Fighting for PS2! RU community petition to SOE.

[FromRussia]

"They asked us to slug it out for our land. And yes, it's quite true. We're not playing and enjoying ourselves. We're actually "slugging it out" on our own land through many unpleasant circumstances that have never happened on EU&US servers. But we want to play and enjoy Planetside 2 experience as we did before, and not to "slug it out"
http://ps2-ru.com/innovafail.jpg

Comrades!

Below you’ll find the official letter from members of ps2-ru.com team to Planetside 2 developers - Sony Online Enternainment, concerning our position on tricky situation that is going on with Planetside 2 in Russia. We kindly ask you to support our position, and post your opinions in this thread.

We do not want only just to state some unpleasant moments in long-drawn-out process of Planetside 2 Russian Version release, but we want to suggest options on how to solve it. Therefore, we are not making any attempts to bring business plans of Innova Co. down, just trying to suggest versatile options to remove any unpleasant states which are present by now.



" Dear John and Matt !

Russian community representatives, members of ps2-ru.com (http://ps2-ru.com/) team, are grateful to you and sending best regards for your work in developing Planetside 2 and for allowing us to play your game in Russia !

We're eager to observe developing process of the game, its progress and how developers react on players' feedback by bringing in new features and giving us new unexplored opportunities to play and enjoy our time in Planetside 2.

But we are very concerned and disappointed about progress of your partner and publisher in Russian Federation - Innova Co.
We took our time and made a list of major points that concern us too much not to tell about:

1. As we think, beta-test (CBT & OBT as well) of translation and other needed features is lasting too long, and so long time for beta-testing cannot be considered as normal. From our point of view, for such long period of time it is possible to get rid of all bugs and problems that restrict publishing of game and bringing it to release time if only Innova endeavored more actively in this direction.

2. By players' feedback, "FROST" anti-cheat system is interfering with performance and lowering stability of the game. Still, by players' reports made on our website, even with enabled Innova's anti-cheat system there is still noticeable amount of cheaters on Russian servers and amount is much greater than on EU and US servers.

3. From our position, translation of in-game content is done very unprofessionally. Translations have been done out of the game's context and translations are also containing many semantic and technical mistakes. For us it is clear that translations have been made by people that haven't taken even single glance on the game. And comments, notes and requests made by community members in the point of translation are, in most cases, ignored and no corrections in translation mistakes are done. In spite of our efforts to help in translation at CBT stage and nowadays.

4. Client-side errors and bugs found on EU servers are fixed at RU servers with too big delay.

5. Innova Co. has taken no steps in promoting and advertising of Planetside 2 on russian gaming market. There have been taken no efforts in promoting Planetside 2 on thematic gaming websites, while other Innova Co. games do have such promotion. At last gaming exhibition "Igromir-2013" (it's similiar to GamesCon and E3) Innova haven't brought any light on Planetside 2 in any way possible. Despite of their competitor's efforts in promoting and advertising of games that are even far from beta-testing stage.

6. Expected changes of game economic model that Innova is making cannot be considered appropriate as cannot be shifting to weapon rental system also done by them, because such changes are targeting audience not interested in long-term playing.

7. Innova's relations with community also cannot be called appropriate and respectful. Players' points, arguments, notes and etc. on problems are not considered in any way, even so, posts containing objective and impersonal points of view unpleasant for Innova Co. are deleted, users posting them are banned.

As concluded above, we're seeing potential risks in Planetside 2 promotion and expansion on Russia's and CIS's markets.

Reasons numbered 1,2 and 4 are causing players to leave russian servers at present time, such players are forced to leave in other projects even if they had interest in game during CBT start period. Many of them tried to return at OBT start, but soon left to EU&US servers or to other projects.

Also because of these reasons, and because of poor translation quality, most of russian players that've played on EU & US servers and left to play at RU servers are leaving back to EU & US servers.

Reasons numbered 5, 6, 7 from our point, are blocking the creation of community interested and oriented towards long-term gaming. And long-term oriented community, by our looks at original Planetside, is key factor of game's market success.

At general, we consider game at EU & US servers more playable at the moment than on RU because of reasons stated above.

