How important is the forum feedback to Ubisoft? | Forums

[MerriIl]

From what I understand, Ubisoft Toronto has only one individual that monitors the forums (correct me if i'm wrong). I wonder if Max and the team actually take into consideration what we're discussing on here. I mean, aside from this forum and maybe a couple other forums, the only other source of feedback I can think of would be Youtube and maybe some other gaming websites. For the most part, I'd think they'd go directly here, if they even bother listening to what the fans are saying.

I mean, it's their game and they can do anything they want with it, but you would think they would care about what the fan's of their franchise are saying. Personally, I think after making such a bold move as to removing Ironside front he game - they probably aren't really taking too much consideration as to what we're saying. That being said, I don't see things like variable speed, multiple routes, and light/sound mechanics making in it to the final product (although i would love to see all of those).

What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with me?

[Tully__]

All of the forum managers and community developers have as part of their duties collating feedback and suggestions from the forums. There may be only one dedicated to a particular game or studio, but they are being assisted by the rest of the Ubisoft staff on the forum team. After all, it only takes one to take the collated information back to the dev team.

Additionally, the moderation team who are volunteers rather than paid staff also bring relevant stuff to the attention of the Ubisoft forum staff. That adds up to quite a lot of effort being expended on monitoring and collating your comments. If they were really as disinterested as some forum members claim there'd be a single forum manager and no com-devs for any game.

[sameer_monier]

Ubisoft has a policy that the devs do not interact with the fans in the forum, but they do look at them, Max Belland saw many threads, and saw the feedback.

As for Zack, well while the devs are working, they won't have time to come here everyday to check and read everything, hence Ubi.Zack, he keeps in touch with our feedback, he answers some questions here and there when he is able to, and he try to give us goodies every now and then, like the interview with the main writer Dansky, and the Carrying Bodies image, he is doing a great job of communicating with us IMO, there is also Ubi.Mush, and GrrrPixiegirl


As for the general direction, you got to understand, they do listen to feedback, it is evident with the many stealth features they are bringing back cause we requested it many many times, like LTL, Carrying Bodies, removing B&W, Tactical Suit, Whistle, ..............etc, but the thing is they won't scrap what they are doing and do a CT.2, yeah I would love to see CT.2 as much as any fan, but with what they established in SCC, they won't just throw the new direction away and bring the old hardcore direction, for various reasons, mainly that Ubi want more fans and boarder appeal, hence the change.

I said it right after SCC countless times, do not expect a SC6 to be CT.2, it will be SCC.2, that was the hard reality some people didn't want to believe, but anyway the important thing is to find balance, and add hardcore options in the new formula, Variable Speed we got no confirmation of it being there or not, but so far we saw that there is 4 speeds ((2 crocuh, 1 walk, 1 sprint)), so there is still hope, I don't need to remind that this is an early build, as Light/Sound System you got confirmation that it will probably end up being Binary like in SCC when it comes to Light System, but it may ((and may not)) be interesting that they are mixing it with LoS too, and they are focusing alot on AI., Multiple Routes is there, it was there in SCC ((not in every map yeah, but it was there)), and it will be in SCB, the developers believe in sandbox style gameplay, again we only saw an alpha build or something, oh and the breaching part in the end there was a different route than the door, so yup they are doing multiple routes too.


Bottom line they are trying to make the biggest SC yet, which is a sequel to SCC, so most of SCC will stay, but also they are adding as much old features as they can, without it being a mess, and them losing funding or something, have faith.

[JaRuTo]

It's not true that old fans want the same Chaos Theory clone - There are people that don't interfere with the new solutions the condition, provided that the elements of which were an icon of the series will be back.
For example. Splinter Cell Conviction lost along with those stealth elements that were characteristic of the series. Speech here - to the many ways in reaching the goal and sneaking in any way - if we don't want hurt anybody, being more patient then this game should allow us to do this and not the fastest stealth of coercion.
Addition to the Spy vs. Spy mode in Conviction only solidified my belief that you need to liquidate your enemy quickly, without much thought because time doesn't allow to your patience plan.

If the levels are designed from the beginning of an sneaking aggressive style, it is no longer a Splinter Cell, period.

[sam2000_290]

Well, I am speaking from a business perspective, it's always good to have feedback so the devs know what to expect from them and this increases sales and other benefits. Feedback is important, especially from loyal customers. Basic marketing concept is that, there needs to be a market. When there is a market, the aspect of the market is defined and the company caters to it. There is a base for Splinter Cell games and an established fan base, so that means there is a market. With this, the company caters to it but needs feedback so customers can get what they expect.

In terms of from a gaming perspective, I would say it's equally the same but because it's a business, not some hobby or something, money is the number one concern.

Devs always need new ideas when they run out. What better ways to get ideas than from fans? The forum is a way to do so because it's a collected/collaborated system or database of ideas ready for the devs to look at, or in this case, moderators or ubi.Zack.

In terms of what the devs do with the feedback is up to them. The devs is trying something different, no harm in that. Of course they take feedback. Beland has seen the forum, he does notice the criticisms. This was mentioned before. Look at carrying bodies. I am sure he does want it back for the fans. Conviction is more faster pace and no need for it but he wants it back, can you really say he doesn't care about us? If the game was about stealth and carrying bodies is taken out and he takes no consideration into it, do you think he cares? I doubt not. It's because the game is different but he still wants the fans! so he is genuine on wanting the feature. (unless you get into conspiracies...) Look at how much time they are spending in SCB with the motion cap. And the new carrying bodies picture. I can surely say, he is there for us. He is working hard on it. Making sure the animations looks right for carrying bodies and other things.

