Why is the MA Booster Pack such poor quality?
That's not precisely what BaB said. He said that booster packs don't go through the same testing period on the Training Room server before being released.
The Training Room is more of a production testing environment designed mainly to ferret out the less obvious bugs or hidden regressions and get player feedback. This has no reflection on their internal quality control or testing processes as all of that would be completed as per normal procedure prior to release to the Training Room test server. > |
If errors in the packs at initial release annoy The Pope so much i'd simply suggest waiting a few months after one comes out to get it, or skip it entirely. Since i'm confident that the Devs will address problems as soon as they're aware of them i'll continue getting them at release and use buggy pieces after they get fixed if they cause problems for me. 9.99 isn't even two diner lunches where i live, so it's not a big investment.
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I will keep buying them as soon as they offer them. Now, can it be made so I can use the warrior belt bare chested? ;P
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Which basically means that, yes, they do go through slightly less QC, but it's a necessity due to the nature of the packs.
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In my mind the Training Room test server is not something that fits into that model. The game developers have no way of controlling the testing that goes on in the Training Room even during closed beta. They can put out release notes, specify areas of priority, ask for feedback and data mine but they can't make the players follow a testing regimen or report bugs. While I appreciate the fact that more testing is always better than less testing the Training Room server represents an uncontrolled environment that in some cases provides second hand, possibly incomplete data. As such the testing done on the Training Room server can not be considered part of the quality control process.
>
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I hate to be rude but are you really that big of a cheap ***? Its only 10$.... What poor quality are you referring to? Ninja run is beautiful, the entire booster pack was probably the best one since the magic pack.
Friends don't let friends buy an ncsoft controlled project.
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As for the quality or unfinished weapon animations for Ninja Run, which would you be referring to?
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http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...24#post2431124
In summary: Claws/Pistols looked better when the jump animation was a cross-armed pose rather than the basic arms-up pose that normal jump uses.
In general, other posters agreed. I can't speak for all players, but from that thread:
In favor of changing Claws/Pistols back to cross-armed:
Dispari
gigas
Darkfaith
Street Wolf
Ninja Trail
In favor of changing Pistols but keeping Claws the same:
Bright Shadow
In favor of keeping both the same:
British Battler
Please consider it?
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Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.
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I hate to be rude but are you really that big of a cheap ***? Its only 10$.... What poor quality are you referring to? Ninja run is beautiful, the entire booster pack was probably the best one since the magic pack.
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the consumerscape(not speaking on the booster pack, just this opinion.)
If something is, to your mind, not worth the $value attached to it, it's not being "cheap"
to think so, and not want to pay for it. That's called having an appreciation that money
A) does not grow on trees.
B) has value.
And C) will not be handed to you by mommy and daddy all of your life.
"It's only $10, don't be so cheap even though you clearly don't find it worthwhile!" is
an incredibly frivolous and wasteful outlook, that really only leads to being taken
advantage of.
I guess it's a question of how you define quality control. I work as a software regression tester\deployment analyst for a financial services company. In my job quality control is something that can be defined and measured. Processes are set up to insure that every new software release is developed, tested and released in a predictable manner with a minimum of mistakes. Following these processes results in the release of a quality product.
In my mind the Training Room test server is not something that fits into that model. The game developers have no way of controlling the testing that goes on in the Training Room even during closed beta. They can put out release notes, specify areas of priority, ask for feedback and data mine but they can't make the players follow a testing regimen or report bugs. While I appreciate the fact that more testing is always better than less testing the Training Room server represents an uncontrolled environment that in some cases provides second hand, possibly incomplete data. As such the testing done on the Training Room server can not be considered part of the quality control process. |
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In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
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Its technically part of early or late-stage field testing (in MMOs and especially this one, closed beta is more mid-term field testing and open beta is more late-stage field testing). Any time field testing is used as part of the implementation testing process, there is a way to provide feedback to quality control. Its not technically a component of the quality control process, but its an input to it.
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Fair enough, the Training Room represents a powerful tool for data mining based solely on the sheer number of "testers". I suppose it's just a question of the consequences of missed bugs. In my line of work we can't really field test anything because field testing would require a production release and at that point we are literally messing with other people's money. In the case of CoX no one is going to file suit or revoke PCI compliance because the latest software revision caused some costume clipping issues.
>
"I am a Tank. I am your first choice, I am your last hope." -- Rune Bull
"Durability is the quintessential super-power. " -- Sailboat
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/mcboo/castle_saysphp2.jpg)
While I appreciate the fact that more testing is always better than less testing the Training Room server represents an uncontrolled environment that in some cases provides second hand, possibly incomplete data. As such the testing done on the Training Room server can not be considered part of the quality control process.
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The fact that it is a less controlled environment and that the game is being pounded on by players who don't know what to expect or how things are supposed to work provides much needed feedback and data to the development team.
I can tell you that Ninja Run was a real nightmare to get integrated into the game. It has to layer on top of pretty much everything and work in conjunction with every combat mode and every power. It required a ton of animations (115+), an insane amount of sequencer moves 1,800+), and a lot of restructuring to many of the other existing player moves.
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Why Blasters? Empathy Sucks.
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What the hell? Let's buff defenders.
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If this was a more regular video game (even a more common PC game), I would be annoyed with some of the issues. But for an MMO, eh, pretty par for the course. I'd be more annoyed if the issues continued for months and months, really... which isn't the case.
One of the great things about an MMO is that the game is getting updated all the time (CoX today doesn't play like it does at release, unlike something like Battlefield 1942, which pretty much has remained the same for years since its last patch). The shortcoming of that, of course, is new crops of bugs show up all the time. I'll deal with it as long as those things get fixed and the new stuff is good. The devs have delivered on that pretty darn well.
