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What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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DingoBoi
Jedi
Posts: 3235
Registered: 06-26-2003


DingoBoi
PA: EPC SHIPYARDS: Largest Shipyards in the Galaxy with 5 Master Shipwrights
Server: Eclipse

Reply 1 of 49

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I was a former beta tester and I loved this game.  That is why I so much wanted to be a part of it for launch.

Sadly however, that does not seem like it is going to come to fruition on ANY server.

I arrived home from the store with my CE in hand and just a little bit giddy... only to find out the servers hadn't been launched yet.

I then proceeded, like the untold thousands, to wait 10 hours to even get subscribed.  Quite exasperating to say the least.  I finally got 'subscribed' about 930pm est.

From there on, I've been unable to fully create a character due to servers going down constantly.  I've been unable several times, including right now, to find ANY server up at all.

I'm very unsatisfied that the CE art book is NOT hardcover like advertised and think that borders on fraudulent advertising.

I'm disturbed that I may not get 'my' name because thousands of people tried subscribing HOURS after i began and got 'lucky'.

You have my $79.95, but you no longer have my respect.

I still love this game, but am dissappointed to say the least. 

There has been an abysmal failure in the communication here as to what was going on all day.  You should have had somebody online here all day.  At least one person to keep the communication flowing, if only to give 'pat answers' like, "we are working on it".

Customer Service through chat is abysmal.  I am in customer service myself and the agents CSR skills were severly lacking beyond saying 'we can't help you'. 

Again, you have my money.. and you will likely keep my money, because i do love this game. 

These issues cannot go on.  I was patient in beta when I was a tester.  I understood 'issues'.  As a paying customer, I neither care, nor want, to understand issues.  I only care about being able to play the game that I paid for.

I'm new to the MMO world.  One of those 'casual' gamers you were trying to seek.  I can certainly tell you that 'casual' gamers want to 'play' the game as soon as they get it home and they do not wish to wait ten hours to even subscribe.

This launch, by all accounts, is a disaster. 

You have lots of apologies to make... and you had better make them soon.

DingoBoi - Former beta tester...and almost a 'former customer'

 

~ EPC SHIPYARDS ~
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Premium Ships & Components Featuring 5 Master Shipwrights * Powering the Eclipse Galaxy
u A R B O R E A L H O R I Z O N S u L A R G E S T S H I P Y A R D S I N T HE G A L A X Y u Naboo -6500 3300u
u M E G A C O R P u P O W E R u Talus -546 -2767u
06-26-2003 08:11 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Holocron
Dev
Posts: 1019
Registered: 06-25-2003


Holocron

Reply 2 of 49

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DingoBoi, I definitely understand. I agree that we have not been as responsive today as we should have been... our only defense is that we've been in the dark much of the day ourselves. Please do read my post here in this forum, hopefully it offers some of the explanations you're looking for.

-Raph Koster
Chief Creative Officer,
Sony Online Entertainment


Also, ex-Creative Director of SWG

06-26-2003 08:15 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Dag_Benhameen
Jedi
Posts: 673
Registered: 06-26-2003


Dag_Benhameen

Reply 3 of 49

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Hey DingoBoi, just FYI saw you were upset you didn't get on the beta testers list and don't know if you kept on reading the thread but you were on page two (just in case you hadn't realized this already).

As for the game and the devs... s***t happens man.  It's sad that you take it so hard.  I've been sitting here since 11AM CDT w/ about 10 minutes in game to show for it but I have faith.  First day is always a hard one for MMOGs.  I know tomorrow will be better (good thing I took it off too!!).  

------------------------------------


Chaka - Elder Merchant/Elder Tailor/Elder BE
Tredo Eiteinawo - "Officer"

Visit the Museum of Historical Fashion at scenic Enik's Plateau, Lok 4820 x 4891 - about 2k NE of Smugglers Luck (Sunrunner)
06-26-2003 08:21 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Ailsa
Wing Commander
Posts: 764
Registered: 06-26-2003



Reply 4 of 49

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DingoBoi, I understand your frustration but to have this attitude on the day of launch is unreasonable.  The only MMORPG that ever had a smooth launch was DAoC and most people would say that was the best thing about that game.  AO had a terrible lauch but became fairly popular later after they got themselves straightened out.  From what I hear, EQ had a very rough start as well and look where that game is now.

 

I think you just need to sit back, take a deep breath, and put it all in perspective.

06-26-2003 08:24 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Mystickneon
SWG Ensign
Posts: 216
Registered: 06-26-2003


Mystickneon
PA: DSF
Server: Gorath

Reply 5 of 49

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I have to concur with you, DB.

These problems cropping up in beta is exactly what that phase of development is for... testing. Since that phase was prematurely terminated, there are a large number of issues out there, still waiting to be tested. I disagreed with that decision, and let people know, but alas, it was a futile effort for a mere beta tester.

