Mercurysteam's Hangout

BARRACKS => Gameplay Feedback => Topic started by: Deridus on June 13, 2019, 10:28:02 PM

Title: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Deridus on June 13, 2019, 10:28:02 PM
There have been accusations of disinterest about the state of the game towards Mercurysteam, and I thought maybe I could write from a different point of view. Personally, I like the game, from their characters and story to the gameplay, and don't share the opinion that the developers don't care, in fact, I think it's the opposite, and it should be acknowledged more often. I see the game as Mercurysteam's baby, the game they wanted to make for a long time, at it has been shown when they've taken care of it and improved it through the difficulties and lack of players, instead of abandoning it and trying something else that could be more profitable. Sure, the developers don't handle well the monetization and marketing areas, but you have to give them credit for the things they've achieved while being a small team, like getting the lady that acted as Quiet to work with them. The game has its flaws, but they have proven many times that they listen to the community and fix many of the indicated problems. This game is good and weird, but above all, it's a fun one, but you need to remember that, as said before, they are a small team and need time to make important updates and changes, as much as we all want the story to continue or that some things disappear.

Also, on the bright side, all these people complaining show how much the community has grown.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Asmun on June 14, 2019, 07:12:16 AM
I agree that developers, including those of Spacelords, a huge amount of criticism and not enough praise for what work they have done, and really, only people who sincerely want the game to succeed would even bother posting on a forum to complain about problems in the game, so that does say a lot. However, as much as this developer deserves praise for the changes they have made, even they have admitted that the communication system has been one of the biggest complaints since the game's launch, and it took them a year to implement this, just some more preset commands? I just can't understand how this is still such a critical issue when they're obviously aware that it's a critical issue.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 14, 2019, 12:48:24 PM
… I see the game as Mercurysteam's baby, the game they wanted to make for a long time, at it has been shown when they've taken care of it and improved it through the difficulties and lack of players, instead of abandoning it and trying something else …

I may well presuppose that, as a paying customer! Since I may well expect a reasonable product in return, right?
MercurySteam did not give me "Raiders of the Broken Planet" for free, you know!? But I think I got enough fun for my money back then.

Now it's free - now MSE can do whatever they want, for the better or worse. Nowadays more for the worse, sadly.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: ScimitarSlice on June 14, 2019, 02:19:13 PM
they need tough love, not pats on back.

look at how many more people are streaming paladins than spacelords... like 50 times more.  Paladins is a glitch mess with poor graphics and poor matchmaking.  The game can be fun only because they stole Blizzard overwatch and fun creative card loadouts, thats all.  Reasons why paladins is more popular is that 1. there is user friendly shooting gallery to experiment with all characters from the start 2. there is a training to shoot bots when you want to in other words OPTIONAL PvE playing and you can earn gold and exp. this is good for trying new characters or when you are tired 3. there is a better communication system, many commands and just plain fun to chat and make jokes.  mics are default on with mute available  4. there is casual or ranked mode.  in ranked mode you can ban characters in other words they know balance can be a problem so they give you OPTIONS

spacelords is a unique game because of combination action and chess, no other game like it that i know of.  it should be much more popular but bad decision and bad allocation of resources are made.  don't tell me they are having lots of profits because if they did they would get servers.  bad first impression to have bad host bad ping.  new people will try and never come back again.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Skyline on June 14, 2019, 02:21:44 PM
No way. Developers so Bad :)
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: ArnoldCat on June 15, 2019, 09:29:17 AM
(https://thumbs.gfycat.com/MediocreTemptingAlleycat-size_restricted.gif)
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: ScimitarSlice on June 16, 2019, 01:33:44 PM
(https://thumbs.gfycat.com/MediocreTemptingAlleycat-size_restricted.gif)
hahah you are a impressive memester
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Engelsgaard on June 16, 2019, 06:07:14 PM
+1 for everything Deridus said.

-1 for most other comments.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: ScimitarSlice on June 17, 2019, 12:02:07 AM
+1 for everything Deridus said.

-1 for most other comments.

look brother man you have a bias because you have a lot invested in this game.  You can not -1 to facts, lazy debater.  I did my own research and spacelords is lagging far behind.

 I took notes on twitter activity, youtube activity, forum activity, streaming activity, and just queuing the game of spacelords with the same group of 150 people most of the time. Comparing that with several competitor games.  Im also going to uni for business right now so I know some things.
 
