Dying (or DEAD) Disney has let us down!

[ex8404]

You know, I never saw the OP as a rant. I could read between the lines and see the evident frustration that he was feeling. Ranters generally enter a message board, make broad sweeping statements and then claim (as if anyone really cares) that they are NEVER playing again. The rant posts are usually misspelled and use lots of caps and punctuation. I honestly thought the the OP was thoughtful and concerned. And at no point did he say anything about leaving the game.

I am a casual gamer. The textbook version of a casual gamer. Heck, the only other game I've played in the last month was Roller Coaster Tycoon. The original one, not 2 or 3. As a result of my casual gamer status, it took me 6 months to master my pirate so no one can say that I "play 24/7." I hit level 40 the last week in November. I still play, still enjoy playing but I am starting to feel like the only reason I log in is to chat. I can do that with IM and not pay $10/month.

The problem with asking what the players want is that too many want too much. I have looked a the Grog Blog and all I can see is gamer greed. Unlimited clothing, pets (what's a real pirate need with a helper monkey anyway?), unlimited ships, massive customization options and weapons and so on and so on...Superficial stuff in my opinion.

So...what do I want? Higher Notoriety maximums. If Disney wants to throw these little "bones" to the players, then throw me that one. If I have to wait a year for a new chapter that has some depth and some excitement, at least give me a reason to keep playing. I don't mean "give me a reason to keep logging in" I mean playing. Last night I logged in, walked around Padres, chatted with some guild mates and then got asked to come help in Tormenta. So I went and pulled out my mastered voodoo doll and healed and healed and healed. Sometimes, when it got rough, I pulled out my (mastered) cutlass and leveled the playing field a little. It was fun but, ultimately, it gained me nothing. Not even gold because that has been maxed out for months. Couldn't even chat because I was so busy keeping up with healing.

Anyway...higher notoriety caps. That's all I want now. I can wait for a new chapter. In the "wouldn't it be nice" category, a new island with new challenges for pirates with 35+ notoriety would be cool...But I imagine that would require a whole lot more programming than an adjustment to notoriety.'TIll then, I will hang with the best guild mates a pirate can have (GOLD STRIKE!) and I'll help all I can. Heck, I still have four things to master, cannons (24), pistol (24), staff (24) and grenades (12!?!?!).

Sorry for rambling...slow morning.

[BART DAGGERSKULL]

i agree with u all of ur suggestions r great im a vll 40 too and im bored of the game im jsut about to quit it on New years eve

[Dr. Zeppers]

The point of the thread, was IMO to extend concern over the slow progress causing volume of members to quit. Not a rant, but a concern based on current observations of ingame activity, guild member attendance, and forum commentary.

Disney has a tendency to look at only the good, and ignore the bad as if it doesnt exist. Sometimes folks need to be bolder in bringing the "bad" to thier attention to have any consideration towards resolving it. Hiding ones head in the proverbial sand and telling everyone they just arent patient enough is playing right into Disney's hand.

I find that most who have the more positive opinions, are those that are much newer to the game, not those that played and mastered thier pirates in months, and then waited for more content, being given a stray weapon or clothing quest occasionally, to keep them busy a short period.

I understand the perspective of 'take a break', etc. But honestly most dedicated gamers once they find another game that fills thier time, will leave POTCO behind and never look back. I have been an online gamer for nearly 20 years (yes even before the internet, playing bbs games), and seldom do groups return to games once they've moved on. We've seen this already with many pirates. Concern for this type of turn around I believe prompted Basil's original post. I do think that some turned it into a rant, expressing thier ideas (belong in suggestions thread) of improving the game. It wasnt as much about what needed to be added to the game as much as making some progress to actually keep people interested/satisfied.

No need to complain about what we've already been given. The noticed lack of attention towards POTCO simply has some people concerned about its near future.

Equating this to a problem only with those that play 24/7 makes it easy for those that are not unhappy to 'justify' thier opinions, however the accuracy in this thought is well, way off course. I have played this game for 10 months, and not 24/7. I am a casual gamer, playing a few hours an evening, sometimes more or less on weekends. I have only 2 fully mastered pirates, and I agree 100% with the OP. POTCO staying on the current schedule may end up being a great game with loads of content in a year or so, however thier popularity is not likely going to be based on current players at this point, but the future players that join up for its next bout of public relations/launching after they do add more content.

