My intent was not to chastise. If I came off harsh, a apologize that was not my intent.

These townhalls are the only place, we players have a chance to pin EAmythic down. They are there on the spot, with no room to just sign off from the forum, or act like they did not see a question on the various forum Jeremey supposable reads/monitors.

They will be right there in front of you. Personally I am tried of 10 years of miss directions, partial answers, non-commital answers and out right lies.

Enough with the puff questions, come out with both barrels blazing and pump them full of lead.

I was not attempting to devalue anyones questions, but like I stated many of the ones you hastily posted (nothing like getting paid to pay on company time and equipment ) have been answered over the years, maybe you need to expand the faq section? Although I do not know how you would classify that expansion.

I that I am asking is that people at least step back and think about their questions before posting them (ala the old adage "think before you speak.")

As for my ability to emulate/channel a EA Rep. Well doublespeak and misdirection unfortunately are part of my job, no one wishes to take blame when things go wrong were I work.

Also I have been feed EAMythic's line of corporate speak for years now.

I too agree that a forum is a cooperative place. I do not care, if I get credit for any of my questions. I only care about the answers. My motives are completely selfish. I enjoy and have enjoyed UO for nearly 10 years, I wish to continue that enjoyment for as long as possible.

I want to get people to focus on there questions with a laser point.

I will use one of your original questions as an example:

7) As to the story arc, when do we advance? THe fircrackers threw me for a loop, I thought they actually had something to do with it. Also, I have found the stories, though creative, to be so cryptic that I cannot extract any useful information from them. Would it be possible to throw in a little more info?

Now no question is stupid, thats how people learn by asking questions.
But if we stop and reread the question and think about it should it be one of the questioned ask in a limited q&a session in a townhall?

Ok reread the question : Basically were is the story?
ok, we had that part with the mage in new haven since then nothing. Why?
Ahhh EAMythic released KR for general download. While some people can run it smoothly, the majority of players have had nothing but trouble or it runs very poorly.
I do not recall when Jeremy stated it was all hands on deck until they get KR sorted out. But I do recall it, maybe in a FoF?
So if everyone is engaged in fixing/patching KR they have not programers available to code in the story. Once KR is relatively stable (not there yet) amd EAMythic starts to drop hints out about SA then you will see the story line pick back up. So since we can use logic to arrive at an answer like this.
Does this question need to be asked from an EAMythic Rep. or would the community be better served be asking a different question entirely?
Maybe refer the question to the FoF again instead of during a face to face session?

But by all means please keep posting questions, I know I will thorugh my 2 cents up on the table, If I can think of any more that I would like to have asked, but I expect change.

Anyways keep up the good work you do as an admin here.

After having some time to think ( been SUPER busy), I realized I could have responded for coherently and cohesively. Apologies.

To walk through the Bald-one's logic:
Assumptions:
1) Players want more than news on the latest pixel crack. We want hard facts and info on what is to come, and assurance that past bad practice will not resurface.
2) We want meaningful change, not knee jerk reactions to selected groups whining.
3) We want scripters to go away.
4) We want interactive, on time, coherent events.
5) We want balance in all phases of the game.

Goal:
These questions would NEVER be answered in a quick fire discussion. How do we get them answered in a format for dissemination of good / bad news?

Idea:
Prepare good questions (with a few easy dodges) ahead of time and send them in to Jeremy early.
Conclusion:
Ask questions, get solid answers, all have good cheer!

I failed to recall this master plan in my first quick response. Shows how tired I was. I actually just now WROTE it down, although that was the intent all along.

Also, MANY of the questions I have posted HAVE been submitted previously via feedback, for the last few months. I think I have sent in 6 a week since March.

As to the last analysis. If we do attempt to answer through logic, and keep quiet, does EA get the message that we want delivery on the promise? Or do they assume(LOVE that word) that no complaints = happy customers? Anyone can post dissatisfaction online in a moment's time, but it takes real dissatisfaction to bring up publically. Maybe the message will be heard? *shrug* who knows. But keeping quiet over such a large lapse is bound to lead to somewhere hazy.
As to Jeremy's "All hands on deck", that was pre-release ( FoF June 29 I believe). After release, 3 of the staff went on vacation, and others were shifted to more mundane functions. I do not recall anything after that, other than the announcement of delivery delay for UO:SA until KR actually works.

As background, when Mythic came aboard December 06, the new head stated that events would be reinstated. Then he said that DAoC would get weekly new content additions, which is apparently happening now. So why were WE left adrift, when they can keep a promise to DAoC? And why are they giving DAoC the old scenario delivery schedule we used to have, and giving us 3 month story arcs?