So yeh, feedback is important, no matter if the devs considers all or some. If they don't consider some of yours or my ideas, it doesn't really matter because it's nice to share our ideas on the forum and discuss together like friends except on the internet. It's always nice to talk to the devs like friends but I am sure they are too busy making sure the game is up to satisfactory or at least the lower satisfactory level (cough, cough, fans').

[EvilPixieGrrr]

Hi gang!

Tully is 100% correct. In fact, today is the day my community report is due so the team can see your feedback. So please, keep posting your thoughts succinctly and constructively. It definitely matters!

Thanks!

[SolidSage]

Of course what the fans think matters. But they can't build a game based soley on the desires of the vocal few, they can't hand over design decisions to the unqualified.
Ubisoft has to pursue it's own agenda, the fact that they have these methods of outreach and do care enough to listen, and at least attempt a compromise with us is inspiring.

I think we as a community need to understand that a bit better. Not back off of what we think is right and good for the franchise, but at the same time understand that things may need to be different and try to compromise a bit ourselves, while remaining positive. Unless we truly feel it has become an awful mess, at which point distancing ourselves is probably the only healthy thing.

I don't think SC is any where near as messed up as it sounds around here sometimes. I think we tend to analyze individual things down to the smallest level, and that amount of discussion can really only go into what might be better. Acolades don't really require a lot of discussion.

I think we all owe it to Splinter Cell and the years of pleasure it has given us to reserve our judgements until we play SCB, and try to be unbiased and not let our love for Sam and our specific ideas of him override a fair estimation of the quality of the product.
Initially at least, then later we can get into the nitty gritty and talk about how "Sam isn't like that or whatev"

[MerriIl]

Thanks for the responses guys and gals! I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. It's good to know that fan-feedback is considered and even desired by the developers. I'm very happy with how SCB is coming along and can only imagine that the finished product is going to be a massive success for the stealth/action genre and in sales!

Hi gang!

Tully is 100% correct. In fact, today is the day my community report is due so the team can see your feedback. So please, keep posting your thoughts succinctly and constructively. It definitely matters!

Thanks!

Aside from all the little (great) things Max and the team have added thus far, I think the majority of what the forum members (myself included) hope for, are just little details that made us love the series from the beginning. Below are just some hopes and expectations:

Variable speeds - Preferably "stepless variable speeds" for crouch walking like in Chaos Theory and Double Agent. (It's awesome that there are at least more speeds in Blacklist already than there were in Conviction)
Mini games - Such as lock-picking, hacking, searching files, etc.


Most of us are very excited that the Tac Suit has come back and hope for a good variety/customizations. It would be nice to have some of the old Sam outfits available maybe even as DLC in the future!

[MANGAJEDI]

Of course what the fans think matters. But they can't build a game based soley on the desires of the vocal few, they can't hand over design decisions to the unqualified.
Ubisoft has to pursue it's own agenda, the fact that they have these methods of outreach and do care enough to listen, and at least attempt a compromise with us is inspiring.

I think we as a community need to understand that a bit better. Not back off of what we think is right and good for the franchise, but at the same time understand that things may need to be different and try to compromise a bit ourselves, while remaining positive. Unless we truly feel it has become an awful mess, at which point distancing ourselves is probably the only healthy thing.

I don't think SC is any where near as messed up as it sounds around here sometimes. I think we tend to analyze individual things down to the smallest level, and that amount of discussion can really only go into what might be better. Acolades don't really require a lot of discussion.

I think we all owe it to Splinter Cell and the years of pleasure it has given us to reserve our judgements until we play SCB, and try to be unbiased and not let our love for Sam and our specific ideas of him override a fair estimation of the quality of the product.
Initially at least, then later we can get into the nitty gritty and talk about how "Sam isn't like that or whatev"

VERY well put. I remember how the forums were when conviction was shown (2010)

A lot of it was some pretty extreme stuff. I'm a hardcore fan buy I also wanted to see Sam kick some..butt.. After double agent. I wanted a more personal story and that's what I got. I had my worries with the action trailers but i also did ghost in parts of conviction. I also want blacklist to stay true to sam's personality. Let it show like in double agent - with moral choices and all in DA and now black list- he questioned things he (we) did.

Brings me to my next thought. With ironside coaching Eric Johnson I think blacklist will be great. I care about the character of Sam and his personality which can be translated between two voice actors well. Especially if ironside is helping. (you could definitely see him coaching. Eric in the video showing ironside.)

Btw SAGE you changed your photo! I'm as big an MGS fan as SC and being legally blind ( and boy how that's obvious now )
I use your avatars to see who is posting. Lol I was like "where'd sage go?" then I was like "UH oh. This MGS guy may get torn up by some SC extremists lol. Anyway high hopes for this game (^_^)

[SolidSage]

@Mangajedi

I have to reserve my thoughts about the Ironside/Johnson transition until after I play the game. I'm okay with it in theory, I realize the necessity for it, but I will only be able to approve or disapprove after I hang out with post change up Sam and see how he/it feels. I hope it works. I don't want to feel negative about it. Only time will tell on that score.

I did change my pic BACK to NakedSnake. He's one of my favorites and I look more like him than Sam so there you go