POTCO - ignoring the obvious problems?

[Tiberius Fireskull]

While there is an update on test I do believe that they should focus their time on working on fixing test bugs so that that update can go onto live with as few bugs as possible. I'll repeat that: When there is an update on test, they should spend their time fixing that update, and then when it gets out, work on the bugs live has. It is best to have the whole team working on test when there is an update on it, so that there don't end up being more bugs on live.

[Crestshot]

While there is an update on test I do believe that they should focus their time on working on fixing test bugs so that that update can go onto live with as few bugs as possible. I'll repeat that: When there is an update on test, they should spend their time fixing that update, and then when it gets out, work on the bugs live has. It is best to have the whole team working on test when there is an update on it, so that there don't end up being more bugs on live.

I hope you don't mind me referencing the Test server. The fact of the matter is, it's difficult to talk about the quality of this game without tying both Test and Live into the equation.

Now, this current update that the developers are focusing on, Ship Customization, does deserve quite a bit of their focus at the current moment. Mind you, I'd love to see them update Live with bug fixes more, but for the time being, when there is an update on Test, they need to concentrate on Test so that the bugs don't leak out over onto Live.

Continuing on, here's a quote from Ice Storm:

So you're saying that the Developers should COMPLETELY FORGET about the game version that HUNDREDS of more players PAYING for and devote ALL the time to the test server that doesn't even represent the majority, at the present time?

As I stated above, you cannot discuss this game without discussing both Live and Test. While Test may not have the majority of the players, the actions that the developers make on Test will leak over to live. Inasmuch, they ARE representing the majority of the players when fixing Test, they are just not representing them at that moment in time. They should devote all their time to the Test server so they will be able to transfer the bug fixes from Test to Live because the two are, essentially, equal. The bugs that affect Test will affect Live.

I will admit that the phrase cannot be swapped; the bugs that affect Live do not necessarily affect test, if only because there are more players on Live that are exploiting said bugs. However, the design is the same, so if they are able to take a report from Live, create the fix in Test, and then transfer the fix over to Live, they ARE concentrating on Live.

The only reason the selection for players on Test matters is because Disney is less likely to let the people who have been reported and exploit the bugs on Live onto Test, therefore not seeing the effects of said exploits on Test and making it less likely to fix them.

[Crestshot]

I'll admit, I do enjoy the new content every 6 months, but I only pay for certain months out of the year, such as when this content is released. For instance, the last time I paid for Unlimited was in Mid-October, when the Muertos Moon returned. It runs out sometime within the next two weeks. I'm with you in the fact that I see no point in paying for the months they're not giving me content.


I've said this before, but I don't know if you've seen those posts, so I'll say it again; Disney has the money, yes, but that does not necessarily mean that they give it to their MMO teams. From the impression I have gathered, they rely mainly on what the Unlimited Access players give. I am content with what they release, though yes, I do wish they released it sooner. My question is what can we do to pressure them into giving more, other than boycotting the game? (which, now that I mention it, was tried a few weeks ago.)

[Ice_Storm]

Please expect more from disney and expect them to actually use their funds to provide a business-qualified MMO game.

Toontown is doing way better than POTC and its by the same company!

Do you not see how many times their website gets updates with news articles?

[Crestshot]

Originally Posted by Crestshot

I've said this before, but I don't know if you've seen those posts, so I'll say it again; Disney has the money, yes, but that does not necessarily mean that they give it to their MMO teams. From the impression I have gathered, they rely mainly on what the Unlimited Access players give. I am content with what they release, though yes, I do wish they released it sooner. My question is what can we do to pressure them into giving more, other than boycotting the game? (which, now that I mention it, was tried a few weeks ago.)

In addition, you're right, they do care a lot more about Toontown, most likely because Toontown has been around longer and has a stronger base. It will draw in more children because it is rated E rather than E-10 as well as any adults. It makes sense that they will put more of an effort into Toontown because they know they will get more money from them.

[AdmiralSavvy]

My stance on the game is simple: They're doing better, no, impressively given the low amount of employees that the Pirates Online crew contains, and given the potentially low amount of income given to them by Disney. The Pirates staff works with what they're given, and although I would like to quest the second storyline or explore new islands, ship customization, infamy, and loot have kept quite a number of players paying, and it will continue to be that way.

