Dev's Response

[Messianic]

Here's the way I understand the server and what Arcblahblahblah is like:

He's kind of like the guy who owns enough shares to own a tenth of a percent of the company (because people who play on the server benefit it to a small degree, although there is no contractual relationship and therefore no obligation by either party) beating his fist and demanding that things be done his way because "the company needs him and people like him."

Meanwhile, the majority shareholders (those who have an intense amount of time and resources devoted to the server and therefore make the decisions) are no happier if such an individual stays or leaves. In fact, if that individual is a jerk and feels entitled to something, it is a benefit to the group if they leave. I only use this individual's partial ownership as a generous example.

In this circumstance, the Devs hold all the shares. You hold none.

Games that have a good content for the kind of users this server draws (note: not necessarily the most popular games) are run by people who have a vision of what makes a good game for their audience, and they implement that vision with an iron fist without a single thought to the changing winds of "what people want." They have the vision and they put it into play - no apologies or compromises are necessary.

If they wanted to run an MMO which is "what most people want," they might go work for Blizzard and make a lot more money for their time, or something similar.

Again, you can give up your share of the company, but don't expect to wield a large amount of sway when most of the people here don't even worry what the Devs do or complain or question it. They want a classic experience, the devs deliver that, and that's all there is too it. If the devs cease to deliver what they claim to deliver, those who wanted that service will leave.

No democracy is involved, nor is any desired. Your opinion will sometimes be considered and may even be solicited - but it is not in any way binding or authoritative. Your opinion is virtually worth nothing, but the devs choose to value it on certain issues, at their discretion.

If you want to be helpful, treat the devs with the same respect you wish to be treated with. I've never seen them blow up at anyone or bring down the hammer when someone was respectful and actually trying to make a real point (even if they failed), unless they were being incredibly redundant. When they start sticking in jabs or underhanded personal attacks as many of the whiners have, people get banned or slapped down.

Don't like that? It doesn't even matter if you don't like it. The servers that spend their time trying to make the community feel fuzzy about itself instead of simply delivering a specific kind of product are the ones that fade into obscurity. I'm glad Nilbog/etc are dictators. I prefer it that way in terms of video games. Make something I like and I'll vote with my time - but even that isn't binding to the devs since they're not trying to turn a profit.


How is this unclear?

[Aeolwind]

Originally Posted by Arclanz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Cry me a river, IDB. I have a better idea. if the folks on this project truly don't give a shit about the users and created this server for one or two people; post that FIRST THING on the setup guide. I can assure you I would have not read any further than that. Then you won't get users like me assuming that the PM and DEVS do actually give a shit about the users.

Speaking of asshats, they are coming out of the woodwork on this thread. IDBs all over the place. LOL.

GTFO, F U, etc. That is some good reading...

This is my take: We can't care. Regardless of the decisions/changes we make, SOMEONE won't like it. And that "unlike" shifts with each change and patch. We can't, won't, and don't cater to anyone. The main thing we do care about is delivering what we set out too. The only way we can show any sort of caring towards the community is to continue to deliver Project1999. Outside of that; probably not going to happen.

The community is the players responsibility with GM action only against those you cannot take action against yourself if they are outside the boundaries of the server rules.

[nilbog]

Originally Posted by Arclanz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Cry me a river, IDB. I have a better idea. if the folks on this project truly don't give a shit about the users and created this server for one or two people; post that FIRST THING on the setup guide. I can assure you I would have not read any further than that. Then you won't get users like me assuming that the PM and DEVS do actually give a shit about the users.

Do you know what managers and developers do? I manage development work done by developers to create a free environment for players. If you think I need to "care" about you, then you need to "care" about me and we can be friends. If you expect customer service for something non-game related, you are looking in the wrong place. The server and forums should be a testament of passive "giving a shit." We provide not only a free service for you, but also have guides and GMs that actually help players in their own free time.

If you want to give your opinions, be prepared to listen to mine in kind. You should ask yourself what we have provided for you, and then weigh it against what have you done for us. You need to think about the PM and developers as other human beings, not your employees.

If you have a website or some type of service you provide, please send me a link. I'd love to use it.

[Aarone]

Originally Posted by Flicka [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

PS anything you guys do is grand with me. Wanna change the newbie zones to be full of energizer bunnies? care to stock HHK with man eating orchids? how about having the trip to OOT be a swim with rainbow fishes? [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] Armor needing repairs? Everytime I punt a gnome it eats a peridot? I'm in :P

Amen, Flicka! And, personally, I kind of think man-eating orchids in HHK would be kind of cool - it would certainly help reduce the camps! [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Nilbog, Rogean, Aeolwind, Haynar, DOACleric, Bumanahoweverthehellyouspellyourname, and everyone I know I'm forgetting: you guys rock! Thank you VERY much for your efforts, and your PATIENCE (which we certainly don't deserve), and keep up the hard work. Your making faaar more of us happy than miserable, and the miserable ones would be that way regardless!

[Insedeel]

Originally Posted by Arclanz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Then you won't get users like me assuming that the PM and DEVS do actually give a shit about the users.

Actually they do care about the users, the ones who are constructive, respectful, patient, and understanding. If they didn't care about anything we thought, then things like the pet healing threat post I made in the bugs section would have been completely ignored, but instead since I went through the proper methods of getting that issue addressed, it was not only changed, but it was fixed and changed in less than 2 weeks. I've had some nice conversation with some of the devs, because I was respectful, and constructive with what I had to talk about.

