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SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

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Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#21

Post by xymostech »

ijk wrote: post #16
xymostech wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guild Wars 2 sells an actual MMO as a one-time fee, and they're doing just swell. I've heard most people claim that as one of its benefits, not a downside. Not sure what that means, just wanted to point out that people often do enjoy single-fee game-as-a-services. Also, when you say "$60 for something I can't even use on my own time" are you claiming that the game doesn't even work, as all of the hyped up gaming arti…

"It works for this one guy I know" is not really data. I think the real problem, though, is that EA has been treating this as a boxed product launch, not a service, and then acting shocked when they have service-type problems. If they had really treated it as a service, internally, they would have done things that might have prevented this, like doing a soft-launch, actual beta stress testing, having transparently sc…

I think it is data. People are claiming that the game _does not work_, so if it's working for somebody, then the servers must be doing something. People are claiming that the servers have literally been down for the past week and a half, when this is simply not true. I'll agree that it hasn't been the smoothest of gameplay all the time, but it's not as extreme as some people are claiming it is.

I agree with all your other points though.

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#23

Post by nekojima »

Their research for the vision they have developed for the new SimCity had quite a different result from the basic Facebook poll I did earlier this week amongst my friends.

Self-selected responders replied to my post asking if they were interested in playing the new game as SP, MP or both, along with how many have purchased and how many would like to or will.

Of sixty responses, two chose MP only. Fifty-three both SP & MP(including sandbox option I hadn't initially mentioned), and five SP only. Three had purchased the game, all wanting refunds because a lack of SP and server issues (which had to do with their own connection issue in one case).

Over fifty had played one of the previous versions of SimCity. Almost none now wanted to buy/license this version, because of the issues, connectivity, and lack of SP gameplay.

Granted it was a small sample, not scientifically done, and self-selecting responders, but I very much doubt the sincerity of EA's reply that the "vision" they have developed for this new version is based on actual user feedback, or the users are an EA selected group designed to give that them the response they want.

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#24

Post by n3rdy »

NoPiece wrote: post #15

EA should clean house on their PR team. What disastrous responses. To starting this post with, "I hate to disturb you when you’re playing SimCity," is so gross, self congratulatory, and not contrite. That plus doubling down on the dishonesty instead of really offering straight answers is just going to fuel the fires.

> "I hate to disturb you when you’re playing SimCity,"

I really cannot believe they actually started the post with that line. The very reason they are in this PR nightmare is because people have been unable to play the game.

Too soon Lucy, too soon!

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#25

Post by endianswap »

xymostech wrote: post #12
simonsarris wrote: post #5

This was dreadful and embarrassing to read through. Zero new information, no apologies, just dodging. > You can pop from work to home, play the game and have your cities available to you anywhere. "Anywhere" there's an internet connection, "anytime" their servers are up. You want to claim its an MMO? You want to claim game-as-a-service? Fine. But sell it as that, charge me $15 a month for an ephemeral product. Not $6…

Guild Wars 2 sells an actual MMO as a one-time fee, and they're doing just swell. I've heard most people claim that as one of its benefits, not a downside. Not sure what that means, just wanted to point out that people often do enjoy single-fee game-as-a-services. Also, when you say "$60 for something I can't even use on my own time" are you claiming that the game doesn't even work, as all of the hyped up gaming arti…

Guild Wars 2 is a game that was designed from the beginning to be a cooperative, online experience, though. SimCity is an iteration on a previously offline design, with no marketing or design data shared with those looking to buy the game to indicate that it's an entirely different game (to justify online-only) than the previous SimCity games. There's also a big difference between a game where all of the computation takes place on the gameservers and a game where you simply replicate your state up to the server. I think that we're at a point in technology where the public, at least core gamers, understand the difference and can make judgment about this themselves without relying on marketing material or other-party commentary.

Edit: For example, there is similar drama* regarding Diablo 2 to Diablo 3 and StarCraft to StarCraft 2 given the former games had offline+LAN support and the latter require a persistent online connection. Guild Wars required a persistent online connection, so Guild Wars 2 requiring the same thing was practically a given.

[*] I can elaborate on this, if you'd like.

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#26

Post by jarcoal »

simonsarris wrote: post #5

This was dreadful and embarrassing to read through. Zero new information, no apologies, just dodging. > You can pop from work to home, play the game and have your cities available to you anywhere. "Anywhere" there's an internet connection, "anytime" their servers are up. You want to claim its an MMO? You want to claim game-as-a-service? Fine. But sell it as that, charge me $15 a month for an ephemeral product. Not $6…

Your point makes no sense. If they charged you a monthly amount, you'd be ok with it?

They did say it would be online-only long before launch, so anyone who paid for it knew what they were getting in to.

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#27

Post by hildolfr »

xymostech wrote: post #21
ijk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"It works for this one guy I know" is not really data. I think the real problem, though, is that EA has been treating this as a boxed product launch, not a service, and then acting shocked when they have service-type problems. If they had really treated it as a service, internally, they would have done things that might have prevented this, like doing a soft-launch, actual beta stress testing, having transparently sc…

I think it is data. People are claiming that the game _does not work_, so if it's working for somebody, then the servers must be doing something. People are claiming that the servers have literally been down for the past week and a half, when this is simply not true. I'll agree that it hasn't been the smoothest of gameplay all the time, but it's not as extreme as some people are claiming it is. I agree with all your…

It is data, you're right. It's anecdotal evidence, and should only be used as a burden of proof if there is no other substantial evidence.

Tell me, If I go to the SimCity forums will I see hundreds of people complaining about a game that doesn't work? If I go to YouTube will I see videos of buggy behavior and reviewers irate about the state of the game?

That too, is anecdotal evidence. But, since you're only worried about data, I guess the larger amount wins out. So, clearly, the data indicates the game has issues.

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#28

Post by lukejduncan »

xymostech wrote: post #21
ijk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"It works for this one guy I know" is not really data. I think the real problem, though, is that EA has been treating this as a boxed product launch, not a service, and then acting shocked when they have service-type problems. If they had really treated it as a service, internally, they would have done things that might have prevented this, like doing a soft-launch, actual beta stress testing, having transparently sc…

I think it is data. People are claiming that the game _does not work_, so if it's working for somebody, then the servers must be doing something. People are claiming that the servers have literally been down for the past week and a half, when this is simply not true. I'll agree that it hasn't been the smoothest of gameplay all the time, but it's not as extreme as some people are claiming it is. I agree with all your…

Well if "it works for this one guy" counts as data I'll add "it simply doesn't work for this guy." Well, didn't anyways.

For about a week, the game simply wouldn't connect to varying degrees. The really frustrating thing was "connecting" happens like 5 times before you actually get to game play which means you can fail at the launch screen, the play button in the second launch screen, or the "claim city" button in create a city mode. It also just might die mid game or your city might be "corrupted" and become unplayed (happened to me). If you're unfortunate enough to have this happen and need to switch "servers" you not only lose your city (it's tied to the other server) but you also have to play or at least start and exit the tutorial. Which btw, introduces a few other points of "unable to connect" possibilities.

I've spent more time trying to get past each of these connection barriers than I have playing the game.

That's a really big problem

Re: SimCity Update: Straight Answers from Lucy

#29

Post by fnordfnordfnord »

NoPiece wrote: post #15

EA should clean house on their PR team. What disastrous responses. To starting this post with, "I hate to disturb you when you’re playing SimCity," is so gross, self congratulatory, and not contrite. That plus doubling down on the dishonesty instead of really offering straight answers is just going to fuel the fires.

"Oozing high fructose corn syrup" is what first came to my mind when I read that.
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