Curse

KurtTheBehemoth · May 08, 2006, 08:13 AM // 08:13

For the last 5 months I have been an avid reader of Guru. During the Prophecies era the collection of threads on this site was more or less equal. Most of the threads were questions and all the others were opinions of aspects of the game. The opinions were about 50/50 between liking and disliking which is actually quite good considering most players won't stop playing to write a compliment if they are having fun.

Since Factions has been out I have noticed more and more negativity in this forum. I wanted some concrete numbers though to consider what the Guru crowd thought of the game. So I spent 3 hrs at work tonight reading the posters' beginnings to the latest 500 threads. I grouped them in 3 catagories:

1. having positive comments
2. having negative comments
3. asking a question about game without an opinion

I was stunned as i went through the threads.

23 threads complimenting Factions as whole or part.

275 threads asking questions about the game <i.e. strategy, items, misc.>

and a whopping 202 threads out of 500 complaining about some aspect of Factions or the game as a whole

This is disturbing to me considering how much time I spend on the game. I enjoy it overall but am getting bored as more and more of my Guildwars friends are going elsewhere.

Looks like its gonna be henchies for me.

Bowman Artemis · May 08, 2006, 08:17 AM // 08:17

From what I've heard from the older users/mods, the same things were said at the launch of Prophecies. I wasn't here, but it seems that the same thing might be happening. I see a lot of threads saying that the later-game missions are empty and thus, must suck. But the thing is, a lot of people can't get past (or are not rushing through) the first part of the game.

SAQ · May 08, 2006, 08:25 AM // 08:25

My goal in GW is to play for fun, and that goal has kept me playing GW since it was released.

Sometimes I play PvE when I have more time, other times, I jump into RA for a few games. Or just sit in front of the comp, watching the observer mode to see what top guilds are doing with their GvG build and hopefully witness a game which is exciting in the process.

Seriously, many of those people who start complaints/whining threads are those casual to the forum. There should be a complaints forum dedicated to all the complaints, and people who feel like they want to complain can go there instead of flooding the good in-game discussion forum.
As I'm tired of seeing threads which complain and whine.. they get mingled with the good discussion threads.

Vaga · May 08, 2006, 08:44 AM // 08:44

Most veteran players like factions so I don't know what your talking about.

Xenrath · May 08, 2006, 08:47 AM // 08:47

It's the complaints/issues threads which lead to game changes (for better or for worse is a topic for another day). The fact is most people don't post about things which they're happy with - that's life in general. Look at any news programme and it's almost always focussed on things which aren't so great.

Really, if it weren't for people raising issues and complaints, we'd all still be living in the stone age content and happy with that. Nothing would ever be improved upon.

KurtTheBehemoth · May 08, 2006, 08:48 AM // 08:48

I was just stating the statistics in this thread. I could be wrong. Just do what I did and you will see how many ppl are upset.

Asrial · May 08, 2006, 08:54 AM // 08:54

It doesn't matter how many people are upset. hat matters is what people are upset 'about'.

The reason there's more people posting about being upset with Factions is because they had the opportunity to influence Factions, unlike Prophecies.

..and lastly..

We human beings love to argue and remember the negative moreso than the positive. People happy with the game don't post about it. Just human nature.

Xenrath · May 08, 2006, 08:56 AM // 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asrial

People happy with the game don't post about it. Just human nature.

Just a side note but the majority of players don't post on any forum, at all (happy or unhappy) - this goes for most games, the forum population is a tiny minority compared to the total number of players

Draxx · May 08, 2006, 09:00 AM // 09:00

Vetran Players were expecting something out of the game that isnt quite there for the most part i think you will find. it IS good but has problems and may have been rushed a little, it needs to have the bugs worked out and things added to it, exactly as it did in Tyria. It need to be left a few months to see how Anet go with it.

the main disapointment i find having 5 Lvl 20 CHars is having to go through all the missions in the city with all of them, but at the same time i havnt got all the bonuses on all of them with a number of my characters so it is NOT that bad.

