Not to slam them too hard, but this is getting kind of pathetic isn't it?
Does anyone know whether and to what extent Gleemax will be handling the online components of DDi? Because I am not impressed with them in the least.
If the name and default color scheme wasn't bad enough, the lack of ability to keep the forums going really boggles the mind.
/frustration.
Not to slam them too hard, but this is getting kind of pathetic isn't it?
Does anyone know whether and to what extent Gleemax will be handling the online components of DDi? Because I am not impressed with them in the least.
If the name and default color scheme wasn't bad enough, the lack of ability to keep the forums going really boggles the mind.
/frustration.
I expect the community functions of the DDI will be the last we'll see to go online, and hopefully they'll be done by a different group than the current Gleemax boards. If you ever stop by ENWorld, Morris over there lays out what their problems are (and being the guy running ENWorld, he obviously knows how to run a giant messageboard without a hitch)
Essentially, it seems they've screwed the pooch, and decided to make things extremely difficult for themselves, vastly easier and more stable options be damned.
Thanks for the info, David. I don't check the ENWorld forums much. I'll check it out.
Thanks for the info, David. I don't check the ENWorld forums much. I'll check it out.
Heres the thread if the technical aspects are at all interesting to you. Check about halfway down. You'll know Morris by his cute penguin avatar. :)
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Not to slam them too hard, but this is getting kind of pathetic isn't it?
Yeah, it is really pathetic. And, it's embarrassing for them. They're just message boards. They need to get the people that manage Magic Online to help with Gleemax. Sad that the Wizards of the Coast boards are an online joke. Especially when users of their newest product are eager to get help and post thoughts. Awesome support for the end user...
I feel badly for Gamer_Zero (whom I am no fan of) running around being a WotC apologist.
Don (Greyson)
West Jordan, Utah
When isn't that pathetic site down?
Sorry, but what they call magazines now is bad enough and they are simple collections of text and images. The website can never stay alive for more than a few hours without getting corrupted by something.
? I'm curious what a magazine generally is, if NOT a collection of text and images? I think the quality of the magazines since release has been quite superb, honestly, website issues not-withstanding.
Cheers! :)
When isn't that pathetic site down?
Sorry, but what they call magazines now is bad enough and they are simple collections of text and images. The website can never stay alive for more than a few hours without getting corrupted by something.
? I'm curious what a magazine generally is, if NOT a collection of text and images? I think the quality of the magazines since release has been quite superb, honestly, website issues not-withstanding.
Cheers! :)
Something that when you pay for it you can roll it up in your pocket for one. Then pull it out and read it when you are ready. Like on a clear day sitting under a tree surrounded solely by nature to get AWAY from technology. The new thing looks like a calendar. Like the forums there are even problems downloading the thing as it double links to some asp error.
Granted there are no advertisements on either the site or the things that used to be magazines, but neither of them work that well.
Even in the park I'm never that far from technology. ;)
But I hear you, from an anti-tech stance, I could see what you're saying. I consume magazines for the info therein, and little else, so the format it comes in means little (although the format of the info means lots, and I think they've done a good job on that!)
Hopefully by the time they start charging they'll have worked out all the bugs during the alpha and beta (that's right now, while it's free)
Cheers! :)
You know, I remember distinctly when the Paizo site was down after releasing the Pathfinder Alpha. They just released a new product, of course their site is busy! Cut them some slack, seriously.
Cut them some slack, seriously.
Why, and for how long?
This isn't a momentary lapse -- it appears to be gross incompetence. And the problems predated the 4e release by a pretty wide margin.
Yes, Paizo's site went down, right after the Pathfinder Alpha release. I also remember the WotC site going down. It was July... and June... and May...
There are times that the criticism is undeserved -- this is definitely not one of those times.
I think the quality of the magazines since release has been quite superb, honestly, website issues not-withstanding.
I've got to agree here.
I was profoundly skeptical about the quality of the online magazines, especially after the poor (and IMO very unprofessional) showings the first couple of months.
But the 4e stuff so far has been outstanding. I'm definitely eating crow on this one :/
I think the quality of the magazines since release has been quite superb, honestly, website issues not-withstanding.I've got to agree here.
