SoE locking threads on main forums about their "beta" Secret. You are still in beta!

[Terrorsauce]

http://forums.station.sony.com/ps2/index.php?threads/all-of-you-are-crying-about-ps2-balance-when-we-are-not-even-playing-the-final-version.65279/page-2

Pretty much dead on. We are not playing the real release version of PS2, but yet another beta build. Now that this is being called out, SOE is locking threads trying to keep it on the low.

Its time to let people know they are still in BETA! :evil:

[ChipMHazard]

http://blatherreview.mu.nu/archives/TinFoilHatArea.jpg

It's so obvious! Not at all because of it being as unconstructive as a turd with a nail in it.

[EVILPIG]

Omg the sky is falling!!!

[SlotJockey]

Omg the sky is falling!!!

I think I have an Umbrella for these sky falling threads.......

[Tooterfish]

http://wordsbycat.com/sites/wordsbycat.com/files/images/tinfoilhat.jpg

[velleity]

Seems more like alpha.

[Crator]

Oh noes! We've all been fooled!

http://musicthinks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/image_thumb.png

[MaxDamage]

In case you are not aware, the founder of these forums has also been censoring people complaining about supposedly illegitimate bans. If we can't trust the founder of what has been the true forum for planetside fans not to bow to pressure from SOE (due to perhaps getting a little too chummy with them) then you can't expect much more here.

Where do we talk, where can we express freedom of speech without moderation from Sony? The same happened in the last MMO I played, Warhammer Online. EA Mythic actually bought up the company that hosted the most popular (and previously unrelated) forum for the game in order to extend the reach of its control over what people said about the game or other players.

Made me feel ill watching that lock on a thread about bans.

Do we need a new forum?

[ChipMHazard]

Freedom of speech on a forum? Shirley you must be joking.

[RadarX]

I'll let everyone in on the big secret.

The thread was non-constructive and provides no useful feedback to our development team. So yes, I closed it. And as I stated to you, if this is censoring I'm doing a pretty poor job of it.

To answer the concern? Of course this isn't Beta. It's like saying World of Warcraft, Battlefield 3 or any other multiplayer game hasn't launched because they are still making changes. It's semantics and honestly a little silly.

Feel free to focus on actual gameplay concerns and I can guarantee your thread a long and happy life on the forums.


To answer the concern about "false bans" we are shutting those down as well. Creating forum threads on the topic really isn't helping the issue. The Development team does not ban people and we can't discuss our process. Letting people run wild with their imagination only compounds the issue.

[bpostal]

In case you are not aware, the founder of these forums has also been censoring people complaining about supposedly illegitimate bans. If we can't trust the founder of what has been the true forum for planetside fans not to bow to pressure from SOE (due to perhaps getting a little too chummy with them) then you can't expect much more here.

Where do we talk, where can we express freedom of speech without moderation from Sony? The same happened in the last MMO I played, Warhammer Online. EA Mythic actually bought up the company that hosted the most popular (and previously unrelated) forum for the game in order to extend the reach of its control over what people said about the game or other players.

Made me feel ill watching that lock on a thread about bans.

Do we need a new forum?

Now THAT is some tinfoil hat shit right there

And y'all are still worried about being in 'beta', I dunno if I'd call it beta but I'd be disappointed in the extreme if this was supposed to be the Planetside game we've been dreaming about for years. There's alot of work to be done and SOE is putting in that work. We gotta make sure that we're putting up high quality posts with as little bias and ambiguity as possible so they can be effective (Yes, I am aware this makes me a massive hypocrite).

[fod]

urgh not this thread/subject again

i read the original thread and it said something about having to download the game again or something

1) where is his proof that we will have to download the whole game again
2) who cares if we have to download the whole game again

i like to bitch and whine about planetside just like most people but a lot of the complaining i have seen lately has been over silly pointless stufflike this and its making the real issues get drowned

[ChipMHazard]

Come on Radar you can tell me. Your real secret is that you're leading a Cthulhu cult as the high dagon.

[Simokon]

SoE is so worried about it they posted in this thread! /conspiracy

[Ghoest9]

In case you are not aware, the founder of these forums has also been censoring people complaining about supposedly illegitimate bans. If we can't trust the founder of what has been the true forum for planetside fans not to bow to pressure from SOE (due to perhaps getting a little too chummy with them) then you can't expect much more here.

Where do we talk, where can we express freedom of speech without moderation from Sony? The same happened in the last MMO I played, Warhammer Online. EA Mythic actually bought up the company that hosted the most popular (and previously unrelated) forum for the game in order to extend the reach of its control over what people said about the game or other players.

