Whenever a blog goes silent it is usually due to one of two reasons: A) the person is too busy and B) they just lost interest. Luckily for me it is the former and not the latter.
Indeed I am now just working on Dungeon Runners. We’ve needed it for a long time, and we got it – another community person! She’s working on Lineage I and Exteel communities and she’s doing a fantastic job. Around the same time I joined Dungeon Runners full time CuppaJo also joined Dungeon Runners as our Associate Producer. We used to work together on the COH and I was curious to know if the boards were talking about it. Indeed they were, and I got a huge kick out of it:
COH forum thread
I'd post a reply in that thead, but ya know, my account actually isn't active and I wouldn't dare post as 'Cricket' under any other account. Since that particular account was work related (not my personal play account) account support put a block on it after I left COH. But that's okay. It's more of a security thing and I completely understand. It ain't like I'm gonna go back in there and wreck the place up. Oh lord. That thought it so absurd I just can't help but find that funny.
I also was humored by the notion that many think CuppaJo and I must have some kind of gaming curse....the games we moved to didn’t do so well so eventually we just landed on DR. The success (or lack of, whatever the case may be) actually has nothing to do with it.
I actually left COH for a one main reason - the dev team (which was Cryptic at the time) were out in California while I’m in Texas. Working remotely with the dev team, marketing, and the producers wasn't easy. Now up to that point that was always the case, but it always did make more sense to have the community team out in California. So finally it happened. They were generous enough to make me a relocating offer but I declined. Mostly it was because I'm terrified of California's cost of living. Oh, and the governor happens to be the Terminator. THE TERMINATOR. That movie scared me when I was little.
When that relocation offer happened another community spot opened up here when someone left to go work elsewhere. Whew. So I took that. And my titles were - hold on to your hats -
Auto Assault (closed a few months later)
Lineage I
Exteel (was in beta)
Dungeon Runners (was in beta)
I won't lie. It was hard. I couldn't be everywhere at once. I actually had the same issue on COH after CuppaJo left but before Lighthouse got on board. One person can only stretch themselves so much.
Finally the day came when we could hire another community person to take over Lineage I and Exteel. That’s when I went to (stayed, technically) with Dungeon Runners. I had to pick a game, and I decided to go with the game that had the development team in house. I’ve never really worked with a dev team closely before so I couldn’t say no to that opportunity. Then I heard CuppaJo accepted an AP position for Dungeon Runners, leaving her Tabula Rasa Associate Producer position. I was pretty damn happy about that. She accepted the position because we needed a producer BAD after our previous one left. It simply was a matter of filling a need and we knew she'd fit right in. And yes, I knew she’d actually like the job :) CuppaJo is one smart cookie; she wouldn't accept a job unless she has a good feeling about it. She also wants to go where she is needed the most. She’s a good sport, that Cuppa.
I can personally say I don't think I bailed out of any sinking ship. Exteel is actually doing very well. Lineage I is also holding on strong like a rock. (Why that surprises some people I don't know.) I don't think I cursed either one of those games, whew! Auto Assault closed months before, which, coincidentally enough - happened the same week when I was out of the office due to a rather personal (life changing) experience. It was rotten luck, and thank goodness we had good people around, good people who were a part of Auto Assault long before I was. I certainly felt bad that I couldn't be around for it and I have no doubt that from the outside it probably looked rather inconsiderate of me. But, that goes along with the job. Community Managers can't always worry about very single outward appearance unless or we'd all burn out real fast. I still think of Auto Assault and I even still have some Auto Assault stuff I’ve been holding on to. I don’t have the money to ship it out, but I hope I can give it to some die hard Auto Assault fans one day.
I was a little surprised by the "old mods vs new mods" turn the thread took. I know, I know, I shouldn't be. I just haven't been on the COH boards in awhile. I completely forgot about one COH forums characteristic trait - loyalty. Whether it is for a certain red name, in-game character, etc. COH players have always proven themselves to be quite dedicated to their beliefs. It goes with the spirit of the game. And damnit, it makes me want to play COH again. It’s too bad I got my hands full as it is. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it was my 2nd MMO but my first MMO love. Awww.
