Feedback for Curse-Gaming?

Mutant_Mike · 03-27-2007 02:08 PM

Biggest issue - I can't access the site from work... Probably because of the word 'Gaming' in the title.

Test Subject 42 - lvl 50 Sp/DA Scrapper
Oku No Te - lvl 50 MA/SR Scrapper
Borg Master - lvl 24 Bots/traps MM
Pinnacle

Nyghtfyre - lvl 50 DM/SR Scrapper
Champion

Soul Train · 03-27-2007 11:29 PM

My concerns are pretty much the 'outsourcing' flavor of the situation.

Mind you, I worked for three years as a Quality Assurance manager for a company that was outsourcing their tech support *shudder* which mean I got to be the one to tell the top brass how well (or how badly, goodness how BADLY!!) the outsourced companies were performing. And... it all came back to dollar signs, no matter how many complaints we got from customers, no matter how many 'zero-tolerance' issues and below-service-level calls we documented.

So the whole THOUGHT of shuffling something off to another company, no matter how well-intentioned, is bilious to me. It reeks of cost-cutting and bean-counting.

If you want it to be fan-driven, then allow the FANS to drive it. Right now, Curse-Gaming is just getting started, but as has been stated, their focus is more on WoW and DAoC. So us fans have no real idea that they're up and running. What the fans have been asking for is an NCSoft 'Fan Area' where we can really showcase our passion for this and other NCsoft titles.

It's really hard to be passionate about something when the folks who run the game aren't interested in your passion, or don't seem to be. This is nothing against Curse Gaming, I'm sure they're passionate about gaming (after all, they started a company centered around it!) But so far they don't seem to be passionate about CoH, much.

Now, in contrast, we have DA. DA isn't passionate about gaming, but the folks there ARE passionate about fan-art. It doesn't matter what kind of art you like, you can find it.

I could submit three pieces I've had done in the past month, of the same character, in three separate styles. Anime, traditional comic cover art, and photomanipulation. Plus endless paintings, sketches, 3D renders... you name it. Plus there's all the blog features, journals, watch lists, groups, etc etc etc. And with the way the CoX fan-art community has embraced this site... it really is a place where if I want to show something off OR go looking to see what's new, my friends and I will be able to share it.

Should Curse.com become a game-oriented DA? No. I think you have great ideas for what you want your site to become. And... I might upload a couple of pieces... maybe.

I just didn't get any warm fuzzy feelings about the original announcement, and I still get the impression that NCSoft doesn't really want to support fanart directly... which is a shame.

"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."

Rowrsie · 03-28-2007 06:27 AM

Really, I'm sure there's any of a dozen people that would HAPPILY volunteer to work and manage the 'fan art' section of the COH pages. FOR FREE!! I know I would! Of course I understand that's probably not even possible and all the legal ramifcations and all that... but LH? Perhaps you can pass that on to the higher ups? Just need someone with a bit of web-saavy, a little knowledge of code, a good appreciation of fan art and a good contact person for the community.

What? Okay yes I know I was just pimping myself there but I know just about anyone here who would be willing to do this would totally jump on it.

But yeah. It does have that 'outsourced' feel. I know from previous board admins the thoughts even having 'official' forums isn't well liked, rather just have 'Affliate' fan-sites and let other people admin them, and just post there from time to time with dev and community type posts. It kinda stinks because it decentralizes the community, no one knows 'where' to go exactly to find something.

If I was totally new and had no knowledge, and wanted to see fan art, my first step would be the Official coh.com site. I wouldn't even give C-G a secondary glance really, since it's not an 'official' site, just an affiliate.

But that's just my thoughts.

And that's why we went to DA. It's well organized, and we can generate our own 'community' feel there. Kinda grass-rootsy, but there it is. I don't get that 'sense' over on C-G.

And if there is no sense of community, that area will not survive very well. I've seen it happen so many times.

Crimson_Jimson · 03-28-2007 07:57 AM

From an Artist's(be I so bold to take that title for myself) viewpoint, self admitted Html idiot, and random visitor here's me 2 bits.