Made me feel ill watching that lock on a thread about bans.

Do we need a new forum?


I like this forum but I share your concern.

It certainly feels like some bad bans were made but SOE wasnt willing to reverse those bans unless they could be sure no one would make fun of them.

[Captain1nsaneo]

i read the original thread and it said something about having to download the game again or something

1) where is his proof that we will have to download the whole game again
2) who cares if we have to download the whole game again
I haven't heard anything about this and it seems that the original thread has been deleted. I'd like to know more about what happened but now all I have to go off of is your post and the tinfoil comments. I'd like to also use RadarX's comment for information but:

The thread was non-constructive and provides no useful feedback to our development team. Doesn't exactly give me much to work with as that's the justification I've seen most often for closing any thread. There's no malevolence behind it, just that it gives me nothing to work with to figure out what happened and if I should ignore it as all the tinfoil hat posts tell me I should.

In fact, closing the thread was probably a poor way of dealing with it simply because closing it draws more attention. If you want something killed don't dam it up because human nature will be drawn to it. It's like a large button with "Don't Push" written above in red. Instead point out logical problems with it such as (and I'm guessing the problem was that people thought that there were two version of the game out the release and the beta) pointing to server costs, data flow, and asking people to check on their own and report back if people who had done the 'fix' and those who had not were able to play together. The community would have discovered that it was bollocks and then derided the subject into oblivion. Instead, you get this.

There's also something to be said for as to why someone would think this but that would make this post longer than it already is.

[RadarX]

I haven't heard anything about this and it seems that the original thread has been deleted. I'd like to know more about what happened but now all I have to go off of is your post and the tinfoil comments. I'd like to also use RadarX's comment for information but:

Doesn't exactly give me much to work with as that's the justification I've seen most often for closing any thread. There's no malevolence behind it, just that it gives me nothing to work with to figure out what happened and if I should ignore it as all the tinfoil hat posts tell me I should.

In fact, closing the thread was probably a poor way of dealing with it simply because closing it draws more attention. If you want something killed don't dam it up because human nature will be drawn to it. It's like a large button with "Don't Push" written above in red. Instead point out logical problems with it such as (and I'm guessing the problem was that people thought that there were two version of the game out the release and the beta) pointing to server costs, data flow, and asking people to check on their own and report back if people who had done the 'fix' and those who had not were able to play together. The community would have discovered that it was bollocks and then derided the subject into oblivion. Instead, you get this.

There's also something to be said for as to why someone would think this but that would make this post longer than it already is.

I'm going to both agree and disagree with your statement. I've been doing this job for awhile and I've not only made mistakes but watched other people make them. I can tell you with no arrogance or elitism just hard facts about what works.

I agree with you that you don't dam up a problem. You are open about it which is why I'm posting here. I disagree however not closing the thread is the solution.

If I don't close that one, there are a dozen more I shouldn't close. Then I have people complaining they can't find things on the forums and all everyone is doing is complaining. Then the development team misses some great feedback because these threads are pushing more pertinent threads down.

As for specifics, I can concede there are situations we can provide more. As I'm helping our moderation team parse through tens of thousands of posts a day, I can get moving too quickly.

A thread should always do one of two things: Raise a specific gameplay concern we can address (effectively calling us liars and stating we are still in Beta doesn't qualify) or build up the community in some way. That thread accomplished neither.

[ShockFC]

BTW,

The bans in questions (from the thread I created) were reversed.

You bowed down to pressure Hamma. This was a major community concern and you censored it on forums that shouldn't have influence form SOE.

Shame.

[DirtyBird]

I think you could look at that decision form both sides of the fence.

[Ghryphen]

BTW,

The bans in questions (from the thread I created) were reversed.

You bowed down to pressure Hamma. This was a major community concern and you censored it on forums that shouldn't have influence form SOE.

Shame.

We don't allow it here because they are of no use and only cause endless speculation and mud slinging across multiple threads because people have a difficult time using existing topics. Sony is not going to take action on an account because of any post made on PSU. We are not bowing to SOE, it is simply not a community we want to foster here. We have our own goals for PSU.

Regarding cheaters, SOE has supplied a method to report players, SOE has the data, they have the admin tools, they have the business plan, they know more than any random players speculation.

As far as bad bans, it is up to the player who got banned to contact SOE support and get unbanned. They are not going to unban based on any post here, even more so by people who don't even own the account.

[Electrofreak]

This thread is hilarious. Reminds me that a lot of people just love a good conspiracy theory.

