Is Rockstars feedback system a cruel joke?

[HockeyMike24]

For as long as I can remember R* has never listened to community feedback. They have taken update ideas for GTA Online sure. But have never taken community ideas for minor fixes or small design changes. Maybe I'm jumping the gun on this thread because the online is still in beta, but hear me out. 

 

Sure, there was outrage over the economy at the start and they changed that. But the economy was such a disaster it almost looks like R* planned to change it after a few days to keep players happy.

 

Now people have sent feedback over limited lobby types and have voiced many great ideas that can be read on here and been sent to their feedback, which R* has not talked about in recent newswire posts. But it seems this feedback system is just an illusion to make it look like R* is listening and they care about the community, this way they can add any update they want along with a statement saying they're listening to player feedback.

 

This of course makes us think we can get the updates, fixes and changes we want as a community and R* will listen.

 

Thanks for reading, please put on your tinfoil hats with me for a moment and discuss.

[Lonely-Martin]

We'll know more next year when the planned DLC comes with the mentioned anti griefing measures. 

 

Bit of a shame that it'll be that long. And I believe they planned the economy changes to win favour, that or outside negative press influenced them to react.

 

Only time will tell, but if no lobby choice comes then, it's game over for me. Microtransactions before listening is too far so I'm making plans by buying many older games in case this proves to continue to be as bad/empty/simple going forward.

 

We'll see.

[rusbeckia]

i don‘t thhink lobby choices will come. Imo, the honor level will be used to put people into honorful = friendly and dishonorable = gta-style lobbies. That way you‘ll get to meet different players according to your playstyle

 

 

Edited December 24, 2018 by rusbeckia

[Lonely-Martin]

1 minute ago, rusbeckia said:

Next year could mean today in a few hours, just saying  

Doubt the 25th Dec 2018 counts as 2019, lol.

 

Anytime after the 1st, but likely a week or 2 after, IMHO.

[Dr.Rosenthal]

Well, I mean.. Yeah I'm sure they're actually evaluating feedback, as they did for GTAO too. I'm a bit sick of the "We all know R* never listens to us.". I've suggested tons of stuff that made it into GTAO. Then, there is a lot of stuff that makes me go "Huh? Who suggested this?", and of course a lot of stuff that after 5 years should have been put into the game ages ago but still isn't. Anyway.

 

I think, for RDO, they had planned to fix the economy beforehand. They started out with an insane pay per mission/price ratio, so they could leverage from there and both the consumers and R* themselves would be happy. They had planned for that, they know marketing well enough.

 

And about the feedback.. like I said, I definitely think they're listening but at the same time, they can't please everyone and they can't fix everything at the same time, so I just hope it's up to someone who knows what they're doing to decide what's first, what's important, what's in 3 years etc. I could have had GTAO completely without Oppressors or Deluxos, but I guess they thought "If we don't add them we'll never know what would have happened with them", and I hope they learned something from what they chose to do.

 

Also, it wouldn't make sense of R* to pretend to listen to feedback and then do whatever they feel like. The opinions of consumers is invaluable information, which they now receive freely. It serves them to serve what the consumers want.

[areyouchappin]

Think about it this way, if you don't say anything at all then you know 100% that R* can't know what's bothering you.

 

R* for the most part has done their own thing but they have listened to feedback, they didn't follow it to the letter but they tried. lol

You gotta remember: your needs + R* needs + a lot of other players' needs = a vague fix to the actual problem

 

I hate to say it but the best anyone can possibly do right now is send feedback any way we can, cross our fingers and hope we get what we want in the end.

[HockeyMike24]

30 minutes ago, Dr.Rosenthal said:

Also, it wouldn't make sense of R* to pretend to listen to feedback and then do whatever they feel like. The opinions of consumers is invaluable information, which they now receive freely. It serves them to serve what the consumers want.

I hear you, but it kinda does make sense. Because people will become hopeful that stuff they sent feedback for will get requested, so they keep playing and keep hoping the game gets better. I think the feedback system will just be used as a guide for future updates.

 

Here is an example of what I'm trying to say...

 

Let's say 7000 people requested that they bring friendly lobbies back. Then 60 people who request that they add a fancy sombrero. Then R* adds an update with said fancy sombrero. While completely ignoring the request for lobbies. With not even so much as an explanation for their decision.

 

R* doesn't really need to please their playerbase. They just need to make money off it.