[WDSnav]

This is just something Disney does. Toontown is also in the same situation. They have a new significant content update about once a year. They do exactly the same things you mentioned with Toontown also, how many times have they said Speed Chat Plus would be coming the next month when it really wasn't? This is Disney's style of doing things so if you don't like it; find another game(No offense Intended, I think this is the message Disney is conveying ).

[Pirate Bood]

Aye, I admit it guild numbers are down new guildables are fewer, freinds are not renewing membership.
WoW are really benefitting from disneys decision to use their resources to build the UK game and neglect the US one.
But really what can u do? I mean you are not saying anything new even if we all agree with it.

And the current notor should be doubled if it goes up at all, u shouldnt stop gettin notor when yer weps master. But for the rest of it a resounding, AYEEEEEEEEEEE!

Heres a thought if the die hards werent so bored would tort abassa be the crazy hole it is ? Would glitchin be as prevailant? Would drama be that interesting?
I saw a comment on the game developers page about them being so busy dealin with bugs and glitches that writing new game content is slow. But is it really that even though they have the capacity to increase the team writing this once overwhelmingly popular game, they would rather put that resource into the UK market as a cleaner meaner version?
Its disney they have the power, the resources, the dollar, the business know how....

[lostmymarbles]

Basil.. Ditto to all that you stated in your OP. Well thought out and well reasoned. And not a rant IMO either.

I've been playing the game (unlimited) since last December and have seen two guilds I belonged to completely die out. To my knowledge there are only two of my original guild who still actively play... me and Arianrhod...(just see our Kelly and Ari thread to find out what we do to amuse ourselves). And they aren't the only guilds that have died since this summer.

Thankfully, I found my way into Deuces Wild and Legion of Warriors. Both great guilds.

I enjoy the game. I play it intensively 4 nights a week. Fortunately I don't get bored easily. I have made a lot of friends here and hate to lose touch with them when they just stop logging in.

Hoping that Disney will have a nice Christmas gift for our pirates.. but not holding my breath.

[davy redflint]

no rant here just fact........i even hav made my own quest to keep playin... but it get harder and harder when u earn 0 reps 0 gold to keep playin. our gm has created many activitiy to keep people playing and hav fun which i think all of us DW's can atest to a good example when gm for the elite circle went awol ...he created the DW's to keep the group together... good job basil...and here be a new jug of rum for ye...enjoy

[Captain Grizzly]

Having read all the posts in this thread I can see the many good points that have been made by those on both sides of the issue. The OP was not a rant IMHO, but rather a statement of concern for the game's ability to retain players that have been in this game for some time.

I've been in this game since the first Beta test and I, as well as anyone who is still in this game from that period, can attest to how far this game has advanced. Anyone who has been in this game from the date of the open release can tell you how much the game has improved. As I stated in a previous post in this thread, for someone new coming into this game now, there is plenty of content to keep them busy for some time.

All of the things that have been added are great improvements, no one is denying that, but they provide little reward for those of us with maxed out pirates. And that is the point I believe the OP was trying to convey. The game is losing people, that's a proven fact. For all the improvements that have been made, little has been done to provide content that will retain players who have reached the games current limits.

And it makes little difference how long it took to reach the limits. I know people who do play 24/7 and have many mastered pirates and I know people who have played from the start who have only just mastered their first. Once the limit has been reached, it's been reached. I know full well it takes time to write the code needed to implement new content and then more time to test it to make sure it's stable enough to run in game and I have no doubt that things are in the works to improve the content for those who have reach the limits. The questions is, will they make it into the game in time enough to keep the games oldest members?

[Poison elf]

I think this post has taken off a few different directions, and I can understand the views of some not wanting to just hear bad. I also agree with Zep a lot of newer players have a much more cheerful attitude towards things.

The thing is, some of us have nothing left, and don't care if we walk over some peoples feelings because they don't want to hear where they may be in a few months.

The point to this is not to sit here and say nener nener nener.

The point is to gather up and make a difference, let it be known what people want and they are leaving.

I plan to try to stick this out a bit more, but don't in any means believe for a second I am going to say its all grand and wonderful. If upgraded weapons for instance slow down leveling with increased lower skill damage, I am going to say it. I am not going to pretend its something its not.

This is my facts, 250 max guild up to svs I logged onto yesterday.
2 people were active at the Thanksgiving event.
150 people still in guild, most all officers in place.
100 left to others or quit.
2 out of 250, this can be YOU.
These couple I have seen are waiting on subscription to run out.
I have got on vent and caught up to many of these guys, they are not going to be back.
2 major issues to all who really liked the game.
bans
no content.