As background, when Mythic came aboard December 06, the new head stated that events would be reinstated. Then he said that DAoC would get weekly new content additions, which is apparently happening now. So why were WE left adrift, when they can keep a promise to DAoC? And why are they giving DAoC the old scenario delivery schedule we used to have, and giving us 3 month story arcs?


This is the way (I think) the story question if it has to be asked again, should be phrased. It is a hard question, one not easily put off in a face to face session.


Personally I think the reason DAoC gets the "love" of weekly content is because DAoC was Mythic's baby, The UO community was foisted onto the people from Mythic after the merger. Since these Mythic people know more about the game they created, naturally they feel more at home working with the code and how things are done with that community. How many people are now with EAMythic that worked on UO from before the merger?

Most of the upper management of EAMythic - Mark Jacobs - president of EAMythic -was founder/creator of Mythic Entertainment/DAoC
EAWaltYarbrough came over from Mythic

The Community Relations to UO - all Mythic personal

Alittle over a year ago these people were in competition with UO. Anyone that works in a competitive firm knows that you try to motivate your people by telling them that they are better than the competition, their game is better, their community is better, etc...Now these same people are running one of their competitors? Can you really expect them to care/work as hard for the UO community as they did/do for the DAoC/Warhammer community?

You find some of the same parallels when step-children are added into family groups. Many people say they love them and treat them equally but in most of the cases people tend to take care of their own children better.


As far as getting jeremy to answer questions? I thought that this was her job? Community realtions for UO? Not for DAoC/Warhammer or all three, just UO? Why do people continue to give her a pass? Ohhh she so busy the KR.
What? Is she a programmer? No. Is she an artist? No. Is she one of the nameless techs that keep the servers running? No. Then what exactly is she busy with? And do not give me - well there are quite a few sites for UO, she can not be everywhere. I call BS on that. Whos fault is it that there is no "official" forum? That be EAMythic. Pick one again. She should be online every day, not to just wish people happy birthday, or posting about people not breaking an nda for a game that EAMythic does not even own. She should be there answering questions that can be answered, or at least telling the community sorry I can not answer that at this time. Something is better than nothing. How about a better answer to the whole new resource system?
The answer "because we want to make "rare" resources "rare" because we might change the uses in future systems" given the amount of threads and the number of replies of people discussing it. One might think some more community relations was called for? Now we get told EAMythic has a plan for crafting. Well they had a plan for correcting PVP too, it only took them 3 years to start fixing PVP, although factions are still broke. By EAMythics' own track record, we (the players) can expect these sweeping superfantastic crafting changes should be started by 2010. Maybe its just me.


Dang...let me get down off my soapbox. Just that I hate what is being done to the game I love, I am tried of the silence from EAMythic and told to just wait to you see what we will do, your going to love it.

Questions for Seattle townhall

Note: I cut and pasted this from google docs, so if it doesnt make sense or the formatting sucks, let me know AND I will be attending so I will prolly ask only a few from the below list.

1. Economy
I honestly think the biggest change needed in UO is to implement a server wide auction system where we can actually have capitalism and competition. But I fully recognize this should be a big back burner and prolly wont bring it up.

2. Software development:
A) pressure on uo dev, B) what is average software cycle like?
This is my only pointed question.
A) What was the pressure like to make KR gold? Where did that decision come from, was it those who actively develop or higher up? How much corporate pressure is there for UO specifically? I ask because I can think of no one who thought it was ready when it came out. I cringe to think that new players might have downloaded KR and left disgusted. If anything it hurt our changes of recruiting outside players. OF COURSE its getting better but why did it come out when it did?
B) What is the development life cycle for game changes like? How many people? How long does it take to say change mining to random ore? I think if gamers had a bigger appreciation for how much work from how many people goes into fixing PvP etc, they might understand how much work there is.

3. Hard numbers of shard activity
A) IF say 40% of your users were scripters would you still ban them?
B) What are your subscription numbers? Have you considered looking at unique payers as in looking at unique credit cards? This is to get a more accurate count on the number of users.
C) What are per shard averages, say over a month? Why cant we know this?


4. Security in general??
A) Sending passwords in plaintext?
Why are we still sending passwords in plaintext, in reality it's not a huge issue, but given the importance should be looked at.
B) Multiple password failures and lockouts?
Please tell me there is a system to lock out multiple failed passwords.
C) ENFORCE GOOD passwords? best thing to do.
Given the importance of passwords, it would be trivial to check passwords and eliminate weak ones. This is only half the battle, but then if users learned to NEVER use this password for anything else and give it to no one, then they *shouldnt* be cracked.

5. What about reducing the timer for evasion based on bushido skill? At 120 there is little to no delay.
As a PvM bushido I love to TRY to go toe to toe with dragons and balrons. Say every percent over 100 its one less second to wait? Maybe throw dex into it? Its been rightly pointed out that evasion has already been nerfed with the change publish 43.

