Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
What's wrong with that? I don't have a problem with it. I think it suits EU that storylines don't finish prematurely. Bear in mind not all who participate within EU can be in EU every night. If things like this are distributed over a longer time frame, there is more opportunity for casual participants to become involved. |
It’s not a case of a storyline finishing prematurely … it’s a case of actually “working” the storyline with intermitent events or activities that give the impression that the storyline is actually still alive. Everyone’s time ingame is obviously unique, but I don’t feel the events have anything to do with anyone’s unique time ingame, because realistically, everyone is not ingame at the same time. Besides, why would I or anyone else want to experience only bits and pieces of a storyline once in a blue moon? As it is now, everyone doesn’t get to participate in some events because of work or IRL demands on their time. I really don’t feel that the time element of when we play or don’t play has anything to do with developing and/or working a storyline.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
It is normal to experience lag outside of event times. I didn't say this was 'right.' I just said normal. Of course EU shouldn't have the lag that is has, this, I hope is something that will be rectified by moving the CryEngine2 platform. |
I hope it’s resolved as well … but how many years has the discussion been … “fix the lag” (and other things) before adding new content? This is what I don’t understand … why continue to introduce graphics-heavy content that produces a lag issue for so many, and not work on reducing the lag … especially when some of the content added seems to not be serving any real purpose whatsoever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
The models are something that can probably move into CryEngine, so working on things like that has dual benefit. We don't know how many people are doing what tasks at MindArk, so we really can't make the assumption they not focusing on things that need to be done. Nor can we make the assumption to the contrary of course.
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True, we don’t know how much staff is assigned to what task … and why I’m speaking to the end results that we all experience, albeit from different perspectives, but many are on the same page with regard to these results AB. It’s all well and good that models can most likely move to the CryEngine, but my question has always been, why focus on introducing more and more graphics-heavy content without first resolving the already challenging lag issue? I think there’s been enough evidence over the years to qualify as testing that to me would say … we need to look into this further. If in fact this is something that
MA is trying to deal with by transitioning to the CryEngine, then great, and I absolutely hope it resolves the issue, but in the meantime, why add to the lag problems we already have. How many times do they have to release a large spawn of mobs to get the picture?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
So too is saying STOP EVENTS because of lag. I understand that EU has a lag issue, I also understand that if I go to an event that there will probably be lag. If you can't handle the fact that there is lag at these events then stay away. It's as simple as that. |
I agree … people can make a choice to stay away from events where they know lag is going to be an issue, but since lag has been an issue for how long now, why should we as a contributing player have to be placed into a position of having to decide to not enjoy an event because the lag issue hasn’t been resolved yet? To me, that type of “forced exclusion” is not very fair. I have to tell you that I now have what’s apparently considered a high-end computer system, and I still find at times that I have the lag issues, but I don’t think everyone should be required to have a top of the line system in order to enjoy
EU either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
Well, I missed that, having been travelling back from Denmark last week and sorting stuff out IRL I didn't notice the rather unremarkable thread. I was expecting some EBN news about this if it had come to an end. Was still interesting nonetheless and as far as I can remember, there were times when the 'event' was 'happening' that weren't that far apart??
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This is exactly my point … there was no reason to expect an EBN news announcement since
MA kept themselves removed from the notes activities. The best thing that came out of the notes activities was a community coming together to solve mysteries, but as it started unfolding, it just got weird, and after a thorough review of all the threads, I still ask … how did the soap opera activities really serve our futuristic environment to any degree whatsoever? It was an event played out in the forum, with massive research on the internet, and short-lived gatherings ingame that ended up being mumbo jumbo that led to more internet research and deciphering of a multitude of notes dropped ingame. How did any of this really add to our existing storylines, or present something new that could actually fit into the type of environment that we exist in? Sorry, forgot the mob spawns that caused lag, CTD’s, and server issues that reached further than the event zone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
Maybe some other events were linked to the Egg storyline, which you may not appreciate fully until there is some kind of 'end' to the Egg. I don't know but I'm still interested. NEVERDIE is a key stakeholder in EU and has shown nothing but enthusiasm over the years, I expected nothing less from him regarding the event that was created. Part of MindArk's apparent business model is that participants drive the experience themselves... again, this is a life not just some kind of entertainment. |
Is there any evidence whatsoever … that the Egg is connected to any other event ingame? I don’t think so, because nothing that
MA has ever placed into print had indicated anything of the kind. However, if it were the case, then why has there been nothing generated for over a year to give us the impression otherwise. The only thing that Marco or Frank said in an
EF Chat Room interview when asked about the Egg, is that it will take our breath away. That could mean any number of things, but I see no connection to anything whatsoever thus far … nothing.
With regard to Neverdie … there is no question in my mind that he is the single most revered
EU player above all others who has single-handed done more for the marketing and publicity of
PE/
EU than any other. His continued enthusiasm and excitement is deeply respected and appreciated. That said,
MA generated the storyline with the Atrox Queen and the Egg, but I don’t think they expected it to be sold off at such a high price, and to one of the most prominent
EU players ingame. Therefore, I (and others) feel that
MA had to go back to the drawing board … but does it take over a year to determine the ongoing storyline of the Egg?
