Feature Requests

[thewood1]

I want to point out again that new people have a lot of resources available to them to make a smooth entrance to the forum...

tm.asp?m=3585262

That was posted as a plea by the devs. Yet people who have been on the forum for years still don't do something as simple as post a save. That plea is one of the reasons I changed my tone. Do you remember the guy who posted the other day on feature request? He claimed the forum is too difficult to find things in, even thought the thread he was looking for was pretty obvious right at the top. I bet he never even looked at the above thread.

[mercho]

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D] sorry mr. Wood. I will stop complaining about you. After reading your latest verbal effusions i just can't stop laughing about you... what a junk of overbearing crap...

[Gizzmoe]

ORIGINAL: thewood1
Then I saw Gizmoe come in and go crazy reporting stuff and I realized the devs were getting dragged down a bunch of rat holes. So instead of just pointing this out to people, I figured I'd take a more aggressive approach.

"A more aggressive approach" puts it very mildy. You tried to badmouth me pretty bad and posted some very judgemental stuff. You later explained to me via PM why you reacted that way. Yeah, two or so of my bug reports were idiotic in hindsight, but as I told you before, I didn't post them to stir things up. Peace!

[RoccoNZ]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

That's fine. Anyone can have an opinion. But I have watched what happens when I backed off. You got guys like this z-guy, "JP-I've never seen a bug I didn't like", etc. go crazy with sending the devs on wild goose chases. I never once saw any of you guys step in and suss things out. Then I saw Gizmoe come in and go crazy reporting stuff and I realized the devs were getting dragged down a bunch of rat holes. So instead of just pointing this out to people, I figured I'd take a more aggressive approach.

Look at these guys. They never contribute anything but pointing out things they think are wrong. At best they are 50/50. the worst of them rarely get one right. The devs have told them to knock it off. But they keep coming back for more. From not wanting to put up saves, embedding requests in obscure threads, not using available resources, or in some cases, feeling important by throwing up inaccurate bug reports.

As to new people, there is no issue with asking questions. But do a little homework first. It is posted all over the place how difficult this sim is to learn. There are threads on how to come up to speed and get the most out of the resources available.

You knuckleheads complaining about can cut me off by actually stepping in and helping out. This guy mercho loves complaining about me. Do something about it by helping out. Save the devs some time. But no, guys like him pop in just to complain about someone. I have no respect for people complaining about something without willing to do something to help out. He doesn't participate in threads, help confirm bugs, build scenarios, etc. Just pops in now and then to complain.

Where to start...

1. You want to help the debs. That's commendable. But that doesn't give you any sort of moral authority over people who just want to play the game. Helping the Devs isn't a requirement. It's a great way to contribute to the community, but that doesn't mean people who don't aren't meeting some sort of threshold.

2. You're getting offended on behalf of other people. Unless you work for the other people, then I'd suggest leaving the battle to them to fight.

3. New people turning up to this forum are here as equals. There is no rank here. They don't have to earn their place. Yes, people not reading notices etc isn't helpful. But as more than one person has said, this forum (Matrix) isn't user friendly, and there is a mass of information posted in many different places. To their credit the Devs have introduced a Q&A site, in part because of the difficulty for newer players to find information.

4. Similarly, newer people aren't particularly interested in whether or not they have your respect. Don't get offended if you don't think they've earned it.

5. I've found labelling people knuckleheads and abusing them isn't a great first impression to make if you do genuinely want people to respect you.

6. People will complain. Don't worry about it. They're not picking on you or otherwise trying to make you a victim. It's probably a consequence of how they feel you've treated them.

7. It's a game.

[comsubpac]

Guys, does this lead anywhere?

[jimcarravall]

ORIGINAL: comsubpac

Guys, does this lead anywhere?

Nope, unless the developers or moderators respond to the comments.

And, in fact, from a quality assurance perspective, criticizing individuals for posting in "the wrong place" or for "wasting developers' time" when providing feedback is counter productive.

If the developers want to remain economically viable by sales and reputation for support, they need feedback not only from individuals with a high level of understanding of how networked air / sea combats realistically operates, but also from those who aren't as familiar with the ins and outs of the simulation's focus and purpose.

The broader the market Command can be sold to, the better the product becomes as quirks and misfires are identified and resolved.

In software terms, it's called "spiral development" and so far the developers have excelled at implementing and controlling the parameters necessary to make it effective for all users, including those who offer no quality feedback other than to criticize those who feel free to offer it, even if not focused on the "latest and greatest" issues of the time.

[thewood1]

I think the devs have a pretty good handle on their financial feasibility. I don't think they need much advice from sideline bozoes like us. I have built, run, and sold tech companies. And I still don't consider myself qualified to even hint at trying to tell them their business model. Let's see your credentials for providing that advice. PM me and I'll get my linkedin profile to you and you can send me yours.

