POTCO - ignoring the obvious problems?

[Tiberius Fireskull]

Originally Posted by The Skirata Clan

The first thing they need to do is fix the connectivity issues like Ukebec pointed out and glitches/bugs. And that can only be done with everyone reporting issues instead of taking advantage or turning the blind eye to those issues.

I agree with TSC. Before I see any more significant updates, I want bug fixes done. The more innocent ones I could care less about (such as glitching through a wall), but fix the ones that actually harm gameplay. I'll give you a small list: Bad broadside aim (especially in SvS), enemies being able to run through walls and kill you because you can't find them, grenades not dealing damage when they hit another player, etc. Lots more, but that's a small list. Oh, and I forgot that POTCO really should really upgrade their servers and get better hardware to run their game on. If they did this, it would most likely eliminate a lot of lag, freezes, crashes, and disconnections on their end. Not to mention that it will support higher quality machines... I think, not positive, but think that they still support Windows 2000 computers and graphics cards. I mean, for the love of all that's good, why do you do that instead of spending your time and money working with newer computers. They've gotta start using some newer and more up to date servers and hardware, because they are going to severely fall behind technology before long if they don't.

One last thing they should do: Fix the report system. There are people who claim to have been reported dozens of times and haven't been banned. Even if 90% of those were false reports, there are still a lot more that are real. It cannot be that hard to fix this. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the actual report getting to the moderator, the moderator not really caring about anything, or if there is a moderator at all, but it needs to be fixed. The main reason I play this game is because of the socialization between characters and because of the community. But I have started to see a lot more rude players lately. I'll report them, but I know it's in vain as I end up seeing most of them the next day, perfectly unbanned. Their autoreport they honesty should do away with, as it tends to pick up things that are perfectly innocent and ban people for them. I say do away with all of it, except anything with a curse word or anything suggestive.

Then of course we have the filters. "Did that go through?" "No." Their intentions are good, but it does more harm than good. They really overdo the filters. For crying out loud, "Porc" is filtered! If that's a bad word, then why is it the name of an island in game? They really should just do away with these filters, with the exceptions of curse words and suggestive language. They are far too excessive and unnecessary. If they don't do away with them, at least let us have a notice when we are filtered so we don't have to worry that every other sentence we type will be filtered because it contains innocent words? A simple "Your last chat entry was filtered because it contained the word(s) _______." will do. By avoiding doing this, they are harming the game and the interactions between players. It has to be fixed. @those that will tell me to report this to them, I've tried. And my response is to email the "Suggestions for Dictionary" section.

There are a lot more things I could bring up, but those are the three big things. Before I see any new big updates, I want all those fixed.

[ruisen2000]

I think they'll need a bigger team working on the game. Without major fixes, they are already releasing content at a very slow rate. If they really added the polish to the game by fixing, updating engines, we probably won't see anything new for a year, lol. And a lot of players in game (those who don't use POF) will not be very happy.
On another online game I play, they had almost 100 people working on the game. So if any major fixes needed to happen, no problem! They can easily do both at the same time.
I doubt POTCO even hae 50 people working on the game.

Edit : According to Team Bois : http://piratesonline.go.com/#/game_i...21114547040455
There are only 19 people working on the game.

[Slasher]

Just to add on to Davy's post, I think adding numbers would be nice. I mean seriously? You can't say I need 9 of these or such? Its really hard being speed chat plus in a guild. When you can hardly understand things. How about just filtering bad language and some suggestive things? That would make it much better! But yeah. We need some bugs fixed. It really gets a bit annoying crashing. And an update in graphics would be nice. Again, I heard that POTCO is using a free design software, so I don't entirely understand what were paying for. Sharper graphics would be nice. I know though still, I want new things. So probably after fixes, a couple of new things would be nice. I think I would like different tattoos. And different areas. More pirate like ones. And a new island or two along with a good story quest would be nice.

[ukebec]

As a tester, I will say that every time a new aspect comes out on test (and I'm not taking a break from the game) I go check it out to report to The Mouse. Now, I will admit I'm not really good about posting my findings in The Helm, here.

But I'm also operating from a sense of frustration:

Go to Padres. Test or Open, it doesn't matter. From the main docks, where you can fish, there's a blacksmith's shop up the beach to your right. Everyone savvy where I mean?

There's a building there with two doors. There's a blacksmith sign in front of the first door, as you're approaching from the dock. The actual blacksmith's shop is behind the second, further door.

I have reported this eight (8) separate times on test since Padres was re-designed. It's my personal pet peeve. But it has yet to be fixed, and I know it has to be confusing for new/lower level players.

I wanted so badly to be a tester, and was lucky enough to get into the tiny window of opportunity a couple of years ago when they opened it up to everyone (just for an hour or so, I think).

But when you repeatedly report the same problems, and see no resolution, it's easy to lose heart.

Slasher - I know what you mean. I understand The Mouse's reasoning behind banning numbers from chat, but it's obvious to all of us that there are easy ways around it (Won, To/Too, Tree, For, etc.).