From your Mainpage my 1st impressions are: Hrmm. This seems more of a Gamers place than an Artists haven. The orange text really stands out from the grey/slate background. Works well for the Main page. The "Logo" and the ad seem to be conflicting. The logo is being forced under the Ad, covering up the image of the new blue WOW race, guy, thing but more importantly covering up the News&Articles link and the Image Galleries Link. Even tho I adjusted my screen size from 1024x768 to 1280x1024, I can't click on the "image gallery" link at all without nav-clicking to another page and rerouting to the "Image Gallery" or Hitting refresh and clicking the link before it is covered up.

Ok, "Image Gallery". Ok. Same problem with the Logo covering up navigation links. I like the categorization of the images. Wondering why there is an "Upload Image" border area with nothin to click on(do I need to be logged in?) The latest entries seem... a little excessive. 2 rows of 5 would be fine, but 4 is alot to take in. And if you have them categorized at the top why not categorize them in the latest section as well? ie: 2 rows of 5 for Latest "Screenshot", Latest "Fannart", Latest "Concept Art" etc... I could do without the "Latest Comments" area. If you really do build up a large community, that will be filled with "Nice", "thanks", "Great one", "Awesomes", etc... Where I believe you were going for more of a Journal type entry? or even a Forum type entry?

The image presentation. The Click-then-Image-in-Window thing is cool. I like the Navigation bars staying on the left. The Html Cut'n'paste texts are nice. Now, why is there a smaller thumbnailed image below the main image? It's clickable, but then sends you right back to the same image page. The comments section seems fine, I would like to see avatar icons though as they add alot to an individuals personality.

The individual Artist's page... is very lacking. There's a reason why Myspace/DA are popular and it is due in large part to one's ability to personalize their page and in doing so make it "theirs." Another major missing component from the page is... that user's Artwork/Images. If I didn't just navigate to the artist's page from the image itself, I couldn't tell if that person even had art/images to show.

I understand your not trying to replace DA or Flickr, but as your site is now, I'm hard pressed to use it as another "face" for my art with it's lack of features.

Greymist · 03-28-2007 06:52 PM

Hello LH,

First I would like to thanks you for at least trying to do something for this part of the community.

Unfortunatly while the intention is probably good it does not come acroos (at least to me ) as anything more than a half hearthed attempt to plug the new buddy of the compagny while at the same time placating the art community.

My impression of Curse gaming in this is irrelevant because it would be tainted by the sour taste that this has left in my mouth. I am sure they are quite good and that they are willing to make an effort to please this community. I have not hard feeling towards them and wish them well but...

But each of us has found an unofficial place or another to store our pictures. Some are using photobucket other DA and yet other have their own site. What none of these offer, what many said they wanted in one form or another when you asked what we would like to see here, is what curse cannot offer.

I would like an offical CoX fan art support. An official gallery, contests etc...

Did you ever notice how while many artists use DA (for example) they will take the time and post a link here. Not only of the finished product but of WIPs? How other will comment on those often in BOTH place? How the collectors will posts link to their new aquisitions HERE? They could simply limit themselves to posting on DA. Did you ever ask yourself why these poeples take the time to do that?

Simply put THESE boards with all their limitations are what is closest to an official gallery we will get.

This is why I am so disapointed in your answer. It did feel like you (NCSoft and/or cryptic not you personnaly) could not be bothered with this part of the community and just asked us to go bother someone else.

All this is strange to me since this feels ( to me) like the part of the community that could give you the most exposure. Comics are ART! your game is based on Comic!

I will ackowledge that you have started to make effort in that sens too: Arctic Sun's post requesting art and more recently the comic book contest. But even that later one was a disapointement to me. When I saw the title I was hoping for an actuall comic book contest. maybe with one category being a screenshot comic. But unfortunatly you do not seem ready to take a chance with the immence pool of artistic talent around.

Sorry I think I have slipped into ranting so I will stop here. Please however understand that the frustration comes from a love of this community and of the game.

Proud Member Of the Paragons of Justice
Kidraid, Golden Guard, War Emblem, Eridani, Greymist, BabyTank and more many more.

My Gallery (There I am KidRaid since Greymist was already taken)