Why don't the Devs speak with us anymore?

[Ice_Storm]

Do you remember the interaction they had with us when the game was still in beta being developed?

How the old ship boarding was actually unique but was removed because it was an MMO game?

How the developers listened to our feedback (besides fixing the lag), and made changes accordingly, occasionally often?

And why remove the old islands? Why not create a seperate area for named "Past Islands" or "What Once Was" that have all the old island layouts as empty fields or something? But see, this was changed because of player feedback complaining about lag (still bad anyway).

Why don't they communicate with us as much as during the beta where feedback was always welcomed and explained in technical terms most of the time, so we could form a better game for all?

They don't even do this kind of interaction anymore. Not even blog posts like this one:

Originally Posted by Pirates Online Crew

'The State of the Caribbean' Vince, Community Manager, Disney Online July 14th, 2009
For the past year, it's been all hands on deck for every member of the Pirates Online crew. Why? Well, we've been working to improve just about everything about Pirates Online ... the game, the Web site, customer service, and community interaction. And while lots of changes have been made recently, we've mainly been responding to feedback about how the game plays on your computer.

Towns like Port Royal got an Extreme Pirate Makeover as part of the improvement plan.

You told us in surveys that the game's performance wasn't as good as you thought it should be, so we immediately set the development team on fixing the foundation of the game before adding more stuff to it. For instance, we redesigned the major islands and made other graphics changes (like avatars) to improve players' game performance.

We also wanted to improve the early player experience and open the game up to lots more players. For that, we created better quest lines, added new Tutorial hints and improved the Ray of Light. And, since so many players were frustrated that they couldn't reach other islands without a teleport totem, we added Stowaway as a transportation option.

[MacIronhawk]

The less amount of information and contact we've gotten from the developers parallel with the amount of content we've been getting recently. I don't know what it is but we could guess that because of the tough situation with the economy, jobs may have been cut our hours may have been cut back.

[Ice_Storm]

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

The less amount of information and contact we've gotten from the developers parallel with the amount of content we've been getting recently. I don't know what it is but we could guess that because of the tough situation with the economy, jobs may have been cut our hours may have been cut back.

This statement only proves that it won't last as long as their other Panda 3D-made game, Toontown.

[Dark_Pixie]

When the game first came out, the developers were desperate to please their small amount of players. Players leaving in the early stages of the game could have been fatal to the game they were trying to develop. When Pixie Hollow was in beta, the same thing happened. Many polls to do with the game, asking what the players would like added.

Now that the community is bigger, we don't get asked that many questions anymore. Why? Because the developers have grown more confident with the game, and they have realised that they were really onto something. They do send Game Masters into the game to provide feedback - I remember earlier this year, a Game Master ran right across Abassa Tortuga (I was there looking for a ship), and nearly everyone followed them, right into Misty Mire. They asked subtle questions about what the players liked about the game, and anything that needed changing. They got all the feedback they needed, then left.

With the huge community that we have now, it's harder for the developers to make something that all the players want. Thousands of players want the Kraken, and thousands think it's a waste of time. Thousands of players want trading, thousands think it's going to all end in scamming. The developers are giving us ship customization now, and they've hit the nail on the head with this one, because I haven't really heard of any players saying that they would hate it if ship customization came out.

Disney is a worldwide company, and its main focus isn't online gaming. POTCO is extremely unlikely to become one of the most popular and advanced online games, up there with WoW. Considering all Disney has to handle, including four other online games, I think they're doing a pretty good job with POTCO - regular updates that we may not have asked for, but they're still popular, and bring more players to the game. That is what the developers are aiming for.

[Mia Lightning]

Originally Posted by Dark_Pixie

When the game first came out, the developers were desperate to please their small amount of players. Players leaving in the early stages of the game could have been fatal to the game they were trying to develop. When Pixie Hollow was in beta, the same thing happened. Many polls to do with the game, asking what the players would like added.

Now that the community is bigger, we don't get asked that many questions anymore. Why? Because the developers have grown more confident with the game, and they have realised that they were really onto something. They do send Game Masters into the game to provide feedback - I remember earlier this year, a Game Master ran right across Abassa Tortuga (I was there looking for a ship), and nearly everyone followed them, right into Misty Mire. They asked subtle questions about what the players liked about the game, and anything that needed changing. They got all the feedback they needed, then left.

With the huge community that we have now, it's harder for the developers to make something that all the players want. Thousands of players want the Kraken, and thousands think it's a waste of time. Thousands of players want trading, thousands think it's going to all end in scamming. The developers are giving us ship customization now, and they've hit the nail on the head with this one, because I haven't really heard of any players saying that they would hate it if ship customization came out.