Panda 3D is Disney's own creation. They allow others to use it for free, but they didn't just pick up some random free software - they built it.

And I've got to say this too, or burst: Disney totally missed the boat on advertising the game when On Stranger Tides movie ads came out. It would have been the perfect opportunity to show a game come-on during the trailers that appeared on T.V., the internet and during movie previews. They completely dropped the ball in luring new players into the game.

Although, given the state of the game right now, I'm not sure a huge addition of new players would be a good thing for the rest of us. But, still, what a lost revenue opportunity. I don't get that.

[Jibby]

I like you.

Coming from RTS/MMO I am content hungry. What I don't understand in POTCO is why Disney isn't actually looking at the game. Imagine if they doubled the world, polished up the world, updated graphics, and maybe added 2 new story quests and 2 new weapons. Then they do some ads and try and sell the game. What if they get a ton more subs and it because a great movie MMO? Maybe kinda like LOTRO? It could get a lot bigger, they could get more devs, and we could fully embrace this game! Honestly, this game could be great. But Disney doesn't care about it. I don't really care much for the POTC movies, I mean, I like them, but not a huge fan. I play this game because I enjoy it. I'm sure there are more like me. Disney has the funds, they have the know-how, so why can't we MAKE IT HAPPEN?

Sorry if this was rambling on, but I just got all my thoughts out.

[ruisen2000]

Yeah, disney isn't very keen on advertising POTCO. I often feel like they're telling everyone "play this game or not, we don't care". But then again, maybe they don't, since POTCO's incomes really aren't that much.

They don't seem to realize that they would make a lot more by advertising the game a little bit more.

[Jibby]

Originally Posted by ruisen2000

I think they'll need a bigger team working on the game. Without major fixes, they are already releasing content at a very slow rate. If they really added the polish to the game by fixing, updating engines, we probably won't see anything new for a year, lol. And a lot of players in game (those who don't use POF) will not be very happy.
On another online game I play, they had almost 100 people working on the game. So if any major fixes needed to happen, no problem! They can easily do both at the same time.
I doubt POTCO even hae 50 people working on the game.

Edit : According to Team Bois : http://piratesonline.go.com/#/game_i...21114547040455
There are only 19 people working on the game.

I don't see how this is a problem. There are tiny companies doing fine - The company that makes Minecraft (and currently producing Scrolls), is working on a mobile version, xbox 360, content updates every couple of weeks, developing a whole other game, and they are also producing a whole new gamemode, which while provide a whole lot more content to Minecraft. They probably have less people working for them than Disney.

You don't need 100 devs working on it, you just need some who care about what they do.

[Ice_Storm]

Originally Posted by Jibby

I don't see how this is a problem. There are tiny companies doing fine - The company that makes Minecraft (and currently producing Scrolls), is working on a mobile version, xbox 360, content updates every couple of weeks, developing a whole other game, and they are also producing a whole new gamemode, which while provide a whole lot more content to Minecraft. They probably have less people working for them than Disney.

You don't need 100 devs working on it, you just need some who care about what they do.

It should be a disgrace to Disney that tiny companies are doing a much better job than the corporation that owns several parks, shops, and video games from 1999.

The real problem is their game engine. Panda 3D just isn't capable of delivering fantastic content/visuals, as well as performance optimizations.

[Ice_Storm]

The last release for anything (Content, bug fixes, etc.) was on June 28, 2011.

Today is 8/18/2011..........

Anyone see what's wrong that this big corporation with money is doing?

[Davy_Mcwrecker]

Originally Posted by Ice_Storm

The last release for anything (Content, bug fixes, etc.) was on June 28, 2011.

Today is 8/18/2011..........

Anyone see what's wrong that this big corporation with money is doing?

This game is not funded by Disney, from what I've heard.

But to me, the best way t get the game running is to get 40+ People working on it, and have this feature where you can spend real life money to buy peices of ate, or some special kind of coin. With those coins you can buy special items, like orange boots, and buy coin shop items with the special colors: Bright blue, Dark black, Orange, Forest green, Bright green, Bright Pink, Lavender,ect.

That way, POTCO can constantly bring in more money for updates, but they would have to add rides, which would let you move faster, without making a potion. The rides would make you move 150% faster. Then they would add a Captain's Cabin, which is like a mini house. You could decorate it it with items you buy from the peices of ate, and then they could use about 15 people for a sail customization, where, they have this thing where you can draw or design your flag, and they will accept or deny. Then you could redeem a code and have it, and you can give your friends the codes for the sails too! And last of all, they need to add a use to the gallows. They're just there. They need to be able to be used to defeat an Enemy, like putting them on the plat fo, and pressing shift to open the plat form, and the noose would grab the by the ankle, and drop them to give 500 damage, or as a quest, you must save Jack from getting hanged, buy running up, cutting the rope, and defeating 2 Hired Guns and 3 Mercenary's. Nothing bad with the gallows, just need a use for them.