I was profoundly skeptical about the quality of the online magazines, especially after the poor (and IMO very unprofessional) showings the first couple of months.
But the 4e stuff so far has been outstanding. I'm definitely eating crow on this one :/
Don't feel bad... I've been rather critical of the online mags too, but the first 4e issue was actually pretty decent.
- Ashavan
Cut them some slack, seriously.Why, and for how long?
This isn't a momentary lapse -- it appears to be gross incompetence. And the problems predated the 4e release by a pretty wide margin.
Yes, Paizo's site went down, right after the Pathfinder Alpha release. I also remember the WotC site going down. It was July... and June... and May...
There are times that the criticism is undeserved -- this is definitely not one of those times.
Momentary lapse? Dude, for about a week there were times when I couldn't get on this website, and WotC is a bigger company with a lot more traffic. At least we can access the website itself, just not the forums. Don't throw around "gross incompetence" until the forums get wiped.
Momentary lapse? Dude, for about a week there were times when I couldn't get on this website, and WotC is a bigger company with a lot more traffic. At least we can access the website itself, just not the forums. Don't throw around "gross incompetence" until the forums get wiped.
About a week? WotC is doing it over and over and over and... do you see the pattern yet?
"Gross incompetence" is also the opinion of several IT professionals that have weighed in with their opinions (including the administrator at ENWorld, a site that is IMO notoriously pro-WotC).
If you can't find fault now, then you must be trying as hard as you can to never find fault.
But the 4e stuff so far has been outstanding. I'm definitely eating crow on this one :/
Not as much crow as I thought.
I am now looking at episode 1 for the first WotC Adventure Path. There's a thread about it, but the bottom line is "disappointing."
Given the similar performance with Keep on the Shadowfell, I'd say adventure writing is a skill they do not have in-house -- I hope they recognize that before it's too late.
But the 4e stuff so far has been outstanding. I'm definitely eating crow on this one :/Not as much crow as I thought.
I am now looking at episode 1 for the first WotC Adventure Path. There's a thread about it, but the bottom line is "disappointing."
Given the similar performance with Keep on the Shadowfell, I'd say adventure writing is a skill they do not have in-house -- I hope they recognize that before it's too late.
So you're just gonna ignore all the other Dragon and Dungeon articles and focus only on two adventures, never mind the fact that many of the articles are gaining a lot of acclaim? Wow, what a shame...
Given the similar performance with Keep on the Shadowfell, I'd say adventure writing is a skill they do not have in-house -- I hope they recognize that before it's too late.
So you're just gonna ignore all the other Dragon and Dungeon articles and focus only on two adventures, never mind the fact that many of the articles are gaining a lot of acclaim? Wow, what a shame...
No, I'm not going to do that -- nor did my post imply I would.
The articles are excellent. The two most important 4e adventures published so far are not.
Just because I'm not salivating orgasmically over your beloved WotC products does not make me wrong. Please chill out.
Given the similar performance with Keep on the Shadowfell, I'd say adventure writing is a skill they do not have in-house -- I hope they recognize that before it's too late.So you're just gonna ignore all the other Dragon and Dungeon articles and focus only on two adventures, never mind the fact that many of the articles are gaining a lot of acclaim? Wow, what a shame...No, I'm not going to do that -- nor did my post imply I would.
The articles are excellent. The two most important 4e adventures published so far are not.
Just because I'm not salivating orgasmically over your beloved WotC products does not make me wrong. Please chill out.
I'm not asking you to salivate orgasmically, I know KotS was terribly written, but the way you said it you sound like you're completely basing the game on those two adventures, and just ignoring the other one from the last issue.
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Momentary lapse? Dude, for about a week there were times when I couldn't get on this website, and WotC is a bigger company with a lot more traffic. At least we can access the website itself, just not the forums. Don't throw around "gross incompetence" until the forums get wiped.
Your argument proves why it was incompetence.
Paizo has the resources for a couple of people to run the website and forums, and so when PRPG things went haywire, which is foregiveable; they are a small company.
WotC, as you admit, is a big company, with Monstrous Resources, and consistent high traffic. And yet you forgive them when their site/forums crash regularly.
It is incompetence because Wizard had the wherewithall to plan for such eventualities and failed. What else would you call it?