Disney is a worldwide company, and its main focus isn't online gaming. POTCO is extremely unlikely to become one of the most popular and advanced online games, up there with WoW. Considering all Disney has to handle, including four other online games, I think they're doing a pretty good job with POTCO - regular updates that we may not have asked for, but they're still popular, and bring more players to the game. That is what the developers are aiming for.

Well said...

[Ice_Storm]

Originally Posted by Dark_Pixie

When the game first came out, the developers were desperate to please their small amount of players. Players leaving in the early stages of the game could have been fatal to the game they were trying to develop. When Pixie Hollow was in beta, the same thing happened. Many polls to do with the game, asking what the players would like added.

Now that the community is bigger, we don't get asked that many questions anymore. Why? Because the developers have grown more confident with the game, and they have realised that they were really onto something. They do send Game Masters into the game to provide feedback - I remember earlier this year, a Game Master ran right across Abassa Tortuga (I was there looking for a ship), and nearly everyone followed them, right into Misty Mire. They asked subtle questions about what the players liked about the game, and anything that needed changing. They got all the feedback they needed, then left.

With the huge community that we have now, it's harder for the developers to make something that all the players want. Thousands of players want the Kraken, and thousands think it's a waste of time. Thousands of players want trading, thousands think it's going to all end in scamming. The developers are giving us ship customization now, and they've hit the nail on the head with this one, because I haven't really heard of any players saying that they would hate it if ship customization came out.

Disney is a worldwide company, and its main focus isn't online gaming. POTCO is extremely unlikely to become one of the most popular and advanced online games, up there with WoW. Considering all Disney has to handle, including four other online games, I think they're doing a pretty good job with POTCO - regular updates that we may not have asked for, but they're still popular, and bring more players to the game. That is what the developers are aiming for.

1) There's a department for each online game they run. POTCO team has nothing to do with the other games. So that can't be an excuse.

2) I'm sorry, but, did you say regular updates?? I never seen a company that is well known as a whole - not a department - that takes more than two months to get any kind of patch, even small bug fixes, into their online game. How do you call that regular? Considering it's Disney? They have tons of money as a whole company.

I don't understand why players keep their expectations soooo low for Pirates Online or any of their Disney Online Media Group games. That is probably why nothing fantastic will ever be getting done because you guys aren't demanding something worth-while.

Tell them that they don't meet your expectations. Don't keep them low all the time.

[Kat Five Knives]

The title of the thread, "Why don't Devs speak to us anymore?" is what caught my attention. 5 players or 5 million players should not matter. I've always wondered what the answer to this question is. As a player of other MMO's, and the mother of kids who play as well, this is the only game I know of ( aka Disney games) where there seems to be this impenetrable wall between the developers and the players. Yes they come into the game and role play with us occasionally - which is awesome fun. And yes they do occasionally give us some hints of things to come. Other than this role playing, there is no interaction of which I am aware. The grog blog and the Pirates Online Channel on Youtube are the only other places I know of where they occasionally directly answer questions from players, and again, it's in this role playing persona.

It would be nice if they had a presence on the forums here ( and other forums ) to directly and plainly answer some of the questions we are asking or to be frank with us about issues they are having difficulty solving. I think it would create a less stressful environment for all of us to have a few things explained from those who know it best.. the programmers.

[Ice_Storm]

Originally Posted by Kat Five Knives

The title of the thread, "Why don't Devs speak to us anymore?" is what caught my attention. 5 players or 5 million players should not matter. I've always wondered what the answer to this question is. As a player of other MMO's, and the mother of kids who play as well, this is the only game I know of ( aka Disney games) where there seems to be this impenetrable wall between the developers and the players. Yes they come into the game and role play with us occasionally - which is awesome fun. And yes they do occasionally give us some hints of things to come. Other than this role playing, there is no interaction of which I am aware. The grog blog and the Pirates Online Channel on Youtube are the only other places I know of where they occasionally directly answer questions from players, and again, it's in this role playing persona.

It would be nice if they had a presence on the forums here ( and other forums ) to directly and plainly answer some of the questions we are asking or to be frank with us about issues they are having difficulty solving. I think it would create a less stressful environment for all of us to have a few things explained from those who know it best.. the programmers.

I will re-quote a phrase below this text only for Kat's reply because I believe so too.

Originally Posted by Mia Lighting

Well said...

Mia, this phrase makes more sense agreeing with Kat's reply.