[akamystic]

I've always wanted Captains Quarters.......... The rest sounds brilliant as well.......good post Davy

[Captain Del]

Before I go in to depth, I must agree that bug fixes are the first essential thing that needs to be completed. We have been seeing a lot of updates in the months prior to July and August that have really added to the game in both content, and in the stress that the game puts on the computer; in all of my years of playing this game, I have never experienced as many disconnects, crashes, and lag as I have in the past. Before anything, Disney needs to rework their gaming system to make it run smoother. Even if this requires putting the game down in to maintenance mode for upwards of a week, it will still have a big enough of a pay out to make things much nicer in the long run.

I do agree that the gap between level 40 and level 50 is a little outrageous when compared to the overall neglect that the game has towards the higher level pirates. The only real place that a pirate in their mid to high forties can centrally level is Tormenta, which is ridiculous in the fact there is only one cavern that is based at that level group out of an entire system of islands and sea channels.

As I have stated in previous threads, the slew of sea-based updates that they have been releasing over the course of the past few months needs to end with new ships, at least for the moment. Once they have been added, that should give a little more of a balance on the ocean between players and enemy ships, which then gives reason for them to turn towards land. Remember mates, the islands of the Caribbean make up a very large portion of the game, FAR overshadowing sea-based content; so, the fact we have so little going on on land at this point and time is a misstep of Disney's part.

What needs to be done before any major content releases is, as stated in the OP, a re-landscaping of a few areas in the game that need to realize their full potential. The first thing that has been LONG over when it should have happened was a revamp of Cuba, which is perhaps the saddest little island in our Caribbean when compared to Tortuga, Padres, and Port Royal, especially on the fact it's supposed to be a major island. They need to turn it away from being a minor swamp with a few buildings and only one subzone, infested with low level "ranking" enemies alone, and instead take it on a much more grand scheme - I mean turning it in to a mecca of smuggling, swindling, and of course, VOODOO! Enchanted swamps, vile jungles, cursed caverns; so much could be done to make that island really become a jewel in the Caribbean!

Afterwards, they need to bring tougher enemies in to the picture. Introducing higher level enemies in to places like Kingshead and Las Pulgas would be a good step forward, but if we really want to see it reach full potential we need to add new subzones branching off of the current ones with new, higher leveled enemies (not level 50's either; I'm talking about enemies in the 50s, 60s, and maybe even the 70s) - kind of like what they did with the Cave of Lost Souls. Perhaps for Padres they could add the ruins of the old island buried beneath landslides of hardened lava, infested by the spirits of a few civilians who didn't make it out in time - maybe for Tormenta, one of the shipwrecks could act as a new zone filled with some personal crew mates of Davy Jones. The idea is we need to expand on the old content before we can get anywhere with the new.

Continuing on, I realize that it may be frustrating for some people to not necessarily know "why" things were added to the game. But realistically, if we wanted the game to get better, then we can't focus on things as trivial as adding new options to NPC's that lets them explain what the heck is going on in the Caribbean. Besides, it's not like the majority of the Caribbean gives a hoot in the first place - give a bored pirate a pistol and a barrel of fish and he'll entertain himself without asking questions.

On your third note about the experience progression with quests, I think it makes perfect sense. As you start out earlier in the game, you level faster so you can get a hang of the game more quickly, and then as you progress in to the higher levels more and more is expected of you. Of course, this cannot be used as an excuse to keep away content updates for higher leveled pirates, but you catch my drift.

[ruisen2000]

Originally Posted by Davy_Mcwrecker

and have this feature where you can spend real life money to buy peices of ate, or some special kind of coin. With those coins you can buy special items, like orange boots, and buy coin shop items with the special colors: Bright blue, Dark black, Orange, Forest green, Bright green, Bright Pink, Lavender,ect.

PLEASE GOD, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

The problem with real money transaction is that companies become VERY greedy. They put all the things you "need" in the game in there, making you spend more money, then more, then even more. On another game I played, players had to spend $40 a month to keep up with the updates. Without that few items you have to buy with real money, you can't really progress in game. It's equal to selling war ships, ammo, and the ability to use famed weapons only for real money.

[Captain Hector]

Tormenta DOES have quests! The Barbossa's Clothing quest from a Padres tailor takes you there.

[Kat Five Knives]

Originally Posted by ruisen2000

PLEASE GOD, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

The problem with real money transaction is that companies become VERY greedy. They put all the things you "need" in the game in there, making you spend more money, then more, then even more. On another game I played, players had to spend $40 a month to keep up with the updates. Without that few items you have to buy with real money, you can't really progress in game. It's equal to selling war ships, ammo, and the ability to use famed weapons only for real money.

I don't think Disney will take the game in that direction. in addition to the above, you would have players selling accts ( which is against Big D rules ) plus the game is written for Kids, who usually don't have their credit cards on them.