[Reyvar]

48 minutes ago, rusbeckia said:

i don‘t thhink lobby choices will come. Imo, the honor level will be used to put people into honorful = friendly and dishonorable = gta-style lobbies. That way you‘ll get to meet different players according to your playstyle

 

 

Except honor has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you want to PvP. My honor was maxed out positive until this morning because I'd been spending a lot of time hunting.

Now it's maxed out negative after a couple of hours of grinding lawmen for levels. It's a hilariously pointless system that means absolutely nothing.

[Dr.Rosenthal]

@HockeyMike24 I think I understand your way of reasoning, but it still doesn't ring quite true to me. If R* ignores all the people who want the friendly lobbies, chances are pretty good they'll simply lose those players to other games.

 

I think it's more true for RDO than for GTAO as well; people will still flock to GTA because it offers more of what most people like, whereas RDO is more of a niche game. So it's important for them to give its players something that the players indeed want. I mean, it's all just speculation of course, but still.. I get what you're saying but I'm not convinced.

[Lonely-Martin]

43 minutes ago, Dr.Rosenthal said:

@HockeyMike24 I think I understand your way of reasoning, but it still doesn't ring quite true to me. If R* ignores all the people who want the friendly lobbies, chances are pretty good they'll simply lose those players to other games.

 

I think it's more true for RDO than for GTAO as well; people will still flock to GTA because it offers more of what most people like, whereas RDO is more of a niche game. So it's important for them to give its players something that the players indeed want. I mean, it's all just speculation of course, but still.. I get what you're saying but I'm not convinced.

Just wondering, did you read the 'freeloaders' and 'undermonitised' threads that popped up on the GTA:O section? I only ask as it's easier to discuss this if you did rather than keep harping on, lol. (Sorry I can't link them though and would need to dig them out to know the exact titles of the threads).

 

To me, it really does feel as though that is proving true without lobby choice and very little PvE out there. That thread had them calling the freeloaders that don't pay via recurring spending as a problem playerbase to address. And combined with the thread where they also consider GTA:O undermonitised, these really ring true considering what's on offer and their focus on selling gold before addressing many complaints.

 

They want to lose those players, it really feels like that right now.

 

Must say too, they didn't show to me that they listened to feedback much at all with GTA:O, maybe the Jester Classic, but that's about it. No fixes to so much, adding content more and more to public only dispite so many wanting the game to be more flexible too.

 

Honestly, the term used often, whales, is spot on I feel. They are focusing on recurring spending heavily more so from the off this time after learning that many clearly paid much more on GTA that they can afford to drop the gamer in favour of those willing to pay more.

 

Apologies if this comes across as an incoherent ramble, been drinking, lol. And must say, I'm not tryi g to convince you mind, just until I see more that opens the ge up to those not so keen to spend more, I'm convinced those 2 threads where meeting info was leaked are very spot on. We'll see soon of course.

[Lonely-Martin]

1 hour ago, areyouchappin said:

Think about it this way, if you don't say anything at all then you know 100% that R* can't know what's bothering you.

 

R* for the most part has done their own thing but they have listened to feedback, they didn't follow it to the letter but they tried. lol

You gotta remember: your needs + R* needs + a lot of other players' needs = a vague fix to the actual problem

 

I hate to say it but the best anyone can possibly do right now is send feedback any way we can, cross our fingers and hope we get what we want in the end.

Totally agree it's on us to express what we'd like and R* will do with that what they choose. But I don't believe they listened to feedback from players here or with GTA much.

 

Here, the outside bad press, or their initial plan to 'highball' the economy could equally have been what brought changes. And with GTA, there's a laundry list of things discussed, petitions even that were flat out ignored. Like between After Hours DLC and Arena War, there was a god mode glitch that at best was bandaided instead of properly fixed. We have seen them break gameplay many times but not address them for months, and that was only because further DLC came. If DLC stops, so do fixes. (And what they may break next, lol. So not all bad). 

Edited December 24, 2018 by Lonely-Martin
Sorry guys, thought they would merge.

[saintsrow]

1 hour ago, Dr.Rosenthal said:

Well, I mean.. Yeah I'm sure they're actually evaluating feedback, as they did for GTAO too. I'm a bit sick of the "We all know R* never listens to us.". I've suggested tons of stuff that made it into GTAO. Then, there is a lot of stuff that makes me go "Huh? Who suggested this?", and of course a lot of stuff that after 5 years should have been put into the game ages ago but still isn't. Anyway.

 

I think, for RDO, they had planned to fix the economy beforehand. They started out with an insane pay per mission/price ratio, so they could leverage from there and both the consumers and R* themselves would be happy. They had planned for that, they know marketing well enough.