6. Ever thought of doing an in-depth customer survey?
You could email each account holder, make an in-depth survey and possibly provide an in-game reward for answering say a soulstone shard. Ask chacracter types, NUMBER of accounts owned, hours played, demographics, etc, and lots more questions. I am sure sales would be interested in this, and its a good way to hear from all types of users, not just vocal online posting ones.

7. Tech questions for geeks, what os does the server run? Whats the hardware like? Pics of server room would rule :-P

I GOTTA ask. Did you ever read the EA as a service thread? You echo my sentiments.

Overall, how do we craft a question that eloquently communicates the sense of frustration we have with the two year cycle? It's absurd.

As far as the ea as a service thread. Yes I read it, I did kind of pass over it though when I read you had a new lawn service

I have been with UO since near the beginning, Yes I have tried other games. But only UO has provided me with the type of game I am looking for.
I have never suspended my original account ever.

A game where I can do what I want, when I want, with who I want.
I understand MMORPGs are for multiple players, but I do not like to be forced to group nor do I like to have to include certain classes because they are needed for their buffs. There are times that I like to just go out alone and bash things.

I like the fact the in UO, I can make a totally new character (not talking new account with young status) and if I want to run him to the lowest level of shame, I can. I realize that I will be taking a dirt nap real soon if I do that but I like that freedom.

I like that fact that I can make a non-combatant character(s), although with the changes to the resource system and EAMythics comments on future changes this type of character may no longer be viable.

As far as crafting eloquent questions? I think your phrasing of the story question is better now then in your original post, if that question must be asked.

But personally, I believe that the time for eloquence is over. Its time to be blunt. Lets face facts, EAMythic does not love the game like us players do. Nor do the people directly responsible for the art/coding. It is profit for their company and its a line on their resume and a weekly paycheck. Its time to stop treating these people, like our friends that come over everyweek for Monday night football or the weekly card game, or whatever you do with your friends. They produce a product that is presented to the gaming community to use. We (players) pay their parent company a fee to access said game, the parent company in turn, pays jeremy, cathat, darkscribe, et al. So indirectly they (EAMythic) work for us. You can not be friends with your boss. Think back on every job you have ever had. There are always employees and management. For the most part (there are always exceptions) the line staff form their own cliques as do the managers, and usually the only times these groups mix recreationaly is at the company picnic or the company christmas party.

Yet there are people in this forum and others, which defend the people that WORK for us, no matter what silly things they do or say. I am not advocating total voting/polling the community on every change, that would get us no where. Because we could never all agree on changes.
But the complete silence that we usually get, even after nearly 10 years of supporting them? Unacceptable. Now I hear some people that have read this far, well jeremy is trying very hard, and its the most communication we have had in years. Lets just say if I tried as hard as jeremy does, I would be looking for a new job. Most communication? When was the last time you seen Leurocian post?
Oh cathat posts. Yup, stupid cat pictures, and there was much rejoicing. EAMythic change the policy on how and why employees can post. So it all has to basically go through community relations now. And she posts infrequently (for the community relations person for my taste), and when she does there are errors (and not just spelling) in her information. Just look at uo.com. Its so out of date, I can not laugh anymore, but we got a snappy new cover page, and there was much rejoicing.

When phrasing your questions:
1) Write them down, in a notebook, in a word file, whatever.
2) DO NOT post them right away. Leave them alone for a few days (at least over night) Then go back and reread them, and see if they make sense. If not revise.
3) After rereading them, can you answer them yourself. Think about UO and try to generate some answers.
4) Does your question effect every player in the game? They should. I realize that every question can not relate to the entire playerbase but you should try to cover everyone.
5) Use this forum and others like it (although stratics can be quite harsh) to test your question(s), use other players input/opinion/experience and then revise your question(s).

Now if you have read this far, thank you. I hear you saying now, just who the hell does this guy think he is? Well I am no one and everyone, just a gamer that loves this game. I want to see it continue and not just on prs. I do not mind paying for this game, what I do mind is how we the paying customers have been continually treated by the people at EAMythic who say they care. Challenge everything is their company line, right? Well it is past time for us players to do just that. Hit them with the hard questions and keep hitting them. Like I replied to another post in a different forum who accused me of have a self-serving agenda :

As far as having a self-serving agenda? Well every single person here has a self-serving agenda? Why else join a guild? For interaction with others to benefit (in game wise [gold,resources,etc...]) that you as an individual have trouble obtaining. Factions? (broken to be sure) but you join for what you can get out of it. Heck why play this game (UO or any MMORPG at all) because you have a want to be entertained or for stress relief or for whatever your reason to play. It was and is your own personal agenda.

