posted 11-09-98 08:44 PM ET        

We asked for Borders - they put them in. We asked for combat more simple than the CIV and CIV II model, and they put it in. We (well, me anyway) asked for beer making to be a major scientific rediscovery, and they laughed at us.

Back then I think we felt much more that we had some sort of say in the game. We felt that the developers wanted us, needed us. We felt that we were a part of the very design team.

Today, the focus of developers has been to provide heaps of feedback to the loyal followers. Look at the problems that Ultima had. They told their customers nothing for a long time. They said what was going into a game, and the input of the fans counted for little. Ultima fans asked questions, and were met by a wall of silence.

Finally Origin realised the folly of their ways, and Lady Moi was hired. For the sole purpose (well, maybe not the only reason) of being a conduit for answering the questions of the public. And suddenly people that months before were panning Origin, were suddenly singing their praises. Faith was restored, and the masses were happy.

Hmm, the point of all this, you ask? Well, I begin to see a remarkable similarity in the silence of Firaxis recently. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that it is turning people off anywhere near to the extent that OSI had turned off the Ultima fans.

However, what the silence has done is to make us all a little bored (the reason I left the forums originally if the truth be known). It was nice chatting to all my friends int he Forums, but in the end, I really couldn't justify the hours spent on the forums merely chatting with some friends about NIM.

I ahve of course since returned, and am very happy to be back. Catching up with old friends, making some new ones, and maybe even some enemies along the way. Ah, anyone remember Eric Olsen, my arch nemesis?

But still, I don't think that Firaxis is doing the best by us, the customer. They are too silent. People ask questions of Firaxis, and none are answered. Mostly these days, the only posts I see are Firaxis saying that a new story is up, or occasionally asking for a bit of feedback on how the story should proceed, or the like. There are the occasional appearances by others, but they are few and far between.

Now, I know they're busy, what with the game being due out in a couple of months, and they probably don't have time to read and reply to all of the posts. However I think they could do so much more with these forums. I believe that there is so much untapped potential out there, so much that is being neglected by their not posting, answering questions and the like.

Back in my first days on the old forum, I remember having quite a few convos with Tim Train and Jeffrey Morris, and I have even emailed both of them. I found them both to be extremely friendly and helpful, and they in no way shrugged me off. Exactly what I think people expect these days, and I think it help promote the company in a good way.

However, this is not continuing on into the forums anymore, and nor has it for 6 months or more. Sure, the design for the game is probably fixed. Sure, most of us old timers could answer most questions.

Yet it would still be nice to have a little more Firaxis participation in the Forums.

I don't know if we really want every single question posted answered by Firaxis, otherwise they'd probably never hear the end of it. There'd be millions of questions each and every day, and probably the whole staff would have to spend every minute of every day just answering our little inane questions.

And yet, who is to say that even one question might push their thoughts down a different direction, some way they may never have thought of. I strongly believe that players are a very good influence on game design. We know what we want in a game (normally ).

So, what's my point you ask?

Well, I wonder how many people have been put off by the lack of posts from Firaxis? Maybe none. Maybe hundreds. I can only see increased participation from Firaxis as a good thing though.

My aim is to improve the forums, to encourage more people to join, and once joined, to stay. I don't know id I want the level of detail that the people on the Baldur's Gate forum enjoy. Heck, there you can ask if there are different animations for a dual classed character, and a single classed character, and you WILL be answered by a developer.

Here, you are answered by an oldie like me (or one of the newer joinees), or by no-one seemingly.

So, I'd like to ask Firaxis to come home to the Forums. To participate a bit more. To make us feel needed again.

Don't get me wrong, I love all the people in this forum, even the peopel who constantly disagree with me (hey - it's an aussie thing ).

But I would feel far more a part of a SMAC community if the developers were a part of the same community.

Anyway, that's another cleansing rant out of the way. Feel free to respond, argue, abuse me, or totally ignore me. But know that your participation contributes, and make it contribute in a good way. And I hope to see Firaxis staff members back here shortly.

posted 11-09-98 08:55 PM ET            

What I would like after that, is a chat where Origin personel can be atleast 10% of the day to answer questions and stuff.

posted 11-09-98 09:45 PM ET            

(I couldn't resist

posted 11-09-98 10:50 PM ET            

IMHO the whole reason the board is like it is (90%+ posts off topic) is because of that selfsame silence from Firaxis...

posted 11-09-98 11:55 PM ET            

I think the major problem is just the ridiculous of the whole thing, and the fact that the game is pretty much set by now. Sorting through the days 500+ postings to find a single decent suggestion that can be implimented without delaying the game could be classed as well nigh impossible. I suspect some staff at Firaxis may even be curious as to why the site is running a bulletin board where 90% of posting is off-topic posting about NIM, Azugal, and the current IIIS conflict. Fun, but not very productive, when you think about it.

With only limited time left before the next deadline ( ), you have to ask whether the designer's time is best spent working solidly on the game, or scanning the forums for late suggestions. I think it should be done, but only occasionally, and where a difficult decision must be made.

posted 11-10-98 12:07 AM ET            

I dunno, maybe I am more trying to change their mindset on their participation on the forums in general. Maybe it will help in a future game.