Anyways I bought overwatch and ps-plus sub because they on sale today got a good deal.  Id rather play spacelords but they forced my hand.  YOu won't have to -1 my facts or worry about me messing up your dreamland anymore. 

Mr. Ojeul as art genius as he must be seems to have problem with focus on topic.  The roadmap will not solve the problems.  Read complaints on youtube thread, unlike discord that bans dissensions opinion.  Its the same as I say.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Urgehal on June 17, 2019, 07:26:31 AM
I've always given MSE a friendly pass, since they're such a small team and I ADORE the game so much...but I REALLY question that they even play their own game sometim...no, ALOT of the times with some of the boneheaded decisions and (VERY) late fixes to old problems they've made (or no fixes at all...). Biggest for me being, finally fixing Ayana's in game voice, after like what? After 6 or more months? Like how small a team is it for a such an obvious oversight to be missed?!, sheesh...99% of you reading this probably didn't care, but that had always bothered me LMAO. But it does tie in to it's other problems...

As for as communication goes, it always been bad, the whole fan base would agree with that. The recent implements didn't do jack s***. I don't use them and I don't pay attention to them when others use them either. So, pretty much worthless/wasted addition...That being said, it's never bothered me personally. I enjoyed the growing pains early on of learning the levels, characters, and overall game while being hammered by over leveled antags & f***** up MMR. All that experience early on really shaped me and it being not newbie friendly was not a problem for. But if MSE wants more new players (especially casuals) and keep early player retention, things NEED to be changed ASAP and like that previous meme posted, the removal of the tutorial was dumb to put it very lightly...

But overall, the game is nowhere near as bad as some people on here make it out to be. It just needs some literal tweaks. I still enjoy and think the game is a blast to play, although I don't play it nearly as much as I used to. My 2 biggest problems have always been the grind and the in game purchases/microtransactions. But mostly the former, and if fixed, would help early game retention and folks at mid game by ALOT. There's alot MSE can do to alleviate the grind (the monthly rewards help), but they can do more. Give mentors & leader approved gold, up desertions gold/FP, per mission rewards would go a long ways, so losses won't be as discouraging/waste of time (especially for newer players).

When it comes to the microtransactions, I'm not going to harp on it too much, (edit: nevermind...) since it's mostly cosmetics...but the pricing till this day is utterly ridiculous. People can do what they want with their money, but I literally die a little inside every time I see a Ginebra alt while playing. I could buy another game with $40 for goodness sake! I'm honestly surprised they've received such little backlash for that, even back when it was released. Their reasoning was silly as well SMH... ::) This is on the levels of Fallout 76 bad, sheesh. On that front, MSE should be ashamed. The character packs aren't great either for what you pay. Even to the point of being a rip off IMHO. If the game were more known, they would be ripped to shreds for this...

I question if MSE hates money as well. They would make SO MUCH MORE if they lower the prices to something more affordable, they would sell like hot cakes. Since alot of the fanbase just likes this game and keeps playing only because they like the characters so much. Hell, I'm dying to give them my money & support them, if they were $5 or $10 each (even though the latter is pushing it a slight bit). Damn shame really, but it's MSE's loss on that...regardless I still love the game quite a bit, but tweaks REALLY need to be made if they want more players. And yall should advertise your game more! Can't wait for Sooma in the mean time! Hope MSE reads the thread as well, peace to you all.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 17, 2019, 09:39:46 AM
… but I REALLY question that they even play their own game sometim...no, ALOT of the times with some of the boneheaded decisions and (VERY) late fixes to old problems they've made …

… regardless I still love the game quite a bit, but tweaks REALLY need to be made if they want more players.

I can only agree, but all this has been discussed/adressed hundreds of times since 2017 here in the forums.

It seems like MSE does not want to win new players for Spacelords. Otherwise, new game modes or optional game modes would have come first in the development! And everything else would come afterwards. What good is a radar, cosmetic melee weapons UI changes or whatever when I lose most of the new players in a forced PVP situation (where they permanetly get stomped into the ground by a high level antag)?
There's not even a tutorial anymore and the solo/training mode is locked (!!!) at the beginning of the game!
And no, if I want to play a video game, then I don't want to watch any tutorial videos or read tons of text - I don't want to do that, I want to PLAY the game. Give the player a playable tutorial!!!