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I'm happy overall with the NR animations. The new changes for Claws and Pistols cemented the sets as usable with NR, and already looking forward to making a gunslinger come GR who uses NR. There is one small thing I think might fall under quality though, which I outlined in the patch notes here:
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...24#post2431124 In summary: Claws/Pistols looked better when the jump animation was a cross-armed pose rather than the basic arms-up pose that normal jump uses. In general, other posters agreed. I can't speak for all players, but from that thread: In favor of changing Claws/Pistols back to cross-armed: Dispari gigas Darkfaith Street Wolf Ninja Trail In favor of changing Pistols but keeping Claws the same: Bright Shadow In favor of keeping both the same: British Battler Please consider it? ![]() |
Personally, I'd prefer animations/poses that lessen the chances for clipping issues. Crossing arms in front looks cool, but not for every character model, nor for every costume. A compromise would be a random pose for every jump, but that might require more work, I suppose.
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Since you mentioned it again here, I'll respond here instead of in the other thread.
Personally, I'd prefer animations/poses that lessen the chances for clipping issues. Crossing arms in front looks cool, but not for every character model, nor for every costume. A compromise would be a random pose for every jump, but that might require more work, I suppose. |
My bolero girl there will clip in certain situations, but those sleeves clip with a lot of emotes, which is something I accept for cool sleeves.
![Stick Out Tongue](images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.
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Any word if Assault Rifle and Ninja Run will eventually get a modification? That's the only weapon set I currently see as goofy with this animation. If there was a means to keep the rifle in both hands during the run, jump and roll animations, I think it'd look the most natural... right now it just looks rather mutated.
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i make stuff...
Sexy J can't win. If he holds onto costume pieces until they meet his exceptionally high standards, everyone B*****s, moans, and whines that he isn't putting new costume pieces out fast enough. I can't count the times I've seen people say that clipping issues won't bother them, they just want "Moar stuff nao!"
Now as soon as he relents and gives us what we are constantly demanding for, people turn on him like a pack of rabid ankle-biting lap-dogs and complain about the trivial clipping issues. |
I'm happy overall with the NR animations. The new changes for Claws and Pistols cemented the sets as usable with NR, and already looking forward to making a gunslinger come GR who uses NR. There is one small thing I think might fall under quality though, which I outlined in the patch notes here:
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...24#post2431124 In summary: Claws/Pistols looked better when the jump animation was a cross-armed pose rather than the basic arms-up pose that normal jump uses. In general, other posters agreed. I can't speak for all players, but from that thread: In favor of changing Claws/Pistols back to cross-armed: Dispari gigas Darkfaith Street Wolf Ninja Trail In favor of changing Pistols but keeping Claws the same: Bright Shadow In favor of keeping both the same: British Battler Please consider it? ![]() |
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![Cool](images/smilies/cool.gif)
That's something we've already changed, it just hasn't made it into a build yet.
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![Cool](images/smilies/cool.gif)
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.
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It's this kind of attitude that leads to poor quality service being acceptable all across
the consumerscape(not speaking on the booster pack, just this opinion.) If something is, to your mind, not worth the $value attached to it, it's not being "cheap" to think so, and not want to pay for it. That's called having an appreciation that money A) does not grow on trees. B) has value. And C) will not be handed to you by mommy and daddy all of your life. "It's only $10, don't be so cheap even though you clearly don't find it worthwhile!" is an incredibly frivolous and wasteful outlook, that really only leads to being taken advantage of. |
For me I can accept being out the $10 in this case. Any place that I frequent regularly, this game for one, I do so for the overall quality and service of the products I am there for. If, out of all the times I visit, I get poor quality or service once or twice from something new I want to try at that place then I can accept that. I am not going to like everything they have.
Will I express my dissatisfaction? You bet I will. But I have enough respect for those places that I go to all the time to pull the manager aside and not air my dirty laundry in front of the entire establishment. If the issue were severe enough, I would then take my money elsewhere should the management not be able to resolve the problem.
For me, three years of fun beats one booster pack that I don't like and I wouldn't blink at not seeing that $10 again. Again, my opinion. I don't expect others to see things as I do.
FWIW, I am enjoying the heck out of this booster.
For fun;
A) True, it grows out of the ground. Well, about 75% of it does.
B) True, if it didn't then people wouldn't take it as payment for things.
C) Maybe, depends on the size of your inheritance.
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If you are treasure hunting on a battlefield wearing an enemy uniform, there is a high probability that you will be attacked.
This is an enjoy-the-ride game. "50" is only a number, not the goal of the game. - Noxilicious
It's this kind of attitude that leads to poor quality service being acceptable all across
the consumerscape(not speaking on the booster pack, just this opinion.) If something is, to your mind, not worth the $value attached to it, it's not being "cheap" to think so, and not want to pay for it. That's called having an appreciation that money A) does not grow on trees. B) has value. And C) will not be handed to you by mommy and daddy all of your life. |
Its still only 10$. Are you really going to go through all that trouble just to get 10$ back for a purchase you made in a video game? 10$ for most people is a hour or more of work or 1/3 the price of cutting some old ladies yard. Or as babs posted, less fast food for you. (which is a good thing in the end)
Friends don't let friends buy an ncsoft controlled project.
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Super Booster Pack content does go through a more involved testing from our internal QA department specifically because that content doesn't go through the same training room pipeline. We do what we can to catch what we can, and then react as quickly as we can to fix what we missed. I can tell you that Ninja Run was a real nightmare to get integrated into the game. It has to layer on top of pretty much everything and work in conjunction with every combat mode and every power. It required a ton of animations (115+), an insane amount of sequencer moves 1,800+), and a lot of restructuring to many of the other existing player moves.