Summer Storms: The NCAA Release Story

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChaseB

It was written a few days ago, then held to be re-written a bit to talk more about the forums than the game -- because that was the original idea of the story. I think maybe it's also important to point out that Patrick probably brought in the MaddenMania impressions and feelings into his thoughts in this article as well. I think if your thoughts are more the consensus moving forward then we'll make sure to have someone edit the article that is a little closer to the forums than I could be during the last few weeks when I was busy. That way the person who edits the article can check for tone and make sure that it fits the general community.

Here's the thing:

We've discussed in the past about the differentiation of articles and forums; They aren't the same thing and like to be held as separate entities.

However, in an article of this nature, how can you make comments like:

Quote:

Now reports of people actually having fun with the game are starting to pop up, and threads of gamers posting their best experiences and great games are prevalent. Work is being done to help each other overcome the problems, and slider and music customization help is a hot topic.

and insinuate the happenings of the forum. There is nothing else really to discuss here in the forums aside from anything positive because mentioning the issues is just a constant re-tread that tires everyone out. Where is the discussion about posters being told by the mods to keep their frustrations in line and that they aren't accomplishing anything by asking for answers from the devs who were more than willing to answer almost anything pre-release? (Summation)

Personally, I feel this article is an outlier from anything you'd see from someone who has spent a significant amount of time in this forum. It just makes me feel like OS has lost touch with the same forum members who helped make this site what it is today.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by KingVMSU

Then dont have the person present a score. Plain and simple that person represents this website and frankly denying that or lessening the importance of that persons opinion is weak sauce. If it;s truly one mans opinion post it in here, otherwise having a front page article means more and as we all know perception is reality.

I'm not trying to downplay it, I was just telling you my general feelings about a review. That's OS' review, if we end up being wrong according to most then that's the way it is, it's an opinion. My point is if you write a review by trying to please the community, then that's not a review either, because you're writing the community's impression, not your own.

Like I said I haven't played this year's product and I really don't plan to because I'm pretty anti-football these days though. Otherwise I would probably be more vocal if I agree or disagreed with the complaints being made.

[elprez98]

Quite frankly,

I do not understand how the tone of the piece is not recognized immediately as condescending. Words like "soap opera and panic button" infer that the complaints are unfounded. I agree people sometime fly off the handle when game bugs are found, and this NCAA release is no exception. But this happens with every sports game, every year and it is not an OVEREACTION like the author tries to portray.

I think the most upsetting part to me is the part that says:

After the eye of the storm passed, the other problem became abundantly clear: the evil roster glitch. And if you want to see panic, then look no further than a bunch of guys that are without real-life named rosters during NCAA release week.

"Something that is free and provided by ordinary people has become the biggest part of the game to many, and when it was found that the game would freeze, and created names would not work properly, well that is when things really hit the fan."

The game costs $60+ and it is a feature that is expected to function correctly. Whether or not someone takes their time to make a personal roster and share it with others has nothing to do with that $60 price tag.

I guess I need to go back to my basketball forum for some sanity.

[rp71284]

I think another thing that irks a lot of the people who commented is that outside of 3-4 sticky threads, we cannot mention any glitches, or our posts magically disappear.

Yet, day after day, articles that praise the game appear on the main page. I really love OS, trust me, but it gets harder and harder to want to read the forums when the only opinions that are allowed to be expressed are positive ones.

Also, the fact that EA developers are participating on the site now coupled with the "censorship" that may or may not be happening just makes things really uneasy for people. Remember when MLB 2k6 was a completely broken game? I know the site back then was different, but that whole forum was complaint after complaint. And it was justified! Just because a few devs are here doesn't mean we have to cater to them. While NCAA '09 might not be as broken as that game was, it has more flaws than it should.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

Here's the thing: We've discussed in the past about the differentiation of articles and forums; They aren't the same thing and like to be held as separate entities. However, in an article of this nature, how can you make comments like: and insinuate the happenings of the forum. There is nothing else really to discuss here in the forums aside from anything positive because mentioning the issues is just a constant re-tread that tires everyone out. Where is the discussion about posters being told by the mods to keep their frustrations in line and that they aren't accomplishing anything by asking for answers from the devs who were more than willing to answer almost anything pre-release? (Summation) Personally, I feel this article is an outlier from anything you'd see from someone who has spent a significant amount of time in this forum. It just makes me feel like OS has lost touch with the same forum members who helped make this site what it is today.

OK cool, see this is the type of stuff I'm looking for. And yea we did talk about forum vs. front page in the past and I think it has gotten better recently quality-wise. More writers now (a few which are OS people who stepped up and wanted to write articles) has allowed everyone to spend more time on articles and all that.

As for the mods stuff, I don't have a hand in the moderation so I didn't know about that either.