And if it is not to play Planetside 2 on EU & US servers - we've got nowhere to go, except other projects, in which we do not want to but we're forced.

We understand that radical changes in your relationship with Innova Co. cannot be done, but anyway, we suggest choosing such model of partnership with them where there will be possibility in including translations in EU & US servers or connecting Innova's servers in global joined network of Planetside 2 world servers without changing economic model, installing additional software and propaganda to play on our own territory.

From our side, we're ready and eager to help in translating game content and other work that can be possibly done.

Best regards and with due respect,
ps2-ru.com (http://ps2-ru.com/) Team Members "

About ps2-ru.com
PS2-RU.com - biggest Planetside 2 fan website in Russia. Planetside 2 news in Russian, forums, multimedia content and etc. since 2011. Founded and operated by fans for fans.

[typhaon]

There's a "In Soviet Russia" joke in there somewhere....

Seriously, though... that sounds like a miserable state for a Russian PS2 launch.

[Calista]

You guys really don't need to be spamming ever media outlet with this. Smed got your email and is looking into it.

[Sabotage]

Ru ps2 sux

[Khottabych]

You guys really don't need to be spamming ever media outlet with this. Smed got your email and is looking into it.

Thread on off SOE forum was banned few minutes ago. And PSU now became only one "media outlet" :)

[Maidere]

You guys really don't need to be spamming ever media outlet with this. Smed got your email and is looking into it.

Smed got the message when SOE and Innova made a deal. It's not only about the message, it's about the noise this open letter has to generate.

[Bolt]

I'm sure 99% of all problems can be solved localizing the Planetside 2 how Pro7, but Innova does not have such same experience. They (Innova) do not want to lose any money, so it was decided by them to make separate server.
We want to fight and play on servers with high skills outfits. To whom we will pay a money - does not matter.

[Cyberpashtet]

Innova must die

[KesTro]

Well you've got a bump from me and my support (For whatever that's worth hehe) when you need it. We like to complain over on the US&EU servers but it sounds like we haven't had to put up with nightmare that must be the RU release. Everyone should get an equal chance to enjoy this game and it's good to know Smed is looking into this. It's also good to know the RU community (At least by the looks of this letter) is a strong one I only hope you guys can keep it together for however long it might take to get some of your issues resolved. This game relies on its players heavily as all the content is player driven. The best thing you can do that I can think of is try to reinforce your own players feelings towards the game.

[Blynd]

Hope you get it sorted to tour satisfaction. You have my support. I've never understood why they have to have sepwrate servers for russians I played slot witth some ruscorp guys in ps1 and theyall seemed great.

[Rolfski]

SOE's local partners screwing up, where have I heard that one before?
At least Pro7 is trying.

SOE obviously made huge mistakes with their local partner model, basically giving non-US players a second rank Planetside 2 experience.

Making a deal with local partners should always involve detailed agreements about the quality of the customer experience, much like a franchise model.
When I eat a big Mac in Moscow it is of the same quality compared to a big Mac in NYC, but not with this game however. You get worse customer service, worse deals/promo's, worse PlayerStudio experience, worse everything outside US.

I wouldn't be surprised if Chinese players are complaining as well and I certainly see SOE making the same mistakes all over again with their opening of the Brazilian market. And the bitter part of all of this is that SOE was warned by the community for that Russian partner.

[Falcon_br]

I am almost sure Brazil will be the next one complain about SoE local partner!
I already tried to contact Brazilian partner twice about information on the launch in the Brazilian market, without success.

[Mastachief]

There are already enough russian hacking/massive ping/lag switching/ESP using/exploiting scrubs on the EU servers. I'm pro any barrier that keeps the hoards away.

Sorry to hear the Russian partner sucks but it's hardly surprising.

[Jax Blake]

Seriously...Renting Weapons?

[Rarogmor]

++++

[Bolt]

Seriously...Renting Weapons?
yes Innova don't want sell guns, only rental. Rent a result more expensive than buying forever

[Antoxa]

SOE please fix it!!!