So if you want to say I have a personal agenda, feel free. But this is how changes are brought about. It only takes one person to feel they have been wronged and they stand up and say I believe this is wrong and it needs to be changed. Then others who feel the same way read/see/hear that persons words, and they think I am not alone, we have the same problem, maybe we can make changes. Soon they are getting together by phone/in person/or in a forum, voicing their displeasure. Then before you know it, there are petitions, then calls to their representatives, then marches and protests. Then maybe one day after all that effort they get a new law pasted that corrects their problem. Signed into law by their local/state/federal officials. At least thats how it works in todays modern democracies.

So I would rather be one voice shouting at the darkness then being silenced by the darkness.

So Hell yes, I have a self-serving agenda, I am selfish, I LOVE UO and I wish to continue to play it.
Maybe I made some of you mad, maybe you agree with me, maybe you hate me. As long as I made you think about UO, and maybe you will begin to post here and other places. Then thats enough for me, its time to be silent no more.

And since I am up on my soapbox, I apologize to Daithi, Because you kind of walked into the middle of this conversation and because I am going to channel an EAMythic rep again and answer your questions, Have fun at the UO townhall and PAX. Wish I could be there with you all.

1) good question but its kind of vague, needs to be focused.
I will revise, If you do not mind? : Would it be possible to implement a shard wide auction house type system to encourage more people to participate in trade and make their products available to a larger group of players? Because right now on my shard the main area for vending is Luna, yes you can find deals in out of the way places, but many players just can not or will not put the time in to find these vendors but with a shard wide system I could add my items to the pool at the better price. Also it seems, at least on my shard, many if not all vendors in/on/around Luna have all set there prices the same, thereby creating a monopoly on prices for most wanted items. Either you pay what every vendor is charging (little to no competition) or you do not get the items.

2) Well frankly we needed to get KR up, running and in place so that development of SA will be delayed as little as possible. We have more people working on KR now then we have had on previous expansions. Just wait until you see some of these upcoming changes and artwork, its fantastic!

3) EAMythic has not and will not release exact numbers, from time to time we have announced numbers of active accounts (like when we hit 250,000 active players) but overall this is an internal matter to EAMythic. And as far as scripters go, the less said the better, we are working on the issue and they will be in for a surprise, soon.

4)Security is important to us and we will continue to make UO as secure as possible. Please remember to never share your account name and password with any one.

5)Thats something I can not answer here and now, let me make a note of it and ask a dev or two, maybe I can work it into a FoF answer.

6)This is something that would have to be decided up the ladder, I will make a note of it and pass it on up.

7)I have no idea, I do not even know where the servers are physically located, maybe I can dig up a server tech to snap a picture for you. *scribbles* a hasty note to locate the tech troll and ask him if I can cross his bridge to see magic server land.

Again apologies to Daithi, and to all who have read this, I thank you for indulging me.

No need to apologize, people dont have to read if they dont want to. And I have been interested in, and largely nodding along with the running conversation, as someone who played in the original beta, 97! I can appreciate what you are saying. And I welcome any and all feedback on my questions.

Well, I wanted to anyway. I know I anger people that read my posts. After nearly 10 years, I am done being nice to the people we pay we our enterainment dollars/euros/insert your currency here.

I am down to my original account. At one point I had 7 accounts (one for my son, one for my nephew, 4 accounts of friends that came and went [just holding their houses til their finances worked out]) I paid for these accounts for 6 years, Last year I started to close them. To show my disgust to EAMythic with the direction UO is heading. But I draw the line with the account I initially opened all those years ago. Why? Because I still have passion for this game. If I wanted graphics, I would have left long ago. I like the complex play this game offers. This is what I believe that EAMythic must awaken too.

I know about 15 to 20 in game players (fellow crafters) that the resource changes is just one more nail in their playing coffin. Many of these same players still play UO because the requirements were so dang low. They can play on their 7 year old computers and still have fun! UO is a niche game, we will never grow the game past 250k with KR client. Even though I am playing in it and reporting problems, Heck I just figured out how to make my macros work. But its easier? I do not find it easier.

Anyway, have a good time at the meet and greet, PAX. And ask those hard questions!

Safe travels.

Could not make it, I had to do some extra work until 7pm tonight. Sorry guys. Hopefully psoting the questions helped though.

Sorry you could not attend, real life comes before any game. Not major emergencies? You and yours (if any) ok?

Maybe we could be a jump start on a thread for questions for the austin, if anyone is going there?

Hey Baldguy,

Nah... it was one of my guild members who was the infamous "drunk guy" at the last Seattle town hall. There is some debate going if he shows up this time, whether he'll be allowed in.

Usually we keep him on a short leash in-game. If you see someone very loud, belligerent, and slobbering on themselves... that's him. ;)

Welcome to UO Forums Nok

Vepl