mistformsquirrel

Hey hey hey... no fair <;_;> You said no more borders...


(It looks good! <^,~> RAWR! <. .> *watches Scarfgirl all creepylike* *gets smacked <X_X>* ouch <;_;&gt

<. .> Win!

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And now the Issues are getting smaller and even less frequent? Issue-7 was a lame duck that should come out of Crytic's pockets, not ours. Boasting an increase in subscription numbers while shrinking the Development team down to a skeleton crew while still charging the same price is unnacceptable. I think I've seen enough... I'm tired of getting screwed. This game's potential has finally decreased the the point that it fails to balance the monthly cost and time investment.

I'll be back when/if they ever come around and accept their share of the burden.

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Skeleton crew? Guys, let's not jump to conclusion here. First, Cryptic Studios hasn't layed anyone off. A quick glance shows we're hiring! Second, NCSoft announced cutbacks, but the announcement didn't specify where people were taken off. Remember, NCSoft is a leading MMORPG publisher. They have LOTS of stuff on the burners...Most of which never see the light of day.

A quick look at our release schedules show that only the first issue was released within two months. The second issue was 79 days later (as noted in this thread). Issue 3 then followed 110 days later, Issue 4 120 days, etc. We started trending more towards 3/year within a few Issues...mostly because we started learning about the production & QA cycle.

Bottom line: CoH remains a success in NCSoft's portfolio. They're continuing to financially support the product for a long time to come...Cryptic Studios loves the game. It's our baby. The game isn't going anywhere!

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3 a year is good with me. I'd like more obviously (who wouldn't?) But if they stay big >.> and can be gotten back on schedule (1 every 4 months at 3 a year), I think we'll be fine frankly.

Would Cryptic, at some point in the future, consider multiple small updates instead of big issues? Like say 6 small issues a year instead of 3 big ones?

3 is fine, but as someone had mentioned earlier in the thread, even on schedule that can feel a twinge slow >.> Merely a thought, good to have inside info!

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Daikatana... *snirks*

Romero will make you his [censored!]

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>.>;; Rowr is teh debil <;_;> <,<

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Nothing really important or profound here.

In just one general and broad question, how or why or when did you start doing art (of any medium)?

I'd like to see how some artists got to where they are today.

Thanks for your time.

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I am an ideas guy. One way to share my ideas, or simply lock them down in a format that keeps them fresh in my memory, is to draw. Writing is another. Computers make both so much more accessable.

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KABLAM! >_<

This is a good half of the reason I draw. I have ideas *constantly* - be they for stories, characters, weaponry, random goofy technology, magic... all sorts of things.

The other half of it is because I'm a very visual person... I didn't learn that until much later, but I realize that's why I started. I've been drawing in some form or other since I was 5 <X_X> though I took a massive break at one point (about 4 years) because I was too depressed. Drawing however, got me through highschool - and without it, I may never have made it.

Its just good to be able to *see* what I'm thinking >_< Part of why I like writing too <,< I get to put my brain on paper.

Oh; and I have a huge ego. And when I can share my monumental briliance with the world, it gets fed alot more easily than when I run down the street screaming "I'M A FREAKING GENIUS!"

Seriously. >.>

I had no choice <T_T> I am truely sorry...

Meet Hami-Bubbles <O_O>

<. .> Fear for your soul.

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yup...no-dachi...or in your words..."a rather long katana" ~

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Yah basically <@_@> A no-dachi is essentially the Japanese equivelant of a Greatsword, just as a Katana is the Longsword and Wakizashi is Short.

(Granted - the techniques and styles employed with them all make them well... totally different - but that's the best explanation I can give)

<@_@> No-dachi = big katana (aka daikatana, which is literally "big sword" <o.O&gt

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<O_<> ZOMG! CJ IS A TSOO! <O.O>

... Actually until right now this very minute, I had no idea Hmong was a real ethnicity <~_~>; I thought they made it up so as not to offend anyone with the concept of the Tsoo <T_T>;

Well... now I feel embarassed <~_~>;

Great work as always CJ <@_@> Sorry its been so long since I been around hehe <@o@> *poke*!

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HAHAHA! Good to see ya back Squirrel, you did get this right?

-Cj

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ZOMG! <O.O> No I didn't see that!! >_< Holy cow that's adorable man!! <^_^> THANK YOU SO MUCH! >_<!!!!

*dances around and squees! <@o@>*

Ooo <@.@> Hems has a nice No-Dachi! <o.o> spiffily!

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Ok I'll shuddup now: I wouldn't *bother* to make posts of this sort if it hadn't been a problem more than once. Likely I haven't made a bit of difference, but it's my nature to try anyway!