Now I'm not just being all super nice here when I say the current COH forum team (mods and community managers alike) are a pretty solid team. The structure improved, and I think CuppaJo and I are both glad to see that happen. Now I'm not saying CuppaJo and I are chopped liver. I'm proud of what we both did and I think we ROCKED every situation we faced.
When it comes to personalities, yes, both the current crew and the old crews both have plenty of that going around. Now with what you prefer, hmmm, that all just boils down to personal preference. I think all of our personalities work. Now with me, it took me awhile to find my style – my voice, so to speak. I’m much more casual now and I’m generally a little quirky. I’m not ashamed of admitting when I’m wrong and I’m a big advocate of speaking plainly. My confidence – and my sense of humor – has grown. And when it comes to writing in general I just think that simplicity is the way to go. I know I’m not the best writer in the world, but I try to write with a certain amount of feeling involved. That may not work for everyone, but I think it suits me.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
NCcoin and Game Time Cards
Some of you may have heard of NCcoin - it's our brand new* company-based micropayment transaction system. Micropayment systems certainly aren't new to gaming, and the truth is we were long overdue for something like this. But it doesn't mean it WILL be used for every game. I think that's an easy assumption to make, but I don't think it is an accurate one. I'd be truly surprised if that ever happens. Regardless, I won't say never. I just think that's highly unlikely.
But I do know what it does mean...at least one more game will *eventually* accept NCcoin. It could be a game that's already out there or it could be a game that hasn't been released yet. It may be a combination of the two. We shall see.
There's a lot of flexibility here with NCcoin - not just for us, but for our customers. You can buy as much or as little as you want. Flat fees are very simple, very clear cut, but they don't consider how much game time you may actually use that month.
Several have expressed their concerns over NCcoin ...if people can buy their way out of actually 'gaming' you run the risk of souring the whole 'work hard for what you want' experience. I think City of Heroes players in particular were worried about that (despite the fact I haven't heard a thing about COH accepting NCcoin). Either way, no matter what the game may be it HAS to be carefully balanced in order for it to work.
Right now you can only use NCcoin to buy items in Exteel, but what if you could purchase time with it in other games? Think of it as a parking meter...you don't need that parking spot for a whole month, so you just pay for the time you actually do use.
It may or may not work. I honestly don't know. Assuming you have the same amount of customers as before it could possibly bring in LESS revenue. It also could be abused by botters, social engineers, and other bad boys and girls who should know better. But on the other hand, the business model may attract additional players who may not have otherwise bothered to play at all.
Speaking of time, as of today you can use game time cards to purchase NCcoin:
Exteel Announcement
NCcoins expire a year after their purchase date, but that's a good thing. You don't ever have to worry about spending it all right away. You can if you want, but there is no pressure.
*'New' was when we launched Exteel (months ago)
But I do know what it does mean...at least one more game will *eventually* accept NCcoin. It could be a game that's already out there or it could be a game that hasn't been released yet. It may be a combination of the two. We shall see.
There's a lot of flexibility here with NCcoin - not just for us, but for our customers. You can buy as much or as little as you want. Flat fees are very simple, very clear cut, but they don't consider how much game time you may actually use that month.
Several have expressed their concerns over NCcoin ...if people can buy their way out of actually 'gaming' you run the risk of souring the whole 'work hard for what you want' experience. I think City of Heroes players in particular were worried about that (despite the fact I haven't heard a thing about COH accepting NCcoin). Either way, no matter what the game may be it HAS to be carefully balanced in order for it to work.
Right now you can only use NCcoin to buy items in Exteel, but what if you could purchase time with it in other games? Think of it as a parking meter...you don't need that parking spot for a whole month, so you just pay for the time you actually do use.
It may or may not work. I honestly don't know. Assuming you have the same amount of customers as before it could possibly bring in LESS revenue. It also could be abused by botters, social engineers, and other bad boys and girls who should know better. But on the other hand, the business model may attract additional players who may not have otherwise bothered to play at all.
Speaking of time, as of today you can use game time cards to purchase NCcoin:
Exteel Announcement
NCcoins expire a year after their purchase date, but that's a good thing. You don't ever have to worry about spending it all right away. You can if you want, but there is no pressure.