Well, the price policy with some skins I can not understand either. For example, Lycus "Mars Mercenary" costs 250 and Doldrens "La Parca" costs 700? The changes are almost identical, a new jacket, cigar, sunglasses and new colors for Lycus and a new jacket, new sleeve protector and necklace for Doldren. But the price difference is 450 points!?

Well, I could go on and on and on, but I don't want to anymore, because I think everything was said a thousand times in terms of new/ optional game modes, Price policy, etc. etc. And I've long since given up my hopes.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Urgehal on June 17, 2019, 10:49:19 AM
… but I REALLY question that they even play their own game sometim...no, ALOT of the times with some of the boneheaded decisions and (VERY) late fixes to old problems they've made …

… regardless I still love the game quite a bit, but tweaks REALLY need to be made if they want more players.
I can only agree, but all this has been discussed/adressed hundreds of times since 2017 here in the forums.

It seems like MSE does not want to win new players for Spacelords. Otherwise, new game modes or optional game modes would have come first in the development! And everything else would come afterwards. What good is a radar, cosmetic melee weapons UI changes or whatever when I lose most of the new players in a forced PVP situation (where they permanetly get stomped into the ground by a high level antag)?
There's not even a tutorial anymore and the solo/training mode is locked (!!!) at the beginning of the game!
And no, if I want to play a video game, then I don't want to watch any tutorial videos or read tons of text - I don't want to do that, I want to PLAY the game. Give the player a playable tutorial!!!

Hmm...well I'm 50% with you on that...I mean, I'm definitely all in for new game modes!, but I perfectly fine with how the game is now. But you're talking to someone who put 700+ hours into Mass Effect 3 multiplayer and never got bored...
As for antag, unlike 95% of the fanbase, I'm neutral on it. But since MSE insists on it, why is actual antagging level restricted, but being invaded by one not?! One of those boneheaded decisions MSE mode that has never been addressed. I personally think new players should not be antagged until they reach tier 5 (level 20). That way, some players may actually stick around instead of leaving the game & deleting it after getting ROFLstomped one match...

But yep, the radar, cosmetics, leader commands, emotes...all pretty much pointless. And the text/short tutorial videos are a REALLY bad way to go about it, I agree SMH.

And for as long as I've been lurking these forums, I feel the pricing hasn't been talked about ENOUGH, but whatever. I'm just going to be mad talking about, so I'l stop LOL ... but I'll say, whoever decided the pricing for the shop and finalized it should be fired. Hope he/she steps on gum, yeah...I'm not mad  :-X
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 17, 2019, 12:00:51 PM
Well basically, I have nothing against the antag mode, but it would be good if the player (new player!!!) could choose if he wants to pvp or pve. Sometimes after stressful days (workwise), I wish I could choose! Because I don't want to have stressful evenings as well (wrestling around with annoing antags).
It is not even possible to play the solo mode to collect XP and rewards.

But yeah, as I said, everything has been already mentioned hundreds of times before and the stubborn MSE will probably never change anything on the 4v1 mode. The death certificate of Spacelords will eventually read: Cause of death 4v1. But hey, I'm not mad - just dissapointed.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: MSE_Karen on June 17, 2019, 02:02:07 PM
Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for your feedback. As B30 mentioned, we have discussed these topics plenty of times, but we keep working to improve the game in all areas.

We are aware some features are not exactly what you asked for, but they were created with the goal to help veterans and new players coordinate on matches.

We listen to your thoughs, not only here, but on all our social media channels. There are a lot of topics to be addressed, but they need time to be tested and applied.

In the next months there will be new updates arriving to Spacelords, so we hope you guys like what we are preparing here at MSE. We'll do our best to make you guys happy, but we need your patience in order to do so.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

P.D. Skyline has been banned for using toxic comments again. Please refrain from insulting or using inappropiate behaviour.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 17, 2019, 04:01:10 PM
… In the next months there will be new updates arriving to Spacelords, so we hope you guys like what we are preparing here at MSE. …

Of course you are constantly developing the game and that's all well and good, but you do not share your thoughts with the community. Nobody, none of the community knows which direction is being developed further.

Yes there is a roadmap, but there was never any mention of e.g. new aleph drops, sudden death timers, limiting ammo and so on (these things are not just small patches). So, you don't have to wonder, if most players are getting upset when you implement such features nobody wanted or asked for (e.g. ALEPH DROPS!!!).

