With a launch window ( presuming theres no delay ) of just over 9 months, I'm curious to know how our feedback will have any effect on Ghost Recon 4. Obviousily Kimi can gather tons of info on our feedback on previous Ghost Recon games. But as Ghost Recon 4 will be a completely new game some of that feedback from previous games might be rendered useless by new features or gameplay mechanics of Ghost Recon 4.

For example if Ghost Recon 4 ships with a map editor how will our requests be transferred from kimi to the dev team to the Ubisoft ( tog ive the green light ) in time for us to see positive action on our feedback.

Im not saying we have all the answers but I'm positive if we had some information we could give some very helpful feedback that might anticipate some problems. For example there might be a new online gametype that sounds great on paper but experienced clan members would know it just wouldn't work as planned ( GRAW siege for instance ).

Im sure there are great PR reasons why we havent heard diddly squat yet about Ghost Recon 4, but it might be wise to ask some opinions from some seasoned players, even if its via a private conversation. And I dont mean me, ask whiteknight or Cons or Mean.

I'm flattered..

Realistically though it's probably too late in the development cycle now for them to make any substantial changes. That's just the reality of how big and complicated game development has become. GRAW 2 came out in March 2007. Even if they didn't start thinking about GR4 until then, you're looking at a three-year effort. That would put them now in the last 25% of the project. It's even possible that the game will be substantially done earlier than that and they're holding back the release for financial reasons (i.e. not getting steamrollered by COD4 2).

I'm a programmer at a (non-game) software company, and the kind of projects that I've worked on pale in comparison to the hundreds of people from different disciplines that they need to get working together. Adding or changing things late in the development cycle can really throw things off, and it drives project managers and programmers nuts. When they do decide to make big changes (see: Splinter Cell Conviction) it can push the release date by a year or more.

The time to be heard was two years ago, and I'm hopeful that your, my, and others' opinions that were given here and elsewhere were heard and factored into the design of GR4. Having said that, I'm always available for a second opinion if one is wanted, and my rates are very reasonable!

What you said is true but im talking about small things that make or break a feature. Not major gameplay features. The smalliest difference can turn a great idea into a success or a failure.

Paladin that 'small' change you refer to would have the massive impact on development MeanMF refers to. However to answer your first question feedback was taken over a period of time.

Im well aware that small changes can maybe take months to impliment. Im not talking about adding new features in. But spawn location, editor ideas, maybe even an asset or 2. Things that could take months to fix which is why im saying that we or certain members of the community should be getting some info now so we can give constructive feedback on GR4, not on features which we feel should be in the game.

Theres a lot to be said for the help of a constructive community in polishing off a game. What might seem like a good idea or a small compromise might be a deal breaker for the community or large sections of it.

BTW this isn't a rant. Im just trying to help the game.

I dont think anyone is arguing the value of community feedback, the difference here is you're assuming that feedback is only of value when you know what may or may not be in development and that isnt the case.

I completely agree that that all feedback is extremely useful. But at this stage some focused feedback would be better suited to improving the game.

This is a nebulous, but pertinent question that I'll do my best to discuss without detail. Like Kleaneasy said, we've consistently been gathering your feedback and put it in the hands of the dev team for quite some time now. And while I can't cite any specifics, it is our hope that you'll realize this when you see something in the game and say "I've been asking for that for forever!"

As far as development time frame, as information starts being shared, we're going to do our best to address any issues that arise. I frequently see the sentiment that it's unfortunate that console games have the ability to be updated because the developer gets lazy and releases a buggy game. On the flip side, it also allows the developer to address any issues that sounded great in theory/playtesting/focus grouping/forum talk but don't seem to work well "in the wild".

quote:

Originally posted by kimi_:
And while I can't cite any specifics, it is our hope that you'll realize this when you see something in the game and say "I've been asking for that for forever!"

Ive asked for so much that im bound to see something in the game whether intentional or not

BTW i'm not attacking you. I believe that you are right person in the right job to give us the game we are all craving for. I also believe that we have the right developers at the helm. It's the publishers that I'm worried about.

But I also believe that two way interaction with the developers ( via yourself ) and the long standing community with regards to certain specifics with as much time as possible prior to the games launch will do wonders for the game and cut down significantly the amount of changes that will need to be made after launch via a title update. As we all know the bigger the title update the more additional problems it can create.

I might be wrong on this but playtesters will be not be fans of GR and will be mostly looking for bugs rather than how the game ebbs and flows with regard to the type of gameplay that the community desires. Im just giving my uneducated, baseless advice. I think direct contact with a small group of Ghost Recon fans or even better a closed beta would drastically help polish the game. A perfect example of where this would have been hugely beneificial is with Far Cry 2 multiplayer.

PS never heard the word nebulous used before. I had to google it .

This one will be easy to put in.

If Not prone Then
M107_reticule = bloody_huge * trigger_rate
M107_accuracy = bloody_poor / trigger_rate
Endif


and even

If siege_x_coord < 0.10 * map_width Then
call move_the_damn_siege()
Endif

This stuff is easy.

quote:

Originally posted by kimi_:
This is a nebulous, but pertinent question that I'll do my best to discuss without detail. Like Kleaneasy said, we've consistently been gathering your feedback and put it in the hands of the dev team for quite some time now. And while I can't cite any specifics, it is our hope that you'll realize this when you see something in the game and say "I've been asking for that for forever!"

Kimi,

Could you please, next time you talk to the dev team, please bring up my number 1 request? The Ghillie Suit. Please tell them that a guy named XxCH0NGxX on the forums has been asking for it for years.

Sincerely,
XxCH0NGxX

Please pass on my number 1 request of Laser Cannons and Power Armour.

Tell them a guy named xX HALO FAN 1996 Xx asked.

Hilarious! Or not...

Anyway, a beta could be nice. Iron out a few bugs and the really awful modes that were awkwardly forced into GRAW (still thanks for trying, nice ideas)...

Maybe Ubisoft could include the beta in a copy of 'Imagine - Soldiers' featuring bunnies, flowers, and Captain Mitchell!

XxCh0NGxX, from the forums, yes that's a zero not an oh, has been asking for the ghillie suit for years.

xX HALO FAN 1996 Xx (is he even old enough to play our game?), also from the forums, would really really like Laser Cannons and Power Armour. While you're at it, I think he wants pink armour like Halo has.

PALADIN_BS, you know he is, no explanation necessary, wants to fly to the studio and beta test. He'll be sequestered in the locked janitor's closet, and we'll shove some bread under the door once a day or so until three weeks after launch.


Got it! Noted and passed on.

Will there be an Xbox in the closet?

quote:

Originally posted by PALADIN_BS:
Will there be an Xbox in the closet?

Yes, but the screen that it's attached to will be in another room so you don't see anything that you're not supposed to.

Wow thats just mean.

No whats really mean is that while you wont have the Xbox/GR screen you will have a projection of the Halo game being played by another guy locked in another cupboard, of that you'll have full sound and vision

Thats fine as long as there's a blunt object in the room to bash my brains in with. The xbox might do the trick.

quote:

Originally posted by XxCH0NGxX:


Kimi,

Could you please, next time you talk to the dev team, please bring up my number 1 request? The Ghillie Suit. Please tell them that a guy named XxCH0NGxX on the forums has been asking for it for years.

Sincerely,
XxCH0NGxX

He has been too.

If CHONG doesn't get his Ghillie suit back, he has reasonable grounds to sue Ubisoft for mental cruelty.