This was my concern about extending VIP time. It wasn't worth and resource time to do it. People are working on extending VIP time instead of other game issues and enhancements.
A Message to Our Players From SSG
- Thread starter SSGBranding
- Start date
It never ends, the game is up and running stop nitpicking.
The Narc
Well-known member
Lol stop nitpicking? I am sure everyone is happy to be reminded to check and make sure their monthly 500 VIP points dont go missing with these days being added.
Lol stop paladining!
You have made a base assumption that is false: It does cost SSG IRL to give free Ottos, as those who have the funds now would lose the motive as the opportunity cost went to zero, and they are free to spend it elsewhere. IIRC, Otto's all start around 20 or 30 dollars. Methinks that your numbers do not add up and maybe you do not understand the basics of supply and demand. Google "Opportunity Cost".
Guntango
Well-known member
No.
They cost SSG nothing. Otto plops them out, washes them off and gives them to SSG to sell or give away.
rabidfox
The People's Champion
Isn't that what the Dread bundles were all about? Giving us a taste? I never used a box before Dread. Have bought 2(?) since then.
Aka, the drug dealer business model. First hit is free. The next will cost ya.
gringofoot
New member
As I said, this is not economics. This is PR and reputation management. The people who already purchase Otto's Boxes will continue to do so in the future. One free Otto's does not eliminate the need for additionals in the future. The people who have never purchased an Otto's - many of them never will and some will like the experience enough to purchase in the future.
Regardless, your critique of my math ignores that an unplanned failure led to a platform-wide service outage. The issue is not one of precise financial calculations of item worth scaled to outage time. The issue is one of a customer base either feeling like they are valued, cared about and deliberately sought as customers in the face of the service provider's failings.
Supply and demand are not what is at stake. Service, response and customer engagement are at the center of what I am talking about.
Feel free to give me some other smug response and defend SSG in this forum thread. Even if you use all caps, it won't get you an extra cookie from SSG and it won't change the missed opportunity that SSG had to engage the customer base and flip the script on how they respond to their own mistakes.
Frostthorn
New member
I seldom post / read the forums but I was looking through these. I'm VIP during Hardcore. Other times F2P.
I also work in IT and in the early 2000's I had to take a couple years in customer support (due to outsourcing) and let me tell you a severity 1 outage on a holiday weekend is everybody's worst nightmare. The 2 things customers ALWAYS wanted to know were:
1) The reason for the outage.
2) What are you doing to prevent this happening in the future.
And invariably the management never wanted to share the details. I have always thought that was a mistake (maybe because I was a programmer). The times we did just state the problem the customers were like "Okay" and let it go. Otherwise they just kept asking questions. I think SSG would benefit from just telling folks what happened.
I'm stating the obvious here but the player base that WAS patient and understanding ALSO don't post to forums. So yeah the forums are going to be a skewed view. What I do like however is that people are passionate about the game.
As to the player appreciation / compensation bonuses - They seem fair, but they did not make me say "Wow". mostly they seemed aimed at replacement of what would have been available during that outage (the time, the gold rolls, the +20% guild renown that was in effect that weekend) . Nice but no "Wow" factor.
I also work in IT and in the early 2000's I had to take a couple years in customer support (due to outsourcing) and let me tell you a severity 1 outage on a holiday weekend is everybody's worst nightmare. The 2 things customers ALWAYS wanted to know were:
1) The reason for the outage.
2) What are you doing to prevent this happening in the future.
And invariably the management never wanted to share the details. I have always thought that was a mistake (maybe because I was a programmer). The times we did just state the problem the customers were like "Okay" and let it go. Otherwise they just kept asking questions. I think SSG would benefit from just telling folks what happened.
I'm stating the obvious here but the player base that WAS patient and understanding ALSO don't post to forums. So yeah the forums are going to be a skewed view. What I do like however is that people are passionate about the game.
As to the player appreciation / compensation bonuses - They seem fair, but they did not make me say "Wow". mostly they seemed aimed at replacement of what would have been available during that outage (the time, the gold rolls, the +20% guild renown that was in effect that weekend) . Nice but no "Wow" factor.
Frieling Slyhand
Well-known member
Meh. Each day is worth like .50 cents. I am glad they are working on it but the faux anger is really ridiculous at this point.
There's people who buy lots of $100 of DDO points without VIP. Why should only VIPs get comp? They're paying customers too, who need to feel appreciated for their business.
People like you just don't see the "big picture" either.
A good compensation for unusually long downtime is a GESTURE OF GOODWILL. Is it required? Of course not, but it would be stupid for a game company to not act on it to entice players back.
I'll explain it in simple terms: The big picture means that customers (gamers) are happy. Happy people who want to log in, play the game more. More people online means people who like to group up are happier. More items on the auction house (which is dead now) = happy players. More LFMs = happy players. More "fun" bonuses to use = happy players. Happy players = buying more DDO points (or VIP.)
And guess what... there's lots of players around who are "on the fence." The slightest thing will make them say "meh, this week's bonuses suck, and the compensation was pathetic. I'll go play another game instead." And if they find a fun game, some may never return. The DDO population is already low enough.
(and yes, I think Ottos is too much to ask for - but the current compensation feels like a kick in the face. "log in when we tell you, and you get partial compensation that doesn't even help half the players.")
Eltronin
Kobolds don't matter
First, you need to learn humor/sarcasm vs. attacking. Second, learn what Pot calling the kettle black means.
ThunderDownUnder
Member
Thank you.
It was a decent peace offering but a few xp pots would have been a helpful item. I would much rather have the answer to WHY this happened which means they can work on preventing it in the future. This is two holiday weekends in a row which is time players really look forward to some game time. That is why we are pissed. So do you know what happened????
Br4d
Well-known member
XP pots would be a poor reward in my opinion. I hate playing with a pot running. I like the extra XP but I hate having something ticking while I am playing the game.
A pot that gives +30% XP for the next 10 quests is preferable to a pot that last for 3 hours.
Cmecu
Well-known member
lol what do you want ? A gold Bouillon? Them compensating 2 days is fair, but they are adding more stuff
- VIP Daily Gold Rolls are extended to April 26th.
- All VIPs will receive 2 additional days of VIP status to compensate for the downtime. (Changes will be happening shortley. We will confirm when they are implemented.)
- To further show our gratitude, we are offering the following from April 5th through April 7th:
- +25% Heroic and Epic XP Boost.
- +25% Guild Renown.
- +10 Treasure Hunter Boost.
guild renown is meh.. but xp heroic is nice, and the treasure hunter boost.. daily gold rolls and 2 extra days of VIP back to us. What more do you think they should give? Dont get me wrong, I would prefer a gold bouillon also, but I will take these as compensation
Cmecu
Well-known member
never happen again? There is no way to ensure that. No one ever knows when hardware is going to go down.
Now companies like Blizzard, or Amazon, or the other really big boys have the money to have back plans ready to go at a moments notice. SSG doesnt have those kinds of resources.
Br4d
Well-known member
100%. 24/7 uptime is very expensive. What we have with DDO is a semblance of that plan with a weekly break to restart the servers and a hope and a prayer on duration of unplanned down time when it occurs.