Considering the last few updates, I don't know if I should be happy, or if I should be afraid about the next updates. I hope for the best, and thanks for the reply, Karen.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: MSE_Ojuel on June 17, 2019, 05:27:45 PM
… In the next months there will be new updates arriving to Spacelords, so we hope you guys like what we are preparing here at MSE. …

Of course you are constantly developing the game and that's all well and good, but you do not share your thoughts with the community. Nobody, none of the community knows which direction is being developed further.

Yes there is a roadmap, but there was never any mention of e.g. new aleph drops, sudden death timers, limiting ammo and so on (these things are not just small patches). So, you don't have to wonder, if most players are getting upset when you implement such features nobody wanted or asked for (e.g. ALEPH DROPS!!!).

Considering the last few updates, I don't know if I should be happy, or if I should be afraid about the next updates. I hope for the best, and thanks for the reply, Karen.

Aleph & Ammo drops are currently in an experimental phase and I'm pretty sure we already stated we'd be messing a bit with them, trying some new playable options soon to be put in the game. :)

Ammo famine is something we'll also be patching soon, since the result was a bit extreme, especially on higher MMR matches.

Concerning the Sudden Death feature, there are no specific plans to change it at the moment, since we are still gathering data from matches being played since the last patch update.

That said, we'll be getting more into detail pretty soon, as the next milestone on our beloved Roadmap, Prizes Gallore, gets close to its release.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 17, 2019, 06:20:35 PM
@MSE_Ojuel

Sorry, but I think you didn't get my point, what I wanted to say is you guys are just keep doing and doing and don't tell anyone exactly what are you are doing.

Not until the release day, you explain what you have changed or what you've implemented. Unfortunately, it is already too late for changes then.

For example the aleph drops - you could have handled this new feature way better if you would have told something in advance and you could have had a discussion with the community. People have some good ideas here in the forums. You're developing this game for the community, the people out there not for you (MSE). If the people don't like it - you're done, you know?

If you would communicate better in advance, you would not have to patch so much afterwards.  ;)
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: Urgehal on June 18, 2019, 12:01:01 AM
we have discussed these topics plenty of times, but we keep working to improve the game in all areas.

We are aware some features are not exactly what you asked for, but they were created with the goal to help veterans and new players coordinate on matches.

We listen to your thoughs, not only here, but on all our social media channels. There are a lot of topics to be addressed, but they need time to be tested and applied.

In the next months there will be new updates arriving to Spacelords, so we hope you guys like what we are preparing here at MSE. We'll do our best to make you guys happy, but we need your patience in order to do so.

Thank you very much for your understanding.
Thanks for reading Karen! (and Ojuel). I completely understand implementing new features & putting them out and for the players themselves to test it out...but I feel some of these weren't thought out too thoroughly and required (ALOT) more internal testing. The recent ammo change is a great example. Why get rid of a mechanic that was unique to the game by melee-ing enemies for ammo and turning it into like every other game?

Regardless, I still think the game is great, despite the abundance of frustrating changes/on going issues. (that can easily be fixed & tweaked...) But I'm a patient man and trust you guys, godspeed.

And my wallet is open and ready to support you guys more!, please lower the prices on the shop please OR do what Warframe does and have a 75% off coupon from time to time.  :-*
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: MSE_Ojuel on June 18, 2019, 11:22:10 AM
… In the next months there will be new updates arriving to Spacelords, so we hope you guys like what we are preparing here at MSE. …

Of course you are constantly developing the game and that's all well and good, but you do not share your thoughts with the community. Nobody, none of the community knows which direction is being developed further.

Yes there is a roadmap, but there was never any mention of e.g. new aleph drops, sudden death timers, limiting ammo and so on (these things are not just small patches). So, you don't have to wonder, if most players are getting upset when you implement such features nobody wanted or asked for (e.g. ALEPH DROPS!!!).

Considering the last few updates, I don't know if I should be happy, or if I should be afraid about the next updates. I hope for the best, and thanks for the reply, Karen.

Aleph & Ammo drops are currently in an experimental phase and I'm pretty sure we already stated we'd be messing a bit with them, trying some new playable options soon to be put in the game. :)

Ammo famine is something we'll also be patching soon, since the result was a bit extreme, especially on higher MMR matches.

Concerning the Sudden Death feature, there are no specific plans to change it at the moment, since we are still gathering data from matches being played since the last patch update.