*'New' was when we launched Exteel (months ago)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Horrific Domain of Legends
I just wanted to give a shout out to the Horrific Domain of Legends - it is a wonderful Dungeon Runners fansite from Europe.
They made this cool video that accurately captures our playing style:
Dungeon Runners video
Sweet. Thanks guys!
One thing that is hard to capture (on video or otherwise) is our kooky sense of humor. The best way to experience that is to just get in the game and see it for yourself.
And if you don't find anything funny in the first 10 minutes of gameplay I want to hear from YOU.
They made this cool video that accurately captures our playing style:
Dungeon Runners video
Sweet. Thanks guys!
One thing that is hard to capture (on video or otherwise) is our kooky sense of humor. The best way to experience that is to just get in the game and see it for yourself.
And if you don't find anything funny in the first 10 minutes of gameplay I want to hear from YOU.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
When gamers bail
Community Managers often deal with a variety of "I'm leaving the game" comments, but there are two kinds I see the most:
The first type is the most common one, the ones that are said out of frustration and/or anger. Generally they are triggered by a patch note or some sort of game announcement that they don't particularly like. Sometimes they change their mind and stay, but not always. Sometimes they end up liking the change and others just decide it wasn't so bad after all. There are even situations where a change seems bad in theory yet somehow works well in practice. We also have situations where the devs may go back and rework it further. After all, not everything is done right the first time around, right?
These comments can sometimes be viewed as threats - or tactics to force us to re-think our actions - but I don't like to make those assumptions. If someone says they are leaving the game I'm going to take their word for it. In no situation will I try to convince someone to do something they don't want to do. Sorry, I do love my players, and I do hope people want to stay with the game, but if someone has decided it is the best thing for them then who am I to come along and tell them otherwise? It certainly isn't because I enjoy seeing them go. I especially dislike it in situations where someone is upset. I don't like it when people make decisions when they are not feeling like themselves at the time. But I will always tell them that I wish them the best and that I do hope they decide to come back, if they feel up to it. And I do mean that.
I understand how frustrating it can be to know a change is coming and you feel powerless to it. When a group of people decide to change a game they do run the risk of changing the fun factor for at least someone out there. Obviously the goal is to IMPROVE the fun factor, but fun means different things to us all. In some situations the fun may still even be there, it's just a different type of fun. But I've played enough games in my day to know exactly what it feels to love a game that is no longer what it used to be. There have been games I've left, characters I've abandoned. Yes, those situations do happen. But that's okay too...to each their own. I'm one of those "there is something out there for everyone" believers.
Now to the second reason someone would say they are leaving a game. Again, it is just one of the many reasons, but it is a common reason.
Sometimes we gotta leave a game because life is giving us a swift kick in the you-know-what. Sometimes we just need to get our priorities straight, we no longer have the time, etc. When someone is in a situation where they have the SAME exact routine for a long period of time SOMETHING usually is going to have to change. I totally get it, and again, sometimes people are surprised when I express how supportive I am. I hope they aren't surprised or disappointed by my reaction. I am NOT happy to see them go, but I am happy that they are doing what they think is the best thing for them. And I always want to let them know that they are welcome to come back whenever they feel it is time, if it is ever the right time.
Real life always needs to have priority over everything else. It's the truth. We are human beings first, gamers second. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
The first type is the most common one, the ones that are said out of frustration and/or anger. Generally they are triggered by a patch note or some sort of game announcement that they don't particularly like. Sometimes they change their mind and stay, but not always. Sometimes they end up liking the change and others just decide it wasn't so bad after all. There are even situations where a change seems bad in theory yet somehow works well in practice. We also have situations where the devs may go back and rework it further. After all, not everything is done right the first time around, right?