 

And about the feedback.. like I said, I definitely think they're listening but at the same time, they can't please everyone and they can't fix everything at the same time, so I just hope it's up to someone who knows what they're doing to decide what's first, what's important, what's in 3 years etc. I could have had GTAO completely without Oppressors or Deluxos, but I guess they thought "If we don't add them we'll never know what would have happened with them", and I hope they learned something from what they chose to do.

 

Also, it wouldn't make sense of R* to pretend to listen to feedback and then do whatever they feel like. The opinions of consumers is invaluable information, which they now receive freely. It serves them to serve what the consumers want.

A thoughtful post, but I have a couple of snarky thoughts in reply. 

 

The scary thing is, perhaps yes, Rockstar *does* listen to feedback, and that's why GTA0 and RDO are overpriced, unbalanced, PvP hellholes. Kind of like what you said.   It's what the kids demand.  

 

If they can't fix everything at once, they shouldna broke it in the first place.  

 

Anyway, I have voted with my feet on RD Online.  I might drop in someday when they have invite-only lobbies, but even then, I don't see the point; just not into it.  I'll just drop into single player if I feel the urge to explore the beautiful RDR2 world that Rockstar designed. 

 

Generally, I think that a lot more effort and true labors of love go into the 3D HD world design, versus the story design, for Rockstar HD games.  The world is ripe for tons of new stories, to be written by people who know how to write stories -- i.e., single-player or PvE co-op DLC, or even a peaceful Sims-like social world, that could have a playerbase in the millions, all by itself.  But that's of zero importance to Rockstar.  

 

It's gonna be a looooooong wait until GTA6.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Lonely-Martin]

7 minutes ago, saintsrow said:

It's gonna be a looooooong wait until GTA6.  

 

Oof! That I can't think about, lol. A hell of a long time.

Edited December 25, 2018 by Lonely-Martin

[Van_Hellsing]

Sure as hell R* is listening.... To their shareholders. Priority number one is their goldmine or shark cards. As long as people are buying these, nothing is wrong in their opinion. 

 

To my surprise, a lot of their customers do have Stockholm syndrome. They will defend their shady business practices. 

[Pocket Fox]

2 hours ago, rusbeckia said:

i don‘t thhink lobby choices will come. Imo, the honor level will be used to put people into honorful = friendly and dishonorable = gta-style lobbies. That way you‘ll get to meet different players according to your playstyle

 

 

Fun has tweeted about other lobbies, but they are currently locked.

 

 

 

[Ghoffman9]

3 minutes ago, Pocket Fox said:

Fun has tweeted about other lobbies, but they are currently locked.

 

 

 

You'd think that after turning on the micro-transactions they would just flip all features on such as invite only lobby options at the same time. Why still keep them locked now at this point? Its been a good month now since online launched, and I am sure their server stress tests are done at this point. 

[Pocket Fox]

1 minute ago, Ghoffman9 said:

You'd think that after turning on the micro-transactions they would just flip all features on such as invite only lobby options at the same time. Why still keep them locked now at this point? Its been a good month now since online launched, and I am sure their server stress tests are done at this point. 

I'd imagine the bulk of their staff are on holiday/away. So they are keeping it simple... or bare bones.

 

Probably also fine tuning stuff for Jan/Feb/2019. They also have hidden game modes not yet released. 

[Accendo]

Imo the main thing Rockstar should be focusing on is co-op PvE content. PvP is ass in Rockstar games so hopefully they don't take the GTAO route with hundreds of adversary modes or I won't be coming back to play it.

 

As is I'm just visiting the forums once a week to see if anything fun has been added to this boring, desolate mess.

[Tez2]

50 minutes ago, Ghoffman9 said:

You'd think that after turning on the micro-transactions they would just flip all features on such as invite only lobby options at the same time. Why still keep them locked now at this point? Its been a good month now since online launched, and I am sure their server stress tests are done at this point. 

Because it require more time and work to create a different design for private sessions.

I assume they want to follow GTAO path and disable free roam events and stranger missions from happening there so what would be the point of playing in private sessions ?

[Hunterrrr]

4 minutes ago, Fun 2 said:

Because it require more time and work to create a different design for private sessions.

I assume they want to follow GTAO path and disable free roam events and stranger missions from happening there so what would be the point of playing in private sessions ?

Well I can’t speak for everyone that wants invite only, but I can give you my reason. 

