Sister Bliss
Vanishing Point. The Initiative.
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Posted - 2011.08.03 21:44:00 -
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Edited by: Sister Bliss on 03/08/2011 21:48:09 I was looking forward to this blog and desperately hoping that you (CCP) would give us all a reason to look forwards positively with optimism and less cynicism for the future of the game. I'm sorry to say that all I feel is a deep sense of disappointment and disenchantment.
While these design principles are generally sound (and much enthusiastic debate can be held around the finer points and their interpretation), what is unquestionably clear is that Eve has been suffering for years from a lack of investment and a lack of sound gameplay vision.
The publication of this design principles document is evidence of that and illustrates that you have completely lost your way (many years ago) and have no sound design or strategic roadmap for Eve ('we have just started to look at it' does not count I am afraid). This design principles document is 5-6 years late and I hope that you are sufficiently open to constructive criticism to take a step back and concede that.
A year ago you published Iterative development and what's happening in 2011 to the dismay of your players and customers. You didn't listen to the feedback then, just like you have not been listening to the deafening roar of feedback over the preceeding years.
There are many of us for whom Eve is more than just a game, and while we all continue to cling on to hope, that hope continues to fade. It is not impossible to turn this situation around, but you should be under no illusion that you have a monumental task ahead (I would be so bold as to say it is make or break time).
Disappointingly the response we have seen so far from CCP does in no way seem to either acknowledge that or take positive steps towards addressing that. To take a quote from your blog "...Some of this will probably never actually happen. Some of it will take a loooong time to get done. If we finish the majority of this plan in the next five years I'd be extremely happy...";
If you actually want to safeguard the future of this game, the community which has built around it and the recurring revenue stream of your customers, you seriously need to rethink that statement. I would urge you to consider what you need to change in your organisation such that you can commit to and finish THE MAJORITY OF THAT PLAN WITHIN 2 YEARS.
Why 2 years? Asking for anything tangible within 1 year that is not a configuration change or minor tweak is foolish and anyone who has worked in delivery knows that (particularly since you have no design even at this stage). Regretably, you do not get the luxury of more that 2 years because that is realistically all you have before Eve reaches end-of-life (if not before).
Dismiss me as a bitter vet, but understand we all become bitter vets given enough time and given little enough investment into the game. I hope someone senior at CCP is reading this or getting this message to act before it is too late. I would urge you to immediately re-assign all resources to these issues as your #1 priority and de-prioritise all non-critical sub-projects which seem to be consuming all of your resources and budget (Incarna, turret/ship remodelling, NEX store items etc.).
This really is your last chance.
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