The registration process should have been tested outside of the internal development environment.

The problem with the Oracle database should have been detected prior to going live. That's what beta's for.

There were hardware failures... well, during beta, unplug stuff and see what happens. Design an architecture that's able to handle equipment failures.

I'm not even gonna get into the existing gameplay issues, as they are too many to list.

These kind of things shouldn't happen with what is referred to as a 'finished product'. SWG is a 'finished product', as it has been released and shipped. An ongoing trend in software development is to prematurely release the software prior to it's fruition.

That might sound like a slam on the Dev's, but I assure you all, it is not. The Dev's behind SWG have put a hell of a lot of time into the project, and are working as hard as they can. The fault truly lies with the corporate decision to release the product and show a profit.

Well, as far as I am concerned, EULA or not, I will want money back for days when I cannot get online. None of the issues we are seeing today are 'Acts of God', or 'Internet Congestion affecting performance'... they are the result of a product not being ready, but being sold anyway.

End of Line.
06-26-2003 08:25 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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EchibMaverick
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Posts: 228
Registered: 06-26-2003


EchibMaverick
PA: CERES
Server: Corbantis

Reply 6 of 49

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Any first day of a highly anticipated MMO has been like this, I have played serveral MMO's on release day and if you are the hardcore gammer that wants to play on day 1 then you will have to expect these issues. Usually day 2 and day 3 they have the issues worked out.

I really think our 30 days of free play time should start when the servers come back online, not when we tried to register for 10 hours and did not get to play at all...
06-26-2003 08:27 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Imadonkey
SWG Chief Petty Officer
Posts: 5
Registered: 06-26-2003



Reply 7 of 49

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I agree with the original poster.  Someone not familiar with mmorpg's isn't going to find this launch acceptable.  The devs are doing a good job?  How is that obvious to me?  I can't play the game to see what work they did on it!!  Keep it in perspective?  Here's my perspective:  $80 down the toilet...  I know this will be a great game once it gets rolling, but people expect better from LucasArts.  As everyone else, I'm extremely disappointed.
06-26-2003 08:35 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Dag_Benhameen
Jedi
Posts: 673
Registered: 06-26-2003


Dag_Benhameen

Reply 8 of 49

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Something I didn't mention b4...

Your right about the CE art book.  I don't know if they advertised it as being hardback at any point but the book pictured on the back of the box insert is definitely hardcover (of course, it's obviously a different book since the pages shown are diff than actual book too).  I bought the CD for the **bleep** glasses but it does seem like the photo on the box shouldn't show something that isn't inside.

------------------------------------


Chaka - Elder Merchant/Elder Tailor/Elder BE
Tredo Eiteinawo - "Officer"

Visit the Museum of Historical Fashion at scenic Enik's Plateau, Lok 4820 x 4891 - about 2k NE of Smugglers Luck (Sunrunner)
06-26-2003 08:39 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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DingoBoi
Jedi
Posts: 3235
Registered: 06-26-2003


DingoBoi
PA: EPC SHIPYARDS: Largest Shipyards in the Galaxy with 5 Master Shipwrights
Server: Eclipse

Reply 9 of 49

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Explantions don't concern me.  I don't want, or care, to know why.  I care about the repercussions of these events.

  • What happens when i can't create a character with 'my' name because somebody took it who tried subscribing 5 hours after me?
  • What happens when my character is not registered as being 'born on' June 26... that's being there on day one.  Can this be corrected?
  • What happens to our 30 day 'free' trial as a result of this?
  • What happens if 'my' server is full now... when I did everything possible to be on it immediately after launch?
  • Why did the CE advertise a hardbound cover art book but then only include a paperback?  False advertising.  And your CSR staff will be hearing about this.
  • Why couldn't you have had somebody here all day answering threads, even if they couldn't give any answer other than 'we are working on it'

There's more that I just can't remember now.  I typed this response 3 times and keep getting 'errors on page' that I can only correct by rebooting.

 

DingoBoi - Eater of Babies

~ EPC SHIPYARDS ~
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Premium Ships & Components Featuring 5 Master Shipwrights * Powering the Eclipse Galaxy
u A R B O R E A L H O R I Z O N S u L A R G E S T S H I P Y A R D S I N T HE G A L A X Y u Naboo -6500 3300u
u M E G A C O R P u P O W E R u Talus -546 -2767u
06-26-2003 09:29 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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DextersDinner
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Posts: 40
Registered: 06-26-2003



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Reply 10 of 49

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Would you like some cheese with that whine?

Zeflar Venik
06-26-2003 09:45 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Aramusha
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Aramusha
PA: The Galactic Irregulars (TGi)
Server: Chilastra

Reply 11 of 49

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Dingoboi.