The PS2 devs made no secret during the Beta that it was a real beta, not just a marketing beta. And, after release, obviously they are going to continue to improve the game however they can. Yes, there are a few significant bugs, but frankly, that happens with every game out there. I dare you to name one that did not have bugs after official release!

I'm seeing PS2 do very well and I'm seeing a lot of positive changes. SOE has walked off with more of my money than I care to admit because they've done a good job of working the F2P model and reeling me in. That said, every purchase I made has been entirely voluntary and I don't regret it!

So basically what I see in this thread is some whining about how the devs are still working on the game. Honestly, they had the game in pretty good shape when it launched and they got it out at a time that would allow people to chat about it with fellow gaming family members at Thanksgiving. There are a lot of F2P games out there right now and word of mouth is necessary to succeed, and it has.

Seriously, the conspiracy theorists need to shut up and deal. SOE has been pretty freakin' straight with us during the entire beta process. They've been involved with the community, they've reacted to our complaints, and they continue to do a damn good job of bettering the game. I challenge you all to find another development team that has been as transparent and as understanding as the PS2 team.

I'm going to guess people like the OP haven't been in the MechWarrior Online beta. I have been (during the PS2 beta) and I had to stop playing it because the community feels like they're yelling into an empty room after a while, and I got tired of listening only to echoes. Some day it'll be a finished product, but beta started for that game before PS2's beta started and it still has a ways to go before launch.

Play in a F2P beta like that and suddenly you'll feel pretty foolish for crying about SOE's launch of PS2.

Oh, and as for the people complaining about the PSU staff, let me level with you; Hamma and his team are a pretty cool bunch of guys (I've met most of them IRL so I can say that safely) and honestly, if your thread is locked or you're banned, you probably earned it. There's a reason people come to this forum instead of just posting on the official forums, and it's not to listen to the same stupid bullshit. It's their forum and if you get "censored" it's because what you have to say has no place here. Take your whining somewhere else, this website is for more mature, constructive discussion.

Have a nice day.

[Captain1nsaneo]

I'm going to both agree and disagree with your statement. I've been doing this job for awhile and I've not only made mistakes but watched other people make them. I can tell you with no arrogance or elitism just hard facts about what works.

I agree with you that you don't dam up a problem. You are open about it which is why I'm posting here. I disagree however not closing the thread is the solution.

If I don't close that one, there are a dozen more I shouldn't close. Then I have people complaining they can't find things on the forums and all everyone is doing is complaining. Then the development team misses some great feedback because these threads are pushing more pertinent threads down.

As for specifics, I can concede there are situations we can provide more. As I'm helping our moderation team parse through tens of thousands of posts a day, I can get moving too quickly.

A thread should always do one of two things: Raise a specific gameplay concern we can address (effectively calling us liars and stating we are still in Beta doesn't qualify) or build up the community in some way. That thread accomplished neither.

Thank you for the reply Radar, I know you have a wealth of experience in running official forums and I had some notion that the closing was mainly for dev benefit. I must also confess that the concept of dealing with an even hand to threads whose merit isn't quite inline with the forum's mission had escaped me. I imagine that the response of a thread being non-constructive and providing no useful feedback is something born of simple time restrictions. Though I still don't like it because it doesn't give players an example of what they should be talking about or where the discussion they are having would be appropriate.

However, this has brought a question to mind. Who are the forums chiefly for? The Devs or Players? Obviously the answer we want is 'both' but that's impossible.
Official forums are payed for and hosted by the game's producer and they want a solid source of feedback they can reference to so they know what's happening ingame. They also want these spaces to be relatively clean and, if possible, have a positive note about the game. Sort of like a large and somewhat unruly research group.
Players on the other hand just want to talk. Often that talk is directed at the game but for good or ill it roams around.

You implied a bit of this desired duality in your last paragraph in that a thread should either talk about a gameplay problem or should build up the community. I'm not totally ok with that for the following logic. If there is going to be a crackpot theory or derogatory thread you would want it under your own roof in a place marked out for them. The reason is that then it's still under your power and you know about it rather than it being in a private forum that is outside your jurisdiction and may never actually come under your eye.
I believe there are solutions to this problem, it's just a matter of finding one that works. Here's an example idea: make a category that can be posted in but threads can't be started in. Call it "Crackpot Theories" or some such. Whenever a hot thread that falls into the grey shows up, rather than closing it and like like a bug zapper sending entrails everywhere, move it into the Crackpot category and let it die there under appropriate supervision. In this way the threads that the devs don't need to see aren't kept around and the community can keep its dirty laundry in one place and more importantly under your supervision.