[FordMustang]

++++

[BooDooSmoke]

Agree
BooDooSmoke
Ceres
Russia

[Falsh]

Maybe Innova have pentium 4 servers with dial-up network. Ping to Innova 110-150 ms. Ping to Miller 65-80 ms. P.S. I from South-West region of Russia. Renting weapons and cheaters making game not playable.

[StalkerViking]

We NEED a NORMAL localization Planetside 2 in RUSSIA. innova Co. S.à r.l. is parasites and dependents
Нам нужна нормальная локализация Planetside 2 в России. иннова это просто паразиты и иждевенцы.

[Istjazatel]

+100%

[xboxer]

I support this petition 100% I am totally against this situation with the localization and in general with the state of the game in Russia! Out ru. server for a long time and do not intend to go back there!

Поддерживаю на 100%, я категорически против сложившейся ситуации с локализацией и вообще с состоянием игры в России!!! Ушел с ру. сервера давно и возвращаться туда не собираюсь!

[BoMBuR]

Agree

BoMBuR4eG
Miller

[Babyfark McGeez]

There are already enough russian hacking/massive ping/lag switching/ESP using/exploiting scrubs on the EU servers. I'm pro any barrier that keeps the hoards away.

Sorry to hear the Russian partner sucks but it's hardly surprising.

Man, a good thing you don't sound like an asshole there. Also nice that you magically know the nationality of hackers on eu servers.

[Dispatcher]

...
Agree

DucneT4ep
Miller
Russia

[BahamutArk]

+
Clan LA

[yHKac]

++++

[Rastabram]

Innova realy sucks! All their projects are failed!(Russian localisations of Lineage2, Point blank, Aion, PS2..) Renting weapons - it's not worst.. I think in a cuple of mounth in Russian PS2 will be a lot of GOLD weapons(for real $ ofcourse) that will kill from oneshot!=))
I'll better play on Miller, and try to forget about that ugly clone of my favorite game, that called "Russian Localisation"!

[Myrkin]

Agree
Myrkin
ru\woodman
Out ru. server...

[Shamrock]

Really sorry to hear you guys are having a bad experience. I think the McDonalds franchise comment hit the nail on the head. The franchise contract should clearly stipulate quality assurances that the franchisee should give so that the level of service between the parent company/franchiser and those they hand out franchises to appears as a seamless and homogeneous offer as apposed to a lottery of good service/ bad service depending on your location. Failing to do that would be like shooting yourself in the foot as poor service damages the brand as a whole.

[Mastachief]

Man, a good thing you don't sound like an asshole there. Also nice that you magically know the nationality of hackers on eu servers.

It's a fine line but I walk it well.

The Russian gaming community has a far greater percentage of hackers than any other nationality this is something honest Russian players readily admit and have done so for years its a culture difference they don't see it as doing something wrong. There are of course plenty of hackers on all sides but it is harder to police the tide that Russia brings. Happens in all online games.

[Phreec]

I support this!

Russian/cyrillic population getting their own local hub is a win/win situation for everyone. Less language barriers causing trouble in teamwrok and less of the RU stereotypes on EU/US servers.

[CrtmN]

Its is true. Ping Miller < Ping Ru-Server
I agree with the author.
http://www.planetside-universe.com/f_usercontent/signaturepics/sigpic47146_1.gif

[Sidonium]

Innova is not able to perform up to expectations. Worthless localizer. I totally agree.

[CATERPILLAR]

+001

[Maidere]

I support this!

Russian/cyrillic population getting their own local hub is a win/win situation for everyone. Less language barriers causing trouble in teamwrok and less of the RU stereotypes on EU/US servers.

Because all Germans and Frenchies have perfect english, amirite?
Also, I will realy appreciate if Russians who register here only to post "+1" will stop doing it. I think we allready understand that all RU players support this letter.

[Babyfark McGeez]

It's a fine line but I walk it well.

The Russian gaming community has a far greater percentage of hackers than any other nationality this is something honest Russian players readily admit and have done so for years its a culture difference they don't see it as doing something wrong. There are of course plenty of hackers on all sides but it is harder to police the tide that Russia brings. Happens in all online games.