Change is never responded to well at first and a bad reaction in the forums was always going to be the case.

Ive not seen anyone who hates every aspect of the game, far from it infact people hate small things which Cantha doesnt have or frustrating gates that are always closed. But most complaints ive noticed are things people will play GW Factions anyway for. but they just want to have a bit of a moan about.

we will see how factions evolves.

Metanoia · May 08, 2006, 09:01 AM // 09:01

It's think it's all down to a psychological phenomena known as "Sheep Syndrome". Okay, I 'fess. I just made that up.

I'm not sure how it started but I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be half as many rants if it wasn't generally perceived that people on this forum are unhappy with GW:F.

Check some of the other forums, it's like they're playing a different game.

Edit: *points down* lol. *looks suspiciously innocent*

Tainek · May 08, 2006, 09:03 AM // 09:03

do you want to know why people arnt posting they enjoy it?

thats why

Iskrah · May 08, 2006, 09:15 AM // 09:15

I had high expectations, and even if I'm playing it and enjoying some of it, I'm disapointed. Good chance I'll be smart enough to spend my 50 bucks on other end-of-the-year game next time. Factions feels too much like a 19$ add-on. A good one at that, sure.
The only way I buy Ch.3 is if PvE isn't all about FedEx, ANet stops encouraging elitism and most importantly, if new skills are important for PvP. Meh. :/

arcanemacabre · May 08, 2006, 09:37 AM // 09:37

Xenrath, Asrial and Tainek brought up the best points on this, IMO. People simply don't report good news, and the ones that have nothing but good news are probably playing instead of posting.

Personally, there are a number of things I dislike about Factions, as there are about the original game, but these things don't come anywhere near the number of things I like. If I absolutely hated the game, I simply wouldn't play it. Just because I have something negative to say about anything in the game, doesn't mean I hate it entirely.

Simply put, if people complain, it's because they like the game and want to see certain things change so they can like it more. The greatest part is, Anet is a company that actually listens to player's complaints and at best acts on them, at worst responds to them.

baz777 · May 08, 2006, 09:48 AM // 09:48

People will ‘put pen to paper’ to complain more readily than those who are just getting on and enjoying the game, sad fact of human nature.

The ratio of complaints/praise on here certainly does not surprise me but in my opinion does not truly represent the true split.

CK0 · May 08, 2006, 09:54 AM // 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenrath

Just a side note but the majority of players don't post on any forum, at all (happy or unhappy) - this goes for most games, the forum population is a tiny minority compared to the total number of players

That may be true, and that is also unfortunate, because those other gamers don't have a "voice". In other words, they don't have a "vote". I believe due to the fact that this game is not p2p, ANET needs to be on top of the forums to be clear on what they are doing wrong, and what they have done right. I suppose that could be said for p2p ORPGs, but it is much more important in this case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metanoia

I'm not sure how it started but I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be half as many rants if it wasn't generally perceived that people on this forum are unhappy with GW:F.

There are VALID gameplay problems in Factions. If you cannot see them, then there isn't much else to say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metanoia

Check some of the other forums, it's like they're playing a different game.

Sure those other forums are riddled with 'fanboys'?
I like to think GWG tells it straight up here. We dont sugar-coat anything. As said before, a forum that provides valid complaints and constructive criticism proves to be much more beneficial to making a game better than a forum with blindless praise. If you don't like seeing or hearing the complaints, don't read them. To repeat myself, you learn more from your failures than you do from your victories.

Forums that point out valid criticism help improve the game. If the other forums are too scared to touch the bad parts, or don't have any problems with the game, well more power to them. The "extra" rants prove that the problems that plague the game are not minor ones shared by a minority. Besides, if you have a particular gameplay problem with ANET, and try to contact them, I believe they tell you to post it on these public forums.

And from that, I'd say it's natural to see more 'complaint' threads than 'this game is fun' threads. If there did not exist any complaints, there can be only two reasons:

1) the game is perfect
or
2) no one cares anymore

1 is rarely going to happen, and if it is 2, then the game series tanked and is beyond salvagable.