[Hamma]

We don't allow it here because they are of no use and only cause endless speculation and mud slinging across multiple threads because people have a difficult time using existing topics. Sony is not going to take action on an account because of any post made on PSU. We are not bowing to SOE, it is simply not a community we want to foster here. We have our own goals for PSU.

Regarding cheaters, SOE has supplied a method to report players, SOE has the data, they have the admin tools, they have the business plan, they know more than any random players speculation.

As far as bad bans, it is up to the player who got banned to contact SOE support and get unbanned. They are not going to unban based on any post here, even more so by people who don't even own the account.

Exactly.

If you don't like it, you are free to go to another internet forum.

By the way, I bowed down to no pressure. It was my decision and my decision alone.

[klu]

they reversed bans... more than one? i guess they werent 100% sure after all :sick: i totally get why you would want to stop the mud slinging but it would be nice to have a thread to discuss the criteria for bans without getting into specific players. i wont be spending another dime on this game till i get some conformation that you cannot be banned for a high number of player reports alone

[MaxDamage]

Congratulations. This has become the thread that Hamma closed.

[NapalmEnima]

Congratulations. This has become the thread that Hamma closed.

Clearly.

[PoisonTaco]

Most people don't even know what a beta is.

[psijaka]

Moderators on any forum are perfectly within their rights in deleting or locking a non constructive whining thread such as that started by the OP, and I would encourage them to continue doing so in a vigorous manner.

There's so much hyperbole rich rubbish on this and other forums that it is hard to get a decent constructive discussion going on more serious issues relating to the game.

Just what was the point of the OP? SoE are very evil people in pretending that a beta is not a beta and is in actual fact a beta and then conspiring to hide the fact....really; more bleating than from a field of freshly weaned lambs.

[Ghoest9]

We don't allow it here because they are of no use and only cause endless speculation and mud slinging across multiple threads because people have a difficult time using existing topics. Sony is not going to take action on an account because of any post made on PSU. We are not bowing to SOE, it is simply not a community we want to foster here. We have our own goals for PSU.

Regarding cheaters, SOE has supplied a method to report players, SOE has the data, they have the admin tools, they have the business plan, they know more than any random players speculation.

As far as bad bans, it is up to the player who got banned to contact SOE support and get unbanned. They are not going to unban based on any post here, even more so by people who don't even own the account.

Then the logical answer would have been to confine the discussion to 1 thread.

BTW the suspicion is not that threads here would get an unban but rather the opposite.
That SOE wouldnt unban people unless you made sure the reinstated poster couldnt use this forum as a means for the point out SOEs mistake.

[Figment]

It's not beta, it's gamma! :D



Gamma-game shall from now on be known as an unfinished, but launched work in progress game. :p

(WoT would also fall in that category).

[Voodeux]

Pretty much dead on. We are not playing the real release version of PS2, but yet another beta build. Now that this is being called out, SOE is locking threads trying to keep it on the low.

Its time to let people know they are still in BETA! :evil:


I honestly don't get what the big fucking deal is. If its still considered by the main company or anyone else to be a beta then it is up to the market to decide if it is worthy of making money. It obviously is and is likewise getting continuing development.

Whats the complaint? If Sony considers this a beta release then to me thats exciting vs excrement as a year from now this game is going to unbelievable.

[NewSith]

I always said that what we're having is a termless open beta test. I really hope Higby will not go for testing extremes thing again, or the game will lose 1/3 of its playerbase overnight.

[Figment]

I always said that what we're having is a termless open beta test. I really hope Higby will not go for testing extremes thing again, or the game will lose 1/3 of its playerbase overnight.

Personally, I hope they put up a test server.

[NewSith]

Personally, I hope they put up a test server.

They will not. I'm under the impression that devs are starting to consider the playerbase to be mindless sheep (or mice) to conduct testing upon.

What I am saying is - it's way more demonstrative when testing it on live servers, that's what they think, I am quite sure.

[ChipMHazard]

As far as we know the test server is coming. How much older and how much we will smell like dirt before it arrives is another matter.

[Simokon]

Stop being a douche you rarely ever post on PSU, the one time you do you
crying like a bitch. Did Hamma instantly lock it? No. He let you have your say.

Hamma did you a favor, that is more than you ever did him with your
shit ingrate reply. Go back to your head stuck up your ass Hobbit hole.

TLDR, Fuck you.

Where is the like button on this forum?