See, when you word it that way it allready sounds way better. And i agree to a point. I still believe the idea of seperating players by countries is kind of against the basic philosophy of playing on the net, especially when the (still) majority of non-cheating russian players evidently have just a nice ping to miller as to a russian server. I loved it back in late PS1 when i was in a squad with people from all over the world.
And the whole outsourcing of customer service is also something i don't particulary like. Because in most cases it means a worse customer service for the players (like apparently this seems to be the case here).

Someone has to ban the hackers anyways.

Edit: The reason i originally looked around in this thread was the funny sowjet style pic in the OP anyways. So, yeah, nice hehe.

[Locke]

I dont think I have ever heard of a successful case where a MMO has been signed to a "partner" where there haven't been these sorts of problems (maybe WOW or did they run their own?).

I guess there must be a cost saving for SOE not to run local servers and a small team in Europe/Russia/China but when the game population of some of these countries is on par or larger than the US one you do have to wonder why they dont put more of an investment into growing international markets rather than flogging it off on some media company.

Edit: Given Prosiebien actually do seem to have some sort of community representation recently but there are still numerous problems with the EU client users (not the least of which is not being able to buy some market place stuff)

[Howareu]

everyone know what innova is a jerks

[Shapic]

+1
Looks like ru ps2 team has no esteem. No promotions, not even a single howto guide. Just lots of unstoppable zerg on indar, no participation in alerts etc. Btw only hackers which I met on Woodman were from Poland according to the language they spoke. For ppl from eu reading this: come on we are getting memory read error under ANY windows (even 7 and 8, I have not seen this error from win98 times) every time we try log off. Also we had voice chat not working for more than a month (welcome teamspeak raidcalls etc). Even now sometimes it stops working. Having beter ping to EU then to official RU server from Russia is just ridiculous.

[Maidere]

I do agree that russians sometimes tend to cut the corners too much (or just do it ahead of the pack like it was in Global Agenda where they invented most of the abuses/exploits). And probably there are plenty of russian cheaters out there, more than german cheaters or british cheaters. Still making a ghetto is hardly a proper solution imo.

[stalkerybr]

I agree with topic starter

[ReCeDiV]

Innova does not work well. Sadly.

[almalino]

I'm Russian. Playing on Miller. Rented weapons sounds like a terrible idea. Innova, what are you doing? Please stop.

[NewSith]

Russians are sooo doomed... *cynical*

[PiuPpiu]

I have never thought about playing the Russian server, it was immediately clear that this will be a failure. SOE please let RU beginners normally, without obstacles, create an account on the euro.

On the euro we do not need localization and can be played without the Cyrillic.
But you can not play in the team play without companions.

If the euro PS 2 will not be promoted among the Russian players and will become more unaffordable, I will not play in the PS 2 neither in Russia nor in Europe.

Alas Dozens of my friends on the game have already made that choice.

Server: Miller
Name: PiuPpiu

[Gerkyles]

I understand players from Russia. Innova is the worst localizer games.
1 Innova does not support the players
2 Huge number of cheaters on the server. Their protection system Frost - a useless bunch of bits.All games under the leadership of Innova have a huge number of cheaters.
3 Innova spits on the opinion of the players
4 Balance is disturbed with the new system rented weapons for real money. This company has the same problem with the game APB. They sell very strong weapon in the game for real money and the game was full of shit.
5 In a letter correctly written about the harassment of critics of the players. They simply block on the official forum.

Personally, I think that the game planet Side 2 gorgeous. I'm a fan of this game and play it from the beginning Planet Side. give your child Innova like to give a real child of the homeless alcoholic which is just one of a thirst to drink vodka and have no desire to think about the child. The Innova no desire to develop the game in the market of Russia and it's obvious.
None of my friends have heard about the Planet Side 2 but everyone knows about the battlefield for example. It says about the disgusting promotion of the game on the market.Like many other projects under the wing of Innova, Planet Side 2 will be doomed. There are many examples of how Innova kills the game by his disgusting attitude.
I really hope that the developers will hear the players of Russia.

[Mastachief]

Has there been any official response to your efforts yet?