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I'm not asking you to salivate orgasmically, I know KotS was terribly written, but the way you said it you sound like you're completely basing the game on those two adventures, and just ignoring the other one from the last issue.
Why shouldn't he base his opinion of the game on those two adventures? The first official module and the launch of the AP that spearheads the much-pushed, oft-maligned DDI program. If Wizards did not meet his expectations with those, one can see a valid reason for holding out little hope for the future.
At what point is he allowed to argue that 4th Edition is not to his liking? 10 years from now when the newest edition comes out and Wizards tells him it is okay?
the way you said it
"Not as much crow as I thought."
you sound like you're completely basing the game on those two adventures, and just ignoring the other one from the last issue.
I don't see where he said, "no crow at all." Please point it out.
Now, suppose that he actually were limiting his impressions to those presented only by the adventures. One out of three is a crappy track record by any standards short of Congress, especially given the requirement of the first few products to present that first impression that will engender further purchases.
...I know KotS was terribly written, but the way you said it you sound like you're completely basing the game on those two adventures, and just ignoring the other one from the last issue.
I'm not trying to judge the game (which I think is a good one, despite some things I miss), but rather WotC's ability to support it as promised.
And you're right, I have rather failed to recognize the quality of the standalone 4e adventures -- their quality has been as good as the other material in the magazines.
But, my provocative language aside, I think you are defending WotC too stridently. To date, they are stumbling badly on the online support and their adventures are spotty (the two most important have been notably the worst).
I agree that people have not been giving 4e its due credit, but I think it's also reasonable to recognize (and express concern over) WotC's failures.
Regards.
Momentary lapse? Dude, for about a week there were times when I couldn't get on this website, and WotC is a bigger company with a lot more traffic.
I don't know what WotCs problems are but Paizo told us what their problem was. Traffic jumped by an order of magnitude and they stated they were buying and setting up new servers to handle the massive increase in site traffic as fast as they could. About a week later they seemed to have dealt with the issue.
I'm not asking you to salivate orgasmically, I know KotS was terribly written, but the way you said it you sound like you're completely basing the game on those two adventures, and just ignoring the other one from the last issue.Why shouldn't he base his opinion of the game on those two adventures? The first official module and the launch of the AP that spearheads the much-pushed, oft-maligned DDI program. If Wizards did not meet his expectations with those, one can see a valid reason for holding out little hope for the future.
At what point is he allowed to argue that 4th Edition is not to his liking? 10 years from now when the newest edition comes out and Wizards tells him it is okay?
He's not arguing he dislikes 4E. So far as I can tell all his posts are a toss ups. He might decide that 'X' 4E product (or mechanic or company position) is fantastic and then an hour later put forth an opinion that 'Y' 4E product blows chunks.
He's not arguing he dislikes 4E. So far as I can tell all his posts are a toss ups. He might decide that 'X' 4E product (or mechanic or company position) is fantastic and then an hour later put forth an opinion that 'Y' 4E product blows chunks.
For the record, I like 4e. In terms of playing, I'm still not sure our campaign can be satisfactorily converted to 4e, but I'd like it to be.
WotC, on the other hand, disappoints me with their behavior and performance on a regular basis -- and this really damages the trust I need to have in order to commit to this version of the game long-term. Specifically:
- I think their in-house adventure-writing skills are poor to non-existent. Given the specific criticisms, and given that they neither care nor seem to recognize this, supports what a lot of people say -- 4e is not designed for roleplaying. Now while I don't completely buy into that accusation, their work doesn't (IMO) demonstrate a lot of interest in character or plot development, nor do certain aspects of the game's design.
- Furthermore, the decision-making and technical skills committed to the online components of 4e are, to date, nothing more than pathetic -- despite the alleged importance of those components.
- Finally, they have shown very worrisome signs in the past several months in terms of their ability to meet deadlines, and these signs have not entirely disappeared.
In a nutshell, I think 4e is solid (if not perfect), but WotC is not.
In a different vein, I am quite irritable when it comes to 4e supporters that will obsessively point out what they perceive as incorrect opinions from 3e supporters. That is not to say 3e supporters aren't committing the same offenses, but I have more sympathy with their emotions on the subject (though not always their arguments).
For what any of this is worth.
Regards all :)