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You'd have likely make more of an impression in a thread that was actually having notable "ZOMG!" problems. Lecturing in several posts about constructive criticism in a thread where constructive criticism is very well represented (but whose topic is NOT constructive criticism) seems odd. Just my take on things.

The bumps were nice, though.

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True I guess; but it felt like it was definitely headed in that direction <X_X>;

Cides, I'm weird like that >.>

*puts on sunglasses, a bowler hat, and jumps atop an enormous record player*

"I like DB's butt and I cannot lie~ you otha postas can't deny~"

*gets hit with a shoe from the audience*

*gets trampled*

<X_X> OK OK OK I'll never do it again <;_;>


(Sorry DB <T_T> <;.;> Don't hurt mew!!)

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S'awright.

I believe anyone that starts a serious post with "ZOMG" should be sterlised for the good of humanity.

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Those were exactly the people I was targetting Foo <;_;>

Why do people never understand what I am saying?! <T.T> Am I typing with cottonballs on my paws or something?! <;.;>

Maybe mew is just stupid <_ _>; *cry*

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In all seriousness - I never ever intend to give the impression I'm against feedback. Hardly. People seem to forget the feedback I've delivered myself over the years - its been there, on a great many subjects.

All I ask is for some base-level congeniality. Ya know... Treat the devs as people who make mistakes, as opposed to slaves for you to whip because you haven't gotten your way.

That's all >.<

The easy Dos and Do Nots of feedback posting:

DO Explain the Issue

DO Offer a Solution

DO Refrain from being an [censored]

DO Agree to disagree with people.

DO Accept that you have an influence, but that so does everyone else - your opinion will not always triumph.

DON'T Call the developers and/or other posters names.

DON'T Question their competence. Its unnecessary, because obviously if there's a problem, they're probably already thinking about it. Telling them they suck at math doesn't make them better at math; and no matter how nicely you phrase it, telling someone they suck at math is still insulting.

DON'T Shove a trout up your nose. Seriously, just don't do it.


If people could stay relatively close to that - we'd get plenty of quality feedback, sans stupidity. I have no illusion that there's not a problem. Using the topic this thread is based on as an example - (as well as re-voicing my own opinion on that subject)

I'm pretty annoyed at the update schedule myself.

3-4 months was great way back when - I7 and I8 have been far far too slow, and certainly something needs to be done. As others have suggested, smaller, more numerous updates, would probably be ideal.

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I could go into alot further detail, but I already explained my opinion some posts back in full <,<

See? Express displeasure with given situation - explain possible solution - refrain from being an [censored]. <@_@> EASY! If someone disagrees with me - I may debate them on it, but I'm not going to call them names, question their sanity (unless its UncleBob or certain of my fellow LoC members), or ask if they're a 34 year old man living in their mom's basement.

Ok I'll shuddup now: I wouldn't *bother* to make posts of this sort if it hadn't been a problem more than once. Likely I haven't made a bit of difference, but it's my nature to try anyway!

I would just like to say <O.O>!


It's really cool <^o^>

It's massively different to say "This mechanic is horribly broken" and "The devs are stupid for making this horribly broken mechanic".

Sure, you could claim the first implies the second - but you could also chock the first up to the devs making a mistake (because ya know... they're human and all; and no amount of dev-side testing can get all the possible kinks we players can cause out of the system either).

So while the truth may hit close to home, its different than just being insulted to your face - which alot of people do intentionally when its not necessary <x.x>;

Sorry, but its bugged me for a long long time and if people ever want respect instead of being called "whiners" - they have to act respectable and not whine in the first place.

I know it can be annoying for someone to be called a 'whiner' - but I'll be damned if it isn't just as annoying to be called a 'fanboi' just because you happen to agree with a given policy.

The labeling just has to go <x.x> it helps nothing!

I'll shuddup for awhile now; I'm tired!

Ooo I likey <O_O> Good work WP! <^O^> Didn't know you drew!

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Yumii.


I did Harvest Moon.

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Thanks Derek hehe <^o^>! RAWR!

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Whining is not worth the time it takes to read - constructive criticism can influence the game immensely and in the right ways. EB change for AVs for instance, auto-Exemping, RSF changes, various AT buffs (Claws, Defense sets, *maybe* blaster secondaries - wait and see on that one)

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Of course, there have been numerous posts relating to all of these valid critisims in which the authors were called whiners or something similar, regardless of how well they worded their posts. There is a trend on these boards to call anyone who says anything negative about the game and/or the devs a whiner. It's like some sort of strange forum defense mechanism.