[MrBloodworth]

http://forums.station.sony.com/ps2/index.php?threads/all-of-you-are-crying-about-ps2-balance-when-we-are-not-even-playing-the-final-version.65279/page-2

Pretty much dead on. We are not playing the real release version of PS2, but yet another beta build. Now that this is being called out, SOE is locking threads trying to keep it on the low.

Its time to let people know they are still in BETA! :evil:

What are you, like, 5?

[VaderShake]

2 Things...

1. If this is still BETA then it's the most amazing BETA I have ever taken part in (Hint:I have been in allot) second to only the BETA that ended when this one began!! Which is only more encouraging for the future of PS2! (LOL I know it's not BEta)

2. For all those who think this game was not ready or is still in BETA....you need to realize this is the future of gaming. No longer are devs bound to the contraints of "going gold" and limiting a game to just whats on the DVD/Blueray, constant content updates and refining are going to be the only way they can distiguish themselves from other devs and retain/maintain happy customer who will ocntinue to pay for what they want/like and have provided direct feedback on. The future is here with PS2...

[Piper]

As far as we know the test server is coming. How much older and how much we will smell like dirt before it arrives is another matter.

Yup, RadarX said we're getting one....at some point. :)

Got to hang out here more frankly, since launch the official forums are just rank horrible a good deal of the time.

[Babyfark McGeez]

...
2. For all those who think this game was not ready or is still in BETA....you need to realize this is the future of gaming. No longer are devs bound to the contraints of "going gold" and limiting a game to just whats on the DVD/Blueray, constant content updates and refining are going to be the only way they can distiguish themselves from other devs and retain/maintain happy customer who will ocntinue to pay for what they want/like and have provided direct feedback on. The future is here with PS2...

The future is going live too early because the studios can't wait to make money off their game, which, in addition to the nowadays common "overhyping" of a new game, results in a massive player peak right after "release" followed by a steady decline of the playerbase due to releasing with not enough "game" and, in the worst circumstances, the downward spiral of a "failed" game because people recall their bad initial experience and are not coming back (or found something else).
And then the next "big thing" with no staying power hits the (virtual) shelves.

I may be exaggerating here, but that is the major drawback i see with what you call "future of gaming".

Bottomline: You can gradually improve and refine your game even if you launch a bit later to prevent that bad first impression smell. One possible bullet dodged...but also no Smedbucks for a bit longer.
I can only guess how that discussion went over at SOE, but something tells me it wasn't the actual devs that got the last word there. :p

[Rolfski]

Oh no's! It's a conspiracy! I warned you all but no one would listen. This game was never meant finished, evil SOE has been cunningly planning for this all the time! (http://themittani.com/features/how-eve-online-secured-planetside-2s-future)

John Smedley = Dr Evil :D

http://cdn.tmcdn.org/sites/default/files/BDD_DR_evil_121608_14.jpg

[Babyfark McGeez]

Well i haven't made my tinfoil hat yet. Workin' on it. :p

Edit: Btw the idea to intentionally release (too) early to impress later with updates sounds like a pretty weird tactic imo.

[Thunderhawk]

I have stopped visiting the Official forums because they are filled with the worst type of posts that you can expect from a playerbase drunk on their own delusions of grandeur and incessant whining about things they cant work out themselves.

Please lets not get PSU into the same rut ?

Hamma, lock away, if people dont like it they can go whine on reddit.

[AnamNantom]

Concepts people, concepts.

[AnamNantom]

...

2. For all those who think this game was not ready or is still in BETA....you need to realize this is the future of gaming. No longer are devs bound to the contraints of "going gold" and limiting a game to just whats on the DVD/Blueray, constant content updates and refining are going to be the only way they can distiguish themselves from other devs and retain/maintain happy customer who will ocntinue to pay for what they want/like and have provided direct feedback on. The future is here with PS2...

This ^

[Electrofreak]

They will not. I'm under the impression that devs are starting to consider the playerbase to be mindless sheep (or mice) to conduct testing upon.

What I am saying is - it's way more demonstrative when testing it on live servers, that's what they think, I am quite sure.

Wrong, actually:


Title: [Suggestion] take a page from many other games SOE, create a testing server

seeing as how many people are really angry about game change 1, and the numerous other patches you have pushed, i just have a simple request.
-put all new game builds onto 1-3 dedicated testing servers before releasing publicly
-add in a survey function to the testing servers
-for every 5 sessions of PS2 someone plays in testing, they must complete one survey, or risked being banned from testing
-listen to player feedback on the testing server, and do one of two things
--if the build receives negative feedback, tweak it, and put it back on testing to see how the changes work
--if it gets positive feedback, push it to public

to be honest, im surprised you guys havnt done this yet.