These comments can sometimes be viewed as threats - or tactics to force us to re-think our actions - but I don't like to make those assumptions. If someone says they are leaving the game I'm going to take their word for it. In no situation will I try to convince someone to do something they don't want to do. Sorry, I do love my players, and I do hope people want to stay with the game, but if someone has decided it is the best thing for them then who am I to come along and tell them otherwise? It certainly isn't because I enjoy seeing them go. I especially dislike it in situations where someone is upset. I don't like it when people make decisions when they are not feeling like themselves at the time. But I will always tell them that I wish them the best and that I do hope they decide to come back, if they feel up to it. And I do mean that.
I understand how frustrating it can be to know a change is coming and you feel powerless to it. When a group of people decide to change a game they do run the risk of changing the fun factor for at least someone out there. Obviously the goal is to IMPROVE the fun factor, but fun means different things to us all. In some situations the fun may still even be there, it's just a different type of fun. But I've played enough games in my day to know exactly what it feels to love a game that is no longer what it used to be. There have been games I've left, characters I've abandoned. Yes, those situations do happen. But that's okay too...to each their own. I'm one of those "there is something out there for everyone" believers.
Now to the second reason someone would say they are leaving a game. Again, it is just one of the many reasons, but it is a common reason.
Sometimes we gotta leave a game because life is giving us a swift kick in the you-know-what. Sometimes we just need to get our priorities straight, we no longer have the time, etc. When someone is in a situation where they have the SAME exact routine for a long period of time SOMETHING usually is going to have to change. I totally get it, and again, sometimes people are surprised when I express how supportive I am. I hope they aren't surprised or disappointed by my reaction. I am NOT happy to see them go, but I am happy that they are doing what they think is the best thing for them. And I always want to let them know that they are welcome to come back whenever they feel it is time, if it is ever the right time.
Real life always needs to have priority over everything else. It's the truth. We are human beings first, gamers second. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Lunchie Munchies
I'm doing what I normally do around this time - eating at my desk.
Speaking of food, we're lucky to have vending machines in the building (food and soda) where everything is only a quarter. Sometimes we don't have much time to eat and I dislike companies who try to take advantage of that by making some extra cash on the side. I once worked for a company that charged 1.25 for a single candy bar...but a) that roughly *8* years ago, so subtract inflation and b) we *all* made next to nothing. Here we pay for things at cost and I very much appreciate that. Now if you are trying to watch what you eat and you see donuts AND cupcakes for 25 cents each, well, I guess it can be an evil thing too. I'll NEVER take some things for granted, whether it be 25 cent snacks or something more important as say...health insurance.
The Best Video Game Review Show *Ever*
I don't know if anyone remembers this show, but it was called Judgment Day.** I believe it was mostly on when G4 and Tech TV were independent from one another. When the channels merged it did stay on, but my joy was short lived. It's been off the air for roughly two years now.
Or so I thought.
I'm a *big* fan of wikipedia, and I was wondering what good ole' Tommy and Lucas were up to these days. Alas - the show is still around!
It's now called "Reviews On the Run" and it is only shown in Canada. There have at least been some *talks* of bringing it back to the US market, so there is hope:
"Specific details about the negotiations have not been disclosed. As of December 2007, the show has not returned to U.S. airwaves."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reviews_on_the_Run
G4, please bring this show back to the US. I got nothing against Canada - in fact I like the country, and I personally don't want this jealously to get in the way of my feelings for Canada. Please don't let this tear two nations apart....
So why do I consider Judgment Day to be the best video game review TV show ever? (I say that like it's a big market to begin with, heh.)
It's simple. They wrote their own reviews. They didn't sound overly scripted and you can tell they actually played the game themselves. They are true gamers so they were rather passionate about their views. I have nothing against game industry folks who may not necessarily enjoy video games in their spare time (and yes, they do exist) but you can generally sniff them out. You can also tell that they have a lot of experience reviewing games on any platform, which is a big bonus. Many in the industry focus on console games ONLY despite the fact that PC online gaming is still huge. Their knowledge is simply well rounded.
And whether they like a game or hate it, you'll at least you know why. They did a good job explaining why a game may be frustrating to some (invisible walls do suck sometimes!) They also listed the pros and cons so you could get a feel as to whether YOU may personally like the game, even if they didn't. Naturally, every reviewer out there is going to have their own personal tastes. But they did seem to keep the general viewing audience in mind, and I liked that neutrality. So what's the bottom line when it comes to creating a game review: INFORMATION. And they supplied that.