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Yeah I understand - and I don't particularly like that attitude either mind you. However, its one thing to complain about the game (in a logical manner) - and quite another to aim at the devs. Calling the devs names/calling them out - not right, not good.

What does calling Statesman or Positron a loser accomplish? Except to make them skip what very well may be an otherwise good post. I see it too often - someone who ends up making an issue personal when it shouldn't be.

Saying something negative about the game - done right, is fine. Saying something negative about the devs isn't right, because you've got no reason to ever bring it up outside of pure personal animosity, something that doesn't help.

I think that's why people do lambast even legitimate complaints very quickly - because there is *so* much just flat out whining "OMG ED SUX" "POSITRON IS STUPID" etc... etc...

Heck, even well-made posts like Arcanaville's are often tinged with "If they devs had any idea how to do math..." etc...

That kind of personal crap isn't good, it doesn't help, and again, at best it just prevents them from reading an otherwise informative post.

Say the same thing with less vitriol on the other hand, and you'll get noticed.

Also - as I may have said; people won't always agree with you. That includes "even if you really are correct." So you've got to accept that if you make a comment - Good or Bad - you'll find at least one person disliking it; and have to be willing to accept it.

(Example: My Mecha EAT in my sig - I had pages and pages of people saying "This is a great idea!" and 5 or 6 people specifically poking holes in it. Sometimes it was helpful, sometimes not - but to put an idea out, no matter how popular, you've got to be willing to accept someone is going to disagree with it.)

Also, this is a license to disagree with other people, regardless of their ideas; including developers. What it is also however, is a statement "Keep it focused on the issues - quit with the personal attacks."

I've been guilty of it myself more than once, but one of the things that REALLY makes it hard on these forums is people getting personal. "Can you read?!" "Nice reading comprehension" "Ur spellin sux!" go in the same category as "FANBOI!" and "You've got brown on your nose."

Etc... None of that is necessary to debate a given issue.

Of course its different when you're just having a thread for fun - but when it comes to game issues - stick to the issues.

That's really all I'm asking. Don't speculate on what the devs were smoking when they put in Feature Y. Don't blame "Stupid anime people" for costume parts you don't like. Don't blame PVPers for 'ruining your game'. Do explain why you don't like Feature Y. Do give your opinion of why a given costume piece doesn't 'fit' in your mind. You may be disagreed with, but at you are indeed allowed your say (as are they). Do explain why you dislike PVP - don't generalize the players that enjoy it as subhuman in the process however.

Really it goes for all arguements - but especially the way these forums get at times.

Hmm <@_@> I'll let you pick the style ok? <^o^>

Yumii! <@o@>

I went with her more ceremonial outfit >.> Damn I need me some samurai armor I tells you! <O.O> Another 6 months to go <-.-> stupid new account.

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***** UPDATE *****

CHIBI QUE *** CLOSED ***

Updated 02:20 PM 11/26/06

Chibi
1: Hexadecimal FINITO
2: TheGeCCo FINITO
3: DarkKerse FINITO
4: StaticThunder FINITO
5: DarkLilac FINITO
>: For Good Deeds Done.
6: DocBoy FINITO
7: BAS FINITO
8: DerekFayte FINITO
9: ElementalKnight
10: PDude
11: NightKnight
12: MistressVine
*** Extended +1 ***
13: DonnChad
_____________________________________________

Once again, My Apologies for the lateness of these. Just got over that cold/flu bug than got tricked into goin to the local "Hmong New Year."

Yes, The TSOO are Hmong in origin(I am too), but seriously if we could conjure up Shotgun Weilding Ancestor Spirits they never told me.

Food's pretty good, but yeh... I guess we all find our own cultures pretty bland.

Oh, I did Doodle up a Dark Lilac Chibi too, cause good deeds should be rewarded.

Gettin all X-massy,

-CJ

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<O_<> ZOMG! CJ IS A TSOO! <O.O>

... Actually until right now this very minute, I had no idea Hmong was a real ethnicity <~_~>; I thought they made it up so as not to offend anyone with the concept of the Tsoo <T_T>;

Well... now I feel embarassed <~_~>;

Great work as always CJ <@_@> Sorry its been so long since I been around hehe <@o@> *poke*!

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What I meant was would you get the contact for Faultline from one of your former contacts if you went to lvl 15 before I8 came out, or would you simply "miss out"?

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You just go to the contact and talk to them yourself. I don't think an old contact will give it to you, but you will get the contact if you go talk to him on your own.

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Correct <@_@>

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Of course it is! I am me, after all.