Lonesamurai · May 08, 2006, 09:58 AM // 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metanoia

It's think it's all down to a psychological phenomena known as "Sheep Syndrome". Okay, I 'fess. I just made that up.

NO, that is in fact a real syndrome, and its one that a good 90% of the world populace adhere too...

Best example is Dieting for women... (

oh I'm gonna get flamed for that one, but its true!)

SAQ · May 08, 2006, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by CK0

That may be true, and that is also unfortunate, because those other gamers don't have a "voice". In other words, they don't have a "vote". I believe due to the fact that this game is not p2p, ANET needs to be on top of the forums to be clear on what they are doing wrong, and what they have done right. I suppose that could be said for p2p ORPGs, but it is much more important in this case.

There are VALID gameplay problems in Factions. If you cannot see them, then there isn't much else to say.

Sure those other forums are riddled with 'fanboys'?
I like to think GWG tells it straight up here. We dont sugar-coat anything. As said before, a forum that provides valid complaints and constructive criticism proves to be much more beneficial to making a game better than a forum with blindless praise. If you don't like seeing or hearing the complaints, don't read them. To repeat myself, you learn more from your failures than you do from your victories.

Forums that point out valid criticism help improve the game. If the other forums are too scared to touch the bad parts, or don't have any problems with the game, well more power to them. The "extra" rants prove that the problems that plague the game are not minor ones shared by a minority. Besides, if you have a particular gameplay problem with ANET, and try to contact them, I believe they tell you to post it on these public forums.

And from that, I'd say it's natural to see more 'complaint' threads than 'this game is fun' threads. If there did not exist any complaints, there can be only two reasons:

1) the game is perfect
or
2) no one cares anymore

1 is rarely going to happen, and if it is 2, then the game series tanked and is beyond salvagable.

I feel only a little less than half the critisms are actually something Anet should look into.. others are pretty absurd or plain stupid. Many posters should think more than twice before complaining as the answer to their question is already there if they think a little harder.

EG. Unlinking accounts.. chances of this happening and making it work, is like ZERO.
How do you manage to split an account so that somehow the keys will get the right characters and items and skills unlocked, storage.. etc after the split??
It's a good idea, but it's unreasonable as it's hard to make it work.. so people who want this should think about HOW it can work. Anet don't make pigs fly.

Snograt · May 08, 2006, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonesamurai

NO, that is in fact a real syndrome, and its one that a good 90% of the world populace adhere too...

Best example is Dieting for women... (

oh I'm gonna get flamed for that one, but its true!)

How DARE you!

I've been dieting for AGES and STILL no women!

SAQ · May 08, 2006, 10:09 AM // 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

How DARE you!

I've been dieting for AGES and STILL no women!

Off topic:
Try changing your Avatar! Maybe that will work

FoxBat · May 08, 2006, 10:10 AM // 10:10

People have a baseline and certain expectations from Prophecies now. They have an idea about what to expect based on what they've seen before. Obviously then, when there are some areas that the new falls short of the old, they are easy to identify and complain about. Some unpopular changes:

1) Buginess of many factions missions/quests after these have been mostly patched in prophecies for a while.
2) Ultra-long fedex quests in the city, which are extremely rare in prophecies.
3) Realm of God's Favor system reincarnated into an even more elitist system, Elite missions. The elite tend to like them, but naturally they are the minority.
4) Factions is just plain not worth the same $50 as prophecies was to a veteran, its shorter, and you only get 2 new character classes and not nearly enough new skills on the other. Not that this necessarily matters or it should matter given their business model, but it's hard to argue you get less value for your buck here.

and I'm sure there's much more that could be added to the list... but basically, comparing factions to prophecies makes it pretty easy to identify tangible things "worth" complaining about. You've got your work more cut out for you when trying to find the flaws in something that cannot be compared more easily, as was prophecies' release.

Does this mean more people are actually unhappy? Maybe... people went into prophecies with vauger expecations before, now they are more concrete going into factions. It could be just as good as proph and that would still disappoint people because they've seen it before, so they complain or else leave...