But you're right, reading about NIM, Azugals, the IIS, and Imran's taking over of the forums wouldn't do too much good. But as I said, I think the whole reason we talk about that stuff is because they don't get more involved. Kinda vicious circle, no?

posted 11-10-98 02:46 AM ET            

Forget the Aussies, with globalisation of rugby/league a loom possibility it may be the Americans who kick our ass. I already have nightmares about the thought of packing down against some of those 130kg per player scrimage lines.

posted 11-10-98 02:55 AM ET            

That's a big reason Auckland don't do any well in RL. They're big, they have decent ball skills, but they can't last the distance against the super-fit Aussies.

Now, you get Jonah Lomu in your RL team, and I'll start to get worried. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Any truth to the rumour that he's a crossbreed with an ore truck? rofl...

posted 11-10-98 06:48 AM ET            

The main topics of discussion were the history of slavery in the United States and some medieval topics. You had a large clump of posters who didn't seem to care much anymore that the board was intended for the discussion of MOOII, they kept on discussing the American practice of slavery right up until the game FINALLY shipped (after delays from the original release date of over a full year). There was the typical load of individuals who did nothing other than post messages telling everyone to stop talking about non-MOOII stuff, etc. Personally, I and my friends stopped posting and just didn't care until the game finally shipped.

While FIRAXIS seems to be much more punctual with the now *perhaps* solid release date this winter (only 2 or so months off from the original release date), this interim period has produced a board which has flown wildly off subject.

The bottom line is that people will discuss whatever they want, be it religion, capitalism/socialism (although I think we sufficiently killed that topic already), abortion, international relations, physics, various elements of technology (not THAT far off), and other non-SMAC material as long as the SMAC-related material has worn out. When we have new and fresh SMAC related things to discuss (the story helps in this regard a lot), we will. If anything, appreciate the intellectual discussion for what it is and patiently wait for more game-related material. (don't worry, it's comming :-))

posted 11-10-98 07:16 AM ET            

I don't know what the solution is. I would like to hear more from FIRAXIS. I would love it if they posted something about the game however mundane. Sure it would be followed by a spate of "Wow thanks for talking to us you are the best" posts but if it was more frequent then people wouldn't think like that.

posted 11-10-98 10:46 PM ET            

Imran, if we can talk about NIM, proSMAC and the IIIS for more than 6 months, I think we could talk about the game for that long. With some feedback that is.

Mike I think you expressed it much better than I could. I tend to be too long winded, and seem to sory of skirt around the point, rather than hitting it dead on. I'm still perfect, mind you... rofl

Also, after re-reading my original post, it sounds a little like I am berating them, which was in no way my intention. So, just to set the matter straight, I was just trying to encourage them, provide some constructive criticism, not have a go at them.

Sincerest public appologies to anyone who may have thought otherwise.

posted 11-10-98 11:04 PM ET            

I can't resist jumping in to say that we are finishing a game, and when that happens time is very precious and there are a million little things to do, each with their own little deadline. Of course Firaxians will reappear on the message board when the game has shipped, but I hope you can understand that for now reading forums and composing replies takes time and momentum away from game-related tasks.

My tasks yesterday:
Write and edit a last minute movie script so that it can be recorded at 3 o'clock
Run script by Brian and incorporate changes
Edit story and update web site
Attend lunchtime weekly progress meeting
Phone conference with Origin on Alpha Centauri site redesigns
Actually "sit in" (by phone) on the movie script recording
Work with Dave Evans on final sound mixes for some of the movies
Generate list of final movie footage
Meet with Nick Rusko-Berger on animations for opening movie
Prepare some text to pass to Tim for final translation drop

This is all in addition to final editing for movies, which is ongoing this week.
Plus, listening to casting tape on the drive home for one last tech blurb recording

posted 11-10-98 11:04 PM ET            

I can't resist jumping in to say that we are finishing a game, and when that happens time is very precious and there are a million little things to do, each with their own little deadline. Of course Firaxians will reappear on the message board when the game has shipped, but I hope you can understand that for now reading forums and composing replies takes time and momentum away from game-related tasks.

My tasks yesterday:
Write and edit a last minute movie script so that it can be recorded at 3 o'clock
Run script by Brian and incorporate changes
Edit story and update web site
Attend lunchtime weekly progress meeting
Phone conference with Origin on Alpha Centauri site redesigns
Actually "sit in" (by phone) on the movie script recording
Work with Dave Evans on final sound mixes for some of the movies
Generate list of final movie footage
Meet with Nick Rusko-Berger on animations for opening movie
Prepare some text to pass to Tim for final translation drop

This is all in addition to final editing for movies, which is ongoing this week.
Plus, listening to casting tape on the drive home for one last tech blurb recording

posted 11-10-98 11:20 PM ET            

As for off-topic - imagine a Forum where 90% was on-topic. Now, wouldn't that be awesome?

Anyway, I better stop, or it'll sound like I am harping...

posted 11-10-98 11:46 PM ET            

So, Mike, what did you do after lunch when you had all that stuff finished? lol. Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm a bad boy, I know (goes and hides in shame in the corner)...

Don't want to say any more though. Thanks for dropping by...

posted 11-13-98 11:12 AM ET            

Mike Ely: Thanks. We understand.

The forums have suddenly got a lot more SMAC related again, which is nice and there are a few physics things there which warms my heart.