We agree. It's why we are in the process of preparing one. We don't have a solid ETA yet but expect it in the very near future.

http://forums.station.sony.com/ps2/index.php?threads/take-a-page-from-many-other-games-soe-create-a-testing-server.65351/

[VaderShake]

The future is going live too early because the studios can't wait to make money off their game, which, in addition to the nowadays common "overhyping" of a new game, results in a massive player peak right after "release" followed by a steady decline of the playerbase due to releasing with not enough "game" and, in the worst circumstances, the downward spiral of a "failed" game because people recall their bad initial experience and are not coming back (or found something else).
And then the next "big thing" with no staying power hits the (virtual) shelves.

I may be exaggerating here, but that is the major drawback i see with what you call "future of gaming".

Bottomline: You can gradually improve and refine your game even if you launch a bit later to prevent that bad first impression smell. One possible bullet dodged...but also no Smedbucks for a bit longer.
I can only guess how that discussion went over at SOE, but something tells me it wasn't the actual devs that got the last word there. :p

It's already happing with sequels, expansion packs, & DLC...it's been happening for awhile my friend, this is just another refinement.

[ThePackage]

It's fairly clear that PS2 wasn't a complete game at launch, and still isn't. However that doesn't have to be taken as a negative. You could be spending those hundred hours in a beta right now testing and in essence gaining nothing. Or playing the live game and your time and investment has merit.

Personally I'm glad they released the game on the 20th of November, even in it's unfinished state. Are there still A LOT of bugs to fix? Yes, tons. Would less people playing the game in beta somehow allow them to fix these bugs faster? Nope.

The only thing that concerns me is everyone seems to be taking vacation. While I believe it is well deserved, it is incredibly poorly timed. I get it, it's the holidays....blah blah blah. This seems to be a trend these days. The most important time in a games life cycle is how it is initially accepted. No one is going to care about your game in a year just because it finally has enough content to make it engaging. They will have moved on to newer things. Unfortunately PS2's new player experience might be the worst in any game I've seen.

There are a lot of things that need fixing immediately and can't wait until people come back from their turkey induced comas. PS2 is a new IP for the majority of players in game right now, and I've already begun to see a massive decline in active players. Nearly my entire outfit has already gotten bored.

When you release a game in the state PS2 released, you need to have easily digestible patches on a consistent basis. Especially in the first few months of the game. There's been a few guns, and bug fixes. The amount of content is limited at best, and the 3 continents promote a bad metagame. I understand why they would want to focus on bug fixes, there are a lot of freaking bugs. But you can't expect bug fixes to peak the interest of players these days.

I, like many of my buddies, really want to enjoy PS2 and play it for years to come. The game right now just doesn't support that hope, and playing the game sober is a challenge in itself.

[Sunrock]

http://assets.diylol.com/hfs/ea1/9e4/0b6/resized/meme-meme-generator-i-don-t-always-wear-tin-foil-hats-but-when-i-do-i-smear-peanutbutter-allover-myself-e4f5be.jpg

[Hamma]

In case you are not aware, the founder of these forums has also been censoring people complaining about supposedly illegitimate bans. If we can't trust the founder of what has been the true forum for planetside fans not to bow to pressure from SOE (due to perhaps getting a little too chummy with them) then you can't expect much more here.

Where do we talk, where can we express freedom of speech without moderation from Sony? The same happened in the last MMO I played, Warhammer Online. EA Mythic actually bought up the company that hosted the most popular (and previously unrelated) forum for the game in order to extend the reach of its control over what people said about the game or other players.

Made me feel ill watching that lock on a thread about bans.

Do we need a new forum?

I know I'm a little late to the party (I brought some beer if anyone needs it. I also brought some additional rolls of tin foil)

Yes, I've been locking threads. Why? Because there is nothing a forum thread will ever do about it. It's a customer service issue between the person banned, and Sony Online Entertainment. Do you think SOE comes to this forum to see if they have banned someone unjustly? Nope.

They mostly end up in witch hunts that serve no real purpose.

I have no intention of locking this thread though.

Also this:

We don't allow it here because they are of no use and only cause endless speculation and mud slinging across multiple threads because people have a difficult time using existing topics. Sony is not going to take action on an account because of any post made on PSU. We are not bowing to SOE, it is simply not a community we want to foster here. We have our own goals for PSU.

