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Post by Concerned on Mar 15, 2015 17:06:02 GMT
What I am seeing on this website is a bunch of people who still post on the main forums who are basically undermining the game hoping for it to fail.
Insane Membrane has lost his focus and seems petty now.
The rest who hide behind different names thinking they are the elite of the world.
What is the goal?
It sounds currently like a bunch of angry kids who didn't get their way, if that's not what you are then you need to show more. Angry rants full of swear words and name calling sound childish, I'm assuming you are older ultima fans? Do you see a problem here?
You could have used this forum to bring up things that they don't want to let out, like fire lotus and her ability to bend the rules to appease her banning. I know you have a thread on her, but once again it looks like angry teenagers wrote it.
Come on, use this for doing something!
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Post by grimgryphon on Mar 15, 2015 17:57:34 GMT
My name is the same here as on the official forums. I'm not afraid of anything. However, some here are perma-banned due to that idiot FireLotus' incompetence, so they can't use the same name. If you're wondering why people sound like angry teenagers, its because we have tried other avenues of communication and those morons are nothing more than vindictive little children. It's a lost cause.
And for the record, I DO want the game to fail. I think it's a fitting end to the elitist community Portalarium and the high-level backers created for themselves. It would give me no greater pleasure than to see them lose every penny they put into it. Maybe then they might get a clue why a diverse community with many differing opinions is so important. I would also like to see two other things that are well deserved:
1. Starr and Chris become unemployable in the gaming industry 2. Richard lose all credibility and never make another game again.
"A disgruntled customer with 500 Facebook friends is like a loaded gun" -Anonymous
I will continue to visit sites like this and if I choose to communicate like an "angry teenager" then that's my choice. I will also discourage every gamer I encounter on any forum/site or in RL from investing in SOTA and there is nothing you have to say about it. If you want to know how someone like me can get to this point, go look in the fucking mirror.
BTW, what's your problem? What's YOUR name on the SOTA forums? Too much of a pussy to come out? Oh right, you don't have the balls to own up to your own messaging.
You're a coward and a hypocrite.
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Joviex
Strong in the Force
PERMABANNED
Posts: 123
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Post by Joviex on Mar 15, 2015 18:39:36 GMT
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.
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Post by Sicherdraht on Mar 15, 2015 18:42:57 GMT
OP/Concerned Guest. The Anti-Fan site is hardly a novel concept. Rest your concerns, relax and go take a stress pill.
This forum can only gain momentum as the SotA hype shop losses it.
The only thing that will undermine SotA is the complete lack of talent, money & time. Richard is too much of an institution with many other interests.
The shape of things with the game development could change over night, but I won't keep my fingers crossed.
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Post by Concerned on Mar 15, 2015 18:46:04 GMT
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.
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Post by Raistlin Majere on Mar 15, 2015 19:02:56 GMT
The goal is and always will be the same, to generate drama and attention. Nothing healthy occurs within these walls. The broken ones are not interested in fixing anything, only destroying that which others dare to have hope in. Only fighting using whatever paranoid and delusional logic can be shouted over the reality that actually exists. They were not always this way, twisted, bitter, and juxtaposed with rational thought, but their choices led them here - to the abyss.
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Post by Envy Gaming on Mar 15, 2015 19:17:27 GMT
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.
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Post by Housewife Brittish on Mar 15, 2015 19:46:18 GMT
What I am is disappointed that RG and his main staff turned out to be unintelligent, unproductive trolls of the gaming industry. I am in no way mad, angry, pissed but one thing I am is being interested in providing the facts since the developers want to abuse innocent people, talk shit and spread lies about their fake legacy. It doesn't hurt that I get a rise out of the casual fanboys of the world on the way. I want to know how low of an IQ you need to come here complaining about people using alternative names when you are posting here under an alternative name yourself?
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Post by Housewife Brittish on Mar 15, 2015 20:08:02 GMT
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.
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Post by grimgryphon on Mar 15, 2015 20:20:52 GMT
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. They seem to be busy over there and it's also hard to talk with your mouth full. I really wish they would at least wipe Richard, Starr, and Chris' jizz off their chins when they are here. It's dripping onto the carpet and making a mess.
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Post by Concerned on Mar 15, 2015 20:35:00 GMT
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. They seem to be busy over there and it's also hard to talk with your mouth full. I really wish they would at least wipe Richard, Starr, and Chris' jizz off their chins when they are here. It's dripping onto the carpet and making a mess. 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.
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Post by Housewife Brittish on Mar 15, 2015 21:04:22 GMT
There is nothing like the SotA forums, where the majority of posts with an opposing view get deleted, even when they are legitimate opinions and aren't offensive. Nothing like posting on the SotA steam community board where the developers authorize the deletion of negative reviews to boost their score. Never mind the overwhelming crowd of casual gamers that know nothing about gaming but claim they are always right, trying hard to one up everyone, sooooo good.