If I would have brought up my concerns with OMG FIXXX THIS!!!111ELEVEN! OMG why is this taking so long!, Why change thisandthat now when it's been a certain way for so long!!111, This isn't classic!?! FIXIT ... Who do you think they're going to care about more? The one that gave them respect, and the common sense mommy-taught "treat others the way you would like to be treated", or the typical drudge that is internet forum trolls these days? [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] In my dealings with the devs personally; Respect given, respect earned and returned. The devs have only responded here maliciously to the ones that maliciously attacked them first. I have yet to see a time that it's been the other way around.

[mitic]

critics are your best friends

Unless they criticize in a manner that cause you to feel totally devastated...

...in which case, maybe they aren't your friends because they are insensitive to you?

...in which case, maybe you're too sensitive to the criticism?

...in which case, maybe you realize the accuracy of their critique and realize just how much you may need to correct changes you have implemented?

...in which case, maybe you had unrealistic expectations of your friends the critics; you expected them to support you no matter how wrong you were?

anyways, critics are your most loyal players or they would have left the server already

think about it before we keep this adulation going and yes, without nilbog we would all still play wow or any other b-rated mmorpg out there.

[ermak]

Awesome job DEVS! Thanks for Project1999!

And on the side note, this is just my opinion. I am not worrying at all that if the Project1999 is “OFF” one way or another from the old “Live Classic”. As long as everyone’s playing by one rule and it’s consistent.
For me EQ Classic is all about game dynamics. This is the only reason I play it. No other MMO game has it.

[Aeolwind]

Originally Posted by mitic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

critics are your best friends

Unless they criticize in a manner that cause you to feel totally devastated...

...in which case, maybe they aren't your friends because they are insensitive to you?

...in which case, maybe you're too sensitive to the criticism?

...in which case, maybe you realize the accuracy of their critique and realize just how much you may need to correct changes you have implemented?

...in which case, maybe you had unrealistic expectations of your friends the critics; you expected them to support you no matter how wrong you were?

anyways, critics are your most loyal players or they would have left the server already

think about it before we keep this self-adulation going and yes, without nilbog we would all still play wow or any other b-rated mmorpg out there.

I'm yet to find a critic that has made me feel totally devastated. When I find one I'll let you know. Critic's don't mean shit overall. How can you even begin to form a basis of criticism when our goal is laid out, but our method is not? How can you begin to form a basis of criticism when we do this at no predetermined pace or promise of a pace? These would be blatant bitching & whining. You can certainly have an opinion, but we don't give a shit about opinions outside of the dev room. So, to this I say that all critics as you have outlined are baseless with regard to the project and provide no general benefit.

Those that are of benefit are folks like MMiles08 who does his research. Jete is another example. THOSE are the true fans of the project. The ones that take their time to help us along the way. The ones that give us good data and feedback. Not the sense of entitlement Children of Warcraft that have been fostered by gaming these days. This is nearly a black and white issue: You either help with the scope of the project, or you hinder. I say nearly because there will be those that experience nothing they perceive out of the ordinary. The ones that find bugs and don't report them or worse, exploit them are a hindrance, and those that report after research are the helpers.

Besides, being nice, concise & intelligent goes way, way, way farther than "YTOUR SIHT"S BROKE YOU DUMB FCUK!". The 2nd route gets your issue moved to the "Sometime after Velious" box.

Ask yourself which side of the line you fall on with regard to help or hindrance and then, maybe you'll begin to get on track with what we try to do here. This isn't coombaya, it's trying to resolve and recreate something that has been called impossible.

And to that end, I will continue to break down those that choose to sit on a high horse and talk down to the development staff of this project. I'll rip you off your god damn horse then draw and quarter you with it. We don't ask for adulation or reverence, all we want is the respect that normal people show each other. If that is a too foreign a concept, please hoist yourself by your own pitard.

[melkortshea]

As a new member to this server I just want to say that myself and my wife have really enjoyed ourselves. For a few years now I have been wandering from one game to the next to only get bored within a few days after playing.

This server has really lit a desire to get home from work and play again. I am very grateful for what you have done.

I can only look forward to getting familiar with this game again to eventually have the honor to hunt or raid with you people who have built this server and its community. I admire what you have done and wish I had the skills to be an actual productive member of this server. (I do sometimes get my hands on retired servers that are not very old and work great that I would be willing to donate. Just let me know the specs you require and the next time I get one I would be happy to ship it out to you if you need it.)

Sadly the way some people behave here is an example of the way society is becoming. More and more people are being raised with a sense of self entitlement. I am a PC tech and more often over the years I see people come into my shop with their kids and they just let them run around and grab what ever they want and just pretend nothing is happening.

I have had kids run behind my front counter and head into my shop, start hitting keys on keyboards and I am the one who has to tell them to not touch. While the parent is wanting me to devote my attention to their issue and not their kids ripping my shop apart. That is what the cry babies on this board remind me of.

Since the late 80's to early 90's it seems people raise their children to believe that the world is there for their amusement and it creates self centered people who we now see growing into adults that behave in the maner we often see on these boards.

Well for those who like to bitch and whine all I have to say is that the world does not center around you and the people who devote their time to making this server don't owe you shit. If you think you are so smart and can do better then what the Devs have done here then go make your own server and leave us who are having a good time here alone.

Anyway its time to close up shop and go home to play some EQ. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

If you see a young Druid named Dolahn with his lovely monk wife Luhnee please feel free to stop and say hello. We love making new friends and to do our best to be an active contributer to the community.

Thanks again guys for your efforts. There are several hundred of us playing that love what you have done. Don't let the 20 or 30 asshats that think they know everything make the rest of us who enjoy the fruits of your labor undermine our appreciation for what you do.

Simply put.... Thanks [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Breuce]

I just want to thank everybody. The devs hard work is very appreciated, and flamers, whiners, intentional trainers, exploiters... if it weren't for you all, this server wouldn't feel nearly as classic as it does