That said, we'll be getting more into detail pretty soon, as the next milestone on our beloved Roadmap, Prizes Gallore, gets close to its release.
Can you give us more information about these new "playable options"? Will this solve the main issue with aleph and ammo drops? Which is that they can appear anywhere around your character instead of absorbing it and leaving behind any excess aleph/ammo... Currently you have to waste your few seconds of invulnerability after a melee kill to look around like an idiot for the drops, leaving you exposed as you're getting shot from all directions or being surrounded by elites that could potentially grab the aleph.

Karen will go into detail soon enough, but I can confirm Aleph still drops nearby after meleeing someone. That said, there will be other ways, new ways, in which you'll be able to get Aleph besides meleeing foes.

Quote
Thanks for reading Karen! (and Ojuel). I completely understand implementing new features & putting them out and for the players themselves to test it out...but I feel some of these weren't thought out too thoroughly and required (ALOT) more internal testing. The recent ammo change is a great example. Why get rid of a mechanic that was unique to the game by melee-ing enemies for ammo and turning it into like every other game?

We've been working on the whole ammo thing in order to make it more accessible and easier to understand for newcomer players.
That's also the main reason why in The Team up or Die update we made impossible for AI characters to pick ammo drops: After doing some playtesting sessions with new players we realized AI stealing their ammo would feel extremely confusing to them.
As you know, teaching the game to newcomer players is one of our lines of work, but another interesting line of work is making some aspects of the game more accesible so that they autoexplain themselves in a better and more simple way.
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: sonofoz on June 19, 2019, 03:55:53 AM
i don't really care, didn't know the previous gameplay so i'm used to this one (even if i don't really see how it is so interesting to force us to pick up aleph, but well...)
nevertheless, he's still making a point here :

Quote
What if we also end up hating these new ways of obtaining aleph, you'll be just breaking the game even more.

it seems players liked the previous gameplay regarding aleph, so why will you take risk to add new things to modify smthg they don't like whereas you can just put the old loved one ?
(except because you want to keep going with your agenda and your vision of the game)
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 19, 2019, 09:00:14 AM
it seems players liked the previous gameplay regarding aleph, so why will you take risk to add new things to modify smthg they don't like whereas you can just put the old loved one ?
(except because you want to keep going with your agenda and your vision of the game)

Most likely, they use the new aleph-drop-mechanic and the timers to complicate the game frustratingly and thereby artificially increase the grind. But that's a risky business, because I think they loose more players than they gain with these new mechanics.

I can clearly say that I've played a lot less since the last few updates, because I just don't enjoy it as much as before the updates.

And about their vision - their vision (e.g. gameplay mechanics etc.) is worth nothing if NO one (or only a few) likes it, but as we have seen so many times, I guess they are too stubborn to see that.  :'(
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: MSE_Ojuel on June 19, 2019, 12:21:00 PM
i don't really care, didn't know the previous gameplay so i'm used to this one (even if i don't really see how it is so interesting to force us to pick up aleph, but well...)
nevertheless, he's still making a point here :

Quote
What if we also end up hating these new ways of obtaining aleph, you'll be just breaking the game even more.

it seems players liked the previous gameplay regarding aleph, so why will you take risk to add new things to modify smthg they don't like whereas you can just put the old loved one ?
(except because you want to keep going with your agenda and your vision of the game)

Besides we having our own vision of the game, please take into account we gather feedback from many online communities besides this forum. We also take into account comments and feedback recieved via Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube videos, live streams, e-mail & Discord.
That said, besides player feedback, we also analyze matches & user retention data.
And finally, besides player feedback and match data gathering, we also do playtesting sessions with newcomer players, in order to see which mechanics are more easily understood by gamers who still didn't get to learn the quirks of the playable systems in the game.

Taking into account all of these inputs, we decided we would experiment a little more with the new Aleph & Ammo drops system. We're evolving the system into something more accessible yet featuring a wider range of playable possibilities. :)
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: sonofoz on June 19, 2019, 01:40:30 PM
i hear you.
and i really hope for your game that you are doing all that.

what i less believe is that forcing players to pick up aleph help them to understand the game mechanics or make them stay more than before... ^^
but well, maybe i'm wrong =)
Title: Re: Some nice things about the developers
Post by: B30 on June 19, 2019, 02:32:31 PM
… We're evolving the system into something more accessible yet featuring a wider range of playable possibilities.

More accessible!?? I would say if you compare the aleph-drop-mechanic then and now, I would say it was waaaay more accessible then, as it is now!

You can not make it more accessible if the player already obtained the aleph automatically, the only thing you could have done better is just dropping the excess.