Regarding cheaters, SOE has supplied a method to report players, SOE has the data, they have the admin tools, they have the business plan, they know more than any random players speculation.

As far as bad bans, it is up to the player who got banned to contact SOE support and get unbanned. They are not going to unban based on any post here, even more so by people who don't even own the account.

Happy Monday! :dance:

[MrBloodworth]

I have no intention of locking this thread though.


You should. No reason to protect the feelings of the confused.

[Elgareth]

The only thing that concerns me is everyone seems to be taking vacation. While I believe it is well deserved, it is incredibly poorly timed. I get it, it's the holidays....blah blah blah. This seems to be a trend these days. [...]

There are a lot of things that need fixing immediately and can't wait until people come back from their turkey induced comas.

Exactly! Games (and especially MMOs) are things people use when they have free time. Just like for example restaurants.
And when do people have free time? During Holidays and Weekends! That's why restaurant-staff rarely closes their doors Saturday and Sunday...more like Wednesday or something.

Especially MMOs, and ESPECIALLY new MMOs, and Ultra-Especially a MMO which got a new patch recently which brought some new bugs NEEDS full staff-force during Holidays. That should belong to the job profile of a MMO Programmer nowadays IMHO.
It's just a great opportunity to show how great the support on PS2 is...or could be, while many people try it out during their holiday, having nothing to do and being bored from another family-dinner :rolleyes:

[weenus]

Name ONE MMO that you weren't playing a beta version of less than a month after release.


Don't worry, I'll wait.

[EVILoHOMER]

They were making money, The Alpha Squad....

They could have also done what GW2 done and let people buy weapons and then just reset the Station cash (Gems in GW2) when it goes live. They coulda also done this thing called an open beta or just launched and called it an alpha and people would forgive it.

[Gimpylung]

Is there some kind of Darwin award equivalent that can be given to the OP's of these kinds of threads?

[maradine]

So we're in beta, eh? Fine. I hope we never leave. Pace of change will be high and I can tell sharts like OP to WAIT FOR LAUNCH. :D

[Captain1nsaneo]

I know I'm a little late to the party (I brought some beer if anyone needs it. I also brought some additional rolls of tin foil)

Oh good, we were running out.

I'm in the same camp of people as NewSith who have been saying that the game is in an open beta state. My reasoning behind that opinion is that the game's internal skeleton of gunplay, vehicle physics, and technical robustness is there and done (stop laughing). The shop is open and the progression system is in. However, the game lacks the meat that allows for long term organic growth by the players. The goal of being a fun sandbox for people to play in isn't there at the moment as there are only a few tools players can rationally use to shape the game. There needs to be more than 3 roles in the game for people to explore (Pilot, Tanker, and Rifleman). Higby talked about wanting the infiltrator to be a gadgeteer class and I really would like to see them explore this (free c4 unlock?). Classes are lacking at the moment witnessed by the fact I can tell you pretty much all you need to know about each with one or two words: Rocket Launcher, Heal Tool, Repair Tool, jump-pack, Sniper Rifle, and Heavy Armor. There is effectively no difference between the empires when it comes to fighting their infantry. Empire specific HA is the only example of something different that's man-portable that actually matters. However, those are so rare that you don't really need to actually think about them when approaching a fight.

Using BF and CoD as examples for the game you want to emulate in gunplay has a serious problem as both games rely on frequent sequels to maintain their popularity and the majority of their innovation is actually in their player logistics and unlock systems rather than their gunplay. The instinct to say that copying their gunplay is a good idea then because it's stable and you have examples on how to balance it is seductive but it's not correct because your weapon interactions are then stuck in a box. You can see this in how the devs are struggling to create meaningful differences in their infantry weapons while maintaining balance. Despite rof, recoil, mag size, and damage differences, weapon characteristics are moot if they're all balanced properly as then individual skill, twitch speed, and circumstance become even more king over pre-conflict thought. Significant differences in empire weapon reliance means that for each base you attack you need to have different modus operandi depending on who holds it, doubling the amount of theoretical game content. The balance and normal selection of weapons types from bf/cod are setup to promote a fairly stale meat grinder.

In a game as open as planetside you are allowed to have weapons that are overpowered against 1 thing but suck against everything else. The feeling of 'power' that arena shooters demand from their guns is not mandatory in an mmofps.

(and now that I've written my dissertation I predict no one will debate/read/or pay any more attention to this post which might actually end up killing the thread as most of my longer posts often do instead of sparking debate. Oh well!)