[PiuPpiu]

Has there been any official response to your efforts yet?
Rather no than yes.
http://clip2net.com/clip/m226676/1383656057-clip-26kb.png

[Ratheel]

I agree with topic starter

[Shyryp]

I also protest against the Innova.
Too long and they do everything wrong! At that Ping is even worse than the euro. :(
I did not ask, I demand that it be localized SOE game for the Euro servers. To hell with the contract with the Innova! :evil:
SOE, listen to us, and you will realize that the best option is to localize the game on the euro servers. You also will be more profit and popularity! =)
I ask!
Thank you!

[Maidere]

I decided to check the russian forums out and I found most of Innova's reasoning completely legit. I wont defend crappy translations (Russians are basicaly asking for it themselves when they cry about "wtf-no-Russian-language"), questionable "anti-hack" and high ping servers (placed in Luxemburg lol), but postponed launch is a good idea. I think they want to launch when SOE will optimize the game and release an inter-continential lattice. There is no reason to dump a fuckload of money on advertising the game right now because if SOE wont screw EVERYTHING PS2 will be in a much, much better state in a few months. Hopefuly meanwhile Innova will fix the stuff they are responsible for.
Renting the weapons kinda sux, but I feel like it might be the best decision. People wont buy weapons for 5-7 bucks each here, but selling them for like 2 bucks will leave Innova with little to no profit.

[Dodgy Commando]

Personally, I would definitely not be playing if I had to rent the game's weapons...

[Osskscosco]

That picture made me laugh.

[maradine]

Personally, I would definitely not be playing if I had to rent the game's weapons...

It wasn't so bad in Blacklight. But then, I guess I'm not playing Blacklight anymore. So there's that.

[ketarakh]

It wasn't so bad in Blacklight. But then, I guess I'm not playing Blacklight anymore. So there's that.

In Blacklight you have two options - to buy or to rent. Afaik in Innova's PS2 you have rent only.
I'm not against renting weapons as it makes them more accessible but I am against renting as the only option.

[FromRussia]

We wrote a new letter to the Russian representative office Planetside 2.
Reading it is possible here, who is friends with Russian languagehttp://ps2-ru.com/2013/11/08/otkrytoe-pismo-rukovoditelyu-proekta-planetside-2-russia-arturu-xachaturovu/

We also wrote a letter to SOE:

Dear John !

Thank you for your answer even if it was very brief and not so informative, but we saw SOE taking some steps in our cause and we can't be more happy than that.

At this week Innova's representatives - Product Manager and Project Manager have tried to comment on our cause, but, for now, they couldn't say anything particular about their vision of their project development and etc.

And for the answer to them, we suggested to provide us information which can, from our point of view, have some influence on people about current situation with Planetside 2 in Russia.

We've chosen 6 statements on which we wait Innova's answer:

1. Innova's Plans on project development with main timeline (release, PTS launch, API access, launch of additional services (stats, mobile app), Player Studio Launch).

2. Detailed plans on community management including game event management, Outfit Wars and organizing cooperative events RU <-> USA & EU servers.

3. Plan of Planetside 2 advertising and promotion, including approximate time of SOE's representatives arrival in Russia and their participation in advertising campaign.

4. Results and findings about anti-cheat system performance with key performance indicators on cheat blocking. It will be marvellous to see such indicators compared to SOE's with SOE's approval of such.

5. Plans on increasing the quality of translations and communicating with gaming community on that with detailed description of process and format of communication.

6. Comments about some statements in Innova's User Agreement that are interfering with current ways of organising game events in Planetside 2 and by what means such interference can be solved.

We understand that it will be hard for Innova to provide such information without your participation in the process, and that's why we ask you to provide any help possible.

It would would be incredible to see these questions answered by Planetside's 2 release anniversary. It would be such a gift to russian community.

From our side we're ready to provide any help and support, if necessary.

With due respect,
ps2-ru.com team

[almalino]

But, but what if people refuse to rent weapons will it be 2000 people per continent knife fighting?? Oh, that would be epic :)

[Andymen]

Good afternoon, I apologize for my English.
I think if the servers EURO in the game client will add the Russian language, the project will be more popular.