 'accountability' lies with you.