What is the goal of this website?

Well, I cant post there anymore, I am banned.

And if you think all I did was whine like a teenager, you can just scratch the forums and see what I was contributing, which was more than just feedback.

So, for someone like me, what is my recourse? Where do I go?

I kickstarted the game, pledged Knight level, worked on items for the game which got me to Lord level and because I rubbed the forum mods the wrong way, here I sit.

I don't think pointing out areas that need improvement is worthy of a ban. Granted, I can come across as pointed sometimes, but, grow a skin. You are in a mostly thankless industry -- which they should long have known.

It wasn't until I saw statements from Darkstarr, at a developer conference, with peers and hires attending, that I had to call him on his bullshit.

If you really think that this site, or any site, even the main site, can contribute to getting the message across to those guys, after 2+ years of development and ignoring the community for the most part, I think you overestimate the impact.

The best thing anyone can do is educate any potential "investor" as to exactly what to expect on the "developer interaction" level. Especially having had 1:1 interaction with that very team on a few projects.

Cheers.

Joviex, it actually pains me to see you gone from the forums. You were right about a lot of things, you like many of us lost your patience near the end. I don't think you should have been banned at all. Wish you were back to be honest. But, you were never like these guys, ever. You stated what you wanted fixed and you stuck to your guns. Even here, you answered my post honestly and not like the poster above you, who even in the main forums, isn't worth the time responding too. Hate and bile don't get your points across, which I'm glad to see you still stick to that theory.

I honestly think the game is worse of now then when you were a part of it. I wish there was some way for you to come back, however I think I am soon to be banned for good as well. I have been threatened in the past, hence why I do not use my name here.

And the fanboys finally start to come out of the woodwork to defend themselves. I'm amazed it has taken them this long to react.

I also want to say that some people shouldn't be holding Insane accountable for a lot of the stuff posted here, he is merely providing ANYONE, casual fanboys and all, to post whatever they want, anonymous or not. He doesn't hold anyone to any strict standards but he has tried to keep us on track by posting more meaningful posts. You should be thankful that he is doing this for everyone and not straight out hating on the fanboys.

I feel for the people associated with you and envy, all vile and spit here and fake in the forums.  Come on brave guys act like this in the forums.  All powerful posts like these.

joviex you were better then this.

I think the majority of my posts are opposing views, and I have been moderated like crazy.  Too much moderation there to be honest.   I think mostly because the majority of posters just aren't that smart.  People are two quick to report.  Look at that thread on the new looting, closed and heavily moderated and I don't think it ever got that bad disagreeing isn't a bad thing.

using casual as the difference between knowing what is good or bad is a too simple way too look at it. I think the majority just have no idea that game design isn't about what is good for your character.

Believe it or not, though I didn't always agree with you, I liked you quite a bit to some of those morons like owain.  I'm no saint on their forums, and have been threatened to be silenced simply for stating facts some people didn't like.  I appreciate that you can still have a conversation, we chatted a few times over the last couple of years, didn't like your banning either.

the real problem is fire lotus...I have had huge email chains on how simple comments netted her vengeance.  I was even pushed up the hill to Rick, since I put in a complaint on moderation...I haven't been moderated as much since.  I have a feeling I may be banned soon for that current thread, I think she is waiting for me to step out of line.

i do not like the popularity groups that are forming there, having contests for people's favorite poster ironically enough envy got nominated.

dont get me wrong, I get why you yes are upset.  Just thinking profanity filled rage posting goes against what you are trying to say.

I honestly thought that thread was pretty tame...sure balquerogue was his usual barely literate self, but all in all it was pretty peaceful until maybe the last page.  I have a feeling that people will be moderated to set a tone, or make it fair instead of looking at what was said and why.  Honestly no one was insulting in the thread.

Blaqueroque feigns the victim card trying to get the mods to infract others, he is a mine in that minefield.

We all play the victim, I'm sure Lollie is right now, heh.

Back to the topic, it's my opinion that this forum adds far more culture to SotA than it undermines. Check out any fan site, they all have a donate button, they all are "self first"

They are also rewarded with in game gold and this will extend far past testing. Elitist behavior starts at the top. This will play out poorly for the community as a whole.

Meanwhile the Developers are hording concept and rule set for years now, but I'm assuming they had any such things to start with.

I don't have to undermine jack shit.  SotA will Fail.  Hard.  Their only hope (not obi wan kenobi) is firing Chris and RG and hiring me.  That's the bottom fucking line. I would keep Starr.  I still believe he has some quality.

The only reason I'm still posting is because I care about the friends I persuaded to back the game, my friends that spent thousands on the game and those that put their heart and soul into the game.  I post for them, not for myself.  I don't want them to end up investing so much money and time in a game that will be dead 6 months after release.

Oh come on, we both know your still posting or did they finally figure out you aren't worth dealing with?  took me oh, two minutes.

I return here to read about SotA and different people's impressions about the game. I bought in at the Knight level and ultimately sold that account and I'm glad I did. I grew increasingly suspicious of Portalarium's ability to release a game that will appeal to anything more than a very small minority of eager backers who were gaining more and more control over the game's direction in order to drive in more money from those same backers. I questioned the hangouts where the team drank on stream when they were interacting with the community, and I questioned my financial support of a team that appeared to take some delight in the fact that they were working in a scene Mad Men-esque atmosphere. I don't care about the pvp vs. pve discussions and arguments or whether the game holds true to its Ultima roots. I care about the myriad of problems this company has, apparently overmoderating their forums being one of them.

A while back, I remember a post by Dallas in the Dev+ forums that clearly stated that they were not funding enough at the time. This was just prior to them releasing a hot tub for purchase, various other animals, etc. I was appalled by the comment. This was a long time ago and one of the heads of the company was stating to backers that they were in desperate need of funds. after that the flood gates opened for add-on purchases. Not diversify, but draw more money off an existing fanbase. Then more money. Then more money. With many pledges, people are expecting not a single game, but episodes 1 through 5, without the need for adding future dollars into the mix. This is beyond implausible. They have trouble bringing in new money and instead resort to the existing playerbase. That well will run dry. New kickstarters for the 2nd episode, 3rd episode, 4th episode, 5th episode will garner fewer and fewer backers because a substantial % of their playerbase is already in for all of those episodes with their backing of SotA from this kickstarter. They remain in what feels like a perpetual pre-alpha cycle that shows only marginal improvements, lauded by many in the community for its progress 'rapid' progress. They are at least a year behind schedule devoting time to ludicrous add-ons and absolutely stupid additions to the game like cannibalism (please tell me they scrapped that or were joking).

I bought in to this game because of Garriott, Long, Lum, and I believed something interesting would come out of it. It doesn't take much critical thinking power to determine that what they are promising cannot be delivered. How long before Garriott loses interest? He is a legend in only the minds of those who worship at the altar of games created 20+ years ago. He has created mostly garbage since and the game the SotA community probably associates him best with, UO, was largely the product of Raph.

So I come here because these people in part share my dissatisfaction with this game and with this company. Maybe with different causes, but dissenting opinions are in short supply elsewhere. I'll read things that are offensive or that I don't agree with here, but at least I'm free enough to read them here and don't have them moderated out and removed from my view because of my delicate sensibilities. I like to keep up on the development of the game to remind myself that I lost $100 selling a pledge and how stupid I was to buy into hollow promises in the first place. If you are going to rubberneck at car accidents, you are going to see some gore. There are plenty of shattered hopes piling up and I appreciate this place for pointing them out, blood and guts and all.

Nice to see there are some who actually get it and can put it in words more tactfully than I ever could. Kudos.