[Bags]

Planetgate

[EisenKreutzer]

Actually, it isn't even a beta. It's a proof of concept, little more than a scetch, and it's all done in MS Paint and coded in java.

[Moodel]

http://forums.station.sony.com/ps2/index.php?threads/all-of-you-are-crying-about-ps2-balance-when-we-are-not-even-playing-the-final-version.65279/page-2

Pretty much dead on. We are not playing the real release version of PS2, but yet another beta build. Now that this is being called out, SOE is locking threads trying to keep it on the low.

Its time to let people know they are still in BETA! :evil:

I call bullshit and sensationalism.

When you're a computer game programmer working for a successful gaming company then you can come back and make outlandish claims so leave your paranoia at the door.

No MMO to date. I repeat NO MMO TO DATE has ever been 'complete' on release day and many bugs will be found that are not found during testing.

If that really is the way you feel then keep your negativity to yourself and go and learn to be positive.

[belch]

I knew there was a reason I never looked at this thread...

...and then I had to mess it up by clicking on it this morning. Oh crap, I just bumped it....

I'[ve been part of more than a few beta's...alpha builds too...and seen many a game have remaining issues at release. While there are some issues with things like animations (crazy WB cartoon running), to disappearing vehicles (get out to repair and 'poof!'), suddenly being out of bounds when you're really not (and dying as you're desperately trying to find your way out of the glitch)...I have had a helluva good time in this game so far. There isn't a single shooter out there that even comes close to this game in terms of strategic level gameplay. We can mount campaigns in this game, ffs. If anything, my frustrations are with my factions apparent obsession with the Crown, even as all territories flanking our warpgate are varying shades of bruise (purple/blue). But I digress...

[Moodel]

There isn't a single shooter out there that even comes close to this game in terms of strategic level game play.

Completely agree and I am lucky enough to have a cutting edge (as of last month) PC to play it on.

I thought exactly the same when I played PS1 all those years ago.

[Figment]

There isn't a single shooter out there that even comes close to this game in terms of strategic level gameplay.

Aside from PS1, which will trump this game's strategic game play for quite some time on so many levels... >.>

(Which is what makes so many of us sad.)

[ShriekXL]

Aside from PS1, which will trump this game's strategic game play for quite some time on so many levels... >.>

(Which is what makes so many of us sad.)

I wonder why none of you PS1 whiners ever read smedley's explanations about how PS2 in it's current state is the bare-bone version. How this is the foundation of what they want the game to be?

Really, if you lot had any interest whatsoever, you'd know that?

That said, go play PS1 then. I hear it's FILLED with players.........*cough*.

[serenekaos]

Internets = Platform for people with no common sense + Superior sense of self-entitlement. Which gives you whiny, emo bitches that no one wants to see make retarded threads that waste more of our precious lives with.

[Huntsab]

I wonder why none of you PS1 whiners ever read smedley's explanations about how PS2 in it's current state is the bare-bone version. How this is the foundation of what they want the game to be?

Really, if you lot had any interest whatsoever, you'd know that?

That said, go play PS1 then. I hear it's FILLED with players.........*cough*.

If PS1 was free to play then the whole server cluster would be packed to the rafters. Why is he whining? he casually mentioned a truth (oh no it must be another conspiracy). A knowing that PS2 is a dumbed down boring zerg fest with minor tactical elements. You cannot deny this. PS2 is nothing like PS1 therefore people who played PS1 are super pissed about it, and feel let down. You cannot get the same experiences in PS2 that you get in PS1. On the other hand PS1 has had its whole existence gimped by Sony. Keeping it £7.50 a month is akin to killing it. SOE by their deeds they shall be known and those deeds speak for themselves. They don't need no ad campaign to clarify anything.

Hey you'll probably never know mate. If it does go F2P I would urge you to look past the graphics and experience the fully realised vision of a balanced (ish) game. Play well and you'll live long and rack up the kills and XP.

[Figment]

I wonder why none of you PS1 whiners ever read smedley's explanations about how PS2 in it's current state is the bare-bone version. How this is the foundation of what they want the game to be?

The foundations have concrete-rot.

Really, if you lot had any interest whatsoever, you'd know that?

You know how long we've heard SOE in general say and promise things they didn't know they could live up to yet? :p

That said, go play PS1 then. I hear it's FILLED with players.........*cough*.

Sure, if it'd be a cheaper cost per month than PS2 premium.

I mean, you're kidding right? 9,5 year old game, 12 euro per month for "continued development", like we have for the past 9 years, or a new game, free or 7 euro monthly? You justify that without feeling taken advantage of.