They also made me laugh, and they truly seemed to enjoy themselves. And quite frankly, it was nice to see several reviews in a single show. I'm always trying to keep up with what's going on in the gaming industry and Judgment Day just made that process a little bit easier.
You know what I also learned from wikipedia?
"Lost cast member Evangeline Lilly's first job in television was as a "Hardware Girl" for Reviews on the Run."
That would be "Kate" from Lost. Ha. I never knew she was a hardware babe, which was their version of booth babes.
No matter what it's called, "Judgment Day" or "Reviews on the Run" or whatever, BRING IT BACK!!
PS: I'm jealous, Canada.
*shakes fist*
**This has nothing to do with the fact that Lucas gave CoH some really amazing reviews. I swear. Cough cough.
Speaking of food, we're lucky to have vending machines in the building (food and soda) where everything is only a quarter. Sometimes we don't have much time to eat and I dislike companies who try to take advantage of that by making some extra cash on the side. I once worked for a company that charged 1.25 for a single candy bar...but a) that roughly *8* years ago, so subtract inflation and b) we *all* made next to nothing. Here we pay for things at cost and I very much appreciate that. Now if you are trying to watch what you eat and you see donuts AND cupcakes for 25 cents each, well, I guess it can be an evil thing too. I'll NEVER take some things for granted, whether it be 25 cent snacks or something more important as say...health insurance.
The Best Video Game Review Show *Ever*
I don't know if anyone remembers this show, but it was called Judgment Day.** I believe it was mostly on when G4 and Tech TV were independent from one another. When the channels merged it did stay on, but my joy was short lived. It's been off the air for roughly two years now.
Or so I thought.
I'm a *big* fan of wikipedia, and I was wondering what good ole' Tommy and Lucas were up to these days. Alas - the show is still around!
It's now called "Reviews On the Run" and it is only shown in Canada. There have at least been some *talks* of bringing it back to the US market, so there is hope:
"Specific details about the negotiations have not been disclosed. As of December 2007, the show has not returned to U.S. airwaves."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reviews_on_the_Run
G4, please bring this show back to the US. I got nothing against Canada - in fact I like the country, and I personally don't want this jealously to get in the way of my feelings for Canada. Please don't let this tear two nations apart....
So why do I consider Judgment Day to be the best video game review TV show ever? (I say that like it's a big market to begin with, heh.)
It's simple. They wrote their own reviews. They didn't sound overly scripted and you can tell they actually played the game themselves. They are true gamers so they were rather passionate about their views. I have nothing against game industry folks who may not necessarily enjoy video games in their spare time (and yes, they do exist) but you can generally sniff them out. You can also tell that they have a lot of experience reviewing games on any platform, which is a big bonus. Many in the industry focus on console games ONLY despite the fact that PC online gaming is still huge. Their knowledge is simply well rounded.
And whether they like a game or hate it, you'll at least you know why. They did a good job explaining why a game may be frustrating to some (invisible walls do suck sometimes!) They also listed the pros and cons so you could get a feel as to whether YOU may personally like the game, even if they didn't. Naturally, every reviewer out there is going to have their own personal tastes. But they did seem to keep the general viewing audience in mind, and I liked that neutrality. So what's the bottom line when it comes to creating a game review: INFORMATION. And they supplied that.
They also made me laugh, and they truly seemed to enjoy themselves. And quite frankly, it was nice to see several reviews in a single show. I'm always trying to keep up with what's going on in the gaming industry and Judgment Day just made that process a little bit easier.
You know what I also learned from wikipedia?
"Lost cast member Evangeline Lilly's first job in television was as a "Hardware Girl" for Reviews on the Run."
That would be "Kate" from Lost. Ha. I never knew she was a hardware babe, which was their version of booth babes.
No matter what it's called, "Judgment Day" or "Reviews on the Run" or whatever, BRING IT BACK!!
PS: I'm jealous, Canada.
*shakes fist*
**This has nothing to do with the fact that Lucas gave CoH some really amazing reviews. I swear. Cough cough.
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