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Post by Concerned on Mar 15, 2015 21:31:53 GMT
There is nothing like the SotA forums, where the majority of posts with an opposing view get deleted, even when they are legitimate opinions and aren't offensive. Nothing like posting on the SotA steam community board where the developers authorize the deletion of negative reviews to boost their score. Never mind the overwhelming crowd of casual gamers that know nothing about gaming but claim they are always right, trying hard to one up everyone, sooooo good. 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.
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Post by Membrane_on_Vacation on Mar 15, 2015 22:25:00 GMT
I was borne out of the ill moderation practices of the SotA forum "volunteers." Moderating opposing views, in some cases, reported too frequently by the larger number of people who are not willing to apply a little critical thought to anything or anyone. I started there, and I will be honest I have gotten into a few things which I didn't see when I started my moderator muckraking. I will concede I don't really have any long term goals or plans, and yes OP I have lost some focus to be sure. What happens though when people are silenced about a subject they actually care quite a bit about, is that they need some place to vent. Here it is. For everyone no matter who, and yeah fanboys can come over here too and do what they wish(within western values and human rights of course). If the SotA forum was even slightly inclusive to those with opposing views, this forum, my blog, and myself wouldn't even exist. Nor would the need for everyone who posts here, to come and post here. If you guys have ideas or want me to talk about something, just let me know, you can find a way to reach me publicly or privately I am sure. Don't be silent
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Post by Concerned on Mar 15, 2015 22:58:58 GMT
I was borne out of the ill moderation practices of the SotA forum "volunteers." Moderating opposing views, in some cases, reported too frequently by the larger number of people who are not willing to apply a little critical thought to anything or anyone. I started there, and I will be honest I have gotten into a few things which I didn't see when I started my moderator muckraking. I will concede I don't really have any long term goals or plans, and yes OP I have lost some focus to be sure. What happens though when people are silenced about a subject they actually care quite a bit about, is that they need some place to vent. Here it is. For everyone no matter who, and yeah fanboys can come over here too and do what they wish(within western values and human rights of course). If the SotA forum was even slightly inclusive to those with opposing views, this forum, my blog, and myself wouldn't even exist. Nor would the need for everyone who posts here, to come and post here. If you guys have ideas or want me to talk about something, just let me know, you can find a way to reach me publicly or privately I am sure. Don't be silent 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.
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Post by Membrane_on_Vacation on Mar 15, 2015 23:20:39 GMT
I have a decent copy of that thread, I'll upload her soon. It is pretty funny that they can't handle simple things like releasing information and having the community chat about it in a meaningful way. That is what made me laugh so much about Starr's "ecosystem." It is almost like they want that to happen to simply say, we gave you all a chance you fucked it up now we're doing it our way. It is too easy for them to do. Totally Chris' fault this time, I mean his post basically read: "we're too busy not working, we're going to go to a music festival, so here is a post from me on PvP, not a lot of info, go talk about it" I think that is why some people come here and rage profanity, but do agree if that is all that is being done it doesn't do much other than to serve as an outlet for venting. Still, I'm happy for people to vent, everyone needs to do it from time to time
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Post by Concerned on Mar 15, 2015 23:31:20 GMT
I have a decent copy of that thread, I'll upload her soon. It is pretty funny that they can't handle simple things like releasing information and having the community chat about it in a meaningful way. That is what made me laugh so much about Starr's "ecosystem." It is almost like they want that to happen to simply say, we gave you all a chance you fucked it up now we're doing it our way. It is too easy for them to do. Totally Chris' fault this time, I mean his post basically read: "we're too busy not working, we're going to go to a music festival, so here is a post from me on PvP, not a lot of info, go talk about it" I think that is why some people come here and rage profanity, but do agree if that is all that is being done it doesn't do much other than to serve as an outlet for venting. Still, I'm happy for people to vent, everyone needs to do it from time to time 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.
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Post by Sicherdraht on Mar 16, 2015 0:11:38 GMT
I have a decent copy of that thread, I'll upload her soon. It is pretty funny that they can't handle simple things like releasing information and having the community chat about it in a meaningful way. That is what made me laugh so much about Starr's "ecosystem." It is almost like they want that to happen to simply say, we gave you all a chance you fucked it up now we're doing it our way. It is too easy for them to do. Totally Chris' fault this time, I mean his post basically read: "we're too busy not working, we're going to go to a music festival, so here is a post from me on PvP, not a lot of info, go talk about it" I think that is why some people come here and rage profanity, but do agree if that is all that is being done it doesn't do much other than to serve as an outlet for venting. Still, I'm happy for people to vent, everyone needs to do it from time to time 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. Lollie was moderated and banned it seems, at least some good became of that thread. She walked into that topic being rude as hell from the start. As for balqueroque, overwritten literary trainwreck is a writing style. He has been walking in the PvP minefield for a long time.
