jubakumbi

As I rememeber reading years ago on the CoH Retail Live forums, about ED I think, "There was less outcry when they changed healthcare providers for my international company." Don't get me wrong, I think the whole thing is very silly. Clones/Homages/Paradies exist everywhere. Even if You as a player create one, it is not some death sentaence for You, Your Character, or HC. It just means that if a GM sees it or if a character reports it, you might have to change a name and costume. That's it, there is no more to it. Since the policy exists, provided HC staff can show they follow it, no IP owner has a leg to stand upon, nor is there any ROI in a legal case. And, in the worst possible scenario, the player might get thier own C&D if the IP holder is a real 'stickler', expecially if that player streams and makes $. None of these things end in the downfall of HC, provided they play legal ball like they are obviously doing. As I have said previuosly, the only drawback IMO is the moral validation of the creatives that enjoy censuring others. This exists on all MMOs, because someplace, they have a policy as well. If anyone really thinks it's more than that, how are DCUO, WoW, STO, SWTOR and other still running? They have similar policies and enforce them. So, nothing has actually changed, past the fact that the some portion of the playerbase can now be Mr Burns and make the game less fun, just like all other MMOs. Feel free to continue to set things of fire and run around in circles, but IMO that's all that is occuring here. The HC team is very obviously saying loudly that they will use this policy in the most player friendly way they can. What more do you need to hear, people? Anything specific is just trying to rules-lawyer the minutae. HC has the final say, make what you want, if it gets hit, then you crossed the line. How is this hard?

I think I took damage on that wall of text... So, your point is valid, I think, in that some players/posters are never satisfied and do not really understand the complexity of making things. Gamers are never satified. Ever. Never Ever? Never Ever. Gamers have been trained that forums are here for the express purpose of game bashing PvP. Non-coders toss out 'they could just' as if any change is as easy as changing undewear. None of that is really any different than any other game forum I have ever visited, or any game I have ever played. It won't ever stop, simply because we are always making new poeple and they, in turn, have to learn how the world works, often by making posts that start with 'they could just' and then learning things don't work that way. One of the main issues with CoH is that the developers themsleves still worked with spreadsheets to creat content - they never even developed the AE tools into something they could use to make stuff. Regardless, gamers will never, ever, stop complaining about the game. Ever.

Totally understand. To me, the randomness of games and loot is what makes the fun in the first place. That does not mean I don't get ticked when I miss a roll or like you point out, I get a bad run of luck, but again, if there is a market, I can just buy the thing. The AE, IMO, is, in fact, one of the places I would add even more 'gamble'. Since the idea is that it is entertainment for our heroes, like a Dave and Busters if you will, and gives 'tickets', IMO, you should then be able to get all sorts of cupie dolls that are less good than the loot outside, simply because it is 'synthetic' if you will. So, turn the AE into the Gamble Box generator - you earn tickets that can in turn be used to by levels/types of Gamble Boxes - but have the rewards such that they never really compete with an ATO/HO, etc., since the idea of the AE is entertainment, not really life threatening. Just a thought.

Totally in agreement that implementation is key. Totally agree compnaies can get stupid and predatory with it, just like with anything else. The main argument to replace them seems to a subscribtion model. $15/month USD is a lot of money to some people on this planet. Allowing subscribers more perks than non-subscribers, playing the same game on the same servers, is, IMO, a worse implementaion, it directly creates haves and have-nots. The whole idea promotes first and second class citizens in the game, a terrible thing IMO, every implmetation I have seen pits the subs against the non-subs.

Just to be clear here. Both of the things you two point out are preferences on implementation, not actual arguments against the idea, IMO. Now, the moment we get to the meat of it, 'gamble boxes', we can have a conversation. IMO, it is the dislike of the random idea at it's base, that you spend money and only have a chance to get the thing you want. You like to apply your resources directly, without some system in the middle shorting the 'investment' you make. Totally fair PoV. Some poeple don't even want clamps on ToHit and Defence - if they have 100% to hit, they expect to hit every time. Personally, the loot boxes are just like collectable card games to me. The randomness is part of the fun for me. So IMO, provided there is a market/player trading, I can 'gamble' all I want and then you can 'buy' what come out of my boxes when I sell the things I don't want, at a price point that is typically at least know, even if not stable. Again, how is this system bad? Everyone gets what they want, right? IME, the implication is that many gamers are simply 'used to' the traditional idea of one price = the whole game. Value IMO is a whole other can of worms. If I value my game time, if it brings me joy, then giving the game company money brings me more joy. If I don't like the value prop of the game, if the game does not bring me joy, then no, I don't spend money. That does not negate the loot box revenue stream, that just means some poeple like different games.