@Kat - Of course, I'd like to see them post on here as well and explain what they are fixing or what's priority, etc.

I would ask them immediately:

Why isn't fast switch abuse fixed yet?

[Catherine Ironcutter]

Originally Posted by Ice_Storm

Considering it's Disney? They have tons of money as a whole company.

Disney is actually split into several different branches. Disney Parks, Disney Movies, Disney Games, and a couple more.

This question was addressed by the Toontown Devs. Disney makes several movies, and most get millions in revenues. Where does that money go? Right back into making more movies.

Disney ONLY uses revenues from a specific branch for that branch. The only money the Pirates team has to work with is the money that's made from memberships and donations. So think about that - the game branch doesn't get money from the rest of the company. It makes it's own money, and whatever they make, they use for the games.

[Dark_Pixie]

Originally Posted by Ice_Storm

1) There's a department for each online game they run. POTCO team has nothing to do with the other games. So that can't be an excuse.

2) I'm sorry, but, did you say regular updates?? I never seen a company that is well known as a whole - not a department - that takes more than two months to get any kind of patch, even small bug fixes, into their online game. How do you call that regular? Considering it's Disney? They have tons of money as a whole company.

I don't understand why players keep their expectations soooo low for Pirates Online or any of their Disney Online Media Group games. That is probably why nothing fantastic will ever be getting done because you guys aren't demanding something worth-while.

Tell them that they don't meet your expectations. Don't keep them low all the time.

I'm aware that there is a department for each site, but each department have their own funds also. Disney has billions of dollars, but I doubt they're paying for massive changes a site that could be described as a speck of dust compared to the rest of their investments.

I figured you might have something to say about my 'regular' statement.The updates are regular to me - they keep me, and many other players, satisfied with the game. They may be slow, but they're worthwhile. And I believe that's what the developers are aiming for. Besides, I've seen many quiet bug fixes that weren't featured in the release notes - the Darkhart window bug, the following Darkhart wall bug, and so many more bugs have been fixed this year. And I'm sure there will be plenty more fixes to come.

My last message did sound as if I'd lost all hope in Disney creating a hit game. I think they could get there if they really put a lot of money into it and worked much harder to fix all the bugs and release new updates. Pirates Online will always be my favourite online game, and I've played MMOs that are updated literally every week. Pirates Online's updates are released with perfect timing, I think, just as we're getting bored of the last one. My opinion is that if you update too often, players won't get the most out of the last update before moving onto the next one.

Toontown, Pixie Hollow and the other Disney games have far less bugs, but I still think that POTCO is better, because of the gameplay, not the updates. If a player gets bored with the actual gameplay, there's no update that can really keep them happy. As soon as they get bored with that, they ask for more. But they'd be better off finding a different game to spend all their time with.

I haven't quite decided what my expectations are for the game, because it's only been running a few years, and it has yet to have its glorious moment. I love this game, and I'd hate to see it go downhill like I've seen so many games do, because of their latest updates that don't satisfy the players. Disney really have something going here - I'd hate for them to waste this opportunity to create a hit.

[Eliza Creststeel]

It does trouble me that the only interaction we have is the Feedback, the onlne help, or the few very scripted GM events.

I don't know how often any other game staff opens their doors so to speak but perhaps they should consider an online or internet radio type of question and answer session to get feedback and to share with us how things are going.

There may be some Disney guidelines etc, but you know how we pirates are with those. Of course, they may just fear being dumped on for the entire time... but I would be quite open to such an event without it turning into a gripe session.

[lerzba]

Simply because this game is broken and dying, even if they update the game, all of the updates have bugs even after being in the test-servers for months. I could name 15 bugs right now that I knew of 2-3 years ago and they still work today. They can't fix simple wall bugs in 2 years? I won't be surprised if they shut POTCO down in the next few years.

I also won't be surprised if I quit again, It's funner to browse these fansite forums then play the actual game itself.

[Davy_Mcwrecker]

Originally Posted by lerzba

they shut POTCO down in the next few years.

Oh no, that's a scary thought....

[Ice_Storm]

Originally Posted by Davy_Mcwrecker

Oh no, that's a scary thought....

They may have to consider that if they continue to be the way they are at this rate.

I mean, 2 months+ and still not even a single, big or tiny, bug fix to the Live servers.

It honestly doesn't take that long to fix wall glitches, commonly reported problems, etc.

They don't even tell us that those fixes are coming in the next update or something. They just stay quiet and keep us wondering.

Lack of communication about bug fixes located in future patches... not even a hint about it.