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Do the fans ask for too much?

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Do the fans ask for too much?

from Elemental Forums

When Elemental was first released everyone was pissed and Stardock apologized and vowed to make the game better. Even proactively giving away expansions. The company has worked with the community in those times taking suggestions and criticisms and creating a much better game. But now that we're so far in to Elemental's life as a game I feel like the dynamic between the developers and the forum-goers have changed.

I keep reading, every other week I check this place, a "please put this into the game" thread. Issues that have already been discussed to gret detail weeks and months previous. With twenty or more replies boiling down to "This.". And then, now, people see mto be getting anxious. The first line or so of these threads always begin with something like "We wanted this six months ago- we asked for it and we're at a loss for wards as to why is does not exist."

Elemental was in a sorry state a while ago but now the game is 'okay'. And  i was angry at Stardock but now I just feel bad for them. It seems like the community is breathing down their backs for things that might not even be possible to implement within the framework of the game.

I used to post ideas and comments and all but I'm not active like I used to be. Not that anyone would really remember me, I guess. So, I ask those of you these questions: Do you think the community thinks it has more power than it really does?  Are these ideas and suggestions to grandiose?

elemental
48,734 views 54 replies
Reply #51 from Elemental Forums Top

How the hell can you say it's unreasonable to expect more than MoM? What's the point of them even making a new game if there are already games that are better than it? The fact is, this game is still not good enough. I wouldn't buy it as it is now, and seeing as I did, I would tell my friends not to buy it. Once it gets to a good point though, that will change. It's not far off now, but still has a bit more to go. For the time being, I still prefer to play older games, so until this game is the better option, then the fans should keep asking for more.

Reply #52 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Sythion, reply 50
From a gameplay perspective, yes. Every aspect of the game is pretty much an exploit that guarantees a win, so there's no actual gameplay. Hence, it is unplayable from a gameplay perspective.
End of Sythion's quote

Oh, give me a break.  Granted, Elemental has its problems, but it's not even close to what you describe, and this kind of gross exaggeration really doesn't give anybody a compelling reason to take your criticisms seriously.

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Reply #53 from Elemental Forums Top

I don't know why, but I feel strangely compelled to add my opinion to this thread. Disregard, if you'd like.

All it takes for me to be disappointed in this game is to read back through the old Dev Journals and to take stock of the big and interesting ideas that were slated for the game, and then to play (even 1.1) for 30 or so turns. I think that there are easily 20 mechanics that just didn't make the final release for whatever reason. Stardock has said that they felt the game was finished. I take them at their word on that, and I know how hard it is to see things clearly when the person giving the green light is in the trenches developing the game.

Arranged marriage providing for succession and division of defeated factions? Believe it or not, this was planned at one point.

Interesting economy mechanics? Again, this was discussed seriously as being in, though it wasn't a "definite" like the above.

Tactical battles? This has been discussed to death, but again, some great ideas that were never implemented.

Dungeon exploration? Hell, it even says this on the back of the game box.

Morale? It was in initially, but removed for 1.1. I think that this was a big loss (or could have been with better implementation).

The list does really go on and on- if you don't believe me, just browse through the early journals yourself.

I understand that scope must be limited by budget, and all the issues of developing a new engine. So, what is my point in bringing all of this up? I'm not sure, but I have a vague impression that this game was just the victim of high expectation. This was partly our fault, and partly Stardocks fault, as talked-up and full of big ideas as it originally was.

So, I don't think it's unreasonable for the fans to ask for this or that, considering that the dev team has asked for fan feedback, as long as everybody understands that, if the devs don't like an idea you've proposed, it's just not going to go in. I don't see too many people that don't get it, although there are some.

My two cents, for what it's worth. That and 1.48 will get you a cup of coffee.

 

 

Reply #54 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Mtn_Man, reply 52



Quoting Sythion,
reply 50
From a gameplay perspective, yes. Every aspect of the game is pretty much an exploit that guarantees a win, so there's no actual gameplay. Hence, it is unplayable from a gameplay perspective.


Oh, give me a break.  Granted, Elemental has its problems, but it's not even close to what you describe, and this kind of gross exaggeration really doesn't give anybody a compelling reason to take your criticisms seriously.
End of Mtn_Man's quote

Okay, you're right. I did not mean every aspect of the game. But all the ones I listed above are.