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Post by Concerned on Mar 16, 2015 0:24:14 GMT
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. Lollie was moderated and banned it seems, at least some good became of that thread. She walked into that topic being rude as hell from the start. As for balqueroque, overwritten literary trainwreck is a writing style. He has been walking in the PvP minefield for a long time. Blaqueroque feigns the victim card trying to get the mods to infract others, he is a mine in that minefield.
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Post by kb on Mar 16, 2015 1:16:17 GMT
All I will add to this is that I am not posting behind an anonymous name, but that's only because I haven't been permabanned (I've normally kept most of my rants to the devs limited to direct PMs to them).
Also, if you look at my post history both here and on SotA's forums, you will see that I'm not just whining pointlessly, though I do embrace the profane. Oh... and you don't like profanity? Well FUCK YOU then and grow a pair, FFS!
Your lack of appreciation for blue language aside, I've had just about enough of the moderators and their prudish nervous nellie act whenever anybody so much as hinted at swearing, so now it feels like a cathartic release to finally be able to speak freely and be who I am. If who I am comes across as a whiney, angry teenager to you, then that's your problem.
I've done what I can to put time, care, and thought into the things I post. They are wall of text trainwrecks, but I have a consistent history of making suggestions and offering starkly honest feed-back (which, time after time, the devs ignore with predictably bad consequences), and I didn't really sour to them until they repeatedly emphasized short-term monetary gains over the long-term good of the overall community, as well as ignoring the legit concerns that many of us voiced about bullshit reviews, nickel-and-diming us about bank slots, and a general douche-baggery that has reached a level rarely encountered in all of humanity's history....
Finally, as others have pointed out, if you're going to point fingers at people for posting shit here under pseudonyms, feel free to register here and drop that "Concerned -- Guest" moniker post haste....
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Post by Sicherdraht on Mar 16, 2015 1:40:47 GMT
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.
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Post by Gunga_Din on Mar 16, 2015 5:36:33 GMT
My goal is entertainment !! and this site provides that for me. I think we are past the point of no return in helping SotA. I don't see them scraping the horrible card combat, fixing the boring crafting etc etc.
I sold my knight acct months ago, only have a basic $70 pledge because I got some friends to back the game. (I apologize to them).
If anything, I believe this forum can bring awareness to risks of Kickstarter games. Forget about SotA for a minute, but did Underworld Ascension or Crowfall really do well yet? Both really didn't raise much funding.
I think these forums are a great release for most and .. to be honest... a good source of information.
Its nice to speak freely for once and not worry about being banned.
Oh, and are we hurting the game? I doubt it, this isn't a high traffic forum, plus SotA devs have done enough damage to the game themselves.
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Post by Gunga_Din on Mar 16, 2015 5:52:25 GMT
What I am seeing on this website is a bunch of people who still post on the main forums who are basically undermining the game hoping for it to fail. Insane Membrane has lost his focus and seems petty now. The rest who hide behind different names thinking they are the elite of the world. What is the goal? It sounds currently like a bunch of angry kids who didn't get their way, if that's not what you are then you need to show more. Angry rants full of swear words and name calling sound childish, I'm assuming you are older ultima fans? Do you see a problem here? You could have used this forum to bring up things that they don't want to let out, like fire lotus and her ability to bend the rules to appease her banning. I know you have a thread on her, but once again it looks like angry teenagers wrote it. Come on, use this for doing something! 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.
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Post by grimgryphon on Mar 16, 2015 22:05:57 GMT
They seem to be busy over there and it's also hard to talk with your mouth full. I really wish they would at least wipe Richard, Starr, and Chris' jizz off their chins when they are here. It's dripping onto the carpet and making a mess. 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 do, which is why I'm perma-banned, you fucking moron. Still a coward and a pussy, I see. Still hiding behind your guest status. Hypocrite.
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Post by Concerned on Mar 17, 2015 0:28:11 GMT
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 do, which is why I'm perma-banned, you fucking moron. Still a coward and a pussy, I see. Still hiding behind your guest status. Hypocrite. 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.
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Post by grimgryphon on Mar 17, 2015 1:52:00 GMT
I do, which is why I'm perma-banned, you fucking moron. Still a coward and a pussy, I see. Still hiding behind your guest status. Hypocrite. 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. Lots of big talk from a pussy still hiding behind a guest account. Coward.
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Post by linus on Mar 17, 2015 2:36:06 GMT
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.
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Post by fossil on May 1, 2015 18:05:18 GMT
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. Bingo! Well put and said, As I don't care for the slamming of others either. Which I see here but at least I'm free to read people thoughts and express myself how I feel.
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Post by grimgryphon on May 1, 2015 18:25:32 GMT
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.
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Post by Gunga_Din on May 2, 2015 1:05:28 GMT
I've given up my friends. I see no reason to waste anymore finger energy in regards to SotA.
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