[dantheman]

You guys also have to remember that Disney, unlike other online game companies such as Bioware, Blizzard, and NCSoft, do not focus primarily on their online games. Disney earns most of its money from amusement parks and movies. Therefore, most of their money (and therefore workers) is going to go towards amusement parks and movies.

Pirates Online is funded primarily on subscription money. Because of this, Disney can't afford to have as many developers and programmers working on POTCO as say WoW or SWTOR (or even Toontown for that matter). So yes, they can't release as much content. And yes, it takes them longer than other games to fix bugs and glitches. Just give them time, and they'll have new content out eventually.

[william kid]

Originally Posted by dantheman

You guys also have to remember that Disney, unlike other online game companies such as Bioware, Blizzard, and NCSoft, do not focus primarily on their online games. Disney earns most of its money from amusement parks and movies. Therefore, most of their money (and therefore workers) is going to go towards amusement parks and movies.

Pirates Online is funded primarily on subscription money. Because of this, Disney can't afford to have as many developers and programmers working on POTCO as say WoW or SWTOR (or even Toontown for that matter). So yes, they can't release as much content. And yes, it takes them longer than other games to fix bugs and glitches. Just give them time, and they'll have new content out eventually.

Not sure where you are going here. Subscription fees are what we pay to play and like on WOW and so on thats how they make the money for server upkeep and to pay for new releases so people keep playing the game and of course to make a profit. We don't pay to play to upkeep a park and if Disney is doing so that would be a bad use of our funds don't ya think. I love the game so don't get me wrong but that being said I paid for Guild Wars once and get new content at least once a year. I pay as we go along in Wizards 101 and get new content once a year. Guild wars and Wizards have cost me less and given oh so much more in return for my money. I have played since very early on in the game and evenually has become a very long time. Disney needs to be putting back into the game what we are giving for it, hard work ( or money earned from it ).

[leo]

Originally Posted by william kid

Not sure where you are going here. Subscription fees are what we pay to play and like on WOW and so on thats how they make the money for server upkeep and to pay for new releases so people keep playing the game and of course to make a profit. We don't pay to play to upkeep a park and if Disney is doing so that would be a bad use of our funds don't ya think. I love the game so don't get me wrong but that being said I paid for Guild Wars once and get new content at least once a year. I pay as we go along in Wizards 101 and get new content once a year. Guild wars and Wizards have cost me less and given oh so much more in return for my money. I have played since very early on in the game and evenually has become a very long time. Disney needs to be putting back into the game what we are giving for it, hard work ( or money earned from it ).

Aye, Exactly mate. A game gets funds only up to it's release. POTCO is already released and 4+ years old. Once the game is open for the public, the it's supposed to fund itself and profit the owner by subscription money. If it wasn't like that than, no subscription related game would exist if it was costing more than making money

[dantheman]

Originally Posted by william kid

Not sure where you are going here. Subscription fees are what we pay to play and like on WOW and so on thats how they make the money for server upkeep and to pay for new releases so people keep playing the game and of course to make a profit. We don't pay to play to upkeep a park and if Disney is doing so that would be a bad use of our funds don't ya think. I love the game so don't get me wrong but that being said I paid for Guild Wars once and get new content at least once a year. I pay as we go along in Wizards 101 and get new content once a year. Guild wars and Wizards have cost me less and given oh so much more in return for my money. I have played since very early on in the game and evenually has become a very long time. Disney needs to be putting back into the game what we are giving for it, hard work ( or money earned from it ).

I guess what I'm trying to say (and I realize now that I wasn't very clear in pointing it out, thank you for replying :P), is that sometimes people expect too much of Disney just because "they're Disney." They're doing the best they can, sometimes you just have to be patient.

On the other hand, I agree that Disney is using our money very poorly. I played POTCO a while ago, left for a while, and came back. Besides ship upgrades and Raven's Cove much hasn't changed. I honestly think they did more to limit basic players than they did to give more to unlimited players.