 

My my internet is too slow to connect to large lobbies, so until invite only lobby’s are available, I can’t play at all. I am disconnected in 30 seconds or less from each session I join. On the other hand, when the stranger mission trick was working to get solo lobbies, I could play for hours. But R* made sure to patch that before the Christmas break. 

 

So so I don’t care if free roam activities and stranger missions are disabled. I just want to be able to play. 

[Ghoffman9]

48 minutes ago, Fun 2 said:

Because it require more time and work to create a different design for private sessions.

I assume they want to follow GTAO path and disable free roam events and stranger missions from happening there so what would be the point of playing in private sessions ?

I can think of a few.

1. If I want to hunt, gather herbs, etc etc I do not have to worry about players getting in the way of that. You know as well as me what happens if you try to sell your pelts and carcasses you picked up in a town with a few players in it. Meaning you risk it or spend the next 5 minutes riding to the next town that has a butcher.

2. During those times where I am grinding missions but need to step away from the controller for a bit, and without shameless players spawn killing you while you are gone.

3. So I can do gang hideouts without fear of players showing up during or slightly after it to kill me and loot all the enemies I killed as well as other items found there. Far too many hideouts have turned into a PvP battleground for my taste.

Edited December 25, 2018 by Ghoffman9

[Happy Hunter]

5 hours ago, HockeyMike24 said:

But have never taken community ideas for minor fixes or small design changes.

They did stop snowballs from damaging vehicles in GTA. Can't get much smaller a change than that, given they're only even available a few days a year. Then you have the orbital cannon. So, a mixed bag I guess.

 

They've said they've got stuff planned for the new year. I'd wait until then. Getting wound up over cruel jokes is premature when it's only been here a month or so. Have some faith.

[Lonely-Martin]

2 hours ago, Ghoffman9 said:

You'd think that after turning on the micro-transactions they would just flip all features on such as invite only lobby options at the same time. Why still keep them locked now at this point? Its been a good month now since online launched, and I am sure their server stress tests are done at this point. 

Yeah. I'm sure there's PvE players that bought shark cards, and would gold. R* not enabling all playstyles does limit their potential holiday revenue here. (Though with GTA I'm sure they're making a good few bucks of course. Just feel more would be possible).

 

1 hour ago, Fun 2 said:

Because it require more time and work to create a different design for private sessions.

I assume they want to follow GTAO path and disable free roam events and stranger missions from happening there so what would be the point of playing in private sessions ?

I get it takes time to create session types, but equally, they've had the best part of a decade too, and over 5 years of knowing what GTA:O did too. Bit of a lame excuse, IMHO to say they weren't prepared given you've shown the code is there for private/friendly sessions. 

 

Even the beta isn't a good excuse really. Of course, lumping us together tests sessions as is, but once other sessions come, we're again testing. Plus if PvE players aren't playing, it's a lighter load on the servers at present too. Surely as it's beta they would have more success inviting more players to be all over the game to really stress test it all, my thoughts anyway.

 

RE: Friendly sessions. Stranger missions and freemode events aren't all the game offers, even now with the limited content.

 

Going on call/spawning in from on call will stop the spawn killing I dislike for sure, like GTA. And to be able to hang with friends in peace from arseholes while hunting or fishing, selling, or living off the land in a roleplay capacity would be a huge appeal to me. Im happy with lesser content there as I'll be left be, and that will see me embrace the riskier gaming more as I'm not always forced.

 

It gives me choice to embrace a little PvP as I'll not be fed up with the pettiness from many sessions and I can go on call to join a showdown, or race and be more up for it too through not being 'switched on' 24/7.

 

Plus, they'll add to missions and races too, possibly more. And if property comes, much like GTA, they may lock missions to PvP but surely won't lock out PvE lobbies from potential gold purchases and will let us buy things in either lobby. (Or pop into public to buy, but access it from either, like the office etc).

 

The way I play may bore or sound boring to some, but what we have is boring to me. Each their own on that, fun is our own.

Edited December 25, 2018 by Lonely-Martin

[Ghoffman9]

10 minutes ago, Lonely-Martin said:

Yeah. I'm sure there's PvE players that bought shark cards, and would gold. R* not enabling all playstyles does limit their potential holiday revenue here. (Though with GTA I'm sure they're making a good few bucks of course. Just feel more would be possible).

 

I get it takes time to create session types, but equally, they've had the best part of a decade too, and over 5 years of knowing what GTA:O did too. Bit of a lame excuse, IMHO to say they weren't prepared given you've shown the code is there for private/friendly sessions. 