Neverdie himself said … that
MA had no hand in the Glowbones and The Egg event, which I feel is a fun thing that
ND put together himself to not only engage more of the community, but also to help populate
CND, and that was a smart move on his part. I honestly don’t think that there’s an apparent business model at play here where
MA expects participants to drive
MA-designed storylines. They have a development team with writers who pull this stuff together, and I have not witnessed anywhere that they have intentionally engaged a single player to help design, implement, or drive any of their storylines whatsoever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
Well, who knows, this could have just plainly been a glitch on that server, but still interested in what happens. The fact that we had these named Argonaut Leaders spawning was interesting. I've been online when these spawns have happened and notice no difference in what I termed my normal experience of Entropia Universe.
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I think we’re all interested in what’s going to happen … that’s really not an issue AB, we
have the interest, but we also have the
desire to be able to participate without the issues. Granted the CryEngine implementation is hope that perhaps this challenge will be resolved, but why in the meantime continue to introduce unnecessary content that only enhances the lag issue, rather than working on an interim solution to give us an opportunity to participate in these events.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
I don't understand how people were taken advantage of? And why does the event have to have been 'meaningful.' It was an interesting event that brought people together in collaboration to try and crack codes and find out when the next location was. Why do events have to follow a common recipe to be meaningful to the overall story line. I feel that this kind of diversity is part of the charm of Entropia Universe.
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Not be meaningful? … it started off interesting, got weird, led to wasted time by many when meeting times didn’t coincide or weren’t shared, became frustrating to many (read the threads) because the activities were based on a Swedish TV show that the majority could not watch, or if they could, were unable to understand due to the language barrier, and the majority of the activity actually took place outside of
EU at this forum, or researching information all over the internet. I feel people were taken advantage of because they were used for the purpose of perhaps furthering a storyline in the Swedish TV show, or because
MA got exposure mileage out of it, but it really didn’t do much for
EU at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
For me, I joined EU for the skilling/RPG element twinned with RCE. Events were not part of the sell. So whatever events I see take place is a bonus. |
Everyone’s ingame motives are different … and that’s fine AB, but when the developer of
EU introduces storylines and events that invite and engage the overall community to participate, and ultimately grow with the storyline by defending Calypso’s independence, I don’t feel that introducing content like the notes and a Swedish TV show has the kind of value that moves our futuristic civilization anywhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
Note event had exciting episodes, Egg event had exciting episodes? The Orb has spawns of mobs which are exciting as these Argonaut Leader casts are totally new. Not really a poor example as far as I'm concerned.
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Exciting episodes? … (see my response above reguarding the notes) … the original event where the Egg was discovered and then ultimately sold was over a year ago. The Black Orb is a different story, and so far, all we’ve seen are mob spawns that continue to cause the same issues as any other event of this nature, despite the uniqueness of the new Argo maturities. However, since
MA has now claimed involvement with the Black Orb, perhaps we’re going to see some interesting things happen. I truly hope so, and I also hope it’s just not a continuation of mob spawns that lead nowhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
Like I said, we might not appreciate how all the different stories may come together in the end, so, again, not another poor example in my opinion.
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You gave an IRL example … this example (IMO) did not relate well to our ingame experiences. It has become clear that the notes are not connected to any other storyline within
EU whatsoever, so we can eliminate that from the equasion. While ingame experiences may have a parallel similarity, life in
EU doesn’t happen as it does IRL, and therefore why I intimated that it wasn’t a good example. However, I also said that using events like WoF, Champions League, and MMOWC weren’t good examples either, and what I referred to the most, because these events in fact provide weekly involvement during their seasonal play.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
Actually, model design is done outside of coding and require different staffing resource, there are several model standards which means models design in one tool can be exported to a number of Engine environments. As far as I'm concerned work done toward the goal of hitting the CryEngine2 running is really important. Therefore coding resource will not have been tied up with implementing the new models as much as some may think. Some of the other visual enhancements like the inventory look and feel I imagine will be similarly easy to utilise within the CryEngine2 platform.
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Well … I’m going to have to defer to all those sexy geek-types to address this one because it’s all Greek to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
I'm afraid I'm not seeing what point your are making on this. Could you kindly explain it to me.  |
I suppose my point was … that despite your being a software development manager, the dynamics in development as it pertains to the virtual world are perhaps different, and therefore approached from a unique perspective that might need to take into consideration aspects of a virtual world that your IRL involvement would not. Again though, I’m completely n00b in this arena, so I will defer to those sexy geek-types that know what I’m talking about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
I didn't read much on this to be honest, care to summarise the key points for me? |
No … you have to read the multitude of threads on VU 9.0 like the rest of us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AkiranBlade
I will continue to disagree with those in the community who whine "stop the events ma" and cite lag and uninterest being the reasons because that is truely introspective and not representative of everyones viewpoint. It is nothing short of childish. On the point of how long it's taking for something to happen with the Egg, I guess I have more patience than some  |
Patience aside … I agree that “stop the events
MA” is not very constructive … however, I feel that people are voicing their opinions, and don’t see it as whining whatsoever. I see the
ongoing issue with lag a major conduit regarding the
ongoing issue with opinions about it. I also don’t see citing lag or disinterest as childish either. Disinterest shown has been a result of what many are claiming to be poor decision making on
MA’s part to allow the notes activites related to a Swedish TV event to ever become part of our futuristic environment, because in the end, it did nothing for us. Even Aslo made a reference to it not working out so well. What other evidence do you need?
With all due respect to our friendship … and respect for differences of opinion, I now resolve (on my part anyway), that we too will go forth agreeing to disagree. Doesn’t mean I love ya any less AB, it just means we aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on some things.
As a sidenote ... my apologies to everyone for the length, but I was compelled to respond, so forgive me.
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11-29-2007, 01:48
Ingame: 