Great, you vote with your wallet! You point out the implementation is key, just like ALL the other game systems added to a product. P2W is a bad implmentation when PvP is involved, I agree. I totally agree everything should be available through gameplay. Yet you state that even if all these requirements were met to your satisfaction, you would never buy one. Why? If it was done the way you like, no P2W, just cosmetics that could also be gained through play, where is it bad now?

I love loot boxes. Love, love them. IMO, it's the perfect vehicle to fund a game. If you don't have cash, play and grind because you probably have the time. If you have the cash, buy what you like, spend the amount of money on the game you prefer. Everyone wins. Now, what people don't really like about this is mainly three things, IME. First, it seems no one likes there to be anything in the loot boxes that cannot be acquired in the game through play. I generally agree. If the game has a market where those things can be traded like STO, then maybe. That is the implementation, not the loot box funding system. Like Battlefront screwed the pooch. Second, IME, boils down to people that simply hate the idea someone can use real money to get something in the game and that they cannot. Plain old envy. Third, 'the children'. Everyone loses thier minds over kids spending money on stuff, games, asking Elexa, whatever. Comics were evil, no it's loot boxes. When I could not afford things, I did not tear down people who could, nor did I demand the car I wanted be listed at a lower price. Now that I can afford things, I spend my cash on games so game makers can make more games. My wife and I never had kids, never wanted them, not really interested in restricting my options and freedoms any more than I do already in life over other peoples kids, personal respocibility, etc. For a lot of people, loot boxes make games more accessible because they allow the overall game to be free, while allowing cash to flow in when people want to spend it. CoH was one of, if not the first MMO, to impement them, loved 'em then, love 'em now.

The only issue for at all with this change is the fact there are players that think it's some moral judgement that they now have been vindicated to force on other players. It's assuming nothing, look at the first few posts right in this thread. We are told to be civil, and yet when some people clap, we are not allowed to clap back? So on one hand, we are asked to be civil and act like adults and on the other hand, some posters are allowed to insult as they like... Yeah...

I know a few poeple that would pay money to get punched in the ... wait, that's different...

You are correct, the wording is such that there is no 'rule' that says a player has to report, now that I read the full wording. Which, IMO, is pefect. If no one reports, then there is no problem, all of the legal obligations are met. So, really, why ever report? There is simply no obligation to do so, at all. HC would be seen to follow policy in the legal sense and be protected.

So, snarky rheotorical question, but one I think is barely pertinent... Does this mean that I myself and others who will blantantly refuse to ever report one of these 'violations' are in breach of the CoC and should be 'punished'? I mean, really, there is no way on earth I would ever, ever 'report' one of these and if done well, I would probably compliment it. I would be in breach of the CoC for not reporting, just as I was on Retail Live, so ... IMO, that's the circle. The policy has to be in place for legal reasons. HC has to enforce reports of the policy. If no one gets reported, no one gets the generic stick... Flame on...

Most Many of the complainers are my age and have been complaning about this for a couple of decades. It's nothing new, it has nothing to do with age. I am 51. Some people play games for a dopamine hit from the enjoyment of playing, others to be social, others to get rewards. Get off MY lawn.

IMO, the thinking around things needing to be 'harder' is still wrapped up in the idea that a player makes only a single 'main' and might, maybe, just for a mule or some other reward, make an 'alt'. In this game, IMO, the whole game is based around making more characters and I totally agree having to level each one like I did in AC would be ... not fun to me. When people say any game is too easy, IMO, it just means they read all the cheat sheets others took the time to figure out, followed the shortest, fastest path to beat the game, and then wonder why the experience is lacking, when they basically replayed/watched someone elses saved game. Of course there was no challenge, the player shorted the entire process. IMO, in CoH as compared to other MMOs, my 'main' is my SG and when I have the entire team assembled, then my 'main' will be complete. One single character is just a part of that IMO. CoH at this point is pretty close to just having a PnP rulebook living online and in your house rules, just like in table-top PnP, you can choose to PL or play it gritty. Personal choices, allowed by the rules.

While I think some of these posters would say everything in a face to face conversation, my concern here is not as gerneral, even though I know it is influnced by socai media. It's one thing to use <bad word> or <bad phrase>, I know, I use them all the time, words like 'sadist', for example, don't seem to be liked here, OK, whatever, but others like 'unoriginal' seem to be fine. It's another thing, IMO, to be 'triggered' and 'go off' on someone over what is, literally, a normal part of the game itself, complete with 'tribal rules and outlooks', while in the guise of 'helping'. The more I read this forum, the less I want to play the game at this point, so, it's not just new players...

I would appreciate it if those with 'thin skin' would realize that not everything posted on a message board is a direct attack on thier mental state and villinize anyone that simply was un-aware they have a problem, or realize that taking someones post in the worst possibly light and come out swinging at the poster rather than the idea, might not be the best approach. IMO, the endless attacks on people on the forums and in the game over peoples 'triggers' is a huge turn off to new players, when said 'triggers' are literally a normal part of the game. Too many players seem to wear their mental issues as a shield to hide behind, a badge of honor, and a weapon with which to beat others over the head all at the same time, IMO. Having issues is not a blank check to demean and vilinize others, IMO, yet it seems to be the case in this 'community'...