 

Even the beta isn't a good excuse really. Of course, lumping us together tests sessions as is, but once other sessions come, we're again testing. Plus if PvE players aren't playing, it's a lighter load on the servers at present too. Surely as it's beta they would have more success inviting more players to be all over the game to really stress test it all, my thoughts anyway.

I'd say they lost the beta as a go to excuse the moment the micro-transactions were turned on. Bit insulting really to start trying to sell those while a few key features and other content is still missing. They're putting the cart before the horse. Pun intended.

[Lonely-Martin]

4 minutes ago, Ghoffman9 said:

I'd say they lost the beta as a go to excuse the moment the micro-transactions were turned on. Bit insulting really to start trying to sell those while a few key features and other content is still missing. They're putting the cart before the horse. Pun intended.

I fully agree, it feels so poorly planned out, and given GTA's success in player numbers being more than ever hoped for, and financially. It's a bit surprising it feels like those 8 years just weren't used to focus on the release of online.

 

I just hope next year I'm shown to have jumped the gun on assuming some things and I'm singing this games praises, huge potential. But like GTA, so easily plenty of bad potential as much as good.

[Pocket Fox]

Submitted like 8 different feedback posts today.

 

Fly my pretties, fly!

 

 

[saintsrow]

4 hours ago, Lonely-Martin said:

 

I get it takes time to create session types, but equally, they've had the best part of a decade too, and over 5 years of knowing what GTA:O did too. Bit of a lame excuse, IMHO to say they weren't prepared given you've shown the code is there for private/friendly sessions. 

 

[ ... snip ...]

 

The way I play may bore or sound boring to some, but what we have is boring to me. Each their own on that, fun is our own.

Yep, everything you said.  Rockstar could have and should had an RD Online shadow team ghosting the GTA0 design team, creating the perfect RD Online experience, on day one.  Five years of free learning curve.  What were they doing, all that time?  

 

In GTA0, I'm a grinder, a solo grinder.  I gravitate to certain (solo) missions and mini-games that are fun for me, familiar, in my comfort zone, with spawn points near them, so I don't have to drive across half the map (in a supercar, let alone, on a horse).  I play at my own pace, make my own choices, and I multitask with real life while playing. 

 

None of that play style works with typical frenetic, frustrating PvP, back-to-back, vote screen after vote screen, hands cramped around the controller until 3 AM, and nothing in real life gets done, all evening. Not my style.  

 

Until RD Online includes private/invite lobbies and fun solo activities, it's pretty much dead to me.  

 

[rusbeckia]

7 hours ago, Pocket Fox said:

Fun has tweeted about other lobbies, but they are currently locked.

 

 

 

Oh wow, thx. That‘s some interesting info.

[tonko]

11 hours ago, HockeyMike24 said:

For as long as I can remember R* has never listened to community feedback. They have taken update ideas for GTA Online sure. But have never taken community ideas for minor fixes or small design changes. Maybe I'm jumping the gun on this thread because the online is still in beta, but hear me out. 

 

Sure, there was outrage over the economy at the start and they changed that. But the economy was such a disaster it almost looks like R* planned to change it after a few days to keep players happy.

 

Now people have sent feedback over limited lobby types and have voiced many great ideas that can be read on here and been sent to their feedback, which R* has not talked about in recent newswire posts. But it seems this feedback system is just an illusion to make it look like R* is listening and they care about the community, this way they can add any update they want along with a statement saying they're listening to player feedback.

 

This of course makes us think we can get the updates, fixes and changes we want as a community and R* will listen.

 

Thanks for reading, please put on your tinfoil hats with me for a moment and discuss.

I don't know brother, but i'll keep trying. Sending them feebdack every day regarding:

 

1.spawn points (spawning too far from action, non stop shot in the back) and non-stop running in Showdown (huge maps=run Joey, run),

2. lack of Bag matches( Hold your Own, Grab the Bag fan favorites from RDR 1),

3. forced weapons for each map (yesterday i got sent to oblivion with explosive bow or something in Showdown. I mean, come on!)

 

Those deficits became my quest and i'm sure each one of us is sending them something else that needs to be fixed. I guess we will see.

Edited December 25, 2018 by tonko

[U Carmine]

3 hours ago, tonko said:

3. forced weapons for each map (yesterday i got sent to oblivion with explosive bow or something in Showdown. I mean, come on!)

In case you didn't know. Dynamite arrow is a pickup weapon in Name Your Weapon when the train comes. One at the front side of train and back side of train. They're worth 9 points.