Doctorwhofan wrote on Feb 4
th, 2010 at 12:11pm:
Isn't that casual mode? I have no problem with the casual mode. I have not done an epic yet so I cannot tell you about that.
Personally, I want more quests. I understand setting dev time to address the f2P casual person. That's ok. But they should never forget about the players who have been here, done that, have the T- shirt.
I see them trying to complete PrEs. Heck, the cleric doesn't even have them yet!
It's less that they are losing perceptive, and more of losing focus. Splitting time to cover everyone's concerns equals mediocore product. Focusing each update on one idea would make it a better product. For example, working on all the PrEs for casters and arcane spells could have been the focus ofUpdate 3. Yeah, we would complain about no new content...but I would bet that it would be nothing would be broken.
In lieu of this current issues with Update 3, perhaps they forgot a little problem of the bug reports NOT reaching the QA's desk. I wonder if it actually got fixed. 404 doesn't hang out on the forums so I wonder if he saw all the little issues. Just a theory.
It looks like the Art Department's glory is now tarnished and will be remembered as the Update people would ask why they are playing on Lam. if nothing was fixed.
hmm... I was going to post something in these forums on this topic as well, since it wouldn't last long on the DDO forums. My take is that we'll know by around May (2-3 updates) if the games is dead for serious players. The main problem is most of your points is that they ALL require significant amounts of development time, and more importantly, creativity which you can't buy cheap.
Epic difficulty is a no brainer, basically it only requires a basic understanding of the game coding and some modest understanding of the game play. Cheap and relatively easy. Unless they make more changes than, increased hitpoints, saves, and invunerablities, I doubt the interest in running epic will last more than 6 months. Especially when a lot of the epic items aren't all that interesting. I don't think there will be a change in how quests are converted to epic.
New graphic textures also a no brainer, no creativity required, no real skill required. This will be done more in future updates
Improving game mechanics, or modifying game mechanics, GUI, playability. also no creativity no real skill required. this will also be done more in future updates.
making the game more soloable, no brains, no skill, no creativity. Already done, will continue in future updates.
More store development, sorry to repeat myself, but no brains needed here either. lots more to come.
New quests that are short, simple and derrivative. This requires only a little brain power, even the inspired series 1 and 2 are mostly redressed versions of Kobald assault and the sunken sewer... I believe we'll get some more of these and the higher level ones will have modestly interesting named items that will require repeated grinding of easy content for your cookie...
New quests and raids that are interesting like Amrath.... Don't hold your breath. That stuff was expensive to be sure. Lots of dev time, graphics work, etc... It would really rock the vets world, however, making "ice games" is obviously a lot easier. there could be something really interesting in the works, I think the next few updates will tell the tale.
I for one find the risia ice games insulting. You can't even go fuck around on it without having to grind the fucking tokens...
How's that for cynical...