But I think definitely I will be more cautious of this type of thing and be proactive in trying to make sure we have guys who are entrenched in the community edit these types of articles moving forward. Sometimes a little wake-up call like this is necessary for me to take notice of an issue, and this does appear to be one.

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by rp71284

I think another thing that irks a lot of the people who commented is that outside of 3-4 sticky threads, we cannot mention any glitches, or our posts magically disappear. Yet, day after day, articles that praise the game appear on the main page. I really love OS, trust me, but it gets harder and harder to want to read the forums when the only opinions that are allowed to be expressed are positive ones. Also, the fact that EA developers are participating on the site now coupled with the "censorship" that may or may not be happening just makes things really uneasy for people. Remember when MLB 2k6 was a completely broken game? I know the site back then was different, but that whole forum was complaint after complaint. And it was justified! Just because a few devs are here doesn't mean we have to cater to them. While NCAA '09 might not be as broken as that game was, it has more flaws than it should.

So do you know who take that problem up with as it relates to moderation? I'm not familiar with it because I don't handle any moderation stuff, but do you know who to talk to if you feel you're being wronged? I mean I assume the mods aren't so unyielding that they wouldn't at least talk with each other to make sure they're doing right by the community if many people felt wronged.

Quote: Originally Posted by elprez98

Quite frankly, I do not understand how the tone of the piece is not recognized immediately as condescending. Words like "soap opera and panic button" infer that the complaints are unfounded. I agree people sometime fly off the handle when game bugs are found, and this NCAA release is no exception. But this happens with every sports game, every year and it is not an OVEREACTION like the author tries to portray. I think the most upsetting part to me is the part that says: After the eye of the storm passed, the other problem became abundantly clear: the evil roster glitch. And if you want to see panic, then look no further than a bunch of guys that are without real-life named rosters during NCAA release week. "Something that is free and provided by ordinary people has become the biggest part of the game to many, and when it was found that the game would freeze, and created names would not work properly, well that is when things really hit the fan." The game costs $60+ and it is a feature that is expected to function correctly. Whether or not someone takes their time to make a personal roster and share it with others has nothing to do with that $60 price tag. I guess I need to go back to my basketball forum for some sanity.

I think he's just hitting on what you mentioned, that there is a general hoopla every year and he just accentuated that a bit. I didn't think it was meant to be condescending though.

The free thing I don't see as an issue. It is a thing most people do for free, which is awesome. And he does say it's a big part of the experience for many (including me when I bought NCAA in the past). Eye of the beholder though and if you feel that way that's totally alright.

[thmst30]

Chase we love you man, keeping it real in this thread and taking everything in stride.

Now as for the complaints about the OS Review score. The thing about reviews these days that I find so wrong is that, as you stated, its ONE persons OPINION. Thats not what a review should be, it should hardly touch on the writers opinion at all. A review is a place to put down the straight up facts about a game, both the positive and negative, and then let everyone decide for themselves if they will buy it. EVERY review site out there today is guilty of loading up the reviews with their OPINIONS and leaving many FACTS out. Leave your opinions at home or post them in the forums, for the review we just want the writer to lay it all out on the table and thats it. Again, its nothing against the reviewer or OS, everyone out there is guilty of destroying what reviews are supposed to be about.

[867-5309]

Stop posting review scores? Who cares if you are not listed at Metacritic or gamerankings. I have yet to have someone explain to me what the difference between a 8.5 and a 8.4 rating is? They are for the easily amused.

Daily Radar (US version), long gone, did it best.

Direct Hit - Hit - MISS - DUD

Forces the read to concentrate on the review text, instead of an arbitrary score.

Also for the people posting the likes of the Bill's (Abner and Harris) you have to realize that they do not speak for the majority of gamers. They make some of the hardcore blush. Sure fix the problems, they are there in spades but love it or hate it, they are games. Games are supposed to be fun. Call me silly but running 40yard tests hour upon hour does not seem like a person is having fun. These guys are not speaking for the masses and in fact, Harris loses points for the silly the game is **** comments. It is far from that.

I have owned every Madden/NCAA since their inception and follow Pro and College football as much as the next guy. Stop insinuating that just because a person is having fun with the game is football moron. Some people can detatch between video games and reality. Sure they might want things fixed and notice the problems but they also try to find good in games. I have read both Bill's over the years and I rarely ever see where they try to do that.

The problem is all of you are complaining to the wrong people. Speak to the people who have the purse strings and control the budget. These are the people holding the games bag and allowing these bug filled messes to be released.

You want to make a small difference. Get vocal to Peter Moore.

http://itsinthegame.ea.com/

Everytime he makes a blog post, let him know you dissatisfaction. Post a comment. If there is a big enough outrage there will be hundreds of comments that he has to look over. It is his blog after all.