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O.o

That just adds to the 'ZOMGBBQLOLOLOLOLOLOL' factor.

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Mmm... bbq <O_O>

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Why is it that people come on these boards with legitimate complaints, and then a gaggle of posters call "whiner!".

Hey, stop using the boards for one of thier chief purposes!

I don't know if these guys realized this, but the devs have actually actioned issues which have been vetted on these boards. The halloween event is a recent example. Also of note is that the RSF is being lowered to level 53, and villains are going to get access to the hami raid.

Not all complaints are worthwhile, but at least make that case instead of the ad hominem attack of "Whiner!"

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Let me explain the difference between whining, and constructive criticism. Because honestly, you have to understand there's a world of difference between the two, and while the former is crap - the second is immensely useful. (For example, note the issues you've mentioned: How many of those had extremely good, well thought out posts? I can remember 2 seperate "RSF Is Borked" threads that were quite well informed for instance.)

Whining is just that - Someone who goes off on a rant about nothing, claiming people "owe" him something that they do not, acting as though they are the only priority the devs should have. That there is no other issue worth working on but their issue. That the devs *never* do anything right. Etc etc...

Anytime someone is making an arguement that either uses totally flawed logic, a lack of common sense, or an excuse for dev bashing; or arguing about something that we know *will not change* (I5/ED) long past the point of usefuli debate.

That is whining. Whining is annoying and unhelpful. Whining can be characterized by "The devs never do anything right" "The devs hate fun" "The devs are incompetent" etc...

Basically - any posts specifically aimed at people rather than issues.

Constructive criticism is something I value highly on the otherhand...

Constructive criticism consists of well thought out posts laying out the problem, the solutions available in your mind, the reasons you suggest these solutions, and why people may agree with you. You do *not* speculate on how stupid the developers are or how moronic a given system is - instead you present ideas on how to fix it, and what exactly is wrong with it. No personal attacks, no stupidity, no horrendously flawed logic.

Most importantly: You are willing to let others have their say in the matter; because the truth is *you may not always agree with people - and they have as much right to say what they want as you do*. The same is true of the devs - no matter how AMAZING your idea is - no matter how incredible game-improving it may be- the devs may not see it that way. Or it may be too hard. So you must also accept that regardless of what you want to happen - it only happens if the devs want it to.

That doesn't mean "shut up, you don't matter" that means "make your case, explain it as well as you can - and don't be pissy if you don't get what you want."

That's the difference

Whining is not worth the time it takes to read - constructive criticism can influence the game immensely and in the right ways. EB change for AVs for instance, auto-Exemping, RSF changes, various AT buffs (Claws, Defense sets, *maybe* blaster secondaries - wait and see on that one)

Etc...

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What I meant was would you get the contact for Faultline from one of your former contacts if you went to lvl 15 before I8 came out, or would you simply "miss out"?

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You just go to the contact and talk to them yourself. I don't think an old contact will give it to you, but you will get the contact if you go talk to him on your own.

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Correct <@_@>

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I have a question: if I got a character up to lvl 15 now and waited for I8 to come out, would i get the contact for Faultline?

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With all new zones, you just have to talk to the new contacts to get em <^_^> so yeah, you could easily.

I am tempted... >.>; I dunno, if I get time I may give this a shot - it's a neat idea Pillbug!

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In fact, I honestly can't remember a single game that came out when they first said it would hehe.


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Including CoH, which kinda makes me wonder what you are arguing about.

Fact is, and I don't think anyone can dispute it, the content update schedule for this game is horrendous. I come back once every few months to see if an update has come, see it hasn't and come back six months later, to which if I'm lucky there has been one.

I think many people here have hit the nail on the head, the inability to keep up said schedule draws a lot of the excitement out of the game making things get very stale, and that is on top of the ultra repetitive gameplay that gets quite stale on its own.

But I guess that was an easy oppurtunity to take a crack at Blizz....I've always wondered why so many on this forum feel the need to try and measure Cryptic up to them?

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Because a great many people come on the boards whining about how CoH isn't WoW? and people tend to compare CoH's success to WoW's and thus claim CoH is dying?

Then they turn a blind eye to Blizzards own enormous failures; not to mention ignoring that WoW had a huge primed and pumped fanbase ready to go out the door, while CoH really didn't? (If it had been based on Marvel or DC sure - but independent of that not really so much).

That's why people spend so much time blasting WoW and Blizzard - because CoX gets compared to it unfairly alot. What exactly where you expecting? The update schedule wasn't always like this... not defending the current status quo - but don't act like we've always had a schedule this slow.