Anyone here...

[Heiro]

<DIV>really think that our "testing" is worthwhile?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Post count has diminished, yet issues are still plentiful.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Or is it that most people have decided that it doesnt matter, as any feedback or questions or suggestions we might have will fall on deaf ears?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just wondering if we should bother posting  any issues anymore.</DIV>

[Sacha]

<DIV>I think you are one very disillusioned player right now Heiro. I wish I could give you some hope that things will get better, and people will start listening to us again. However, as I am a miserable pessimist myself, I can't  :smileytongue::smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Seriously though, I believe that we *are* listened to on some occasions. Certainly our new QA are doing everything they can to be visible and helpful and responsive. I've been talking to them ingame some, and they are taking note of all we say, and coming back with answers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Once the guys get settled, and get a feel for the server, its playerbase, and where we put our information, things will pick up. At the moment their heads are probably spinning. They have the In Testing feedback, (which is anything but), they have this forum, they have just been introduced to Test Registry, and we are bombarding them ingame. Thats a lot of information to take in, and I think we need to give them a chance. I just hope they stay this time. I hope that this job isnt seen as the crap job that no-one wants, and everyone hopes to move out of asap, as I feel we would benefit from some longevity of service.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Finally, I think for a server with a (UK) primetime count of 13-18 people the last three days we are not doing too badly in terms of staffing <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV><p>Message Edited by Sacha on <span class=date_text>10-10-2005</span> <span class=time_text>07:57 AM</span>

[Edowen]

<DIV>There probably are several things going on.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As Sacha says, there has been a changing of the guard at SoE.  That was complicated by DoF beta and the focus that SoE put on that.  It was not pleasant for us but it probably made sense for SoE to concentrate on one place as it worked out the combat revamp and the new content.  Nate left SoE before or around that time, and Palladius got promoted but that meant working on a different game.  Palladius did have Feldman under his wing for a few weeks as someone to be a temporary replacement while a permanent replacement was found.  Now Igram and Ronobi are assigned to Test.  They both seem very much concerned to listen to us, acknowledge our efforts, and get things done.  I don't think we could ask for anything more.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The other thing that has been happening is not directly connected with SoE QA.  Some people have left the game (not just Test) and the population of experienced testers had diminished.  There are fewer people posting here in part because there are fewer people with access here who are actively playing.  I have my theories about why this is true but they are only theories and not all of them have to do with the game's direction or the amount of attention that we have been getting or not.  Yes some people were disillusioned by the combat revamp.  At the same time, the new school year started and I bet that ate some people too.  Who knows?  (I bet SoE marketing desparately wants to, heh.)  It is also true that any game experiences attrition as some players get bored or no longer have time.  The question is whether new players take their places.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The main thing I think is to work with Igram and Ronobi and see how things develop going forward.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Edowen</DIV>

[Kadurm]

<P>I for one am glad for us to finally have some adult supervision to listen to all of our woes and whines. Im not going to blast them from the get go with alot of back issues until they have a chance to settle in and see that we are dedicated and concerned about our little world here on test. We have a duty as testers to remain open minded and more of a mature outlook than the production servers, but I can see where Heiro is coming from. After so much ignoring and almost blatant disreguard for your testers, how can we expect to react to changes and continuing issues.</P> <P>But as a dedicated tester, I plan on letting our new QAs (Ingram and Ronobi) otherwise known and "gluttons for punishment" get good and set with their new home (least I hope they see it as a home and not a prison) before I start driving them batty with my Inquisitive ways and wonders.</P> <P>Who knows..after a while dealing with us..they might actually like the nickname of wankerdoodles *grin*</P><p>Message Edited by Kadurm on <span class=date_text>10-10-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:39 PM</span>

[Kwoung]

<P>As I have mentioned in a few different places, I chatted with quite a few SOE folks at the Community Summit and one point that stood out, was that all /bug and /feedback from Test go directly into each devs email each morning now. They did mention however, that hardly anyone on test is actually sending any in any more.</P> <P>I think if we make the effort to use these channels once again, we can get things rolling.</P> <p>Message Edited by Kwoung on <span class=date_text>10-10-2005</span> <span class=time_text>02:58 PM</span>

[goboy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kwoung wrote:<BR> <P>As I have mentioned in a few different places, I chatted with quite a few SOE folks at the Community Summit and one point that stood out, was that all /bug and /feedback from Test go directly into each devs email each morning now. They did mention however, that hardly anyone on test is actually sending any in any more.</P> <P>I think if we make the effort to use these channels once again, we can get things rolling.</P> <P>Message Edited by Kwoung on <SPAN class=date_text>10-10-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>02:58 PM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Part of that is probably due to the lack of 2-way communication.  I still bug, but somedays it makes you wonder if it is even worth the bother.  Take the intelligence to damage problem when you level - I still have not heard if this is by design or if it is bugged.  It gets frustrating.</P> <P> </P>