Go all the way back to the beginning after release and a lot of effort was put into telling people that this is not the game for them if they need to have their hand held to learn it or the basics of naval warfare. I believe the devs have other income sources and this is a labor of love. Time is the main currency from what I can see. People who pop in can't and help themselves or have some kind of OCD around finding bugs...a la Herman Hum, need not apply as far as I am concerned.

I would suggest anyone who doesn't understand my sensitivity, and I think the devs', to OCD bug hunters take a look at the history on warfaresims.com around DB2000. Maybe that will put some perspective around it. Frankly, this has been a pretty good community, but in the last six months, a small group of posters seem to have become obsessed with playing the game to find bugs, that mostly aren't real bugs. Usually the devs can drop a hint and it calms down. Lately, 3-4 just don't seem to take the less than subtle hint the devs have been dropping. I find the quotes if you want.

[mikmykWS]

ORIGINAL: comsubpac

Guys, does this lead anywhere?

Exactly[:)]

Thanks!

Mike

[mikmykWS]

Guys

Posting save games, good subject lines and coherent bug explanations really does help us solve problems and/or add features quicker which benefits everybody a whole lot more than the impact of an embarrassed poster. I do think you can minimize the risk of offending by being as congenial as possible but there are just cases where no matter how nice you say something it will embarrass the user. In the end though they are happy regardless if you fix their issue which we've been very good about doing. If you do have a better method which will achieve the same results (efficiency, fixed issue, happy customer) that will completely minimize the risk of an angry or annoyed user please step up and show us. While people clearly have an issue with how theWood does things he's getting good end results which is what's best for all.

No more posts trying to get thwood banned, yelled at or made to look stupid in front of other people. It isn't working and is fact making you look dopey. I would suggest trying to do what he does better.

Thanks!

Mike

[cuthbo2001]

Mike I would be really sorry to see more of these posts descending into a bun fight. It seems to me you have a combination of an ever increasingly more complicated game and a rise in the number of new people trying to get a grip of this great game. Yes a lot of the YouTube videos are fantastic and I would highly recommend them. However people do as they do , and there will always be questions that could have easily been answered by referring to previous posts or looking at the material available. I am mindful of that saying "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence". You floated the idea of having a group of helpers on the Forum to give advice. Perhaps that can be looked at again ,and some code of conduct drawn up with your expectations of what you would expect from "official" helpers.
all the best
Jim

[jimcarravall]

ORIGINAL: cuthbo2001

Mike I would be really sorry to see more of these posts descending into a bun fight. It seems to me you have a combination of an ever increasingly more complicated game and a rise in the number of new people trying to get a grip of this great game. Yes a lot of the YouTube videos are fantastic and I would highly recommend them. However people do as they do , and there will always be questions that could have easily been answered by referring to previous posts or looking at the material available. I am mindful of that saying "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence". You floated the idea of having a group of helpers on the Forum to give advice. Perhaps that can be looked at again ,and some code of conduct drawn up with your expectations of what you would expect from "official" helpers.
all the best
Jim

+1

[marc420]

WOW. Oh so typical for Matrix Games.

I was going to put forward a relatively simple suggestion that I think would improve the game. Not so much new code as a simple rearranging of a complex set of menu items and a dialog. It could be done by taking existing commands and just rearraging a dialog a bit. So, something that could be done relatively easy and cheaply, but which I thought would improve the game.

But, then I came here and saw the typical rudeness with which Matrix treats its poor customers. I read some poor dude getting blasted because he wants a way to open a dialog easier. Then I scrolled to the bottom and saw the usual "We hate our customers" rant from Matrix. This company seems to specialize in massively over-priced games with bad manuals. Then, when someone comes to the forums searching for information or with an idea, they are greeted by a rude assortment of jerks.

So, while I have a simple idea that could help this game a lot, I decided to keep it to myself and instead spend my time on my own programming.

I'd say 'have a nice day', but I'd be lying. You guys can go back to being rude and nasty to each other. I won't come back to read any of it.

[thewood1]

I have built an entirely better game than command, but to make a point, I will let any of you play it.

Is that what I just heard? Good grief.
quite the programmer. Maybe you can help HH build his perfect game.

[thewood1]

btw, that is exactly what these devs did. They felt unfairly treated certain parties. They stopped complaining and built a far better mousetrap than Harpoon.

So drop us a note when your new game that is better than Command comes out. And don't worry, I won't be sitting on the edge of my seat.

[mikmykWS]

ORIGINAL: cuthbo2001

Mike I would be really sorry to see more of these posts descending into a bun fight. It seems to me you have a combination of an ever increasingly more complicated game and a rise in the number of new people trying to get a grip of this great game. Yes a lot of the YouTube videos are fantastic and I would highly recommend them. However people do as they do , and there will always be questions that could have easily been answered by referring to previous posts or looking at the material available. I am mindful of that saying "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence". You floated the idea of having a group of helpers on the Forum to give advice. Perhaps that can be looked at again ,and some code of conduct drawn up with your expectations of what you would expect from "official" helpers.
all the best
Jim

Guess we're doing it wrong again.

Oh well.

Mike