Thus I will hang on to the Last of the Mohican's tag.
And I will post posts to help yourself no matter how bad some don't want to hear it.

Let me post a DIRECTED question along these lines on the grog blog and lets see what results we get.

I see a GM ever again it won't be is there going to be something done with level cap.

Its going to be, are you proud of running off 250 (mostly paid accounts) max guilds from the game? If not what are you doing about it?

Pretty much made me sick to look at all those names/friends in the guild yesterday of people that loved the game.

We pay Disney for this entertainment however minimal, not another player gm in the game to find things for us to do.

So frankly, if some want to come up with 24/7, or be patient, let me go look at our guild members again, and I will give a statement back.

The hope, that they get this together with the Uk update very soon.

[Rackat]

As my dear old pappy used to say, "patience is a virtue, desired by many, acquired by few".

My dear old Pappy also used to say. "If you can't dazzle them with diamonds, baffle them with Bull."

It appears that many of the player's are running out of patience. In an effort to keep us all paying, D is trying to dazzle us with a little Diamond "Weapon Quest" and "Founder's Feast", when really it is Bull because most want new content.

I'm paid through May. On two accounts. One of those accounts will definately go basic after this billing cycle. The other may go basic if the status quo remains.

[Basil Dreadflint]

Originally Posted by OFxZeppers

The point of the thread, was IMO to extend concern over the slow progress causing volume of members to quit. Not a rant, but a concern based on current observations of ingame activity, guild member attendance, and forum commentary.

Exactly!

Disney has a tendency to look at only the good, and ignore the bad as if it doesnt exist. Sometimes folks need to be bolder in bringing the "bad" to thier attention to have any consideration towards resolving it. Hiding ones head in the proverbial sand and telling everyone they just arent patient enough is playing right into Disney's hand.

The first story chapter was released over a year ago. The implication was that there would be more to follow. Since Disney, up until very recently, wouldn't allow ANY negative posts on the Grog Blog, and since there is no other avenue to address it, this was the ideal place for a thread such as this one.

I find that most who have the more positive opinions, are those that are much newer to the game, not those that played and mastered thier pirates in months, and then waited for more content, being given a stray weapon or clothing quest occasionally, to keep them busy a short period.

It's not about positive or negative, it's about what they are releasing, and the fact that everything is geared toward the new or junior player. There has been nothing released this year, other than reassigning skill levels, that has given a high level player anything. I liken it to my favorite(HA!) Cable supplier. Everyday I see ads for them, Great deals, fantastic packages, huge discounts, but only for new subscribers. What about those customers that have had cable service to their homes for over 25 years? Do they ever get a deal? Not only no, but ---- no.
They are the ones who are subsidizing all the great deals that the cable company is offering the new customers. This marketing ploy is only good for as long as the existing customer base will put up with it. Here, on POTCO, there is a different situation. Using this type of marketing won't work. Because, here in gamerland, There are too many other options available. Unlike the cable company, where you either take what they have to offer, or don't take anything, gamers have WAAAAY too many other options.

I understand the perspective of 'take a break', etc. But honestly most dedicated gamers once they find another game that fills thier time, will leave POTCO behind and never look back. I have been an online gamer for nearly 20 years (yes even before the internet, playing bbs games), and seldom do groups return to games once they've moved on. We've seen this already with many pirates. Concern for this type of turn around I believe prompted Basil's original post. I do think that some turned it into a rant, expressing thier ideas (belong in suggestions thread) of improving the game. It wasnt as much about what needed to be added to the game as much as making some progress to actually keep people interested/satisfied.

Absolutely perfect description of my thoughts.

No need to complain about what we've already been given. The noticed lack of attention towards POTCO simply has some people concerned about its near future.

Equating this to a problem only with those that play 24/7 makes it easy for those that are not unhappy to 'justify' thier opinions, however the accuracy in this thought is well, way off course. I have played this game for 10 months, and not 24/7. I am a casual gamer, playing a few hours an evening, sometimes more or less on weekends. I have only 2 fully mastered pirates, and I agree 100% with the OP. POTCO staying on the current schedule may end up being a great game with loads of content in a year or so, however thier popularity is not likely going to be based on current players at this point, but the future players that join up for its next bout of public relations/launching after they do add more content.