I have always liked cosmetics that are locked behind content. Makes no numerical impact, but allows for those that need to feel special to gain that. I was not a fan of the Cape and Aura restrictions on Retail Live, but being given the Rularu weapons and things that were typically earned through playing was not a great idea, IMO. SO yeah, I think the right rewards in CoH for 'big encounters' is bling.

IMO, this is imply trying to make the game something it is not.... This game is about making a (super) hero and fightin' bad guys. In a comics style universe. We have a danger room where you can get ready to fight crime, quickly. We now have a world where acquiring the eq needed is easy. So where is the problem? If you want to play the game gritty and hard, you can. If you want to go into the danger room and PL to the end, you can. If you want to use all or none of the rewards, you can. All based around personal responcibility and self discipline, rather than being coerced or forced to play the game a certain way to get the character you have in mind. No one forces anyone to get all the things as fast as possible other than ones self.

Totally agree. IMO, what these posts really boil down to is 'I want more game'. 🙂 I want more game as well. Somehow, IMO, MMOs and other modern games have all attracted a large group of players that don't want to make thier own fun, they want to be fed everything. More like watching a TV show than playing a game, IME. While I see nothing 'wrong' with that, I like to make my own fun and my own stories and challenges, not be fed much of anything. IMO, virtually any truly new CoH player that is a 'modern gamer' will not find the game to be much fun after they 'beat it' once. Those of us that love the creative aspect just keep making new characters and new stories. This comes back to the main thing I have about all the games I like - why turn them into something thery are not? Why not play this game for what it is and play other for what they are, without making CoH Dark Souls X...

Interesting. I got called the Amazing Speculator here (and I made the character) so here are my speculations... So either HC is buying the property as a legal entity and therfore has to take on all legal rulings of the IP, or NCSoft is licensing the property to HC and therefore has to continue to enforce all legal rulings. Pretty standard company/asset transfer business. I guess it's probably good news for the overall game, neutral news for those that don't want NCSoft involved since it confirms nothing, [trimmed out personal attacks -- GM Capocollo] - Fine. IMO, this annoucement, by policy, tells players to be mean to other players and some players love that validation. (is that neutral enough for ya GMs?) The pro in this is that it gives the HC team more legitimacy in the business world, as they show they have a policy, the only real legal issue. Having the policy and showing they enforce the policy is all they have to do for the IP holders, it has nothing to do with 'getting them all'. I suppose from the tin foil hat PoV, HC could have done this to make everyone think progress with NCSoft is occuring, when nothing has changed. Thay have, after all, not had any recent news to keep relevent, so this trickle of events could easily be construed into empty hype attempts as well. So, I guess, just more MMO news that stirs up controversy without really doing anything helpful...status quo.

IME/IMO, modern games have trained gamers to want fewer choices. It is not my thing, I like making my own characters and my own stories, but the reality is that the 'masses' are trained to want fewer choices and then to be told a story. A game like CoH is almost the opposite of that. I mean, we have never had a shortage of players that just want to be given a build and follow it, with no understanding of the 'why' and 'how'. IMO/IME, it's just a fundamental difference in approaching ones relaxation time. I prefer more interaction at the design level, before engaging the enemy, others are fine with just picking the Warrior and killin' stuff. Niether camp is new, there have always been consumers and creators, and the players that want more design control are outnumbered, as they always have been, IMO.

There is very good science behind 'monkey see/monkey do'. Modern (westernized?) humans have been trained that new = better, period. No mater the channel, the product, the program, or the TV show, the culture trains people that new = better to sell more product. Advertising tells people old is bad, new is better, and many, if not most, believe it. New = wealth New = success New = the 'in' crowd This is what our world does. My friends lamented years ago thier (now grown) kids could recognize brand symbols before they could read. The Tribe trains us tha if we look and fell 'new', we are successful and powerful.

The funny part to me is to hear theis and then see all of the popular pixelated games...

IME, it means they keep switching programming teams and/or IT teams to find the lowest cost provider, each one leaving a trail of dead systems...

The biz side is relevent to the pasta though - bad/greddy managment IME increases the technical debt. When there is a bad leader, nothing gets done really well, IME.

Small and large businesses have both good and bad executives, the size does not equate to ability or integrity, IME. Anyone foolish enough to think "a business' exists to make money" is just a bad business person IMO. I have great people in positions of power in all sizes of companies and I have seen terrible people in all those as well. Most larger companies are really just groups of smaller companies that merged or bought each other over time, it's the same humans. Business size IME is not an indicator of greed nor talent. IME, most people 'fell into' the positions they have...