[Kwoung]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> goboy wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>Part of that is probably due to the lack of 2-way communication.  I still bug, but somedays it makes you wonder if it is even worth the bother.  Take the intelligence to damage problem when you level - I still have not heard if this is by design or if it is bugged.  It gets frustrating.</BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>True, but we do now have 2 QA assigned to the server again who seem to be pretty active, which helps. Also,the rollout of DoF had their focus almost 100% on the beta server, which is no longer dragging their attention away. I am hoping if we get things rolling again we will see some positive response.. maybe not in the way of direct communication, but I generally notice the answers to my postings, issues, input show up in the patch notes a bit after I bring them up here on the forums. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[goboy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kwoung wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> goboy wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>Part of that is probably due to the lack of 2-way communication.  I still bug, but somedays it makes you wonder if it is even worth the bother.  Take the intelligence to damage problem when you level - I still have not heard if this is by design or if it is bugged.  It gets frustrating.</BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR></P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>True, but we do now have 2 QA assigned to the server again who seem to be pretty active, which helps. Also,the rollout of DoF had their focus almost 100% on the beta server, which is no longer dragging their attention away. I am hoping if we get things rolling again we will see some positive response.. maybe not in the way of direct communication, but I generally notice the answers to my postings, issues, input show up in the patch notes a bit after I bring them up here on the forums. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Having active QA on the servers is a very positive thing.  Saying that, it would be nice to see QA and Developers take a more active role in this forum.  I do believe these threads get read, but what indication do we get?  </P> <P>QA discussions in game are nice, but only a small subset of the test population gets to see them.  Posts in this forum let all testers know what is going on. </P> <P> </P> <P><BR> </P>

[Igr]

<DIV>Hi folks, Igram here.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While I can't say that I'm so sure I'll ever be real responsive to your choice of nicknames Kadurm, I whole-heartedly agree about the importance of keeping an on hand contact between you, the testers, and development. This would be my primary responsibility- to get your ideas and issues into development's hands. Obviously, this process will only get smoother as I get to know all of you and vice versa.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In regards to the learning curve inherent with this position, I do appreciate your acknowledging it, but I wanted to stress that I'd rather be spammed with issues then see your test results go unnoticed- I may not be as responsive if I'm being bombarded while online, but you can rest assured that I am taking down every issue I am sent. Please also feel free to bug me about any issues you've discussed with Feldman that you feel may have been lost in the cracks. The bottom line here is keeping me busy is a good thing! While I can not guarantee that I'll always be online, the best time to try to contact me on the Test Server is Wednesday through Sunday, 10am-6:30pm PST.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I did want to apologize about the lack of communication on the forums as of late- I am currently the only member of my team with the proper access, an issue that should be remedied in the next week or so.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Kwoung]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Igram wrote:<BR> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I did want to apologize about the lack of communication on the forums as of late- I am currently the only member of my team with the proper access, an issue that should be remedied in the next week or so.</DIV> <DIV> <HR> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Well now that Blackguard is back from vacation, you can bug him for access. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Please mention the growing list stickied at the top of the forum as well that have not been granted access yet either. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR></P>

[Sacha]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kadurm wrote:<BR> <P>Who knows..after a while dealing with us..they might actually like the nickname of wankerdoodles *grin*</P> <P>Message Edited by Kadurm on <SPAN class=date_text>10-10-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>12:39 PM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>I can't believe that didn't get filtered. Here in the UK the first half of that word is very <EM>very</EM> rude :p</DIV>

[Heiro]

<DIV>Anything from Cimee is rude <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  you should know that by now.</DIV>

[Kaknya]

 heh,.. i didn't even think of it in that context until you mentioned it,.. oh well.. ignorant american here.. <div></div>

[EtoilePirate]

<span><blockquote><hr>Sacha wrote: <blockquote> <hr> Kadurm wrote: <div></div> <div></div> <p>Who knows..after a while dealing with us..they might actually like the nickname of wankerdoodles *grin*</p> <p>Message Edited by Kadurm on <span class="date_text">10-10-2005</span> <span class="time_text">12:39 PM</span> </p><hr> </blockquote> <div>I can't believe that didn't get filtered. Here in the UK the first half of that word is very <em>very</em> rude :p</div><hr></blockquote> Yes, but as I've seen more than once, Faarbot thinks in American.  When I've wanted to be rude on this forum, I've channeled my British friends.  <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>