Just for clarification, since the 24/7 comment was initially aimed at me. I am NOT a 24/7 player. I fall into the same category as Zep. Been playing since March, Have 2 mastered pirates, working on the 3rd. Play about 1 1/2 to 2 hours an evening, when time allows. Some on weekends. There have been entire weeks when I don't earn a single rep point, due to aiding others, or more recently, because I am researching "other" things to do ingame with the guild. I spent the entire month of September preparing the DW Scavenger Hunt, and didn't earn more than a few hundred rep the entire month. I truely feel that it is these other activities that have kept our guild as active as it has been. It definitely hasn't been due to new level 5 weapons quests that none of the mastered pirates needed or earned any rep getting, especially the 'dust buster' pistol.


Thank-you, ZEP!!! It's amazing how much you said here!

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by Basil Dreadflint

Thank-you, ZEP!!! It's amazing how much you said here!

Having recently been approached by a pirate that appeared to be 'in the know' albeit very little of 'in the know'. I had some perspective on this subject. It had been put to me that I have been reflecting things in a negative light, where I should be thankful and positive. The individual told me that I should be a leader to all these brave pirates having fun in the game, and in doing so suggested I should be only positive, oblivious to the problems the game was having. He also suggested that if I felt this way I should "take a break" for awhile.

I find it no small coincidence that once I offered viable common sense reasons that his form of "leadership" was no leadership at all, and bad decisions by Disney, that this individual simply stopped talking to me, appears to be blocking out the bad, as it doesnt suit his purpose.

A leader does not blindly walk along and ignore the problems in his community as if they do not exist, a leader addresses these issues, and does whats within his power to help resolve them. Here I am, as many of you are, leaders in our community trying to break the ice, and get things moving in a positive direction. We are not ranting, we are expressing concern, as we as leaders see the community suffering from the current circumstances.

(If not considered a leader.. fine.. its not a title im looking for, but often find myself in that position when it comes to being vocal about some of these issues.)

I am very happy that some are quite happy with the game, and it is not my intention to discourage them. There is alot more content that has been added, and it does make the game much better overall. However as Basil pointed out, these changes accomodate the newer pirates just starting out, or still working towards mastery. There has been nothing to help the "dedicated/loyal" pirates that have funded thier development over the many months the game has been available to public.

[PinoyMan]

Disney needs to get more creative with Pirates online. They at least need as much as 70 people in their staff, they need to be more generous instead of greedy and when I mean by "generous" I mean generosity seen on other games like Runescape or World of Warcraft, they need to put tons of items, etc: at least allow basic members to buy the cutlass's from shops and add 10 more that are only available for members? They need to add more features and get more creative.

This maybe asking to much but I shall say this to disney. Don't be afraid to add more features to Pirates online, you shouldn't be afraid because you are one of the worlds largest media corporations and earn up to $35,51 billion dollars a year!. As encouragement, look at Jagex, the inventors of Runescape, look at Blizzard, the inventors of World of Warcraft. They started from scratch a few years ago and have earned over 1 billion dollars!.

I know you guys may not be keen but you should keep advertising Pirates online and expand it abit! I know this is abit overwhelming but It can be done and it would be easy for you Disney guys because you do not start from scratch, you start from an media empire. Put adverts on Foxtel maybe? put POTCO adverts on the Disney Channel which my sister watches?

Just do something eventful or this MMORPG would have been for nothing,,,

[Soda Pop]

One thing i have noticed, is that thre are probably a ton of concepts that arent even on the test server yet that disney is working on as i type. By the end of march of next year we SHOULD have a major update. i know for a fact that disney knows that if they do not have a big update soon, thier million-2million dollar game will go down the drain. it is just a matter of time. Disney is stalling. all of these little mini mee updates that are going on are stalls for a much much bigger one. trust me. disney should know by now what pirates want. better ships, harder enemies, more leveling, and another story quest. but, you have to remember that it took a long time for disney to even come out with the first POTCO version and a whole nother story quest and enemies and ships are going to be hard to do even with a team. You think Photoshop is hard, try what their doing. trust me. disny is not going to let this game go down the drain and there will be an update by the new year in the first few months.

[Jack Garrett]

i agree fully Basil and i'm so sick of this curse! the color and lighting of the curse depresses me. and why are they still running it? i was supposed to end dec. 14. they need to come thru with changes or something new cuz i'm borderline sick of the whole game right now.