I think your complaint is reasonable but hardly justified. It's launch day for Buddha's sake. Give the game (and devs) a few weeks, if things don't look up than rant.

Do have some patience, this isn't your run of the mill MMORPG. I was a beta tester so I know how you feel but give the game some time dude.

regards.

Mush.

Aramusha aka Aram Solari
---------------------------
future TGi Weaponsmith.
06-26-2003 09:54 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Hopenator
SWG Chief Petty Officer
Posts: 2
Registered: 06-26-2003



Reply 12 of 49

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I agree totally! If you are going to release a game, than it had better work! If the tutorial had even been on the disks then we all could have least farted around and gotten familiar with the basics. I have been logging in and out with a buddy for almost ten hours, trying to play this game. If it was not ready then don't release it. Select-a-galaxy-limbo-land sucks, huge!!!! SOE has some big ground to make up with us "casual-gamers" who just want to live out all we imagined wtaching the films. SOE has crapped the bed and I'm sure somewhere on the Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas is losing sleep because of it!! One other point, **bleep** is with the need to pay up front when the first month is supposedly free? We should have been able to pay at anytime after our first month. Looks bad trying to get money for a game that doesn't work! Also, there is no info on server locales so we can see what is best "Galaxy" for us as players. I kept hoping that all the posts and chats I saw saying  that SWG was "too early'and would "never work" were untrue, but today I was sadly shown the truth.
06-26-2003 09:58 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Fyro
SWG Ensign
Posts: 38
Registered: 06-26-2003



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I am surprised there aren't lawsuits over stuff like this.

I can't think of another industry where a manufacturer could sell 50k+ units of a defective product at $80 a pop, knowing it wasn't working as advertised, and not face class-action lawsuits out the wazoo.
06-26-2003 10:00 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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Riptide0
SWG Commander
Posts: 127
Registered: 06-26-2003


Riptide0
PA: CAIRDEAS
Server: Wanderhome

Reply 14 of 49

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We all have our reasons for wanting to be HERE on day one, from the very beginning. Those reasons speak to what the Devs have done right, the reasons why we believe that one day it will be important to be able to state that we were here on DAY ONE. Those reasons far outweigh a few technical difficulties.

Yeah we're dissapointed, but for one second do you really believe the Devs wanted any of this to happen? They poured the last 3 to 4 years of their life into this project, and I guarantee you that launch day is something that they have been dreaming about. The ooohs and aaahs and raw excitement of the players who are living IN the Star Wars universe for the very first time. Its the moment they've looked forward to, and the opening day experience they wanted to deliver. The experience that blew everyone, including their critics, away.

Now because of a few obscure issues that never came up in a beta test in which they included over 65000 testers all of that has been put on hold, not to mention their families and personal lives being placed on hold as many of them work straight through the evening and late into the night. They're the ones burning the midnight oil trying to make all of this work, and not because they'll get a huge raise out of it or because their salaries truly cover working straight through the night on a project. Its because they're proud of this game, and I think they have every right to be.

Did this launch cost me my respect for the employees of SOE? Not in the least.



Riptide
  • Elder Commando
  • Elder Smuggler
  • Elder TKA
  • Elder Swordsman
06-26-2003 10:04 PM  

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Re: What the game cost me? $79.95. What it cost SOE/Lucasarts? My respect.
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DingoBoi
Jedi
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Registered: 06-26-2003


DingoBoi
PA: EPC SHIPYARDS: Largest Shipyards in the Galaxy with 5 Master Shipwrights
Server: Eclipse

Reply 15 of 49

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Aramusha wrote:

Dingoboi.

I think your complaint is reasonable but hardly justified. It's launch day for Buddha's sake. Give the game (and devs) a few weeks, if things don't look up than rant.

Do have some patience, this isn't your run of the mill MMORPG. I was a beta tester so I know how you feel but give the game some time dude.

regards.

Mush.




I fail to see how something can be reasonable, but not justified.  Again, let me restate, I am not a MMO player.  This is my first.  I'm part of the 'casual' market they are aiming for.

I represent a whole lot of people who have bought this game with my comments. 

I haven't experienced past problems in MMO's, but i do understand them.  I've spent many HUNDREDS of hours on the public and beta boards to become familiar. 

But i also don't care about those past MMO launches.  This is the game I bought and it's the game I wish to play.  I perceive it as the difference between a beta tester who expects delays, with a paying customer who doesn't.

That's simple enough.

DingoBoi - Eater of Babies

~ EPC SHIPYARDS ~
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Premium Ships & Components Featuring 5 Master Shipwrights * Powering the Eclipse Galaxy
u A R B O R E A L H O R I Z O N S u L A R G E S T S H I P Y A R D S I N T HE G A L A X Y u Naboo -6500 3300u
u M E G A C O R P u P O W E R u Talus -546 -2767u
06-26-2003 10:06 PM  

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